Category Archives: Michigan Stones

Cliff Mine-Prehnite Hunting

The hounds are released on the Cliff Mine Pile.

The pile was bulldozed and the Copper Country Mineral Retreat hunt at the Cliff Mine began at 9am. A good crowd of eager hunters attacked the pile. A nice trench was excavated and some entered it while others, like me hunted the surface. The Cliff, even though hunted for over a hundred years by rockhounds, still produces some fine copper specimens as well as other copper associated minerals. Native American Indians hammered this copper in prehistoric times, and chisel chips left from their mining are found at the Cliff today.

A nice trench was excavated and our buddy Keith from Baltimore found his way into it.

A great view of the Cliff mine showing the trench that fellow rockhounds were searching.

Since I already have so much native copper, Bonnie and I spent the day hunting for gem Prehnite for our jewelry. The Prehnite at the Cliff formed in small veins maybe a few inches thick and is apple green and speckled with copper. We were quite successful and found good pieces with some help from Pam Hecht who is a good buddy and led the hunt.

Prehnite comes in various forms and colors in the Copper Country. One of my favorites is referred to as “U.P. Thomsonite” and is verigated, often with eyes. Prehnite comes in assorted pastel colors, the most common being pink and green.

A seam of Copper bearing Prehnite from the Cliff Mine.

Here is some of that Prehnite on my workbench. Notice the copper?

The Cliff mine was the first successful copper mine in the Copper Country of the state of Michigan. The mine is at the now-abandoned town of Clifton in Keweenaw County. Mining began in 1845, and the Cliff was the most productive copper mine in the United States from 1845 through 1854. Large-scale mining stopped in 1878. The Cliff was a fissure mine where the seams of copper were vertical.

Fissure mines are always interesting to search. I spent the day looking for gem quality Prehnite, and Bonnie and I found many nice pieces. These veins of Prehnite are commonly no more then an inch or so wide with a split down the middle as the Prehnite formed in from the outside of the vein and met in the middle. Much of this Prehnite is loaded with specks of Copper and is a pleasing apple green color.

Although amygdaloid and conglomerate deposits of the Keweenaw tended to be lower-grade than the fissure deposits, they were much larger, and could be mined much more efficiently, with the ore blasted out, hoisted to the surface, and sent to stamp mills located at a different site. Amygdaloid and conglomerate mining turned out to be much more productive and profitable than fissure mining, and the majority of highly successful mines were on amygdaloid or conglomerate lodes. The first mine to successfully mine a strataform ore body was the Quincy Mine in 1856. The most productive deposit, the Calumet conglomerate, was opened by the Calumet and Hecla mining company in 1865. (Mine information from Wikipedia)

I’ll be excited to cut this Prehnite and make some attractive pendants.

Lake Superior Agate Jewelry-I never get tired of Lakers

I worked on and off today creating a couple of Lake Superior Agate Pendants. I NEVER get tired of Lake Superior Agates.
The first pendant was just about the prettiest agate I’ve seen, and it made a remarkable piece of jewelry to take to the Celebration of Agates in Hopkins Minnesota.

This pendant is big, bold, and beautiful!

Beautiful pastels adore this great Lake Superior Agate.

I promised you I would let you see what I made today, so here they are.

Firebrick & Greenstone Pendant

I have a most creative customer (Nelson) who is always thinking outside the box when it comes to jewelry design. His latest concept was a Upper Peninsula representative pendant with an Isle Royale Greenstone placed approximately where Isle Royale is located. Nelson was given the honor of naming this pendant which he called “Yooperland”, so for here on out they will be Yooperland Pendants.

After some thought Nelson decided on a U.P. cut from firebrick. Firebrick has been talked about in my blog before but let’s review: When the copper smelters were build in copper country, they were made of brick. Over the years as copper was smelted, the copper vapors and solids permeated into the brick and replaced everything except the silica materials. After the mines were closed the ovens and stacks were either taken down or fell down. Enterprising individuals then took away some of this heavy material and used it in lapidary projects. Today fire brick is quite scarce, but there are still stashes around. Since firebrick has such a great story of the Copper Country, it makes wonderful conversational jewelry.

This "yooper special" is a wonderful design.

This "Yooperland" is a wonderful design.

I usually coat my firebrick jewelry with a two-part epoxy resin to prevent it from tarnishing. This will keep the “Yooper land” pendant shining with a coppery look.

I used a 30X40mm Blue Lace Agate cabochon as the base for this project. After cutting out the firebrick and prepping it, I polished a wonderful Greenstone. Both of those stones were glued to the Blue lace so it appears as if everything is floating in Lake Superior.

The wire wrapping in gold and silver is quite elegant as befitting Nelson’s Queen. I added additional height to the perimeter to protect the firebrick and the greenstone. I expect Nelson’s wife will have a wonderful birthday gift. She loves U.P. themed jewelry.

I expect to make several more of these before spring. I believe these pendants will be one of our most popular, especially for our U.P. shows.

Nelson wrote me after giving his wife her Yooperland: The YOOPER LAND pendant is OUTSTANDING! I gave it to my wife for her birthday and she loves it. However there is a small issue that I must deal with when we go out in public. Nearly everyone comments on her necklace- BUT the rest of the people just stare. Sometimes I get a little jealous . MAYBE the solution would be a turtle neck shirt!

By the way my wife says “THANKS”

New Year-New Jewelry

As we enter a new year, I look back and reflect on our business in 2011.

The past couple years we were very concerned about the economy, especially being in a luxury business, but we have been pleased. Every year we grow, as you appreciate our unique gemstone jewelry. More people are finding our website, especially our Michigan Stone Jewelry.

I recently cut a large Greenstone in half. This beauty with Thomsonite flowers was the result.

Michigan greenstone pendants and cabochons are our bestselling jewelry, followed closely by our Lake Superior agate jewelry. Where else can you find so many Lake Superior Agate pendants, beautifully wire wrapped? Our state stone is the Petoskey Stone, and I am constantly developing artistic ways to feature them. I seem to have more ideas than time to complete them.

It has been fun to make those custom pieces for people. I get those “can you make this?” calls. I love figuring out how to complete some of these wild requests, and will continue to accept these challenges. We have also custom made jewelry from gems our customers have. Sometimes these “gems” are only gems to the owners, but hold sentimental value for them. I receive stones from customers that want my opinion as to if they could make good jewelry. My policy is always been based on integrity and honesty, and I always give my honest opinion. I would rather not make any money than make them something I personally feel is second rate.

Here is the second half of the aforementioned Greenstone. This on has a surprising and rare clear quartz matrix with Thomsonite and Chlorastrolite floating within.

In 2012 we expect to return to most of our summer art shows. Keep checking the Show Schedule on the home page. We enjoy seeing our return customers wearing our jewelry! We are also in the process of updating and improving our website as well as adding more products. Perhaps you have noticed the new buttons on the home page and the larger product photos in our catalog. Expect improvements in our shopping cart in the near future.

My blog continues to be very popular with rockhounds and jewelry lovers, and I will be blogging daily again this year from the Tucson rock and mineral shows. I will continue to show you what is on my workbench and what is on my mind.

My first pendant in 2012.

Here is my first major piece of jewelry of 2012. This Victoria Stone Pendant came to me in a dream. I wanted an extremely fancy elegant look with Victorian (get the pun?) design. I wanted a piece that a bride might appreciate, or anyone who loves complements. I have decided to produce more of these multi-stone pendants using facetted gemstones. This one features Peridot, Swiss Blue Topaz, and Dark Pink Topaz.

I am currently working on several other pieces in rapid succession, so stand by.

Some of my blog pieces are in the on-line catalog. If you click on the photo and it links to the catalog (be sure to see all the categories on the left) it is available on line. If there is not that piece listed, I may or may not have it in my art show inventory. You may contact me via E-mail or call me about these or similar pieces.

Copper Shoots–an Amazing Greenstone

Check out the copper in this one!

A most fascinating Greenstone crossed my workbench this week. When you cut a piece of chlorastrolite, you expect to see green, or dark green. To see the shine of copper throughout, and feel the resistance of tough metal when cutting, you know you have a most unusual Greenstone. Normally when copper appears in a Greenstone, it is a spot, or a small part of the stone. This has copper from bottom to top! The Chlorastrolite on this one does not exibit the classic alligator skin pattern generally expected on a grade “A” Greenstone, but this has a shiny character highly regarded by folks who appreciate a most distinctive gemstone. The Copper Country does not often offer up a stone this large, with so much Copper! We have many Michigan Greenstone cabuchons for sale as well as Michigan Greenstone pendants, but as you look them over, you can see this is one-of-a-kind.

Due to the approximately 50% copper content and it’s large size ( 7 gram weight), this Greenstone pendant is showy and unusual.

Click here to see our available Greenstone pendants.

From Bonnie’s Beading Studio

I don't think a better combination is possible with this combination of jewels.

I thought this month’s “on the workbench” should feature one of the new pieces from the talented Bonnie’s workbench. I just loved the colorations and design of this necklace. So here we go with descriptions from a very talented beader. I have asked Bonnie to tell about this set…

The Petoskey Stone is our official Michigan state stone, so it is very popular in most of our Lower Peninsula art shows. As an artist, it is a great neutral stone to work with. The colors are so flexible, you can mix it with any color you choose. Amethyst is a favorite choice of mine, but so is blue, black, or river stone (ivory color). Turquoise is such a popular stone, and in the southwest you often see turquoise and hematite paired together. These oblong turquoise beads are the beautiful robin’s egg characteristic of the famous Sleeping Beauty turquoise (Globe, AZ). Matrix-free, they have the clear bright color many people expect when they think of beautiful turquoise.

The shiny black hematite beads are faceted, similar to the smooth long turquoise bead shape. The focal bead is a nice round Petoskey Stone disc with an excellent hexagon pattern. With earrings to match, you can wear favorite stones from both Michigan (our primary state to hunt stones in) and Arizona (our favorite place to go in February for the famous Rock & Mineral shows).

This piece of jewelry is also featured in the November/December 2011 issue of Michigan Country Lines magazine in an article about Snob Appeal Jewelry and our dedication to jewelry made from Michigan gemstones.

DATOLITE-On the Workbench

Two unbelievably beautiful Datolite/Copper Pendants

Datolite in Michigan occurs only in the copper deposits in the Keweenaw Peninsula as well as on Isle Royale National Park. Datolite was never a valuable mineral when copper was king, and was left in the spoil piles at the mines. Today alert rockhounds are still actively seeking Datolite in the mine dumps.

Occasionally we find wonderful Datolite/Copper combinations. These unbelievably beautiful specimens make elegant and amazing pieces of jewelry. Copper World, our retail outlet in Calumet sells every one of these pendants they acquire from me. Sometimes these rare beauties reach my website. If you see these appear on this site, you should buy them immediately. These combination cabochons are quite scarce and warrant your attention. Small specks of copper are common within the Keweenaw Datolite and the colorations of Datolite is most often caused by copper, usually too small to see with the naked eye. This is where the wonderful pinks and reds of Datolite come from. The truly spectacular Datolite has large veins of copper in the Datolite and occurs most often in the veins seen in the leftover rock piles. This Datolite/Copper sets off our metal detectors and is a real thrill when found.

Each mine in the Keweenaw has a fairly distinctive color of Datolite associated with it. White is the most common and natural color for Datolite and has been found in all the mine spoil piles in the Keweenaw. The rare yellow datolite has no copper in it and derives its’ coloration from Manganese.

Datolite with a large amount of copper are difficult to cut and polish as we are dealing with different hardnesses as well as metal in combination with the datolite. The copper-included Datolite is also prone to overheating while being cut. When you buy one of these Datolite/Copper pendants you can be sure it was a challenge to cut and polish.

If you want something rare and beautiful from Michigan, you can’t go wrong with a Datolite of any kind, but especially these riveting Datolites with large copper inclusions.

On the Workbench (August 31, 2011)

My 100th Blog!

Bonnie had a great idea last week that I think will be great fun. She suggested that I show you what is on my workbench. I will show you what I am doing both before making jewelry and after my jewelry is finished.

a 3+ gram Isle Royale greenstone

My first post is a very nice fine-patterned Isle Royale Greenstone that I acquired in Michigan’s U.P. This was a rough nugget that I cut in half. I offer many greenstone cabuchons for sale on my website which folks use to create their own rings and other jewelry. A large stone with a great pattern like this I make into my own wire-wrapped creations.

Here I am making this pendant on the beach at Crystal Lake near Benzonia

Here I am making this gorgeous pendant on the beach at Crystal Lake near Benzonia

I cut it in a designer shape and wrapped it in 14/20 gold fill and Argentium Sterling. I was very pleased with the finished product. You can see this Greenstone pendant on my website along with other chlorastrolite pendants.

A gorgeous Greenstone with included Thomsonite. A winner for sure!

A Luminous Superstar Greenstone with included Thomsonite. A winner for sure!

My Best Datolite Ever

The faithful husband encouraging Bonnie to "did faster".

The faithful husband encouraging Bonnie to "dig faster".

The pitter patter of light raindrops was my alarm clock. Bonnie & I were up and off before dawn’s light. Only a thermos of coffee and a portable monk’s muffin went with us, as we hurried to our destination. The goal was to get there before “The Badger” got there. .(Why? I don’t know—a point of honor I guess.) We had seen him digging a hole the other day, and knew he was attacking the rock pile with a sense of purpose. We saw evidence of his success and wanted to be successful too.

Don's BIG hole.

Everybody was digging BIG holes

Chrystal's odd find while metal detecting

Krystal's odd find while metal detecting. Would this be a "float hammer" just because she was looking for "float copper"?

At 6:00 am the traffic is pretty light on US 41 in the Keweenaw, but low and behold a car appeared and turned into our very own destination rock pile. I knew who it was! Yes, the Badger, a vigorous and determined datolite digger had arrived moments before us. The bad news was that the rain disappeared, and had not been sufficient to clean off the rock recently moved around there, so there was no datolites washed out. At least the dawn had come on enough that we could see.

We watched the experienced work of the Badger (this is not his real nickname, I just called John this because of his digging skill) and joked around with him. He is a recently Tech grad in geology engineering and is goofing off this summer gathering datolites and other rock treasures. John Dezelski dug and looked. He ended up the day with around a dozen. Bonnie & I dug and between us finally got 3. You have to develop an eye, because otherwise they are camouflaged.

"Don"atolite

I have been hunting minerals in the Keweenaw for years now, but I always focused on greenstone and “cutting material”, a vague term used to cover pretty rock found in this area–Patricianite, Prehnite, and others. I have dug for datolites before, but I don’t recall finding many! Luckily sometimes when you’re digging you find other stuff to please you.

Greenstones seem to be getting harder to find as the years go by, especially real nice big ones. All my old glory holes have been hauled away for road fill. We used to get Greenstones and Datolite at many locations and now those piles are gone. It’s not like the good old days. If you want a greenstone or datolite at a reasonable price, act now. Less supply means higher prices.

Where in the world is Copper World?

Copper World

In historic downtown Calumet, Michigan, lies the finest gift shop in the Keweenaw. Yes, I speak of Copper World. They retail my jewelry as well as items from many other top-of-the line artisans, most from the Copper Country. I specialize in gemstone jewelry from the Copper Country that I find myself, cut, and wrap. My jewelry is a great fit for this store.

Snob Appeal Jewelry is exclusively featured at Copper World

I love their exclusive line of clothing items promoting the Keweenaw Peninsula as well as their full line of the famous Stormy Kromer hats “made in da U.P. eh.” They feature all the finest books on the history of the area as well as the rocks and minerals of Copper Country. I could go on and on about all the cool things they have, but I want you to go there or check out their web site: www.calumetcopper.com

My buddies Tony and Tim

The store is owned by my good friend Tony Bausano, and is most often staffed by his son Tim, and daughter Chris. Behind the scenes is Tony’s wife, Joyce, who really runs the business end of things at the store, as well as the online business and all the shipping. I love a family business and this is one of the best examples.

I have been exclusively retailing at Copper World for four years, and thanks to Tony and Tim our business and products have a great following up here. Whenever I do wire-wrapping demonstrations at Copper World many locals come in to chat and see what new things I’ve done. Working in Copper World also allows me to talk about my favorite subject (rocks) to those interested. The best sellers are Lake Superior Agate, Datolite, and Chlorastrolite pendants. Other stones of interest are Prehnite, Thomsonite, Firebrick, and Mohawkite.

I'm in deep concentration making jewelry in Copper World.

They proudly offer the work of many artists’ products, many associated with the Copper Country. Besides the “Kromer’s” I just love the Thimbleberry jam they sell.

Tony is the biggest promoter of Calumet that I know of (and longtime mayor) and steers the “Trolls” (this is the nickname for we who live south of the Big Mac Bridge) to historic places and local sights. He is proud of Calumet and it’s history. The building itself was a big restoration project and is a welcoming beacon to the historic downtown area.

Make no mistake this store is a very busy place during tourist season, with a constant flow of walk-ins, both local and from far and wide. They come looking for that perfect souvenir or gift, and are seldom disappointed. When you come to Calumet, be sure to visit Copper World.