Monthly Archives: September 2014

Keweenaw Point Datolite Pendant

yellowdatosaj

A cute little unit, this pendant is exactly Quarter sized. I used both pulled wires and prongs to secure the gemstone. This is a rare opportunity for you to own this rare little gemstone beauty.

Out of all the endless colorations of Datolite in the Keweenaw Peninsula, arguably the most rare and coveted are the almost canary yellow ones. These are found at the northern point in the Keweenaw (and the northernmost point in Michigan).

The two in the middle are not dateline, but the ones on both sides are.

The two in the middle are not dateline, but the ones on both sides are.

The best ones were harvested by divers that knew where they were in the basalt. This area had been silted over for quite a few years now, making finding these yellow beauties almost impossible. There are some exposed in outcrops in the area, but very few of any size.

Rare is an understatement with regards to yellow Keweenaw Point Datolite. What makes these unusual is that most Datolite in the Keweenaw is colored by copper, but these yellows derive their colors from Manganese.

The unusual story of this particular Datolite is that I found it in Tucson, in a small tray of Datolites at Gary Wilson’s booth at one of the wholesale shows. (Just look for the hub of eager buyers–it is the busiest sales booth at the show.) He sells cabochons that are coveted by the wire wrappers. (This is what makes me different than most wire wrappers; I actually cut most of my own stones). The Datolite tray was picked over, but others did not recognize the sweet yellow one.

This Datolite is NOT from Lower Michigan, but it acts that way.

This Datolite is NOT from Lower Michigan, but it acts that way.

Snob Appeal Jewelry-Cleaning the Barn

Just a few of the many buckets we sorted today.

Just a few of the many buckets we sorted today.

I'm pretty excited about this job.

I'm pretty excited about this job.

“How do you know what’s in this barn?” is asked regularly by Bonnie. The answer is usually vague. I know mostly what is in the barn, but there are rocks in there from many old collections I’ve bought over the years. I have no idea what exactly is in some of those buckets. Sometimes you just have to have a look.

These are some nice Lakers.

These are some nice Lakers.

It's always nice when you re-find a whole bucket of Lakers.

It's always nice when you re-find a whole bucket of Lakers.

Fossils

Fossils

We hauled out random buckets and began sorting. I found stuff I had forgotten was there, and a few rocks I had no idea I had!

Binghamite before and after.  It's a shame you cannot see the tigers eye like colors in this beauty from Minnesota's Iron Range.

Binghamite before and after. It's a shame you cannot see the tigers eye like colors in this beauty from Minnesota's Iron Range.

I found a bucket of unsorted Lake Superior Agates I recall buying from a friend that owns a gravel pit in Minnesota, as well as another small selection of what appeared to be grade “A” Lakers I must have sorted years ago. I took a picture of the sorted stones in water. Are they nice…great jewelry potential!

A bonus bucket of nice Jaspers.

A bonus bucket of nice Jaspers.

Another bucket was assorted Jasper and Jasperlite and other interesting quartz material from Minnesota gravel pits.

I found a bucket of Petrified Wood and one of fossils. On top of that bucket was a floating rock.

There were lots of jewelry grade stones, specimens, and a few garden rocks. One larger rock piqued my interest, so I cut that one. Although the inside was colorful, I donated it to Bonnie’s rock garden. I found an old piece of Binghamite that is always an exciting stone to work with. This particular rock was very discreet, and it was fortunate I was sorting in the sun, or I would have missed the telltale golden flashes from the stone.

Petrified Wood.

Petrified Wood.

Dinosaur Bone, Ruby in Zoisite, Ruby in Fuchsite, and Kammererite.

Dinosaur Bone, Ruby in Zoisite, Ruby in Fuchsite, and Kammererite.

I think my favorite find were a few rocks I knew I had, but have not seen them in a year. The closed bucket. A large piece of Dinosaur Bone, a piece or Ruby in Zoisite, one of Ruby in Fuchsite, and one specimen of Kammererite (and Bonnie remembered how to spell it) that I got on a recent trip to Russia; no, wait that was the trip to Tucson where I bought it from a guy from Russia! Just seeing if you’re paying attention. I’m sure pleased I found these. I have other stuff to look through, but I think I have to wait for Bonnie to ask me “How do you know what’s in this barn?” again.

A large rock I found in a bucket.  Let's cut it!

A large rock I found in a bucket. Let's cut it!

It looks nice, but not jewelry. Next stop; Bonnies Rock Garden.

It looks nice, but not jewelry. Next stop; Bonnies Rock Garden.