Category Archives: Lake Superior Agate Jewelry

Stones with a Story

Twelve New handmade pendants for the Twelve Days of Christmas. Appreciate the stones and the short stories of each one. This should make you smile.

The stone stories are worth reading, and may enhance your Holidays

**Phenomenal Copper Pendant**
I would not refer to this as a Copper Agate. as there is a lack of banding. This stone is actually Copper, Prehnite, Epidote, Datolite, and Chlorite. The odd and unusual is what made us famous, and this fits our niche for sure.
We were camped in the Keweenaw near Lake Linden this summer, when Bonnie came in and said, “Look who’s just pulled into the campsite next to us”. They tuned out to be friends, from Wisconsin, that camp near us in a campground in Tucson many times, during the Tucson Gem & Mineral Shows. We’ve also hunted the rock spoil piles together in the Keweenaw. Small world.
I discovered that our friends had some old stock Cabochons for sale. This, as well as some Copper Agates, and Silver/Copper Nuggets (Half Breeds), got me excited. This was A fun time with old friends; small world.

Pudding Stone Jasper Pendant with Large red spot — **Florid Daze Pudding Stone Pendant**
Pudding Stones are interesting; Quartzite containing other stones (especially Red Jasper) I’ve seen many other rocks in Pudding Stones. Lake Superior Agate, pieces of colored Quartz, Amethyst, and black Tourmaline. This special piece featured a larger that average piece of bright red Jasper. This Pudding Stone makes me smile whenever i gaze upon it. As a bit of trivia for you: Pudding Stones were glacially transported from their source near Sudbury, Canada. It’s fun to figure out how far they traveled. THE LAST PUDDING STONE I FOUND “SURFED” 326 MILES!!

Thunder Bay seam Agate pendant, triangular shape, dark red/brown with crystal cave — **Warm Harmony Thunder Bay Seam Agate Pendant**
The best I recall, this happened back in 2000. I drove up to Thunder Bay on Lake Superior’s North Shore. I had very good luck digging Amethyst East of Thunder Bay.
A small sign along the road said “Thunder Bay Seam Agate”. What is this (?), I thought. I recall a small retail building, where Seam Agate could be purchased, along with jewelry and baubles. People could also go seach the trenched area, and pick up whatever they wanted to purchase. There was a dirt covered employee working hard on breaking up and cutting, larger pieces for the store to sell. I saw one beautiful large, crystal and agate infested chunk of Seam Agate that the worker was ready to break up. This piece would have been around 40 pounds. Was this a good deal, or a bad deal? I offered him some American Cash and threw the rock in the back of my Dakota.
After i left, I thought; was the minion suppose to sell me that rock? (or did he just need some American cash?) I did not know; or care, at the time. I think any statute of limitation has long since passed..
Research on “Seam Agate” later revealed that this deposit was exhumed when they were building a new road in the area. Someone purchased the property and opened the mine. I believe that the agate seam flowed all the way down to lake Superior, maybe a mile away. The area all the way down to the beach was all filled with housing and that property that the Seam Agate Mine was on, was probably no more than an acre of two.
Eventually after maybe three years that Lode played out, there was some financial situation, and no other areas that could be searched. The mine closed up.
I still have a large piece of Seam Agate, and this stuff is very scarce to find and pricey to buy; so I guess I did make a good deal. Being at the right place at the right time often pays off.

**Brush Fire Moss Agate Pendant**
Garden Agate from the island of Java in Indonesia, is a beautiful Moss Agate. This piece was located in a Gaylord box in Quartzite; way at the bottom. Back in the day rooting through these big boxes was fun. Today, I would never be wrecking my body “Dumpster Diving”.
The background is bright dark red moss agate which allows the green crystals to stand out. Do they look like snow covered pines?

White Fordite Pendant with red blue and black stripes, wire wrapped in silver — **Reverie Fordite Pendant**
“Fordite” is a generic name for oversprayed paint. Sometimes a close search on line, looking at old paint color charts may give a hint as to what the paint was used for. I am not sure about the vehicle, boat, or toy, this paint was used on. It is bright, quite metallic, and patriotic colors. Makes me want to salute. As a word of caution; Much Fordite is manufactured in China, or other countries, nowdays.

My love for Victoria Stone goes back to the mid-70’s. Formally known at Iimori Stone, it was marketed in Tucson as Victoria Stone. You can read an extensive blog on this gorgeous man-made stone in my “Snob Blog”.
It was fortunate I started purchasing Victoria Stone, when I could find it back then. Now the original Victoria Stone is very scarce, but there are a few simulates out there, (but none as spectacular as the original).
I have a fair supply of Victoria Stone, but am bombarded by other collectors to sell some of my stash, which I don’t often do.
You will find many brightly colored Victoria Stone pendants on our website.
Very recently I was looking over one of my Victoria Stone cabs, and one spectacular bright green beauty called to me. Dark Green and Light Blue were always the most popular colors in Victoria Stone.
I held onto it until the joys of Christmas, this year, convinced me to create one of the finest festive Victoria Stone Pendants I’ve ever created. I often have dreams of jewelry I should make, and this was pendant was made when I awoke with the idea at 2am. My jewelry dreams are usually very detailed, except I had to see if Bonnie brought along the beads I needed to create this masterpiece. Not wanting to awaken a sleeping bear, I waited until later in the day. Fortunately she had something that would work.
I wanted to design something that could be worn at Christmas, but also during the rest of the year, as a floral wreath. Bonnie has worn the pendant several times this holiday season, and everyone seems to love it.

**Sunrise Lake Superior Agate Pendant**
Everyone that knows me well, knows that Lake Superior Agates are my very favorite Gemstones to make jewelry with. I have a friend that owns a cemetery in Minnesota. He has a large parcel of property in an urban area. On that property is a “Reverse” gravel pit. What is that, you are probably asking? Construction types pay him to dump stones on his property; roof ballast, landscape rock, and gravel. This is his private gravel pit. He allows us to hunt there for Lakers. Guess what else? Whenever a construction person needs gravel or rocks, he sells them what people have paid him to dump on his property. He makes money both ways. How awesome is that? I found this stone on that property.
What makes this Laker unique is a couple things. First, it contains yellow (somewhat scarce in Lakers). The Agate is also a partial “Shadow Agate”‘ as well as a picture agate. The agate was crack free, and took a glass-like polish. It’s about a Quarter size.

Dark Eyed Thomsonite is a North Shore Superior Treasure. Most of it is now found in a small beach, all privately owned near Gran Marais, Minnesota. If you tried to hunt that beach, you would risk injury or death, as the residents are very protective.
On a Lake Superior Circle Tour in our RV we stopped at an RV park in Gran Marias. We saw one of the churches in town was putting on a breakfast to raise money. A random conversation with another man at our table, revealed an adventure may be in store.
He noticed Bonnie was wearing a Thomsonite and he admitted he lived on Thomsonite beach. He said we could look for Thomsonite on the beach, but he would have to go with us, to ward off other beach residents. A short search produced several nice Thomsonite pieces. This gentleman was quite old, so we returned to his house , after a short beach hunt. I looked at some rocks he had found, and I do not recall if i bought any or not, but this was a wonderful unexpected adventure.

**Thomsonite Masked Hombre Pendant**
Another dark Eyed Thomsonite from the North Shore. This one I purchase from an individual that owned property covered with Thomsonite-filled Amigdaloidal Basalt. Thomsonite is very brittle and difficult to extract from its’ host. It is also VERY sensitive to harmonic vibrations and heat. The wheels on my Genie have to be true, broken in, and lots of water emitted on them

Beautiful tall red Lake Superior Agage with fine white bands — **Ripples Lake Superior Agate Pendant**
Perfect “Candy Striped’ Lakers are classic. These are THE Laker everyone immediately associates with a Lake Superior Agate. I swapped some jewelry for this Agate.

**First Snowfall Agate Pendant**
You can invent any number of stories about this beautiful piece of Jasper/Agate.
My story starts with a snowy day far in the north. Because of the icy conditions, no matter the weather, a trip out to find food, firewood, or use the outhouse is risky.
You really do not want to stray too far out on the icy glacier.
For whatever reason you go abroad, it’s aways nice to get back to shelter. It almost looks like a wizard with a pointed hat headed back home,.

Telephoto lens picks up the wizard in the ice fog.

**Wasteland Deschutes Picture Jasper Pendant**
Imagine the devastating forces, it might look like a science fiction movie scene.
The real creation of this is much simpler; Picture Jasper is a type of jasper that forms from mud that drips into gas pockets in molten lava.

Links have been connected to the pictures of the stones that we have for sale on line. Click on any picture to see if it is “linked”.

If you need more information on any of these Story Stones, send an inquiry to us at; Snobappealjewelry@yahoo.com

Jewelry Made during a Hurricane

Winters in Florida are usually very pleasant.. Recently we had to deal with the uncertainty of Tropical Storm (later Cat 1 Hurricane) Nicole, as it hit the east coast of Florida. While “sheltering in place”, I had the opportunity to create some Pendants while watching the Weather Channel.

“**Windy Beach” was created while storm force winds shook ou**r RV. You can actually see some of the flying pieces of Spanish Moss. **This “Moss” was everywhere.** **It’s not really moss, but you can look it up on line if you wish.** **Owyhee Picture Jasper.**

It seemed like forever for this storm to finally make landfall in south Florida. Fortunately this was well south of us, but we did feel the effects in Jacksonville, with storm surge, beach erosion and two days of steady rain and wind. Owning a big RV gives us some feeling of security. If the power goes off, we still have a generator, in case it’s needed. We have water and food; we have each other. For “medicinal purposes’ we have adult beverages in the fridge. The locals say it’s no big deal, unless mandatory evacuations are ordered (in which case we pack up and move the house). Luckily November hurricanes have been uncommon.

A beautiful Petoskey Stone pendant in Rose Gold and Argentium Sterling was named “Gray Skies” The large species reminded me of Nicole, a very large storm. A slight maroon tinge adds rarity to this particular species (Hexagonaria Anna). Anna is one of the two largest species of Hexagonaria. Anna is an unusual find, especially a perfectly patterned specimen with coloration..

**This very unusual Painted Lake Superior Agate sported a blue-gray base with orange blotches. I called this “Weather Radar**“. **It resembled the** **some of the radar images on the Weather Channel.**

**This striking Pudding Stone brought to mind the “Scattered Debris” left behind by Nicole.**

**“Coming Ashore” seemed the perfect name for this Lake Superior Amethyst Laker.**

**This Michipicoten Agate was aptly named “Storm Surge”**.

Rain for two solid days, and steady 45 MPH winds shook the RV. We pulled the slides in and hunkered down. It was an especially good time to make up some hurricane jewelry. I was not rushed or stressed, but I was inspired to create some storm related jewelry art. This also took my mind off of the remote posssibilty of Biblical flooding, or a tree falling on the bus. Fortunately the latter never happened, but great pieces of jewelry were created. I decided to give each piece a Storm-related name.

**Some of our “Snowbird” jewelry. These Pendants are a cross between Florida and** **the** **Great Lakes region**. Michigan’s State Gemstone, the Isle Royale Greenstone, and a lovely Eyed Thomsonite, From Superior’s North Shore, are “hatched” in common Cockle Shells, from Florida Beaches (or what’s left of Florida Beaches). Our 5 year old Granddaughter only brings me the best Cockle’s she finds.

All my new “Hurricane” jewelry will be available on this website, or available in our show inventory. If you call us, We can help you obtain any of these pendants. If a pendant is posted on one of our websites, it will link when you “click” on the picture.

Lake Superior Agate Pendants-My Favorites

Small is often wonderful. A dime sized Candy Striper will make someone happy.

My Favorite Gemstone

Those that know me and/or follow my Snob Blog, know that my Favorite Jewelry Stones are Lake Superior Agates. I love the variety of types, and the amazing natural designs and colors.

The different banded patterns of Lakers is amazing.

The deep Maroon red and bright whites makes this Candy Striper “Classy”.

Refined Pendants

My self-isolating and social distancing has provided time and inclination to make the perfect piece of jewelry. Even if most people cannot readily discern any difference in my pendants, I can tell I’m using new techniques and liking the results. My designs are becoming often more complex and intricate, and I’ve been experimenting more. My recent pendants have reflected these refinements.

Pinks were the colors I tied together in this free-swinging triple-stoned pendant. The top is a Delaware Datolite with the pink that that location is famous for. The middle gemstone is, of course, a pinkish banded Laker, and the bottom is a grouping of Isle Royale Greenstone beads with pink Thomsonite inclusions.

I love the unusual! There is a lot going on in this stone, including a bit of Smokey Quartz.

One of the most eye-appealing Lakers ever. Unusual coloration with lovely Shadow-effect banding. The transparency is amazing also.

Banding and designer shapes flow perfectly together in this remarkable Lake Superior Agate treasure.

Small and simple, requiring nothing but neat wire wrapping. The stone is definitely the star here.

Since “Lakers” are my favorites, they have been imbued with some extra special thought and development as of late. Many of my recent Lakers have been combined with other gemstones in diverse ways.

Lake Superior Agates are a Great Investment

Why do we sell so many Lake Superior Agates? Several factors are involved. I look for the very best rough material, perfect agates; mostly fracture free, with spectacular colors and banding. These qualities are difficult to obtain, and I’m never really sure how an agate looks until I cut it. I reject the majority of the Lake Superior Agates I look at Our customers appreciate quality. I refuse to compromise when it comes to jewelry.

I try to match the shaping and finishing to the particular agate. Many of our pendants are wrapped in more than one precious metal. This makes buying easier if you are not certain what a special person might wear regarding metal. I try to match the metal to the stone pendant I am making.

The best Quality Control Available

My wife, Bonnie, serves as quality control. She is brutally honest with me. I appreciate her opinions, and make any adjustments she recommends (sometimes). I can trust her to match any pendant with the correct chain.

Our jewelry always looks better in person; this delights our customer base. Many of our customers become old friends as they purchase jewelry repeatedly from our inventory. We also produce jewelry for our customers stones.

The finest Lake Superior Agate Jewelry Anywhere-Shop Now!

Wire-wrapped Pendant–Best of 2020

Some meticulous wire artistry enhanced beautiful Keweenaw treasures.

2020 brought many challenges to all of us. For me, self-isolation brought the opportunity to focus on my craft; with more time to create some special pendants. Jewelry making takes my mind off these trying times. I always try to improve my work, even though, people say, I’m a fairly skillful and competent wire artist.

Recently a “major” pendant was created from a combination of inspiration, a dream, and the need for a challenge. If a piece of jewelry takes me several hours of total focus (with coffee breaks), over three days, that’s a “Major” pendant.

Can I pull this off? Until a multi-piece pendant is created, the answer is “Maybe”. When the project turns out as you envision it, or better in this case, I feel satisfied and worthy. I know all the mind-challenging work was worth the effort. Bonnie knows when I am in “the zone” I am so totally focused, everything except the piece of art is blacked out. The Zone was active on this work of art, for sure. She does not come near me when I’m in “the Zone”, but she knows something good will result.

Deciding on Color and Shape

Let us talk about the procedure end result, shall we? Four totally different Keweenaw rocks and Minerals were chosen for their coloration. PINK was my choice; so every piece was associated with the color pink. In my mind was projected a three-piece pendant with amazing colors, textures, and shapes; eligant in detail.

The top stone selected was a banded Lake Superior Agate, with beautiful pink waves of banding, some shadow effect. In some Lakers the banding is very fine and the bands are close together. When you move these agates in the sun or in bright light, the shadow of one band is cast on the adjacent band. Since there are many bands casting their shadows on their adjacent bands, you get a shadow effect. The agate in the pendant has some “Shadow” for sure. Lake Superior Agates, as many of you know, are my favorite Gemstones. I cut a lot of “Lakers”, but not often one with so much rich class. It just screamed for attention, and made the top tier.

The middle of the pendant is Firebrick. Firebrick formed from the Copper smelting operations in the Keweenaw. The smelters were made from brick when they were built. Over the years Copper vapors and molten copper permiated into the brick walls of the smelter and replaced all the material in the bricks except the Quartz/Silica. That is why you see small white specks in the Firebrick; the Quart resisted permeation.

The bottom stone is a stunning pink-hued Datolite from the Mesnard mine on the Quincy Hill in Handcock. The small Mesnard Datolite needed to step up in order to fight the bigger cabochons in the top. I added a pair of Isle Royale Greenstons with pink Thomsonite inclusions, making the Datolite more than equal to the other two cabochons up above it. My personal opinion (shared by others) is that there are only two true precious gemstones in Michigan, Isle Royale Greenston (Michigan’s Official State Gemstone), and Datolite.

The Michigan Quarter allows you to see the finisned size. I was very happy with my work.

The stones being selected instigated the shapes required. Datolite, Greenstone, and Lake Superior Agates can all be polished to a glass finish, but the Firebrick required a proprietary industrial Epoxy coating. This coating protcts the Firebrick from tarnishing, and adds a glass finish like the other two stones in the pendant.

Engineering the Pendant

Each of the three major parts of the pendant “swing” individually from the others. If all three were wrapped as one piece, they become very stiff and just don’t have that pizzazz required. The pendant will move with the wearer.

The top and the bottom stones are elegantly wrapped in double 14kt gold fill, while the Firebrick is enhanced by a double gold fill Pink Gold. The pink gold brings out the Copper in the Firebrick. Who says a piece of jewelry has to be one single type of precious metal?

Happy Results

Now, several hours later, the results made me smile; Bonnie approved, and this Major art work was complete. I named this pendant KEWEENAW SPLENDOR

I’m hopeful some lucky person will find this one in their stocking.

Swing into 2019 with Great Lakes Stone Jewelry

“Greenstone, Copper Agates, Lake Superior Agates, Datolites, and Pink and normal Petoskey Stone Jewelry continued to be popular in 2018; and we expect this trend to continue. Our loyal customers understand how rare these Gemstones are becoming, and eagerly order them as impressive and historic pieces of jewelry from the Great Lakes Region. Many are buying these rare Gemstones as investments and treasured heirlooms. Great Lakes jewelry makes unique and highly appreciated gifts.Thanks to all of you that bought handmade in the USA, Great Lakes jewelry treasures, in 2018.

Christmas is past, but many of you are now wearing our jewelry. Thank you so much.

Bonnie’s Christmas Pendant: Top to Bottom; Lake Superior Agate, Yellow Keweenaw Point Datolite with Copper, Greenstone with Thomsonite from Isle Royale (Collected at least 50 years ago).

What does the jewelry makers wife get for Christmas? The trick is to make her something special (and make it in a stealth mode). I think I pulled a good one off.

I picked out three special stones; cabbed them, and made a beautiful Lake Superior Area Showpiece. The top stone is a wonderful, flawless Laker. Stone two is an ultra rare Keweenaw Point Yellow Datolite with Copper. The third Stone a very finely colored Isle Royale Greenstone that I retrieved from my very old collection of Isle Royale Stones. All these stones swing freely and separately from each other.

Bonnie: “You’ve got wires going everywhere!!” Me: “Don’t worry, I’ve done this before.”

I took care of all those errant wires; (see above picture) which proved me worthy.

Very unusual pattern and coloration from the Central Exploration Mine. Enhanced with a nice pair of Greenstone beads. 2.8 Gram Greenstone about Quarter-sized large Greenstone.

A double Greenstone pendant with a free-swinging bottom. Phoenix Mine.

I’ve decided to up my game in 2019 by making some exceptionally notable pendants. Thanks all, and a very Happy New Year to you all.

Visit our best-selling Great Lakes Stone jewelry pages: Lake Superior Agate Pendants, Petoskey Stone Pendants, Thomsonite Pendants, Michigan Greenstone Jewelry, Mohawkite Pendants, Datolite Pendants, Firebrick Pendants, Prehnite Pendants, Copper Replacement Agate Pendants. Also we have beaded earrings: Jasperlite, Leland Blue Stone, and Lake superior Agate and Kona Dolomite. We also have Unakite, Binghamite, Kona Dolomite pendants in our show inventory. What’s your favorite Great Lakes jewelry stone? Chat with us on Facebook, or send us a message!

Brockway Mountain Agate Treasures

View from the Copper Harbor Lookout on Brockway Mountain Drive. Mid 1930’s

History is not really my favorite subject, I am more of a rock guy. I will tell you about hunting for Brockway Mountain agates, but first I will show you some historic pictures of the area.

I married into a family of historians. Bonnie’s parents collected many things, including postcards from 1930 through 1960. While she was looking through their old cards she discovered several that depict the Keweenaw when it looked a bit different. Some pictures from 1935 of Brockway Mountain were especially interesting, considering what it looks like 80 years later. I enjoyed looking back and comparing it with the area as it is today.

View from the Copper Harbor Lookout today. Really it is surprisingly similar to the earlier pictures. How many other areas as beautiful as this are not cluttered with huge mansions and gated communities or condos?

From the 1950’s, This sign welcomed people to the Keweenaw. The “Copper Country Vacationist League’ was the forrunner to the Keweenaw Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Mid 1930’s. The trees are bigger today. You can see the top of Brockway Mountain in the distance.

From the mid-1930s, shortly after Brockway Mountain Drive was completed, you could see Lake Fanny Hooe on the right and Copper Harbor on the left. The trees frame this view today.

Thanks to the persistence of many folks, the mountain was saved from private development and access was retained for the public. What a loss that would have been!

Making jewelry on the mountain top while waiting for the sunset.

I made this Firebrick Beauty on the mountain

The sunsets from the top of Brockway Mountain have to be some of the most spectacular sunsets on earth.

I shared my secret hole with a couple of my best rockhounding buddies. Chris Cooper and I.

You finding anything in that hole Gary (Gary Katt)?

Looking for agate seams

During the constuction of Brockway Mountain Drive, many large egg-shaped agates were found. The inside of these were pretty much colorless Quartz. Very few had any banding except near the crust. I had one in my collection, did not know what it was, cut it and found the Quartz. In recent years I did some digging in the hard rock, opened a hole that has been very productive. You can see this in the videos.

Close up of an agate seam in matrix

A nice nodule collected

Don’t these Keweenaw agates look nice when they are washed?

State law limits collecting to 25 pounds per year now. When this was collected no limit was in place.

THE FOLLOWING MOVIES ARE REAL; AS THEY HAPPENED; WITH NO CAMERA TRICKS OR EDITING. ENJOY!! I just thought they’d be more exciting with disclaimers.

Today, further down the Mountain, some nice Seam Agate can be found. This agate is referred to as Keweenaw Agate, Ledge Agate, or Brockway Mountain Agate. This Lake Superior Agate is often opaque and peachy colored, but some have nice banding. Many diggers, including me, have secret glory holes on Brockway. I have told a few rockhounds I trust to keep a secret and hope they find good Brockway Mountain Agates.

A prime example of Keweenaw Agate, also called Ledge Agate.

Opaque Ledge Agate from Brockway Mountain.

As you can see from my pictures and videos I love the Keweenaw and the gemstones that come from that area. If you like these stones, I invite you to purchase our pendants either as gifts or for yourself. They are great reminders of Brockway Mountain, Copper Harbor, Eagle Harbor, and other copper mining areas. Visit our selections of Lake Superior Agate jewelry, Michigan and Isle Royale Greenstone jewelry, Firebrick, Mohawkite, Prehnite, Datolite, Thomsonite today.

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.

Multi-Stone Lake Superior Agate Pendants

In my quest to have jewelry that no one else has, I’ve created a line of multi-stone Pendants. My first ones were scarfed right up by discriminating buyers that wanted something no one else has.

These pendants are all comprised of two or three individual parts tied together by hinges or eyes so they can all move individually. This is such a complicated procedure, it may take up to ten hours to make a pendant (I suppose if it were easy, everyone would do it). I use a multitude of precious metal wires: 14/20 rolled gold gold, Pink Gold, and Argentium Sterling, often in multi-colors.

In this blog, I’ve taken a few Triple Threat Lakers and broke them down to show you why I like the varieties of Lakers. Although the Dinosaur Bone pendant pictured is nice, all three pieces are cut from the same stone, whereas in the Lakers I wanted to mix varieties.

This transparent Gembone gave me the idea for my Triple Threat Laker Pendants.

Movement is important to me in these multi-Stone Triples.

In the past I have created some multi-stone pendants, but the Lake Superior Agate ones I recently finished, are in a class of their own. I mixed metals as well as different types of Lake Superior Agates for each one. Even though many feet of precious metal wire is used, it is used in my usual classical style; neat, precise, and elegant, yet not used in a way that takes way from the inherent beauty of the Lakers

This made the perfect Mother’s Day Gift for a great mother (and wife).

Great “Shadow” effect in this one; very deep.

A beauty; Mauve, banded, perfect!

Red and White Paint Agate.

Unusual Tube Agate

Gorgeous Candy Striped pastel Fortification

Paint Agate with Water Level (Gravitationally Banded)

The Lake Superior Agate is the Minnesota State Gem. Incorporating some of the different varieties of agate colors and patterns, (paint, tube, candy striper, fortification) you see here why this is such a prized stone throughout the Great Lakes region.

As you can see, the construction process began with finding wonderful agates and winnowing them down to three special pieces that go well together. Skillful cabochon cutting and careful jewelry design are the next steps. The spacing and careful blending of shapes requires patient and masterful wire wrapping. Creative work requires time to think through and create each pendant. The work is so meticulous, I need many breaks, thinking through the next steps, how the pieces will connect. Lake Superior Agates are my favorites and this jewelry has become my new way to showcase them. I have also enjoyed wearing them and talking with people about these multi-stone agate pendants.

A lot going on with this Floater

A Floater with floating banding. A special featutreat the banding shows the the bands actually are red Quartz Phantoms

A classic “Painted” Laker

Crystal included Lake Superior Agates, and an Amazing Garden Rock

Some things found inside a crystal Laker are really amazing!

A classic “Floater”.

Lovely little Island.

A Big, Bold, red “Floater” on a crystal lake.

Dark Smoky Quartz Lakers. These will be fun.

I love Lake Superior Agates that are on the unusual side. Many of my agate jewelry pieces are made from agates other than the banded fortification variety. I love tube agates, moss agates, sagenite agates, painted–you know really I like all Lake Superior Agates. The Candy Stripers with their beautiful reds and whites are well liked. I also like “Floaters”, those banded Lake Superior Agates that float in a sea of crystal. A special variety I have really enjoyed working with are the banded Lake Superior Agates that surround amethyst crystal pockets. When that crystal happens to be amethyst–wow! I am always in search of amethyst floaters, but finding one makes me really excited. I want to cut, polish and wrap that agate right now!

This is the end cut of Janet’s “Garden Rock”

Amazing Crystally Lakers

Janets “Garden Rock” is a spectacular and amazing Laker.

Last summer we were vendors at the Agate Expo 2016 in Cedarburg, Wisconsin. We had previously participated at the Celebration of Agates and the Wonderful World of Agates which had been held in some prior years. In each of these shows we have always been next to Scott Wolter’s booth, and have joked and chatted with Scott and Janet at these events, as neighbors do. I was talking with Janet about my love for amethyst floaters and I asked her if she would be my eyes and try to find some for me at the Moose Lake agate event. Janet took this as a challenge and told me later that she had fun looking for them. She sent me a box and included a few Lake Superior Agates from her garden. I cut some of these that she sent including one of those garden rocks. What I found inside this crystal beauty was extraordinary, as you can see by the picture. I named it Orange Mountain, but nicknamed it Janet’s Garden Rock.

I sent her a picture of her rock after it became a pendant. From Janet: “Yes, I did give Scott a big hint that it would be a perfect gift me for Christmas. A very big hint! And as any smart husband knows, happy wife, happy life! I think Scott is just pleased as punch that one of his “cast off” agates he tossed in our rock garden, became a big hit with me.” Scott bought the pendant and it became a Christmas present for Janet. I was told Scott had a big grin on his face as he presented it to Janet, and her ordinary garden rock is now a piece she can wear and treasure.

Tubes and Amethyst? The possibilities are amazing. This is a larger Laker, so lots of jewelry if it’s a good one.

Citrine in a Laker is quite stunning.

An Amethyst/Quartz pocket inside of a Lake Superior Agate.

My retail outlet Copper World sold one of these one day. I was doing demos there and in 4 days 4 pendants made from adjacent slabs were sold.

Gorgeous; what more can be said?

No clue as to what awaits inside this one. That’s the fun of it, isn’t it?

Since the Agate Expo I have been able to locate some further Lake Superior Agates that show a lot of promise. I look forward to exposing the insides of these stones and I have taken some pictures so you can also predict what the inside will look like. Some of the Lake Superior Agates I have indicate Smokey Quartz instead of amethyst or clear quartz. I am also intrigued to see what they will look like. During this coming year, watch for some unusual crystal Lake Superior Agates turned into pendants at Snob Appeal Jewelry. Be sure to follow us on Facebook for the latest posts. And if you see Janet Wolter, ask her to show you her “Garden Rock”.

Still need a gift for Christmas?

I filled my tree with a few treasures from the website. Jewelry is such an easy gift. No worry about sizes. It is rarely returned. Our pendants are a long-lasting gift, and have no calories. Plus it fits perfectly in the toe of a Christmas stocking.