Category Archives: Copper Country

Custom Jewelry-FOR ME!

Sometimes Kharma appears on my workbench!

I recently was working on some silver-copper nuggets from the Keweenaw, when I discovered a beach-tumbled nugget that I forgot I had.

A beach-tumbled Copper Nugget. It looked amazingly like a Penguin.

I thought “that little nugget looks exactly like a penguin”. This got me thinking of what I could do with this small discovery. I love penguins; they are so cute, and I really enjoy watching them at the Jacksonville Zoo, at the recently visited Tennessee Aquarium in Chatanooga, or in documentaries (or the cartoon movies adds my wife).

I thought of the Emperor Penquins, and their lives. nesting in their harsh Anarctica environment.

Examining a nice piece of Fossilized Coral.

There are infinite possibilities here. Botryoidal agatized Coral fromTampa Bay.

At this same time I found some beautiful Fossilized Coral from Tampa Bay. (Fossilized Coral is the State Stone of Florida). This was the perfect environment in which to set my copper penguin. He (or she) fit right in to this ice-cave-like Petrified Coral.

I’m going to reveal this piece of jewelry at our annual rock club show this month in Traverse City. But since you are reading this blog, you deserve the reveal.

I have claimed this for myself (for now). I have been wintering in Florida, and lived in Michigan all my life, so this is my Florida/Michigan piece.

Rock Hunting in the Upper Peninsula

Richard and Andrew Marek had great father and son bonding time on the piles.

We usually travel to Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula, in August, where we participate in Art Shows, and do wire wrapping demonstrations at Copper World in Calumet. Because our art shows were cancelled and demos were not possible due to the Virus, we focused on rock hunting in the Upper Peninsula.

The Ranger is the National Park Service boat that serviced Isle Royale National Park. From our campsite, we watched it go out every two days.

We camped and rock hunted to our hearts’ content. While camped, I was able to work on the rocks we found with my mobile shop setup and made jewelry on my work bench.

A classic Candy Striper always make me smile. This one, I purchased from Ryan Pikk at the Quincy Swap Meet. I took the rough Laker back to the RV, and made it into instant jewelry.

This Amethyst Laker called me to make it into jewelry while in the Keweenaw.

Keweenaw Prehnite is absolutely gorgeous.

The Isle Royale Queen IV is not running from Copper Harbor this year. The only way you can get there is by seaplane.The

There are still a few inches to squeeze in more rocks.

The pile here used to be above the trees. I am carefully searching for an elusive Greenstone, with only moderate success.

Bonnie searches a beach at dusk. Is she looking for a fluorescent rock?

Was rock hunting successful? Yes, considering the good areas becoming more scarce. Most of you know that many of the old rock piles have been crushed and hauled away, leaving large flat area and small piles. Where rock piles used to be as high as the trees, they’ve now ground level. You have to work harder to find what used to be relatively easy.

A drill core is a treat to find. Just thinking a trio of miners, 100 years ago , could have drilled this hole.

Bonnie’s goal was to find the worlds’ largest Greenstone, which was not happening, while mine was to survive the rock piles while still recovering from and ankle fusion. I accomplished my goal, and was stronger at the end of our trip. It’s amazing to me that you do not feel much pain when you are actually rock hunting, but it catches up after the hunt is finished for the day.

We hunted close to a dozen locations, with limited success in every locale. We stocked up on rocks and minerals we could use in our grab bags, that we sell 3 for $10 at art shows and elsewhere. Some things everyone loves in their grab bags are, small Greenstones in matrix, shiney Calcite, Prehnite, and small copper pieces.

A Garden Rock of Great Size

Other things Bonnie looks for are new garden rocks. You should have seen us hauling a 70# chunk of mine rock with calcite and Cuprite seams. That one was hard to miss in the pouring rain.

This is the colorful garden rock we hauled off the Central Pile.

I see Prehnite, Calcite, and specks of Copper.

It was quite a trek to the car, and we tried, with limited success to fit this rock into a 5 gallon bucket on our Broll (Bucket Roller). Bonnie steadied the rock, while I pulled the cart to the car. We only dumped it a couple times; each time stopping, and hoisting it back into the stretched bucket. It’s amazing what greed will make a person do.

Hunting with Friends

Our new rockhound buddy Rayanne around the best of the day.

In the great out doors it seemed safe to rock hunt with others. We took some friends from our rock club around to some places for them to hunt. I can testify they too were greedy, filling up the back end of their pickup. We all had great fun, and tested our mettle in the rain.

We found some fine gem grade Prehnite, a few fine Copper Crystals, a limited supply of possible Greenstones, and a couple small Datolites.

The Swap meet at the Quincy Mine produced several Copper Agates, a couple fine Candy Striped Lakers, and much visiting with old friends at an Unsociable Distance.

Lots of these Chlorite-coated balls about. Gotta cut this one and see. It looks promising

The one that looked promising above, turned out to be the best we found.

This is often the case with Greenstones. You see some pattern, but it runs out.

Of course we also made a visit to the A. E. Seaman Mineral Museum on the campus of Michigan Tech, to see all the specimens from the area that we drool over. The great colored Datolites (and huge too) are big favorites.

Centennial Datolite is one of the rarest.

All the campgrounds were totally filled, and continue to be, so if you go rock hung in the UP or Keweenaw, get reservations.

Fantastic sunsets. This one from the top of Brockway Mountain.

This year was a more restful visit than usual, but we still missed the Art Shows.

Patricianite (or not!)

Apple Green Prehnite appears as vein material in some mine spoil piles from Calumet north. Normally it has fine Native Copper inclusions. This is some of the “Chunky” variety of Prehnite mixes. Notice that this material forms in veins, as does Patricianite, in most cases.

Before I can address how to identify Patricianite, I have to address the main ingredient–Prehnite. Prehnite occurs generally in vein material in many of the mine waste piles in the central Keweenaw Peninsula area from Calumet north to Copper Harbor. Prehnite is formed in veins and cavities in Keweenaw basalts, and is associated with other Keweenaw Minerals, including Calcite, Datolite, Chlorastrolite (Greenstone), Quartz, and Zeolites. It is also closely associated with Native Copper.

Typical Prehnite Mixes and Patricianite Beach Pebbles. These pebbles often have Copper inclusions and beautiful radiating eyes, similar to Thomsonite, hence the local name of U.P.Thomsonite is commonly mentioned.

Patricianite and Prehnite, from the Keweenaw Peninsula, come in both smooth or chunky, just like peanut butter. Smooth beach pebbles of White, Pink, and Green are not uncommon finds in the Keweenaw, The pastel colors often appear stirred together. Chunky Prehnite or Patricianite are found in the mine spoil piles, roads, or secret holes near Thomsonite Hill. The forest roads sometimes produce nice Prehnite mixes. Here’s a secret; some of the Prehnites appear white, and is often passed over on these forest roads. The colors and patterns are hidden under this thin rind and are not visable until this rind is removed.

Patricianite is a special variety of Prehnite, named by Rosendahl, in 1966, after his daughter Patricia Ann. Green Prehnite with inclusions is not considered Patricianite. In order to have Patricianite, you must three ingredients: 1. Pink Prehnite; 2. Chlorite; and 3. Visable Copper Inclusions. If any of these three elements are not visable, you do not have patricianite. (pink prehnite is light apple green prehnite containing microscopic specks of copper that have changed the green Prehnite to pink shades). The more Copper in the mix, the darker pink; I have found a few Prehnite pieces that are actually Maroon from so much Copper. If you hold these pieces in the sunlight the massive ammount of micro-copper is very evident.

I usually like to write a new blog and have it published close to the first of the month. I wanted to write about Patricianite, but I could not find a good piece anywhere. If you have so many rocks, you can’t find A rock, perhaps you have too many rocks; NOT! While searching for a nice piece of Patricianite, lo and behold, I discovered some amazing Datolite. Now I’ve become distracted by the Datolite I forgot I had. While looking through the old Datolite, I found a small slab of PATRICIANITE. At a glance, Patricianite can look like Datolite, that’s why it was there. So amazing things lost years ago (can something be lost, it you don’t know it’s lost?), were found today. Now, even though Greenstone is being worked in the shop, the Datolite is calling.

The pebbles of Prehnite found on the beaches, are generally a combination of beautiful apple green, pink, white, and other colors which appear stored together (smooth), while the mine spoil piles produce chunky seam Prehnite. Usually the seams aren’t much more then an inch wide, and if you are lucky, you can find gem green Prehnite visibly peppered with copper. Prehnite in these seams seems to form from both sides of the seams, and either meets in the middle of the seam, or there may be a gap right down the middle of the seam. Bubbly, boitrioidal, Prehnite is also found on the spoil piles. This Prehnite is translucent and has a vitreous luster. If you find one of these, you have a great specimen.

There was so much Copper in this Prehnite that the stone was Maroon. Patricianite?; Some call this Patricianite, but not the classic mix.

Prehnite with copper and Chlorite. No Pink, so this isnot Patricianite.

A beautiful pink and white Prehnite cab, but no evidence of Chlorite. Copper IS in there, but I can see no Chlorite.

A close-up of the previous cab, reveals visible Copper, but I see no Chlorite. I believe this is Patricianite, but I would not argue the point. That Chlorite has to be in there, doesn’t it? Under magnification that triangle in there looks loke a Pseudomorph of Aragonite, doesn’t it?

Copper and Patricianite mix, but green so Not Patricianite.

This is Patricianite; all the right ingredients and more.

Prehnite in the Keweenaw is sometimes referred to as UP Thomsonite. People used to think Prehnite was a form of Thomsonite until testing by Michigan Tech proved that it was not. Prehnite can have eyes, and radiating crystals similar to Thomsonite, but Prehnite is not a Zeolite, as is Thomsonite. TRIVIA: Prehnite is the first modern mineral named after a person. You can read about this on one of my previous blogs. https://www.snobappealjewelry.com/blog/can-you-make-jewelry-from-keweenaw-prehnite/

Prehnite is a favorite stone to make Keweenaw Stone Jewelry from, the shiny copper bits and pink and green color variations make it interesting and popular. High quality, gemmy Patricianite and Prehnite are highly prized for jewelry and collecting. Visit our Prehnite Jewelry page.

See other jewelry from Keweenaw rocks and minerals: Greenstone, Datolite, Firebrick, Mohawkite, Thomsonite, Lake Superior Agates.

Just as an aside; In order to do the research for this article I happily dug into my collection of old Rock & Mineral books. Every time I do this, I pick up little known and forgotten facts. I was reading “Rocks and Mineral of Michigan” published by the State of Michigan Department of Conservation (now the Department of Natural Resources; DNR) in 1939. It was so old it referred to MSU as Michigan State College, and MTU as Michigan College of Mining and Technology. I’ve got to re-read this book and perhaps find a new rock hunting area lost in the past.

Chlorastrolite or Michigan Greenstone–State Gemstone

Piles of mine waste rocks used to abound in the Keweenaw. Not so much anymore. There’s a lot of Greenstone here, but where are they?

Let’s look at some interesting tidbits about Michigan Greenstone, the state gem.

After lobbying by the Michigan lapidary community, Isle Royale Greenstone (Chlorastrolite) became Michigans Official State Gemstone on February 21, 1972. Gov. William G. Milliken signed a bill that had rapidly sped through the legislature with overwhelming majorities.

Reportedly the lawmakers had some smart remarks to make before they were finished. One Senator from Kalamazoo (Anthony Stamm), said It looks like stuff I put on my driveway at $40 a load. Another legislator wanted to know if Chlorastrolite was any relation to the stuff that clogs arteries.Another lawmaker explained If you think my wife is going to trade in her Diamond for a Greenstone, you have rocks in your head.

A beautiful Isle Royale Greenstone.

Chemically Chlorastrolite is Hydrous Calcium Aluminum Silicate. It commonly has a polygonal mosaic pattern sometimes referred to as an alligator pattern. It can be light or dark green, but the pattern is much showier in lighter shades. Lighter green predominates Greenstones from Isle Royale, while many Keweenaw Greenstones are darker. A desirable Greenstone trait shows radiating lines exhibiting Chatoyancy like Tiger-eye.

A solid Greenstone has a hardness of 5.5 to 6.

Tumbled Greenstones ready for sorting. Most of these are good for jewelry.

Chlorastrolite is formed in vesicles (small holes in bubbly Botryoidal lava) in the upper strata of the lava flows. In many cases in the Keweenaw, the vesicles do not completely fill, and you get hollow nodules. Imagine cutting a large Greenstone, thinking how big and splendid and special it is, plus how much money it might be worth, and all of a sudden, you bust through to a hollow center. Everyone that cuts quantities of Greenstone has done this. It’s very frustrating indeed. I will leave out the expletives uttered when this happens.

On the other hand, sometimes a hollow core may have been later filled with another precious mineral found in this area–Thomsonite, Prehnite, Datolite, or even Copper. These elicit a WHOOP! sound from me. I have even seen hollow Greenstone with copper crystals inside. (For more on my favorite Greenstones with inclusions read The Shades and Patterns of Greenstone (Chlorastrolite) May 1, 2016

Sometimes I just take the entire Greenstone and matrix and pop the Greenstone out as needed.

A Greenstone found underwater off Isle Royale in1961 by Arthur Vierthaler is in the Smithsonian and is claimed to be the largest Greenstone ever found at one and a half inch by three inches. I have seen many larger, and have personally cut a two inch by four inch one myself.

Shall we go way back in time? In the 1890s to the 1900s Isle Royale Greenstones started to appear in New York City. Socialites assumed they were of French origin because of the name. These ladies were somewhat lacking in geographical knowledge, and although there was minor interest in stones from romantic France, when it was found they were from a remote Island in Lake Superior, interest waned. Michigan Greenstones were relegated to the curio category and only had a passing interest.

Greenstones from Isle Royale. Collected 50 years ago.

Greenstones had more recognition in the Midwest where they could be purchased at Wisconsin and Northern Michigan barbershops and saloons. Today, Greenstone dealers still do not get the customers for Greenstones that they warrant. Because Michigan Greenstones come from such a limited area of the world, few people have ever seen one. They are basically a one source gemstone and that source is the Isle Royale National Park, (where they’re illegal to remove), or in the Keweenaw Peninsula, where they’re becoming more scarce because of all the Private property and all the old dump piles having been crushed and hauled away for road fill.

Michigan Greenstones may resemble several other vesicle-filled stones that are found in these areas. These nodules can be Chlorite balls, Chlorite covered shot copper, Copper agates, Greenstones, or other things. We may find what we call Greenstone Wanna-Bes. On the outside these appear as if they may be Greenstones, but when we grind them, they become green dust or mud. They just didn’t get fully baked by the geologic forces I guess!

Over the years I have accumulated not only vast amounts of Rocks, Minerals, and Fossils, but occasionally when I purchase an old collections from an Estate or garage sale, I also see old rock books or, if I am lucky, some notes or historic data on rocks and minerals.

Years ago I visited an estate sale of a well known Geologist/rockhound and discovered a couple boxes of documents, maps, notes, articles, and books no longer in print. To me, these are just as valuable as any rocks I might find. These papers and books contained secret locations, historical data, and many, many other valuable resources. I cannot explain you how excited I was to find these boxes; even more excited then finding that bonus fry or three on the bottom of the McDonalds bag.

I started to dig through these boxes and other archival resources and see what tidbits I could find on Chlorastrolite (AKA Greenstone). I know I have written about Michigans State Gemstone many times, but I am always looking to find something new from the old articles. Much of the information in this blog is from my treasure trove of old resources.

The Chlorastrolite Now Michigans Official Gem by E.W. Courter Lapidary Journal November 1974

Footnote on Chlorastrolites by Lee Carter Lapidary Journal October 1969

Other information delved from papers of the late Don H. Clarke

At Snob Appeal Jewelry we sell high-quality, hand-crafted, wire-wrapped stone jewelry specializing in stones from the Great Lakes Area. You can see our Michigan Greenstone cabochons and jewelry, Lake Superior Agate jewelry and other Keweenaw stones, Petoskey Stone jewelry,and stone and agate jewelry from around the world.

Copper Banded Agates

Bonnie has a good hole dug, and is looking for little green nodules that may be Copper Agates.

I’m not too far away in my own hole.

After 20 years of searching the mine spoil piles in the Keweenaw, with great success, I have to admit one of my biggest blunders. I used to dig large holes in the what was left of the C&H pile, near Calumet, with my buddy Bill, looking for Datolites. At that time, if I came across a piece of copper while Datolite digging, I would keep it, but I would also find other Chlorite covered nodules, that we would call copper balls and just heave them out of the hole.

You would never believe whats may be inside these nodules.

Here’s the suprise.

Today these Chlorite covered nodules are coveted by collectors around the world. You guessed it–Many of these nodules we threw away were Copper Banded (Infused) Agates. Nobody knew at that time that these things would end up being valuable gemstones. Later I learned that my friend, the late John Perona and his brother knew about these agates for many years. Today, we also know that these special agates are found nowhere else in the world except in the Kearsarge Lode. The Powebic Lode to the South where the Quincy, Mesnard, and Franklin Mines resided, have not produced Copper Agates. You do not see Copper Agates in the rocks of the Fissure and Stratiform Deposits to the North either; so the Kearsarge Lode of the Calumet Conglomerate is very unique indeed.

Careful cutting is involved with these Copper Agates.

It’s been so many years that I forgot where my hole was, and the area has been tilled up a few times, so all those agates I threw out; who knows where they are. I actually looked for my old hole last time I was in the area. I clearly forgot where it was.

A diligent and alert Rockhound can still find Copper Agates in the Kearsarge Lode if they are willing to put in some work excavating and carefully observing the pieces of spoil rock that might contain nodules that read “hot” with a pinpoint metal detector. I enjoy sitting down and digging, especially in late August, after Black Fly season. It’s even better if it’s raining. These little balls of glory stand out a whole lot better in the rain. the usual scenario is you see a rock of rubble with nodules in it and try to extract them with tools.

How these agates formed is debatable, but the theory that makes the most sense is suggested by the Lynch brothers in their fine book Agates of Lake Superior. You’ll have to read the book to see what they say about Copper Infused Agates. I prefer that term over Copper Replacement Agates, but most of the time I just refer to them as “Copper Agates“.

My last trip involved some very successful Greenstone digging, but no Copper Agate hunting. I only had limited rock hunting time this trip, so I had to chose between Greenstones or Copper Agates.

Copper Agates are rarely really large, but some real sizable. Fully banded beauties, are sometimes found as large as a half dollar. I’m happy to find a dime sized one, but like Greenstones, a big hunker is very welcome, and always elicits a “WHOOP!”.

Here are most of those Cabochons from above turned intoÂ jewelry. All these are for sale at: www.snobappealjewelry.com

I do have miner friends in the area that usually have some Copper Agates for sale, so I always buy a few. I purchase these agates with the question; Can I make these better? If I believe that I can, I will take them home for a re-work before making jewelry. Most often Copper Agates are cut in half and sold as a pair, but often I take a pair and grind the rind off the outside where better banding may appear (or may not). Often, the odd shapes of these nodules do not allow working the outside rind, due to all the gaps and dips in the stones, so these I either work with what the slice has produced or just sell or trade these for specimens. Most Copper Agates are bought as specimens and not so much for jewelry.

The Kearsage Lode also produces small pastel, banded agates that have little of no copper in them, but are very fine; we refer to these as “mine agates”. When found these are also Chlorite covered, just as are the Copper Banded Agates. I take everything and sort them by removing the crust in my home shop.

I work Copper Agates using my soft wheels only with loads of water to keep them cool and, for proper lubrication, an additive is added to the water when cutting. Special grinding techniques are used also. I generally treat these Copper Infused Agates with a coating to make them tarnish resistant, rather than polishing them. The coating I use is one of my trade secrets.

I sell Copper Agate pendants on line, at art shows and within a mile of where I find them, at Copper World, in Calumet. The jewelry I make from these rare agates is spectacular, simply because the Copper Agates are spectacular. It seems as though Copper Banded Agates are becoming very popular as of late. I have a good selection now, and you should remember, the closer to Christmas, the more your choice narrows.

I hope you have sensed my frustration at having tossed out hundreds of Copper Agates. I’ve got to work on my memory, because if I get it back, I’ll be INFUSED with Copper Infused Agates.

Hunting Michigan Greenstones

GREENSTONES GALORE

Thirty years ago things were different in the Keweenaw. Rock hunting sights were plentiful, and hunting was good. Today rock hunting areas are scarce, as mine spoil piles are bought up to be crushed and sold for road fill. Often logging companies purchase the piles to crush and use for logging roads. It seems to me that the Keweenaw has been pilfered of all its soil-based resources, and what is especially disturbing is that the whole area is a national historic park.

I’m setting on the base of what once was a pile of rubble far higher then full grown trees.

Much of the history of the Copper Country revolves around the mining of copper. With the disappearance of the mine waste piles, the history of the area is that much harder to experience and visualize. Most of what is left is privately owned and off limits to rock hounds, except a few times a year when sponsored events are arranged where mine owners are reimbursed for rock hounds hunting their piles.

We travel the Keweenaw every August for art shows at Eagle Harbor and Copper Harbor and our retail outlet Copper World in Calumet. (Lake Superior Magazine listed Copper World at the top Michigan gift shop for the sixth year in a row! (It is great to be represented at such a fine store).

At the campground, sorting what to take and what to leave. We really could not tell until we washed the mud off them.

Took these home. I will either cut them out or hammer them out.

What Greenstone look like after being extracting from the mine rock.

Often Greenstone have fallen out of the rocks and can be found just laying on the ground or in the piles.

If you want to hunt Greenstones or other copper-related minerals currently two organized rock hunt opportunities are available, arranged by the Seaman Mineral Museum, and by the Copper Country Rock Club. The groups arrange to have the mine waste piles bulldozed and participants who have paid the fee get to have first look at trying to find a new treasure that has been buried for decades (or eons) and brought to the surface by the bulldozer.Â Â We have participated in many of these hunts over the years. Sometimes they are worthwhile and sometimes they are a disappointment.

Clearly there is Copper in this one.

Rain is the rock hounds friend, rinsing the dirt off the rock that was stirred up in the recent few weeks of organized hunts. This year we were able to go hunting between art shows on a couple of rainy days. We were successful in finding greenstones, datolite, prehnite, and native copper. Often we pick up muddy things that look of interest, and after cleaning may turn out to be wonderful finds. And sometimes a promising rock is disappointing. You often don’t know what you have until you do the lapidary work.

Dopping begins the grinding and polishing process. I use, nails, screws, rivets and glue the stones on to the Dops. Others use dopping wax.

Keweenaw Greenstones are especially tricky, they may have no pattern, or they may break apart. What appears to be a fine Greenstone, as you work it, may in fact be hollow; you have something, than you have nothing. Working Michigan State Gem Greenstones to their maximum potential takes a gentle hand, and lots of patience. When polishing a large stone I get excited if it has a great alligator pattern and a chatoyant surface. The other thing about greenstones is that it dictates how it can be cut. Sometimes the pattern layer is so thin, that you have to know when to stop grinding. YouÂ may or may not be able to eliminate inclusions that distract from a perfect stone. Â Those I give to teachers that teach Earth Sciences. Only experience tells you if you have the stone perfect, or if you can make it better. They are a uniquely difficult gemstone to get right, and in general the highest quality GreenstonesÂ can be pricey.Â Many greenstones must be cut before I get a one that has the qualities expected in a gem. If you have a large stone you want to have polished, be sure to have someone cut it that has experienced in cutting Greenstones. I’ve seen $1000 Greenstones ruined because the person cutting it did not know what they were doing. I liken some Greenstones to Fire Agate; You have to know when to stop, and there is no room for error.

Another truth is that Most Michiganders have never personally seen an Isle Royale Greenstone, and I have been asked things like “is that a Green Petoskey Stone?” or they’ll say things like “I found one of them on Lake Michigan” NOT! One of these , usually small stoned, would never survive the glacial transportation. A picture does not do justice to the lovely, silky, Chatoyancy or Michigan’s State Gemstone. You have to see one in person to appreciate it. They’re like an alligator wearing a shear silky robe.

This is a “Broll”. It’s made my life easier. Do a search if you are interested; it’ll save me answering a bunch of questions. This picture was takenon a Petoskey Stone Hunt.

Bonnie always takes home a couple garden rocks, and our Broll is a handy tool for carrying rocks back to the car. For those who haven’t seen one, you can see and buy a Broll online; we take it on all our rock hunts.

A beautiful Thomsonite flowered Greenstone from the Phoenix Mine.

People look for us at the art shows and bring something that they have found to have a special piece of jewelry made for them. Cutting their rocks and making their jewelry keeps me busy for a while.

Even though gemstone hunting is not what it once was, we still enjoy our trips. The art shows, natural beauty, wonderful sunsets, rock hunts, pasties, Vollwerth’s hot dogs, and monk’s muffins all contribute to a vacation atmosphere while we are doing our work!

Can you make jewelry from Keweenaw Prehnite?

Botrioidal Keweenaw Prehnite rough

A thin Patricianite seam. Yes, that copper sheet is embedded in it.

Patricianite Rough (Non-seam material)

Here’s a little trivia you may not know about the mineral Prehnite: The first modern mineral to be named for a person was…..PREHNITE. Abraham Gottlob Werner of the Freiberg Mining Academy, was a popular teacher, but is also credited for delaying the advance of Geology by insisting upon wrong concepts on the origin of rocks and minerals. He WAS successful in classifying minerals. Werner named the mineral Prehnite after Col. von Prehn after von Prehn brought the mineral to Europe from the Cape of Good Hope (1783), where he found it.

I love rock trivia. I found this knowledge in a 45 year old book I have. Let’s take a look at some of the variations of Keweenaw Prehnite. Where possible I will show the cabochon before it became jewelry.

This Patricianite sports loads of Copper. I think it would look good as jewelry.

Why, yes indeed it did look good as jewelry.

Prehnite is a Copper Associate Mineral in Copper Country. Much of the Prehnite contains copper dust that changes green Prehnite to pink Prehnite. Other inclusions in Prehnite also produce a plethora of colors. Zeolites sometimes mix with Prehnite (A calcium Aluminum Silicate) in the Keweenaw and produce feathery eyes and patterns. Copper and Chlorite included Prehnite is sometimes referred to as “Patricianite” by copper country locals.

Pastel Patricianite with small Copper Inclusions. This was a massive chunk before slabbing.

Another one that made great jewelry.

Pastel Prehnites roll up on the beaches all along the west side of the Keweenaw Peninsula. While looking for agates, beachcombers may see a bright pink stone shimmering among other dull stones. Pick it up, it might be a coppery beauty. These nuggets can have pink and green together, sometimes even purple tones. I have found Prehnite in piles of materials cleared from road construction not far from Calumet. Prehnites are also gleaned from rock spoil piles at some mines. I have a secret hole that I also occasionally excavate for Prehnites. The best Prehnite has always been associated with Austraiia, but gemmy pastel green Keweenaw Prehnite with Copper inclusions, in my opinion, gives the Aussie stuff a run for the money.

Prehnite with Copper. This is the high quality stuff often found in slim seams.

Prehnite with very little Copper. This is the high quality stuff often found in slim seams.

Prehnite is sometimes referred to as U.P. Thomsonite because its’ appearance often mimics Thomsonite, with eyes, radiating sprays, and variegated inclusions. Some Prehnite is difficult to tell from Thomsonite, or other Zeolites, and for many years Prehnite was thought to be a Zeolite. It was determined by Analysis by Michigan Tech geologists that Prehnite is not related to the Zeolites, but can be associated with Zeolites. Prehnite is a Calcium Alumosilicate. More confusing is when Zeoiles mix with Prehnite and make the Prehnite look exactly like Thomsonite. Thomsonte is almost an exclusive American Gemstone (more trivia for you guys), Prehnite is much more scattered and can be found in numerous locales around the world.

Loads of Copper in this Prehnite. Mine seam material.

Loads of Copper runs through this Prehnite, a mine seam material.

A beautiful oddball dug from a hole somewhere in the Keweenaw Peninsula. Prehnite, assorted Zeolite and other stuff. A beautiful mix, don’t you think?

The Apple Green Prehnite from the Keweenaw can be found as small round Crystals, but in most cases as slim veins in the Amydaloidal basalt. I have found much of the Prehnite in my collection in veins that are less that one inch. The Prehnite seems to form within a void from the outside in, meeting in the middle of the void. After extracting the Prenite bearing host basalt, I usually split the Prehnite where it meets in the middle. I can then use both sides to make beautify cabochons and jewelry. I like when the Prehnite sometimes does not completely close off in the middle of the seam, leaving a void where Prehnite Crystals form in a drusy. Remember it is often possible to find copper within the U.P. Prehnite. Copper can be found included in most every Keweenaw mineral.

The Seaman Mineral Museum, in Houghton, Michigan, has some wonderful, large Prehnite crystals found by miners over the years. Knowing that a Mine Captain or Superintendant or other mine management person was a mineral collector, the miners could score some points by turning these specimens over to them. Some of the finest specimens at the Seaman Museum were from these historic collections donated to the museum by heirs or willed by the owners of the collections.. Two of the most prolific collectors were J.T. Reeder, who clerked at several different mines, and L.L. Hubbard who discovered the Champion Mine and served as general manager of the mine. It is interesting to read and learn about these early collectors. Hubbard willed some of his collection to the University of Michigan, and recently the U of M has given many Copper Country specimens, from historic collections, to the Seaman Museum.

Many rockhounds overlook Prehnite or Patricianite while rock collecting in the Keweenaw. it’s one of my favorites and I never miss a chance to pick up nice pieces. So what do you think? Does Prehnite/Patricianite make good jewelry? You are invited to visit my jewelry pages to see the variety created from Keweenaw Treasures, especially Prehnite .

Datolite, Copper and Quartz Pendant

I’ve decided to write some mini-blogs to keep you up on activities at Snob Appeal Jewelry. I will be keeping you up to date about waht takes place in my shop, on my workbench, and in Bonnie’s Bead Room.

Last week I cut a beautiful Cabochon from a piece of Datolite I bought from a friend in the Keweenaw earlier in August. I don’t usually use White Datolite as there are many more colors of Datolite that are far more coveted. White is common and was found in most all the Copper Mines in the Keweenaw. It is impossible to determine what mine White Datolite came from. Most colored Datolite can be identified with what mine it may have come from.

White Datolite generally has very little “character”, but sometimes, as in the case of this piece, it has character to the max. Copper always adds character to Datolite no matter what color. White Datolite with Copper inclusions and Quartz is especially fine.

I cut this piece into a large bold teardrop shape (30 X 40 mm). Since the Datolite is so showy, the wrap needed to be simple and elegant. I love using Pink Gold whenever I have loads of native copper in a stone. Pink gold’s coloration matches Copper well, but you do not have the Oxidation with Pink Gold like you do with Copper. I combined Pink Gold and Argentiun Sterling for this piece.

Whenever you wrap a calibrated Cabochon, you have to be as identical on the right and left side as possible. Any variation from side to side are readily noticed, and this is why many wire wrappers avoid calibrated cabochons. This pendant could be worn by a man or woman.

I hope you enjoy these small blogs.

Remarkable Datolite and other Upper Peninsula Gemstone Treasures

Yelow Datolite from the Quincy Mine

On our most recent trip to the Keweenaw I successfully found some wonderful gemstone rough material to work into new jewelry pieces. When I say I “found” great gemstone rough: I mean I found several friends who were willing, for cash, to part with some wonderful local minerals! Rare colored Datolite is drawing a premium price, even in the rough.

Iron Lace Agate is now extinct.

The annual Ishpeming Show is always interesting, and most of the time if you look in the crevices of this show, good, and sometimes great treasures, can be found. Being an experienced, senior rockhound sometimes has its advantages at times. Being around the block with some of the old, now extinct, gemstone materials has advantages over younger rockhounds. I often recognize old material from back 30 years or more that is seldom seen. This happened at the Ishpeming show.

I saw some Iron Lace Agates from the Republic mine that were briefly available… I’m betting that not many know what these agates really were, and the history of them. A seam of Iron Lace Agate (named by the Ishpeming Rock Club) was very briefly mined back in the 70’s from the North wall of the New Republic Mine near Marquette. I purchased a few and will make jewelry for the Agate Expo next year.

Ultra rare Keweenae Point canary yellow Datolite

Deleware Datolite with Copper inclusions

The other wonderful things I sought out with success was some caramel yellow Mesnard Datolite, a piece of impossibly rare, canary yellow, Keweenaw Point Datolite, some wonderful, Copper included, Delaware Datolite, some classic Yellow Quincy Datolite, a slightly different yellow than the Yellow Point datolite. It’s always a good day when I find some rare Centenniel Blue Datolite. Blue Centennial Datolite is now very hard to find. I also found several spectacular Lakers to work with.

Blue Centennial Datolite. These pieces seem to flow to pink toward the bottom

Mesnard Mustard.

The Isle Royale Copper Mine had some of the hardest Datolite of a light green color, and also some Blue Datolite, much of it a softer, requiring some stabilization in order to work with it for jewelry.

Copper included Agates are a wonderful find. I love these things

I just started working with all my new rocks, so you will see jewelry soon.

Centennial Blue-A Memorial Gemstone

When I cross the mighty Mac, my mind drifts to Centennial Treasures; Especially when the sky matches perfectly. No, I did not re-touch the colors at all. It was amazing!

I find it wondrous that we can actually make friends “on Line”. People we may never meet in person, but somehow they become friends through some site you follow, or some Facebook Group you belong to. I can’t believe how many people I meet on Facebook become good friends. A few I have met in person, a few I will never meet, but that is OK too.

Diana Smith is one of my Facebook friends and follows my comments in various groups and on my FB business page. If you have friended Snob Appeal Jewelry on FB, you know I post up my new jewelry there first. I sometimes do a blog on pieces later, but the new stuff goes on Facebook first when I am freshly excited about it.

Bonnie's Birthday Pendant-I named this "Copper Strike"

I recently, and in the past, posted up pendants made from the very rare blue Datolite from the Centennial Mine. Centennial Datolite is so very scarce and beautiful. Diana saw a piece of jewelry I made, and mentioned her Great Uncle had lost his life in an accident at the Centennial. She wanted a Centennial Datolite Pendant as a family heirloom and as a tribute to her Uncle.

I was happy to make her something that was very special and very sentimental to her family from Centennial Datolite.

Diana's Memorial Pendant

She agreed to co-author this blog. I really appreciate her sharing her family history like this. This is one of my favorite all time blogs. Here’s what she says of her uncle:

Michele (Michael) Picchiottine

Family stories can draw us into a world of the past that strikes a chord within us and forms a bond with someone we never knew. As I researched our family history I formed that bond with the 21 year old brother of my great grandfather, Michele (Michael) Picchiottino. The Italian world was in political and economic chaos and poverty was rampant. The copper industry in Minnesota and Michigan’s U.P. offered plenty of opportunity for immigrants. Some of our family members moved to Michigan and several of them were employed in the mines. The hours were long, the conditions horrific, and many miners died. On June 13, 1891, Michele was working at Centennial Mine #3 as a laborer when he fell from a tram car on the 25th level and was run over. He joined the list of dead miners that year.

Twenty one years old, barely a man by today’s standards. A life never to be lived. His story of all those I have found in our history probably speaks to me the most. I spent my entire teaching career preparing young people to think about the choices they were making that would direct them into a successful adult life. But Michael never had that chance. As he stood on the threshold of adulthood, his life was cut short.

I told this story to Don Reed and asked him if he could make something we could pass down as a family memorial for this young man. Don suggested the minerals he had worked with ….a small piece of blue/green datolite, copper, and silver, Simple, strong and yet beautiful. The datolite is pretty much gone today , only a memory like Michael. Only a few pieces can be found here and there. We decided on plain, as Micheal’s lifestyle would have been, but solid. The pendant grew under Don’s touch and I could hardly wait to see it. I was so excited. Don did not keep me waiting long. Four days after he began, it arrived. I opened the envelope and fell in love. It was everything I had hoped for. I showed it to the girls. My daughter loves it. My granddaughter also loves it. We will all be very happy when we wear it. No, it won’t bring Micheal back, but it will keep him near our hearts.

THANK YOU, Don for knowing what I wanted, and how to make it look great. Your skills, your creativity, your patience and your speed were much appreciated. You may be sure I Will be shopping with you again. DIANA SMITH

Houghton County Mining Inspector Report

Back to Accident Name Index

Page No.	7
Full Report	Accident 21. Michael Pichiotine got onto a loaded skip at the 25th level No. 3 shaft Centennial mine to ride to the surface and when up about twenty-five feet fell off when the skip passing over him killed him instantly. An inquest was held before Justice CRUSE at which the jury exonerated the Mining Company and its officers from all blame.
Accident No.	21-1891
Source	s1
ID	r21

Source Information

Source Name	Inspector	Library Call No.	ID
Report of the Mine Inspector of Houghton County Michigan for the Year Ending September 30 1891	Josiah Hall Mine Inspector	Michigan TN 272 .H68z 1890/91	s1
Report of the Mine Inspector of Houghton County Michigan for the Year Ending September 30 1892	Josiah Hall Mine Inspector	Michigan TN 272.H68z 1892	s2
Mine Inspectors Report for Houghton County, Mich. For the Year Ending September 30th 1893	Josiah Hall Mine Inspector	Michigan TN 272.H68z 1893	s3
Mine Inspectors Report for Houghton County, Mich. For the Year Ending September 30th 1894	Josiah Hall Mine Inspector	Michigan TN 272.H68z 1894	s4
Mine Inspectors Report for Houghton County, Mich. For the Year Ending September 30th 1895	Josiah Hall Mine Inspector	Michigan TN 272.H68z 1895	s5
Mine Inspectors Report for Houghton County, Mich. For the Year Ending September 30th 1890	not named	Michigan TN 272 .H68z 1889	s6
Mine Inspectors Report for Houghton County, Mich. For the Year Ending September 30th 1897	not named	Michigan TN272 .H68z 1897	s7
Mine Inspectors Report for Houghton County, Mich. For the Year Ending September 30th 1900	not named	Michigan TN272 .H68z 1900	s8

I find it very interesting that it was common practice back in the day to exonerate the mining companies. It was commonly accepted by the courts that miners knew the dangers of mining and by accepting employment in the mines, they also accepted the dangers. You hardly ever had any case where a fatality was the mining companies fault.

The panels that decided these cases were comprised of individuals employed in management of one mine or another, so the odds were stacked against any miner or their heirs ever getting anything as recompense. Miners lived in company housing and exclusively used company stores to buy what they needed. After paying rent and store bills, there wasn’t much left. Liability on the mines and mine owners was pretty much non existent. The miner’s wives were hesitant to sue the mines in fear of losing housing and/or any small pension that they might be receiving because of the kindness and concern of the benevolent mine management. The lack of protections was one of the many conditions that led to turmoil between labor and management and resulting strikes and protests.

The Centennial Mine in it's heyday.

The mines did not even care enough to get the spelling correct on the miner’s names. Especially difficult were Italian, Finnish, and Polish names. As you can see on the mine inspectors death investigation report, Mr. Picchiottino was misspelled. The entire report of a miner’s death investigation in a few sentences. No way this would happen today. You can read more about the life and times of the copper miners in three books by Larry D. Lankton, especially Cradle to Grave: Life, Work and Death at the Lake Superior Copper Mines. Another interesting book about the era is Death’s Door: The Truth Behind the Italian Hall Disaster and the Strike of 1913 by Steve Lehto.

Centennial Mineshaft today

An old ladder and a broken down building at Centennial

Mineshaft #6 is still visible from M-41 on the west side, north of Calumet in Centennial. The Centennial Mine opened in 1869 and closed in 1968, became flooded, was dewatered in the mid-1970’s by Homestake, but the operation was abandoned within a few years. Shafts 6 and 3 worked the Calumet and Hecla Conglomerate and yielded 1.9 billion kg of refined copper. This was the largest lode in the district and comprised one-third of the total Native Copper mined in the Keweenaw Copper District.

I love the Keweenaw Datolite, but especially the Blue from the Centennial. This blue tinge is probably caused by Kinoite. You would be hard pressed to find a random piece of Centennial around anymore. I only have a small supply left. Copper World (aka the best Gift Shop around Lake Superior), usually has a piece or two of Centennial Jewelry I’ve made. If Blue Centennial Datolite were an animal it would be on the endangered species list!

I appreciate Diana adding personal interest and her family history to this blog.

A Garden Rock of Great Size

Hunting with Friends

Houghton County Mining Inspector Report

Source Information

Data contributed by: Patricia Wazny-Hamp Copyright © 2015