GEMSTONE JEWELRY - Back to the Far North !

We return to the lands of the far north again for another design using gemstones from Labrador and Norway.

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This specific design incorporates Labradorite rectangles from Labrador and Larvakite rounds from Norway. They are intersperced with clear crystal and silver beads. Earrings using matching gemstones and crystals complete the set.

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Labradorite is a feldspara intermediate to calcic member of the plagioclase series. Streak seen within the stone is white, like most silicates. Twinning is common. As with all plagioclase members the crystal system is triclinic and three directions of cleavage are present, two of which form nearly right angle prisms. Labradorite occurs as a nearly clear, white to grey rocky to lath grained rock. Labradorite is found on Paul's Island near the town of Nain in Labrador, Canada. It occurs in large crystal masses in anorthosite and shows a play of colors called labradorescence. The labradorescence, or schiller effect, is the result of light refracting within lamellar intergrowths resulting from phase exsolution on colling in the Boggild miscibility gap. Gemstone varieties of labradorite exhibiting a high degree of labradorescence are called Spectrolite: Moonstone and Sunstone are also commonly used terms, and high-quality samples with good qualities are desired for jewelry.

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Larvakite is a variety of Labradorite that comes from Norway. Larvakite originates from the town of Larvik in Norway, where this specific type of igneous rock is found. The crystallisation of this ternary feldspar indicates that Larvakite began to crystallise under lower crustal conditions than did Labradorite. Larvakite posses the same labradoresence characteristics as Labradorite and the two can eaasily be confused.

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GEMSTONE JEWELRY - an old stone Revisited !

Using unique or unusual one-location gemstones allows one to create a one-of-a-kind piece of jewelry, especially when the history of the gemstone can be traced back to the Vikings.

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Being able to acquire the unusual gemstone known as Labradorite, allowed for the creation of this necklace set. Pieces of Labradorite cut into puff-rectangles as highlight gemstones are combined with Mother-of-Pearl rondels and silver plated -chain links to form the necklace. French hook earrings with rondel Labradorite and MOP beads completes the set.
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Labradorite is a feldspara intermediate to calcic member of the plagioclase series. Streak seen within the stone is white, like most silicates. Twinning is common. As with all plagioclase members the crystal system is triclinic and three directions of cleavage are present, two of which form nearly right angle prisms. Labradorite occurs as a nearly clear, white to grey rocky to lath grained rock. Labradorite is found on Paul's Island near the town of Nain in Labrador, Canada. It occurs in large crystal masses in anorthosite and shows a play of colors called labradorescence. The labradorescence, or schiller effect, is the result of light refracting within lamellar intergrowths resulting from phase exsolution on colling in the Boggild

Labradorite................................Larvakite

miscibility gap. Gemstone varieties of labradorite exhibiting a high degree of labradorescence are called Spectrolite: Moonstone and Sunstone are also commonly used terms, and high-quality samples with good qualities are desired for jewelry. A variety of Labradorite that comes from Norway is called Larvakite. Larvakite originates from the town of Larvik in Norway, where this type of igneous rock is found. The crystallisation of this ternary feldspar indicates that Larvakite began to crystallise under lower crustal conditions than did Labradorite. Larvakite posses the same labradoresence characteristics as Labradorite and the two can eaasily be confused.

Mother of pearl, also called nacre, is an iridescent layer of material which forms the shell lining of many mollusks. Pearl oysters and abalone are both sources of mother of pearl, which is widely used as an inlay in jewelry, furniture, and musical instruments. Mother of pearl comes in several natural colors, and is often bleached and dyed for decorative use. The dye retains the shimmering layers which make mother of pearl so sought after. Depending on the shell the Mother of Pearl is taken from, it may be processed into large flat or curved pieces, small pieces sometimes call nuggets or processed as polished beads. Two substances actually combine to create mother of pearl. The first is plates of aragonite, a material which is secreted by the mollusk. Aragonite contains calcium carbonate and conchiolin, a natural protein. Alone, the plates are very hard, but also very brittle. As a result, the organism also secretes an organic material similar to silk to layer between the plates. The result is a strong, flexible material which can withstand hard use.

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NOT "Big and Bold" !

Not everyone is comfortable wearing the "Big and Bold" look, not everyone looks as great as they should wearing the "Big and Bold", so here are a couple new designs for that "dainty" person.

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Labradorite and Mother of Pearl on a silver chain (GS247)

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Botswana Agate pendant and beads on a golden illusion chain (GS246)

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But for that person that wants the "Bold" look as well as a bit of the "Wild", here is a set made from Mahogany Lampwork beads and Black Sandstone with Silver Highlights.

(GS248)

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Check the Jewelry by CnC webiste for additional new items.

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Gemstones in the Rough !

Without going into a long explanation or discussion of where to find, how to find and what you might have to do to find gemstones lying around, or when having to dig them out of the ground, here are some pictures of some "rocks" that one might run into while "Rock Hounding", if you go to the right location.

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For many, it could be a short trip as some of the most important deposits of Amazonite are found in Colorado (since 1876). Other locations where Amazonite is found are in Brazil, India, Kenya, Madagascar, Namibia, Russia and Zimbabwe.

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Now if you want to get a sample of Ametrine, it will require a trip way back into the hills of Bolivia. This is a one source stone from the Anahi Mine.

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Although similar red rocks (Jasper) can be found in many locations, some of the best in the Big Bend Area of Texas, this particular piece that contains Red River Jasper and Red Variscite is only found in the 'Outback' of Australia.

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Sodalite can be found in many locations from Africa, to China to South America. This particular piece of blue Sodalite comes from Brazil.

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This unique find of blue Apatite came from the Diamond Mine area of Arkansas, but Apatite comes from all over -- Brazil, India, Kenya, Madagascar, Mexico, Myanmar (Burma), Norway, Sri Lanka, South Africa and the several locations in the United States.

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The name gives this unique find from the Pacific Ocean California beaches away, San Joaquin Green Jade.

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Discovered on the Island of St. Paul, near the coast of Labrador, Labradorite is a very unusual form of Opaline Felspar. Although originally found only in Labradore, it has now been discovered in Madagascar and other locations near volcanic activity.

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Spider Web Jasper can be found in many locations to include Idaho, Oregon, Arizona and New Mexico to name a few. This particular piece came from Arizona.

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Fluorite is very common throughout the world. But rockhounds in Arizona have to look twice so they don't confuse this nice yellow-green Fluorite with Arizona Peridot.

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Chrysoprase is a common find in Australia, but also comes from Poland and the United States. It is considered the rarest form of Chalcedony.

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Oregon's "Sunstone" !

The 1987 Legislature designated the Oregon Sunstone as the official state gemstone. Uncommon in its composition, clarity, and colors, it is a large, brightly colored transparent gem in the Feldspar family. The Oregon Sunstone attracts collectors and miners and has been identified as a boon to tourism and economic development in southeastern Oregon counties.

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A few years earlier, in 1965, the Thunder-egg (geode) was named state rock by the Legislature after rockhounds throughout Oregon voted it as their first choice. Thundereggs range in diameter from less than one inch to over four feet. Nondescript on the outside, they reveal exquisite designs in a wide range of colors when cut and polished. They are found chiefly in Crook, Jefferson, Malheur, Wasco and Wheeler counties.

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Oregon Sunstone is a Feldspar crystal formed as phenocrysts in molten lava and then discharged onto the surface of the earth by a volcano. As the lava weathers away or is broken up the crystals are released. While Feldspars are found all over the world, they are rarely gem grade. Central Oregon is one of the few places in the world where this type of Feldspar is found in gem grade and large enough to cut stones for jewelry. Sunstone is a plagioclase Feldspar exhibiting in certain directions a brilliant spangled appearance, which has led to its use as a gemstone. Oregon is the only place in the world where gem grade Sunstones are found containing copper. Varying amounts of copper cause the stones to range in color from water clear to yellow, as well as many shades of green, red and pink. Some stones contain from two to four of these colors. Some rare stones will even change colors in different light as Alexandrite does, and some are different colors when viewed from different directions (dichroic and trichroic)..

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In south central Oregon, northeast of Plush, the BLM has set aside 4 square miles for rock collectors to hunt for Sunstones. No claims can be filled within the BLM sunstone area, and there is no charge to prospect. Outside the BLM area, several major mines exist ihat are open to the public for digging and collecting. High Desert Gems & Minerals currently owns over 40 sunstone mining claims in the Plush and White Horse Ranch area of Oregon. One, the Spectrum Mine is a 20 acre patented mining claim located 27 miles northeast of Plush, Oregon. Another major mine in the area, the Dust Devil Mining Company, is Oregon’s premier Sunstone Fee-Digging venue where visitors can prospect virgin ground that has been opened with our heavy equipment – They are never limited to digging tailings or material that has already been high-graded. Visitors will take most of what they find FREE OF CHARGE, while certain very high-grade or collector stones will be charged at 25% of wholesale. The Dust Devil Mine is a bit hard to get to, but they have files for downloading to GPS units on their web-site. About 100 miles to the southeast is another Sunstone location, with the major mining carried out is at the Ponderosa Mine in Harney County. The Ponderosa is a relatively recent find, having been discovered in 1980.

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In general, Feldspar, also called Labradorite, is a little known and underrated gemstone, yet some of the available colors and varieties of material are truly beautiful. At a hardness of 6, it is generally too soft for daily use in rings, it would be acceptable for occasional wear for special occasions and other types of jewelry. Feldspar is an easy material to cut, both in cabs and for faceting. The two perfect cleavages are not troublesome, and in fact, the table for faceted stones does not always have to be oriented away from the cleavage planes. The material is not heat sensitive and polishing usually goes fairly quickly with Cerium Oxide.

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Thanks to the owners of the Dust Devil MIne for their pictures and sample sunstone specimuns.

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