Category Archives: Wire-wrapped gemstones

Amazing 2023 JEWELRY

Between Christmas and New Years, the holiday rush is over. It’s a great time to create a few new wire-wrapped stone pendants. All I have to do is look thru a few hundred cabochons and see which ones inspire me. Guess what? I found some. So these are the first half dozen pendants that I created in 2023. There are links to the product page, when you “click” on the pictures.

Coober Pedy, in Australia is very famous for Black Opal. This Electric Blue doublet is very fine. A doublet is a slice of opal epoxied to a matrix stone.
*Blue Radiance* *Coober Pedy Opal Pendant*

Fire Agate is amazing material that requires careful cutting. Quality Fire Agates have Iridescence Botrioidal inclusions in Brown Quartz. The trick is to carefully remove the brown Quartz, so that the maximum iridescence shows through, I ruined a lot of Fire Agate before my skill level blossomed enough that I now know where to stop cutting the brown Quartz, and get the most from this Gemstone. This piece of Fire Agate was mined from Slaughter Mountain, Arizona, and the rough was acquired at the Tucson Gem Shows a decade ago.
*Supernatural Fire Agate Pendant*

Leland Blue Stone (Slag Glass from Leland Michigan). “Leland Blue” is a very popular material from the old Smelter in Leland (NW Lower Michigan). I cut this one as a Quarter-sized heart.
*Blue Glaze Leland Blue Pendant*

I’m glad I purchased this Catseye Jade a decade ago. Mined in Siberia, this gemstone, due to Russian embargo. is now very scarce. The gemstone shows a distinct “Cats-eye”, as the stone is moved with light shinining on it.
*Intimate Glow Cats-eye Jade* *Pendant*

Ocean Jasper from the NW coast of Madagascar has always been a popular lapidary material. Circa 2000, it was intoduced in Tucson. Gene Mueller (The Gem Shop) had the good stuff back in the day. Old stock, like this, was mined out around 2006, so the heyday was short.. Particularly popular was the material with orbicular inclusions, like this stone.
*Spherical Galaxy Ocean Jasper Pendant*

Drusy (Druzy) Quartz in comprised of natural Quartz pockets; some left in their natural state, but the majority of Drusy is manufactured in India, using dyeing and/or Titanium Deposition. This deposition creates fantastic colorations and flashy gemstones. This is a gemstone you wear when you want to be flashy.
*Frosty Glacier* *Druzy Pendant*

I hope you enjoyed this selection of brand new wire-wrapped stone pendants. We appreciate our customers, and hope you enjoy your new jewelry in 2023, and beyond! Thanks for shopping our small business.

Hearts for your Valentine

HEARTS have been on the workbench off and on lately. This blog is to simply show some of the hearts we have available for your Valentine. Your Valentine gift choices are plentiful at Snobappealjewelry.com and

Megalodon teeth arrangement — Megalodon Teeth could be your ticket to Love. The largest one here is about 5″.

Thomsonite pendant — A North Shore Thomsonite sporting classic eyes and coloration.

Ocean jasper heart pendant — Ocean Jasper (Now mined out) is a colorful choice that can be worn with anything.

There were a wide variety of colors and patterns in Ocean Jasper. This coloration is unusual. I love the eyes in this one also. You could wear this with anything.

This Triobite couple has been cuddling for over 300 million years..

Ocean Jasper – Amazing Pastel Colors and Patterns

The variety in both pastel coloration and pattern in Ocean Jasper in phenomenal.

I have never written a blog about Ocean Jasper, even though it has been one of my favorite non-Michigan stones. I expect this blog will atone me of that sin–Amen!

When Ocean Jasper appeared in Tucson at the gem shows, around 2000, it was the hottest stone in town! Paul Obeniche discovered Ocean Jasper in 1999 after years of searching. Eugene Mueller, of the Gem Shop in Cedarburg, Wisconsin, and Paul Obeniche introduced Ocean Jasper to Tucson in 2000. Gene was responsible for the trade name “Ocean Jasper”. For several years, Ocean Jasper was all over Tucson, and I purchased a lot back in the day. The orbs, veins, and crystal pockets make each piece have its own special character.

orbicular jasper rough — Obicular Jasper from Madagascar was readily available back in 2010

Ocean Jasper rough — I wish now I’d have purchased more.

Ocean Jasper close up show Orbicular patterns — This is a closeup of and Ocean Jasper intarsia tabletop. Tucson 2011.

Ocean Jasper beads. We may still have some of these.

Surprising colorations are not uncommon.

Discovered in NW Madagascar, this colorful Obicular jasper was ripe with patterns and colors, as well as crystal veins throughout the gemstone. There were two mines, one on land, and one on the shore. The deposit on the shore was mostly harvested during low tides. Even though the name Ocean Jasper was copywrited, others tapped into the demand for this material. The veins were depleted in 2006. Most of my Ocean Jasper has been purchased from Enter the Earth (Entertheearth.net). Enter The Earth owns the now depleted Ocean Jasper Mines in Madagascar.

Crystal Glory Ocean Jasper at Snob Appeal Jewelry — “Crystal Glory” was this one’s name.

Flowers Ocean Jasper Pendant at Snob Appeal Jewelry — We called this one “Flowers”

Ocean Jasper Pendants at Snob Appeal Jewelry — A selection of Ocean Jasper pendants of various colors

Obicular Jasper from Madagascar can still be found at rock shows, and it remains one of my favorite pendant-making stones. Even though the fun days of searching though 50 gallon drums, or Gaylord Boxes of OJ are over, still, searching through my barn piles might produce Ocean Jasper. I bought a lot of Ocean Jasper back in the day. The colors are so varied and unique it is hard to resist.

Bonnie, while editing this blog, mentioned that I should make some new Ocean Jasper Pendants. I told her if she could find some, that I would. She rooted around and found some beautiful slabs from 2011. I guess I have to get busy.

By 2002 this jasper-agate was all over the Tucson Gem show as beads, slabs, spheres, bookends, and all other things lapidary. By 2006 the source was pretty much depleted, but the stockpile must have been huge. Ever since around 2011, availably is becoming less and less.

The demand for this Obicular Jasper has decreased over the years, but I still produce an occasional pastel Pendant; Ocean Jasper just makes me happy! Our pendants are elegantly wire wrapped with top-quality 14/20 yellow gold, pink gold, and tarnish-resistant argentium silver wires–Check out our Ocean Jasper jewelry page to see what makes you happy!

Wire Wrapped Pendants- All New for 2021

Favosite Pendant Snob Appeal Jewelry — What should I do with this remarkable Favosites? I’ve saved this fossil for the better part of a year, awaiting inspiration. I don’t see many Favosites specimens so clear, and showing every single Polyp. I had to add some color using Swarovski bi-cone Beads. Bonnie made the matching earrings. Favosites (common name Charlevoix Stone) and Hexagonaria (common name Petoskey Stone) were both colonial Corals and were important reef builders in the Silurian and Devonian Periods (400 million years +/- ago) Favosites is an extinct Genus of Coral. The Favosites corals’ corallites had perforated walls, and shared nutrients between Polyps. I make no political statement with this piece, but it does suggest a “sharing” vibe.

In many ways we’re glad 2020 is over. In other ways 2020 has been great. Our business has been surviving despite the Pandemic. Our Loyal customers have continued to support our small business, but being semi isolated has allowed me to expand my jewelry line, produce some great pendants, rings, and many custom pieces of jewelry for a lot of people.

I made many very special pendants for the New Year of 2021. Beginning January 1st, I’ve been remarkably productive and creative. I keep cabochons in jewelry trays and pull them out as they inspire me, or are “Begging” to be wrapped. My goal for 2021 is to improve my wire wrapping and creativity. I hope you enjoy all my new things.

From a deposit 20 miles south of the Agua Nueva Ranch, in Northern Mexico, Agua Nueva Agate became very popular in the 1970’s. The Agua Nueva deposit is about 40 miles from the famous depostit of Laguna Agate. Agua Nueva Agate is famous for its’ variety of colors, eyes, and moss. This one had everything and is an impressive 2″ round. The Apple Red in this stone is pretty impressive.

Several years ago, while “rooting” through a bin of scrap slabs at Quartzsite, Arizona, I found a less than stellar looking slab. What attracted me was the red coloration. I decided to adopt the slab, and took it back home with many other homeless slabs from that “by the pound” bin.

One day I’m looking through the stuff I bought that day, and again was attracted by the unusual red in that same, large slab. I cut, ground, and polished that particular slab; working around several cracks and issues. The more I worked on it, the better it became. This was a three hour, three coffee, cabochon. That ugly duckling was transformed into a gorgeous, big, round, Agua Nueva Agate cabochon, featuring bands, tubes, moss, eyes, and still retaining the unusual red coloration. This cab had amazing character!

I took it to Florida, where it was made into my first pendant of 2021. A big, bold, beauty, wrapped in lots of shiny Argentium Sterling. The cabochon was so fantastic by itself, I felt it best to keep the wrapping precise, neat, and simple. This pendant can be worn by a man or a woman. The large 3/8″ bail can accommodate a cord or a chain. Find more agate jewelry on our Agate Treasures pages.

Another New Year’s pendant was made from a very unusual Datolite slab from the old Clark Mine near Copper Harbor. “Unusual” is an understatement. The stone features a picture of chaos. I named this pendant “Datolite Explosion” for it’s resemblance of a landscape “EXPLODING”. The Datolite has a hint of pink. This Datolite reminded me of how 2020 seemed at times. You will find our Datolite pendants are each very different.

Another 2021 Pendant is one of my now famous “Yooper Special” pendants featuring a Firebrick Upper Peninsula, and an Isle Royale Greenstone, floating on an angry Lake Superior made of Blue Lace Agate. This one is in silver with 14kt gold fill wraps. I change the metals on each piece, and the Greenstones offer up different characteristics, so each one is a little different. I’ve actually made three new Yooper Special Pendants. You can see current offerings on our Greenstone pages.

Here are several other pendants made this year.

The Pantone colors for 2021 are gray and yellow, so I made this really crazy, Crazy Lake Agate to adhere to the 2021 colors.

Just a very fine Laker was transparent, with beautiful banding .

Chevron Amethyst is always beautiful; especially when cut into a designer shape.

From the Wheeler Shale of Delta,Utah, comes Elrathia Kingii Trilobites (among many other fossils). The fossils in this Cambrian Shale are over 500 million Years old! During the Devonian Period most Trilobite Orders became extinct. I love how large and perfect some specimens are. Most have full cheeks that you do not often see in Trilobites from Morocco and other places. Trilobites actually lost their cheeks during their “Molting phase” On a whim, I wrapped this in Pink Gold and Silver. I think it turned our great!

Coprolite is petrifided feces of prehistoric animals. I’m not an expert as to if this piece of crap came from a Dinosaur, a prehistoric Tortoise, or something else, I did name this pendant “2020”; a year that was pretty crappy at times.

This Pendant is different under UV light. Sodalite-infused Granite from Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, in the top; Ruby in Fuschite from India in the bottom. The Sodalite and Ruby are Fluorescent under the UV light.

It’s difficult to take a good picture under UV light. I played around with camera settings and got some advice from my friend Johnny Gladstone. This gives you an idea what this Sodalite/Granite looks like under UV light.. Rubies are also Fluorescent, as you can see. Johnny calls these “Yooperstones”. I like to call them “Firefly Granite” Since I bartered with Johnny, I will call them Yooperstones. TRIVIA: **Rubies are actually red Sapphires!**

**Isle Royale Greenstone**; Michigan’s Official State Gem, This small pendant is very nice in both coloration and pattern.

Many have tried to duplicate the famous Victoria Stone from the early 1970’s; some of the copies are actually pretty good. No one has been able to match the colors and chatoyancy of the original. This particular color was called “Reddish Purple” and shows wonderful silky flash when moved in the light. Very rare and very coveted.

Our exclusive YOOPERLAND Pendant. Firebrick, Isle Royale Greenstone, and Mexican Blue Lace Agate. Lots of time and trouble to create, but one of our most popular original designs.

A Lake Superior Agate Pendant made from Many Striped Agates Bonnie gave me for Christmas. This one turned out great! I have lots more of similar banded beauties to work with. Lakers are my Favorite stones.

A Leland Blue Heart…Valentines day is just around the corner. Hint Hint!

Bonnie often has fun checking our multitude of buckets around the shop area. This is a Datolite she rooted our one day last summer. I immediately cut it. WOW! I’m not exactly sure what mine I discovered it at.

A close-up of the Previous Datolite, with more light on the Copper in it.

This Lake Superior Agate (also made from gifted Agates) is about dime size, and has wonderful coloration.

A small, but amazing dendritic Opalite I called “Lone Tree” for obvious reasons.

I do not believe I have ever made this many pendants, in one week, since my times at William Holland School of Lapidary Arts, many year ago. I have no idea why I have been so inspired recently, but it’s been a boon to our jewelry inventory.

Bonnie said, “Isn’t that about enough Blog Pictures?” This Blog was many hours of work, and I need sleep and/or coffee. I think 17 Pendants, so far, this month is a good start for the New Year. Only a few of these have been posted up so far. Some are going into show inventory, but if you are interested in any, let us know.

Bonnie and I sincerely wish everyone has a happy 2021. Keep us in mind if you wish to stimulate the economy by supporting our small business.

Remember; I can cut, polish, and wire-wrap your own treasured stones. Visit our Custom Work page.

Floral Fireworks Rhodochrosite and Turquoise Pendant Jewelry Set

I sometimes actually require a challenge when making my jewelry. The opportunity of a challenge presented itself when I cut a very special translucent Rhodochrosite. I found it some years back, at the Tucson Gem Shows.

Rhodochrosite most often presents itself in a banded gemstone of widely varied color and quality resembling agate. It can have brown or white inclusions. You can find Rhodochrosite lurking all over the Tucson shows, but not many dealers have the highest grade stuff.

I seek out wonderful clear pastel pink translucent Rhodochrosite, from Argentina, without the common banding. If you do find a stash, it’s very pricey.

Over the past three days I used the cabochon I made from some of my Grade “A” Rhodochrosite as the base for a new pendant. Pendant ideas often pop into my head, many times, in the middle of the night. If pendant ideas come in a dream, I know I should get to it ASAP. Two A.M. is a wonderful quiet time to be creative.

This image shows the skilled bead work (earrings) by Bonnie. A perfect match for the pendant.

I wanted to make a three-piece pendant, but what other stones and colors look great with Rhodochrosite? Green is a go-to color when you have pink. I chose a piece of Nevada Turquoise, cut it into a more-less oval shape, and placed the two cabs on a table. What a perfect fit! Next I needed figure out the bottom section. I tried several cabochons, settled on a Mystic Topaz for the bottom. It was nice, but after a while it didn’t seem just right.

I have made thousands of pendants, and was confident something would come to me on what to do for the bottom.

Inspired in the Bead Room

Some of you know that Bonnie is a professionally trained bead artist (attended my Alma mater, The William Holland School of Lapidary Arts). She has thousands of beads in her bead room. I went there for inspiration. She had perfectly matched beads to both the Rhodochrosite and the Turquoise. She also is my strongest critic, and I generally take her criticism and suggestions seriously. She is also a fantastic gardener, and suggested I somehow incorporate these perfectly matched beads into, sort of a, garden/fireworks, floral design. She suggested a pink and green flower garden. I recall those fireworks that explode and “spray down in an umbrella shape”, sparkling as they drop.

Another few hours, and another wake up in the middle of the night, produced, what I think, was the perfect “fireworks garden”. Random bead placement insured an informal look. The pendant was finally talking to me. It told me what it wanted. The question is always; “But can I pull this off”/

The pendant is made of double gold filled wire, and twisted Argentium Sterling. The second pendant is hinged to the top so it can swing. The bottom bead strands are also hinged, and hang from the second (Turquoise) pendant and each set can also swing freely. Over the straight, swinging, bead sections, I’ve hinged in a 6-bead round circle, that also is hinged, and swings freely from all other areas. This pendant has maximum animation!

My number one critic says it’s one of my prettiest pendants ever. I like it myself; so two out of two “yes” votes.

Top: Rhodochrosite with Pyrite inclusions from Argentina. Bottom: Oppu Rhodochrosite is a rare Raspberry Rhodochrosite from Japan.

The top pendant is Actinolite, from Canada, and raspberry Oppu Rhodochrosite, from Japan. Green and pink are great complementary colors. The bottom Image is the more typical, banded, Rhodochrosite mix from Argentina.

Lone Mountain Nevada (same Turquoise as the Flora Fireworks Pendant has).

Pendants, like this, take much thought, careful planning, and many hours of careful and skillful work, but the results? FANTASTICAL!! YES, I did pull this off.

The name of my new creation “Floral Fireworks“.

Many people consider crystals found at the Sweet Home mine in Colorado many years ago to be the finest Rhodochrosite ever found. This Rhodochrosite is clear red, in crystal formation, the most valuable ever found; some specimens worth many millions of dollars. An entire 6′ pocket, from the Sweet Home was purchased by Coors and donated to the Denver Museun of Nature & Science. This is a bucket list, must see. I’ve been there, and was awestruck.

For more information see Variety in Rhodochrosite Jewelry in our Snob Blog.

Watch for more about Turquoise in an upcoming Snob Blog.

Making Socially Independant Jewelry

I’ve been ahead of the curve as it relates to this isolation. In January, I opted for an Ankle Fusion (not as much fun as it sounds). I was in three different casts in 6 weeks, than a boot for another 6 weeks, now a walking boot. During that time I could not get out and about.

This isolation allowed me to be pretty much home bound in an RV in Florida. You cannot imagine how much jewelry a person can manufacture with so much time. I took the opportunity to up my jewelry game by making not only more jewelry, but more complicated and innovative jewelry.

This blog will be things I’ve made just the past month. All are for sale, but may not be on line or in our show inventory yet. If you are interested in any of these, call or message me.

I love reaching into a vug at one of the Amethyst Mines near Thunder Bay, Ontario, and feeling the sharp points of mud-encrusted Amethyst. Careful prodding and pulling will often dislodge an excellent specimen. this one had set around for a decade in my shop, finally attracting my attention.

Condor Agates, from remote mountain areas in Argentina, are some of the most colorful agates on Earth. You have to wade through a lot of Condors to find exceptional ones. This designer cut beauty came out very nice, and sports some remarkable colors and patterns.

A couple custom rings were recently made for a couple awesome ladies. The top is a Pink Topaz, while the bottom one is Isle Royale Greenstone with assorted Copper and Silver Beads.

Yellow Cat Petrified wood is a rare limb cast wood from Grand County, Utah. Back in the day all of this material was bought up by Tiffany and made into jewelry. Parts of this wood glow green under the UV light. Small amounts at large prices are sometimes found at the major Gemshows in Tucson or Quartzsite.

I found this piece of Dinosaur Bone at the Tucson Gen Shows a few years back. I was attracted to it because of the scenic picture, and unusual Agate/D-Bone mix.

The top is an Actinolite mix from Canada, and the bottom is extremely rare Oppu Rhodochrosite from Japan. Oppu is easily recognized by its Raspberry color.

A Centennial (Mine), blue Datolite and a Silver-Copper Nugget. Centennial Datolite is very rare, and is one of the most coveted varieties of Datolite. This one has so much Copper in it that it has a beautiful pink sheen.

I found a large (2 1/2″h x 1 1/2″w) Fordite that had a wavy, gray surface. I thought to just his the high spots of the surface. WOW! How amazing is this? The rear (shown below) is also very fine.

The rear of the above Fordite. Hey; I wrapped this one so you can wear either side to the front, as your mood suggests!

Ruby in Fuchsite is a beautiful stone primarily from India. The striking combination of red Ruby and pastel green Fuchsite makes this stone very sought after.

Under a UV light, the Rubies just glow like fiery embers. Ooooh!

I love these little Silver-Copper and Silver Nuggets from Michigan’s Copper Country. They are not so easy to find since many of the waste piles at the Copper mines have been hauled away for road fill. A fun reminder of the Copper Country.

A blue, pink, and orange Petoskey Stone. It’s got a lot going on.

Chrysocolla, Azurite, and other things combine to make a stunning gemstone.

Just a really nice Pink Petoskey with a simple Unisex wrap.

Drusy (Druzy) Quartz’s are natural Quartz pockets that are sometimes dyed, sometimes treated with Titanium Vapor Depositions; sometimes both. They’s always popular and attention getting.

Chrysoprase is the most expensive member of the Quartz family. Most of the “Prase” is scarfed up by the Asian markets and is known as Australian Jade. It rivals jade in beauty, if you find a fine pure piece, like this one.

Big and bold, these Elrathia Kingii Trilobites from Utah, are in my opinion, one of the finest types of Trilobites. Most still have their “cheeks”, and make great jewelry.

Lastly a large custom pendant, I made for a special lady. The large Silver-Copper was hers, and I added a large Greenstone and a smaller nugget of silver and copper. This one was over three inches and is a real stunner.

New Wire-Wrapped Pendants

Winter has been very productive at Snob Appeal Jewelry. Many beautiful stones that have been patiently waiting for their turn to become wire-wrapped pendants called out to me, and have finally turned up on the workbench.

I’m like a dog that sees a squirrel; I pick out a stone that grabs me, then I might decide not to chase it, and grab something else. All my stones beg, plea, and whine; they tease me, and all of them want to be elevated to the pendant level. The ones that whine the loudest are the “Chosen”. The pendants in this blog were all whiners; can you hear them. Let me know which ones are whining loudest for you.

There will be no rhyme or reason for the pictures in this blog, except they are all new. Many Michigan gemstones are mixed in with assorted worldwide stones. Most have not been listed for sale on the website. Contact us it you have an inquiry. Many will go to our show inventory or are scheduled for shipment to a retail outlet.

I have also been playing around with new ways to wrap gemstones, but still keeping with my policy of never distracting from a fine gemstone by using a lot of fancy doodah and froohaw, what I call it when people run wires all over the place. I do classical wire wrapping that enhances the stones. I spend too much time cutting rare and unusual stones to cover them up with a bunch of wire. Most customers appreciate my clean, neat, style.

So, without further rants, here is some of my recent favorites (AKA the sucessful whiners).

Sometimes it pays to look through old buckets. I recall digging this Chrysocolla with Copper from the Old mine dump at the Bumbletown Mine, maybe 15 years ago. Digging is not as good as it once was, but there are still a few pockets of nice Chrysocolla in the Keweenaw, The brown matrix gives this away as Bumbletown material.

Shattukite set. These from Bisbee, Arizona.

If a Lake Superior Agate Island appears in a Laker, it’s refer to as a “Floater”. Here’s a fine Floater I cut and wrapped.

A happy Trilobite couple..I really enjoy the challenge of wrapping these odd shapes. Elrathia Kingii from Utah. Most trilobites you see are missing their cheeks; these beauties are perfect specimens.

Drusy are natural Quartz Pockets that are treated in different ways. The customers like ’em so I make ’em!

Rainbow Obsidian Starfish has been sitting for a few years. It needed to be done.

A carved Ametrine, about nickel size turned out pretty nice.

Thomsonite; one of my favorites.

A composite Turquoise with Copper inclusions.

A very special piece of Gembone. Red is one of the most popular colors. Each cell is an individual agate. Dinosaur Bone; I love it!

Greenstone pendant with greenstone beads

An atypical Greenstone with Greenstone beads on top. I just wanted to be whimsical.

Some people call Owyhee Picture Jasper the king of Picture Jasper. A really good piece (like this one), is so realistic. Found a slab in my shop; Where did this come from? Doesn’t matter if I smiled. From the Owthee Mountains on the Idaho/Oregon border.

Thomsonite form Superior’s North Shore. Big perfect pieces like this are very scarce.

Perfect Morenci Turquoise.

Datolite Jewelry from Keweenaw Datolite

Caledonia Gem Red

We offer a wide selection of gemstone jewelry from Great Lakes stones, but a favorite gem of ours may be one you have never heard of. We are pleased to offer a great selection of Datolite Pendants, because it is so unique, colorful, coppery, and generally surprising. Datolite is not one of those “pretty sounding” jewelry names like Larimar or Sleeping Beauty Turquoise, but it is indeed very beautiful and exceedingly rare, particularly in bright, pastel colors that some of the mines were famous for. Datolite is a Michigan gemstone that should be better known.

Franklin

Mesnard

Quincy

Clark Mine

The old Copper Mines of Michigan’s historic Copper Country have produced colorful Datolite of which there is no comparison. We are fortunate to have hunted Datolite, and bought old collections over the last 30 years, always looking for great colors. Finding coveted, colorful Datolite today is rare because of several factors.

Caledonia

Closeup showing massive copper content. This Datolite virtually shines in the sun from the copper content.

HUNTING DATOLITE TODAY

Over the past 5 years many of the old copper spoil piles have sadly been crushed and used as road fill, both under paved roads and to stabilize forest roads for logging operations. Most of the few old mine dump piles left are privately owed and unfortunately, but understandably, in this lawsuit-happy world, the owners are hesitant to permit rock picking on their piles. Unstable rock piles can be quite hazardous and we hear of injuries every year caused by many factors. Frivolous lawsuits can totally dissuade what used to be rockhound-friendly mine owners from allowing anyone on their piles.

Copper, Calcite, and Datolite from the Central Mine.

Deleware

Gorgeous Mesnard

I have always felt that if I am collecting rocks it’s my owe damn fault if I injure myself. i always have my mind trained to automatically think “If i do this, then this might happen”, especially while climbing around on, or moving rocks. Money hungry specimen miners have even tunneled into rock spoil piles in the winter for valuable, colorful Datolite in years past.

MINERAL INFORMATION

Like most of the minerals and metals in the Keweenaw Copper Country, Datolite was formed in the amygdaloidal basalt through hydrothermal precipitation. It is associated with prehnite, epidote, native copper, calcite and a variety of zeolites. You could also say it is associated with chlorastrolite as it may be included in the greenstone, as can zeolites.

The Mohs hardness of Datolite is stated to be 5.5, but from my cutting experience, the hardness can vary even within a nodule or Datolite piece. Other minerals mixed in with Datolite can also be of different hardnesses, which makes cutting and polishing a copper-included Datolite quite challenging. A Datolite from the Keweenaw Peninsula can either form in seams or as nodules with a texture of cauliflower, with no hint of what is within. The most Datolites are white and have been found in all the Datolite collecting areas. Savvy Datolite hunters look for Nodules that have a light colored, cauliflower-looking skin and often porcelain-looking shards of white on the piles. Often what is found may indeed be some old dinnerware, but other times it is Datolite. Datolite is a Calciumborosilicate and it’s not unusual that it may resemble glass or porcelain. Some high temperature, high strength glass, such as Pyrex, is a BoroSillicate. One of the most glass-like, solid Datolite, from my experience, was found at the Isle Royale Mine #7 near the now Walmart location in Houghton. The Datolite from the Isle Royale Mine #7 has been made into very stable beads in the past, harder and higher in Silica than most other area mines. It is normally a translucent very pale white-green, but very nice blue Datolite has been found at the Isle Royale.

Quincy

Isle Royale Mine pendant and beads.

Isle Royale Mine Blue

DATOLITE COLORS

Experienced Datolite hunters are able to make educated guesses as to what mine a Datolite came from, based on color and crust. Keweenaw Datolite has long been treasured for jewelry and offers a broad spectrum of the rainbow. The Canary yellow from Keweenaw Point, the blue/greens from Centennial, and apple reds from various mines, and bright orange/yellows from the Quincy/Franklin/Mesnard mines are some of the most coveted. A great source of pictures to identify Datolite colors from different mines is Jeff Anderson’s Dwarves Treasures page. His favorite mineral is Datolite and he has sample Datolites from many locations.

My metaphysical friends tell me that Datolite can sharpen all mental abilities. I’m afraid that even though I have worked with Datolite for many years I still forget things. I tell people I’m in my “Wonder Years”; just today I wondered what day it was, where my TV tuner was, where my car was parked, and where Bonnie (wife) went to.

Even though I’ve owed this spectacular 38 Gram piece of luscious canary yellow Keweenaw Point Datolite for some time, you’ve never seen it. I have not decided what I’m going to do with it yet. High Grade Yellow Point Datolite is the most rare of Keweenaw Datolites, therefore the most valuable Datolite there is. I did not enhance this Datolite; This is exactly what it looks like.

The prices of Datolite Jewelry can vary widely based on scarcity, color, size, and quality. Remember that because of the vanishing mine dump piles, Datolite hunting is now very limited. Many prime locations of the past are long gone, buried, flooded, or ground up. These factors combine to make Datolite jewelry pieces great heirloom treasures which can be passed down through your family with their story. Many times someone will be seeking a Datolite from a certain mine because a relative had worked there many years ago. Quincy or Delaware Datolites are popular because people want to remember their tour of those mines.

Datolite pendants are very popular at Copper World, our retail outlet in Calumet. You may be able to purchase a rough Datolite there also.

Really good Datolite (jewelry) is a great investment, and like Western Turquoise, many the sources are no longer available. Any jewelry from Michigan’s Copper District is a good investment with a historic backstory, but for color and variety you can’t beat Datolite Jewelry.

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

Lightning Ridge Opal and Jewelry

A Lightning Ridge with an unusual patter enhanced with a Mercury Mist Topaz

We found some quite spectacular Opal Doublets from Lightning Ridge Australia this year in Tucson.

Depending on the lighting, this one turns color.

The lighting makes this change color from orange to green and everything in between.

You search and search at the worlds largest Rock, Mineral, Gem, and Fossil Show and occasionally you find the right quality combined with affordability. One of the things we located was a dealer selling high quality Lightning Ridge Black Opal, AND I was the first buyer at his booth and got first choice. I carefully searched a couple virgin boxes of cabochons, picking out the best of the lot.

A classic Lightning Ridge Neon Blue. A picture does not do justice to any of these opals.

Black Opal is a loose term as most of the opals are not black. In fact many are a darker blue background, but they can come in a wide variety of colors and patterns. Lightning Ridge is inland in the east/central part of Australia approximately a 10 hour drive from Brisbane. Lightning Ridge mines have been producing quality opal since the early 1900s and the area continues to produce even today.

You just can’t take a good picture of these.

A very dark opal with much flash.

I mentioned in one of my Tucson Gem Show blogs looking over and recognizing another dealer acquaintance. We had great fun. He also had a couple promo boxes he was sorting through. I noticed the material he was choosing and fed him a few pieces from my box, as he fed me some stuff from his box. We had enjoyed the “dig”.

The picture does not show all the pinfire in this dark blue LR black opal.

Each stone I picked suggested how its’ eventual pendant wrap might be created. Every stone suggests whether it should be gold, silver, or Pink gold, or maybe the gemstone might like a two-tone treatment. Black opals are so striking and colorful that they do not require much as far as wrapping them; let the stone star, not the wire.

In the past shows I’ve found some very fine triplets, but these doublets were so much better.

For those that do not know the term “Triplet” refers to a thin layer of opal sandwiched between a clear cap and a dark backer. A “Doublet’ refers to a nice thicker layer of gem opal with a backer. The better Doublets are backed with Ironstone from the same area the stones came from.

I’ve created many works of opal art with more to do in the future. Opals were our biggest sellers at the “Agate Expo” international agate show last year, nd for good reason. We have very high quality with very reasonable prices. If you like any of these, or anything we blog about, get ahold of us. Our jewelry goes to our website, our retail outlets, and some we sell at art shows. We should be able to track down anything you want or suggest similar.