Tag Archives: Pietersite

Tucson Gem, Mineral, & Fossil Shows 2014-Pietersite and Singing Bowls

I did the best I could, but the flash of this Pietersite cannot be properly captured.

Roaming around the south end of the strip was today’s activity. There was no real goal to buy anything, but we found good things none the less.

Sonoran Sunrise rough

I’ve expounded on Bonnie’s affinity for Sonoran Sunrise Jasper, but I must confess I feel the same about Pietersite. The very best Pietersite in Tucson is sold directly by South African Mine owners. Pietersite is a pseudo-morph of Quartz. This gemstone looks to me like paint strokes that when turned side to side flash, like cats eye. This is hard to explain until you see it. Rough is for sale, but I’ve never been able to get the glass-like finish that these pros do. There are two Pietersite mines in the world; Namibia and the Henan Provence of China. The mine in South Africa is in Otjuo, an open pit operation of approximately 10 acres. At this time the pit is approximately 30 meters deep. Check out our Pietersite page for some beautiful jewelry, some of my favorites.

I could not capture the true beauty of my cabs in my cloud dome, so I just laid them on a table and shined a LED light on them. The picture has not been retouched.

a chunk of Lazulite I bought

I was fascinated by some Lazulite from Paraiba, Brazil. I’ll just tell you what Badin Stones told me. The material is a Triolite Lazulite and is the matrix for the famous Paraiba Toumaline. I bought a 4# chunk to play with. I really think this Hard Phosphate material looks intriguing with blues and pinks–another great material from Minas Gerais.

Rainbow Obsidian in the sun.

Even though I was not in the market for Rainbow Obsidian I saw some nice stuff John Cooper was selling at Infinite Rhythms. www.infiniterhythms.com.

Carvings from the Lazulite.

Lots of random rough was being sold by Dayle Harrison from Saugatuck. He’s hidden in the back lot at the Rapa River Show.

We see things at the Tucson Shows of interest to the metaphysical community. Singing Bowls are seen each year. These are carved from Quartz Crystals and when rubbed around the edges produce a humming sound. The larger the bowl, the lower the hum. The vendors of these bowls usually have a couple connected rooms where bowls are sold and some type of metaphysical treatments take place. I am not a metaphysical person, but to each their own. You are requested to take your shoes off when entering this apparently sacred hotel room, and old people, like my self, have trouble getting shoes off and back on. A person was laying on the floor with a cloth being waved over him. I watched to see if something magical would appear,and was hoping for some residual effect on myself but did not see or feel any transformation. An interesting looking character with hippie-pajama-mystic appearance came by massaging a singing bowl. I would appreciate a healing of my leg, but her presence did not cause that to happen and I moved on.

You must wait for this trio to be massaged so they can sing.

As usual I took lots of pictures today. Enjoy them. I think we need a little break soon, so if I do not say anything tomorrow, it means we took a day off. Thanks for following our adventures.

I sort of have the body of a god..Buddha,

dolphincarv

This carving was called "The Biggest Flame in Brazil". I do not know the rock.

Pietersite-On The Workbench

Pietersite was on the workbench at the Ludington Art Show. I happened upon a great cabochon while digging through my cases at home, and decided if things were slow (they were), I would demonstrate next to the booth.

It's difficult to see the 3D pattern on Pietersite.

It is always nice to work in the fresh air.

This Pietersite came from the one vendor I deal with, (the mine-owners) in Tucson. If you want more information on Pietersite go to my blog (March 13, 2011). http://www.snobappealjewelry.com/blog/?p=1062

The finished product turned out great.

I loved the reds and browns in this piece. The Holographic depth of Pietersite can only be viewed in person, and is pretty incredible. I think it came out pretty amazing considering I was working freestyle. I may post this up on the web later today.

Let me know what you think.

Here’s a bonus; I made this remarkable Lake Superior Eye Agate also. This one will go to the Celebration of Agates Show.

eye-agate

Pietersite

I have difficulty when in the presence of high quality Pietersite. I just have to have it. In Tucson this year I told Bonnie I did not need any more Pietersite but the first thing I bought at the show was Pietersite cabochons. Many people are not familiar with Pietersite but when they see it, they want it! It has a magical shimmer, similar to tiger eye, but deeper and more eye-catching.

Gorgeous blue

I can tell you that Pietersite is a pseudomorph variety of quartz. It has the outward appearance of Crocidolite fibers (asbestos), but this mineral has been completely dissolved with quartz taking on its fibrous formations.

The play of light that rolls across the stone takes on a cats eye appearance. Multiple colors and hues streak and swirl in all directions similar to brush strokes. Crocidolite’s original color is blue, so blue (in its wide range of shades) is the most dominant Pietersite color sharing the palette with rusty reds, golds and browns.

Pietersite is one of the more recent mineral discoveries. It was found in Namibia, in Southwest Africa in 1964. I have been told by the miners that it is found in the river banks and the high quality Pietersite is not widespread. I can personally tell you that Pietersite is exceedingly difficult to polish. I cannot come close to the cabochons I find in Tucson with their glass-like surfaces.

High quality Pietersite is not inexpensive, but worth it. The best stones are perceived almost as a holographic image, with a three dimensional depth. At every show people are awestruck by a featured piece of Pietersite jewelry. It is hard to capture this depth in a photo. You can be sure our pendants are all beautiful, both the stone and the wire wrap.