Crossword Genius

Stone and lead taken from ancient passage (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

agate

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'stone' is the definition.
(agate is a type of stone)

'lead taken from ancient passage' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
'taken' could be 'ate' (eating is a kind of taking) and 'ate' is located in the answer.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

'and' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for agate that I've seen before include "Variety of chalcedony" , "marble" , "Old drama critic" , "Hard stone with concentric bands of colour" , "Impure form of quartz with banded chalcedony, used as a gemstone" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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