Hunting Rocks – Rockhoud Trip

This past weekend we went to a small rock & mineral show just a few hours north of us. It was a great adventure digging through slabs, boxes, barrels, and seeing everything spread across all of tables.

As I wondered down the first aisle, I came to a vendor from Colorado that I've bought from before. He always has some breath taking raw slabs, but to my surprise, this time he had several that were small enough to wire wrap!   I was so excited and spent about an hour there going through all the tubs full of slabs, finding just the right ones that gave me inspiration to wire wrap.

These new pieces will be wired into pendants, some will go into necklace sets and others will be set alone as single pendants to wear on cords, collars or chains. 

The new slabs are raw and will be unique pendants that are left in their natural state for a more beautiful look.   I look forward to wire wrapping these slabs and then designing with some of them. 

Being somewhat of irregular shapes, wire wrapping them will be somewhat of a challenge.   The slabs are a mix of several agates, a couple of jaspers, chevron amethyst, ruby in kyanite from India, tiger iron, and a piece of laguna agate from Mexico.

Once I get them wired and into some necklace set, I'll feature them here on the blog, so check back often --- just never know what you might find here!

Natural Stone Pendants Wired

I’ve spent time wiring some natural stone pendants and included earrings with some of them; something new I’m trying this fall with the pendant line. With these, I’ve wire wrapped them using non-tarnish silver, bronze, brass or copper wire. I just received more exotic and unusual stones, so keep checking back as I get them done, either posted here or on our website.

Lepidolite Crystal Stone

Discovered in the eighteenth century, it is not a typical gemstone, but a very beautiful purplish type of mica that contains a substantial portion of lithium and is the Earth’s most common lithium-bearing mineral. Lepidolite is from the Greek ‘lepidos’, meaning ‘scale’, and ‘lithos’, meaning ‘stone’. Lepidolite was uncommon mica but in recent years Brazilian finds have made it much more available on the mineral market. Lepidolite, like other micas, has a layered structure of lithium aluminum silicate sheets weakly bonded together by layers of potassium ions. These potassium ion layers produce the perfect cleavage.

The typical violet to pink color of Lepidolite is characteristic and is the only field test available to identify Lepidolite from other micas. Pink muscovite or very pale Lepidolite may confuse identification. Since Lepidolite colors can be confusing, a melting and flame test is desirable if there is any reason - such as the presence of colored tourmalines or of other lithium minerals for suspecting mica to be Lepidolite, rather than the commoner muscovite. The fluorescence and flame tests will also distinguish some of the more intensely colored chromium chiorites, dumortierite, and similar hydrous silicates.

Lepidolite crystals accompany other lithium bearing minerals such as tourmaline, amblygonite and spodumene. Lepidolite crystals can add character and value of these specimens. Crystals can be tabular or prismatic crystals with a prominent pinacoid termination. Lepidolite's four prism faces and two pinacoid faces form pseudo-hexagonal crystal "books". Well developed crystals with a Sharp hexagonal outline are rare. The sides of the crystal often tend to taper. Sometimes borders ordinary muscovite mica, but the cleavage flakes are not quite continuous. Commonly occurs in medium to fine-grained aggregates; One- to two-inch crystals, tapering down to a slender point and more prismatic than tabular, occur at some localities.

Traditional properties of Lepidolite include protection from outside influences, relieve everyday stress, and promote restful sleep when placed near your pillow, attracts good luck and drives away negativity.

Lepidolite provided by Panther Creek Minerals, San Antonio, Texas.
Researched from various websites, mineral-rock-gem and crystal books.

Brazilian Ocos Geode Agate

Agate geode halves which are found in the Ocos region of Brazil, are small agate nodules with a crystalline interior. Agate is named after a river in Sicily called Achates, where it was found in the Fourth Century, B.C. In the center of the rock, where there is a cavity, crystals often form, thus the name geode.

The formation in which the geodes are found is 50 million years old and located in the country of Brazil. Farmers have gathered the oco’s for many years. After the crops have been harvested and the farmers are unable to work, the fields are tilled under allowing the oco’s to appear. They are then gathered and sold for cutting into the geode half.

Agate tones and strengthens body and mind, as well as imparting a sense of strength and courage. It enhances creativity and stimulates the intellect. Agate is calming and soothing, and can dispel feelings of jealousy.

Browse and shop our website for these and many other unusal gemstone jewelry pieces.

*Ocos Agates from Panther Creek Minerals, San Antonio, Texas.