Category Archives: Special Stones

Maw Sit Sit

mawsitsit

Maw sit sit is rare and isn’t easy to find, primarily because it is currently found only in that single location of Burma (Myanmar). Because it is so rare, it is a popular gem among collectors but is not available through most jewelers. I stumbled across a dealer in Tucson that had some slabs of this gemstone, so I brought some home. There really was not a lot of Maw Sit Sit around. Historically, Burma (Myanmar) has been prone to embargo situations off and on for various political reasons over the years. This makes exported Gemstones from this area scarce.

Maw-sit-sit is considered to be a rock rather than a mineral, since it is composed of a number of different minerals, including kosmochlor (a mineral related to jadeite) and varying amounts of jadeite and albite Feldspar. It is often classified as a member of the jade family but it is not really a variety of jadeite. Sometimes maw-sit-sit is called a “cousin” of jade, which seems appropriate.

The only location where Maw Sit Sit is found in the world are the towns of Hpakan and Tawmaw. These towns are in the main jade mining regions in North-Western Myanmar.

The photo is of a Mother’s Day gift Bonnie now owns. I expect to make a couple more pieces in the near future.

Tucson Gem, Mineral & Fossil Shows-2014-Francisco Sotomayor

As I first saw "American Woman" at the Tucson Gem Show 2009

As I first saw "American Woman" at the Tucson Gem Show 2010 It was for sale on E-Bay for $5,000,000. I do not know if it was sold.

Francisco Sotomayor is famous as one of the best stone carvers. I have been a fan since admiring his carving, “American Woman”, a full sized woman reclined on a full sized grand piano. I saw it in person at the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show in 2010. The piece started with a 21 ton piece of Colorado white marble, and took two years to carve. The detail was like a Michaelangelo, right down to hair on the eyelids. There are videos on FB of him harvesting the marble and carving this piece.

"Thinking Frog" 2013 Sonoran Sunrise from Mexico

"Frog and Ball" 2013 Sonoran Sunrise-Mexico

"Skull Wearing Sunglasses" 2009 Colorado Yule Marble -the same stone "American Woman" was made from.

"Scorpion and the 44 Magnum" 2014 Obsidian-Mexico

"Scorpion #2-2013 Rowley Chrysocolla-Arizona

Scorpion and the Clovis-2013 Obsidian-Colorado It is interesting what Fransisco says about this piece: "This sculpture was a difficult test, to develop ancient skills of knapping, to modern day diamond carving. The Clovis is a knapped replica of the Rutz Clovis, the largest known Clovis found in North America. Both the Clovis and Scorpion are one piece of obsidian".

Sotomayor is a Colorado native. Not only is he a master carver, many of his works are quite whimsical. This year at the show, some of his whimsical pieces were on display.

His leg(s) are on the trigger..

Tucson Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Shows-2014-Part 3, The Final Chapter

View from the show. Check out the umbrellas overhead!

It is always disappointing when the Tucson Rock Shows come to an end. We loaded up with fantastic rocks, mineral, and fossils to make into fine new jewelry. In the near future you’ll see some of it on our www.snobappealjewelry.com site, also on the Facebook groups I belong to, (if you haven’t “Liked” us on FB, now would be a good time) and at shows we participate in.

I think I have taken many more photos then I ever have before, and hopefully excited you enough to get here next year. I thank you all for the positive feedback on the blogs. I’ve had record numbers of readers this year.

Here are the final group of photos from the Main Event. You must be here in person to fully appreciate what goes on here, but if you read the blogs you were imbued with some idea.

You may get a couple bonus blogs yet. Are you wanting more?

Some great Scottish Minerals especially for some great people we met from Scotland. They know who they are.

I just liked this a lot.

Wonderful.

Pyrite (Peru)

Pyrite (Peru)

What I think is the best of Tucson-Collectors Edge Display.

The Worlds' largest Matrix Opal-Andamooka 24#. This was treated with sugar water to bring out the colors. This treatment is the norm with this type of Opal.

Bonnie likes this Blue Quartz.

AMEN! A rare sign in Tucson.

Need any specimens? How's your credit card balance? Collector's Edge

A great case from the University of Arizona.

I appreciated the work involved in this map. This is the work of Rockhounds all over the U.S. The stones are not necessarily State Stones, but are stones from the individual states they represent. Alaska and Hawaii are, of course, not to scale. Assembled by Liz & Lou Porter from the Lake Havasu Gem & Mineral Society.Hallaelujah Quartz from the Scepter Mine in Washoe County, Nevada. These are sometimes referred to as elestial crystals. I call them Scepter Crystals, as do most.

Nice Fire Agate-Slaughter Mountain

Discussing rocks with Dave Wilbur. Dave is seen in the "What's Hot in Tucson" video series produced by Brian Swoboda every year. What's hot in Tucson this year. Dave said it was the Collector's Edge Display, and I agree.

Discussing rocks with Dave Wilbur. Dave stars in the "What's Hot in Tucson" video series produced by Bryan Swoboda (Blue Cap Productions) every year. What's hot in Tucson this year. Dave said it was the Collector's Edge Display, and I agree.

Recongnize this slab? It is the exact rock that is on Bonnie's new coffee cup. Sonoran Sunset.

Tucson Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Shows-2014-The Main Show(part 2)-Rock Cups

This was so awesome. LMAO.

I continue my exploration of the Main Show at the Tucson Convention Center. If you go on Thursday when the show opens the crowds are far less than on the weekend. We were really not interested in buying anything, but did make one purchase that I will show you later.

I bought a piece of Bulldog Mine ore earlier in the show. Here's some of the same stuff in a display case.

Assorted western minerals.

Collectors Edge display case. Gold, Sweet Home Rhodocrosite, Tourmaline

Aquamarine

Great Tourmaline

Calcite, Flourite, and Celestine

Amazingly, Collectors Edge put LED's under a couple tables. One was 2' x 4' =$6000 of fine Zambian amethyst. The other table was 4' x 8', $18,000.

Another Collectors Edge showcase. I loved the Morganite

Wires of Silver

Silver Ore

Kongsberg Silver

Wires

A patriotic display.

Rhodo/morganite

Gwindels

Alpine Minerals

Colorful Case

Another fine case from Collectors Edge

The vendors are a mix. You see only a small number of beads and this makes the show more upscale. I was very impressed with Collectors Edge. Their display was just amazing. Collectors edge is the premiere specimen preparers in the world. They buy and sell specimens for museums and collectors. They prepare and/or restore specimens for museums world wide. http://www.collectorsedge.com/.

The ongoing joke is Bonnie cannot pass up a Sonoran Sunset pile while I cannot pass up a Pietersite Pile. Here is our Valentine Gifts to each other.

Tomorrow I will continue posting pictures from the show and caption what I know.

Tucson, Gem, Mineral & Fossil Shows-2014-The Main Event Part #1

The Main Event takes place at the Tucson Convention. A $10 fee gets you in (save a dollar be getting an on-line coupon).

I have been spending a couple hours deciding what pictures to show you from the 60th Annual Gem, Mineral, & Fossil Showcase (The Main Event) sponsored by the Tucson Gem and Mineral Society which featured Diamonds, Gems, Silver, and Gold this year.

Posters from this years show and the design for the 2015 Show. Save your money fellow rockheads.

Posters from this years show and the design for the 2015 Show. Save your money fellow rock lovers.

I will share more pictures over the next couple of days.

The displays were beyond words. The cases were updated this year and the LED Lights made the rocks stunning. The show has a different theme they concentrate on each year. Museums from across the country and around the world sent some of their best specimens of diamonds, gemstones, gold and silver, as well as other treasures.

I am going to just let you look at some of my pictures. Be in AWE!

Blueberry Azurite

A very nice display.

Bisbee area--Arizona Malachite specimens from Arizona Mineral Museum

Spessartite over gold

Remarkable Tourmaline colors.

Arizona Native Copper resembles Michigan Native Copper. The miners hated to find this copper as they were processing ore and this stuff gummed everything up.

Summer 2008--This corsage ornament features 39.80 carats of pink topaz and diamonds.

Summer 2006–This Columbian

Emerald and Diamond necklace desinged by Jean Schlumberger for Tiffany in the 1950’s. The Three large emeralds are 6.65-7.41 carats. Private collector.

Winter 1988-Rubelite Tourmalines (ring 13.8 carats, necklace 18.5 carats) are from the Queen mine in San Diego County, CA. Designed by Jean Larson, courtesy of The Collector of Fine Jewelry.

A large Herkimer Diamond (Quartz) Specimen

Somewhere in the Rainbow is the name of this Cartier Bandeau piece (1920). 58 carats of diamonds set in hand-carved platinum. It converts to a choker, earrings, bracelet, lapel clip pins, and pendant drop!

This is part of the Smithsonian Institute display about the history of diamonds. Shown here is a small selection of diamonds in the national gem and mineral collection.

Gwindel Quartz from Switzerland

The sales floor pre-opening. We loved the umberella like decorations hanging down from the roof

Get out of the way..The Show is open.

Damascus Steel with a Gold in Quartz handle.

Australian Gold

The Gold is from the Mockingbird Mine Mariposa Co. CA. The Wire Silver came from Himmelsfurst Mine, Germany.

This Marjorie Merriweather Post Tiara was made in France, mid-19th Century with 1198 old mine and rose cut diamonds, made of silver and gold, in a Victorian Style. Springs were incorporated into the design so the diamonds will move as the wearer moves and sparkle more! It is now owned by the Smithsonian. We knew this was high value by the presence of the police.

Tucson Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Shows-2014-A Silver Lining

Found in someones' discards.

We were not going to venture out today to the Tucson Rock and Gem Shows. There are shows closing down and the Main Event starts tomorrow. We plan on being in line when the main show opens in the morning.

I went out to The Rock Show and searched through my favorite random rock pile. The vendor that has the pile replenishes it daily. This is my third run at this rock-filled bin.

Silver Slabs in the tub. A surprise find.

Wire Silver-WOW! I wish I owned this.

These are now mine. I should be able to make great jewelry from these.

I saw some very fine Silver Ore the other day at this show. The ore came from the famous Bulldog Silver Mine in Creede, Colorado. The Mine is located on a ridge just west of Creede called Bulldog Mountain. A very interesting history is found at the Mining History Association. The mine was closed in 1985 due to depressed silver prices, but is in pre-development by Hecla Mining Company. There is lots of silver left in “them thar” hills. The name Hecla in familiar to everyone, like myself, that hunts in Michigan’s Keewenaw Peninsula. (We go there to collect Greenstone, Datolite, Prehnite, Mohawkite and many other jewelry-making minerals in that area, left after the copper miners left.) Calumet and Hecla mined Native Copper in The Upper Peninsula for many years, beginning in the 1880’s.

The Silver in Quartz from Creede resembles some of the silver that came out of Michigan’s Copper Country. I was shown a beautiful piece of Wire Silver from Creede that reminded me of the famous wire Silver from Kongberg, Norway. A great specimen indeed.

I was pleased to purchase these Native Silver slabs. I saw them the other day and they have been haunting me. Besides quartz and silver they also have barite, acanthite, and should make some wonderful jewelry.

Resting up for tomorrow…

Tucson Gem, Mineral, & Fossil Shows-2014-Giant Emeralds and Adularescence

Beautiful Crocoite from Australia

Polished Emerald Crystals in Matrix-Brazil

Giant Rutile in Quartz-$20,000+

We did not get out much today; Just an hour or two at the Hotel Tucson City Center. I had to grab just a few things and back to the RV for a day of rest.

Nice Oak Slab

The table in front $90,000; The one in the rear $40,000

Today you can enjoy a few pictures from the recesses of that show.

The Emerald plates shown are commonly referred to as “mine run”. This quality used to be discarded. The ones pictured have fully polished crystal faces.

I found myself purchasing more Catseye Jade from a Russian. Some of the jade has very distinct Cats Eye phenomenon, but most of the ones I got, have more of a Schiller effect (adularescence) similar to Moonstone. These may need a little re-shaping, but I’m good with that.

The largest Petrified Wood Table we’ve seen is pictured here. This one was a giant slab of colorful Arizona Wood.

Catseye Jade

Tucson Gem, Mineral, & Fossil Shows-2014-I Found a New Rock!

Orpiment

A stroll around the Fossil Show at the Hotel Tucson City Center was very interesting. The crowds were light and I had time to chat with Vendors. I saw a couple rocks I was not familiar with and found a hidden Mammoth.

A Catseye Jade, Moonstone, and Topaz Pendant. This shows the amazing flash of this Russian Jade.

An example of Catseye Jade, mixed with Moonstone, and Topaz Pendant. This shows the amazing flash of this Russian Jade. (Sold, but I just bought more material!)

My one last item on my list was Catseye Jade. I saw some Catseye Jade at the Pueblo show at what I thought was too much. Today I found this unusual Nephrite at one of the Russian Vendors for 1/5th the cost. This jade has a catseye effect when cut properly and moved back and forth. The jade is mined in Siberia.

The same Russian I bought the Jade from also had a tray of the prettiest worthless (my opinion) mineral I know of. Orpiment is an Arsenic Sulfide Material; doesn’t that sound tasty? It is worthless as a lapidary material. It is soft plus very poisonous. It is pretty, shiny, and golden, probably from Sulfur (making it even tastier). I can see leaving this candy looking mineral around the house-NOT! It degrades in natural light, producing a white powdery surface.

They hid this giant in plain view

I wandered into the show in a permanent building next to the Hotel Tucson CC. I looked out a side door, and surprise; A hidden Mastodon, proving large items can be hidden in plain view.

I found more Staurolites that I liked, and collected a few.

A Mineralogical Wonder-DeGrussa

I spoke to the owner of Aradon Pty Ltd. I saw some new material similar to Sonoran Sunset, but slightly different. It is a Malachite/Cuprite/Chrysocolla mixture with Drusy Quartz over Chrysocolla pockets. The Mineralogical interest is extensive. Not all the Copper has been altered to Cuprite. I may go back and acquire a piece. Although it resembles Sonoran Sunset, the Cuprite was brighter red, the light blue and dark blue/green Chrysocolla proved this is different. Neat stuff! It comes from an open pit copper mine in western Australia. The name that they call this rock is “DeGrussa”. I was told there is about a 5 year supply. I expect this may be the new hot material next year in Tucson.

Wood Furniture

The back yard of the Hotel Tucson City Center.

Your Whimsy of the day. Little shell Bobbleheads. Cute!

Enjoy the pictures. We never know what tomorrow will bring.

Top Stone Pendants of 2013

2013 was a very exciting and productive year for Snob Appeal Jewelry. I made many beautiful pendants and even though it was hard to pick favorites, I had some success picking these for your viewing pleasure. They are in no particular order, but these are my favorites:

Malachite Bullseye Pendant and Earrings

The first is a bullseye malachite set. While at the Tucson Gem Show in February I saw two unbelievable bullseye malachite slabs at a booth. I snatched them up as soon as I saw them and willingly paid by the gram for these beauties. During packaging, the vendor dropped one of the slabs and it broke in two. My heart sank, as did his. But I noticed that the slab broke perfectly i half. This pleased me, because I knew I could make a set of earrings to go with the pendant. Since he broke the slab, we renegotiated our deal, and I went away confident that I could make a gem out of a broken gemstone!

Mystic Quartz

At the Tucson Gem Show I also found a vendor selling large impressive faceted mystic quartz. Looking at these meticulously faceted gemstones I could picture what they might look like when finished in a precise wire wrap. Only one of the three gemstones I bought remain in my inventory. They are very eye-catching!

Royal Imperial Jasper

Another favorite is a double Royal Imperial Jasper pendant with Swarovski crystals around the top. Royal Imperial Jasper is the most beautiful and coveted of the jaspers because of the diverse colors and patterns. I think this pendant does justice to this regal pink and green stone set, making a striking and elegant jewelry presentation.

Dinosaur Bone Pendant

Sometimes you find something so unusual and spectacular that you just have to have it. This was the case with a piece of dinosaur bone I purchased in Quartzite. Fully banded fortification agate embedded within the dinosaur bone matrix. This stone does not need any fancy wrapping to make it shine.

Samethyst Laker Pendant

A Lake Superior Agate with amethyst, what a great jewelry combination stone. I was fortunate to have several slices of agate and amethyst to work with this year, and they all sold promptly. Only one survives for me to share with you today, Samethyst, with a combination of salmon pink outer layer and light purple amethyst in the center. Pink gold and argentium silver made this beauty stand out. I had a great run with amethyst and agate this summer, with them selling as fast as I made them. I don’t think there are any other cabochons of this in my stash, certainly not any as nice as this. An unusual combination, specimens of this are hard to find and highly coveted.

As of this writing, these are all available for sale, but are not all on the website. Contact me if you are interested. It is difficult for me to make choices as to my favorites. Every pendant I make is part of me. I hope you like these in particular. Which is your favorite?

Favorite Rhodochrosite and Jasper Jewelry

At our outdoor art shows shoppers generally look close up at several pieces before they make their selection. On the web it is a bit difficult to flip from page to page and remember sizes and features, so using our ability to look at several at a time, this blog will be about some of Bonnie’s favorites. I write mostly about jewelry from our Michigan stones, the Lake Superior Agates, Greenstone (chlorastrolite), Datolite, and Prehnite, so today I will focus on some other great stones.

Beautiful pink Rhodocrosite

Rhodochrosite is one of those stones that Bonnie gravitates to every time she sees it. In fact that is true about Turquoise, Variscite, and Sonoran Sunrise. These Rhodochrosite Jewelry choices have very pink color with banding, the favorites are Red Ridge and Banded Heart Rhodochrosite Pendants. They are both beautiful pinkish-red, though the colors in their photos look more orangish. If you love rhodo, you’ll love these.

Queensland Agate boasts the most beautiful pastels in the agate world.

Amazing variety in Queensland Agate,

Queensland Agate jewelry is lovely because of the candy colors that are available. A strand of beads Bonnie bought looks like a bunch of jelly beans. The Yellow Banded, Pink Banded and Orange Blossom Queensland Agate Pendants show the great variety of pastel colors that you can enjoy. Bonnie loves them all!

A pair of Biggs Jasper (bottom), and Paintbrush Jasper (top)

Picture Jasper is a less colorful stone, but makes distinctive jewelry because of the one-of-a-kind pictures that you might get if you are lucky when you cut the stone. Mountain Valley Picture Jasper Pendant and Tree Lines Hills Picture Jasper Pendant are two great examples, both of them are Biggs picture jasper. Conjuring Image is a picture, but comes from Paint Brush Jasper. It looks like a pond edged by trees to me. Since there are so many jaspers, these are grouped together under Jasper.

Ocean Jasper in now extinct, but it is the amazing in both patterns and colors.

So, Ocean Jasper could be on that page, but because there are so many of them, they got their own category. And because it has been more readily available than some other stones, they are some of the more economical jewelry pieces. A favorite (remember my wife is a flower gardener) is Ocean Jasper Flowers Pendant, The size is large enough to command attention, the colors are very neutral, with the obicular pattern is enhanced by flower petals! Eternal Pink Ocean Jasper Pendant and Ocean Jasper Arrowhead Pendant are a couple of the other good ones, and show the diversity of colors available in this stone.

owl

To finish today’s list of favorite stone jewelry, Bonnie picked “The Owl”, a cabochon of rhyolite that inspired me to play with the wire a bit. A good choice for someone who loves owls, or who lives life playfully!