Star Ruby

Star rubies are amongst the rarest and most coveted gems in the world. Even more so in comparison to star sapphires, since the chromium that colors them pink and red limits the sizes they can grow to. Each star ruby is so unique in appearance, that matching pairs (much less a set) is nearly impossible.

Special features that appear in gems like a star are known as phenomena. These effects include asterism, chatoyancy, iridescence, adularescence, aventurescence, labradorescence, and play-of-color. Rubies mainly show asterism, and rarely chatoyancy and it is possible for them to show other phenomena, but this happens only rarely.

The most well-known source of star rubies is Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) due to how the silk forms in a very organized, and tightly knit fashion. Not all rubies display silk like this, or at all, though it is very common.

No two stars are the same, with the stars being as unique as the growth characteristics of the ruby. Sometimes stars are fainter, stronger, or off-centered. The individual arms can be uneven, of different lengths, missing, etc. The way the star moves along the surface of each ruby is unique too. Some move around very smoothly, some do not move much, jump around, disappear entirely from certain angles, and more. Each star really has its own personality in appearance and movement, and makes matching pairs extremely difficult.

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OREGON’S STATE GEM is the Oregon Sunstone 

The Feldspar group of minerals are one of the most common on the planet. Also Oregon’s unique copper-bearing Plagioclase Feldspar is found nowhere else in the world.  The Oregon legislature in 1987 designated Oregon’s Official State Gem as the Oregon Sunstone.

At a hardness of  6.5-7.2 on the Moh’s scale, comparable to gemstones like Tanzanite and Peridot, 

Gem collectors and jewelry lovers from all over the world are fast becoming aware of this uniquely American gemstone. While many varieties of labradorite feldspar can display aventurescence or schiller and are commonly called “sunstones,” those effects are typically caused by inclusions of hematite or goethite. In contrast, the labradorite sunstones found in Oregon have inclusions of copper. This unique happenstance means these gemstones may both display a schiller effect and transparency. This makes them highly desirable as faceted jewelry stones.

Intense red and transparent gems with schiller are in great demand. However, many color varieties occur in Oregon, with and without the glowing effect.

Although a relative newcomer to many in the gem buying public, Oregon sunstone has traditionally been valued and traded by the Native Americans of the Pacific Northwest. In 1987, Oregon officially declared it its state gemstone. In the esoteric realm of birthstone mythology, sunstones are considered the phenomenal birthstone for those born on Sunday.

The only feldspar sunstone with copper inclusions is Oregon sunstone. However, not all specimens display the schiller effect. The copper inclusions in Oregon sunstone come in varieties like threads, spots, sheets, and clouds.

To find out more about the Oregon Sunstone click on this link

#oregonsunstone

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Umbalite, also known as Malaya (Malaia) garnet.  First noticed in the 1960s, it was mixed in with parcels of rhodolite garnets from the Umba River Valley in East Africa. Many buyers rejected the material, so local miners and dealers gave it the Swahili name of “Malaya”, which translates to “out of the family”. Testing eventually confirmed that this new gem was a mixture of pyrope and spessartite garnet. Its lively color ranges from light to dark pink, red, and yellowish orange. After overcoming initial objections, it carved a small, but dedicated niche in the market in the 1980s, particularly in the United States. Today, umbalite is one of the more expensive garnets, and its only known sources are Kenya and Tanzania. Umbalite is a relatively new member of the garnet group.

Umbalite Garnet is a very high quality version of the Rhodolite Garnet. It generally comes from one location, the Umba valley in Tanzania. Just like Rhodolite, it comes in a beautiful purple color with flashes of red or blue. 

Umbalite Garnets are the exceptional pink to pinkish-purple Garnets named after the Umba Valley in Tanzania. Umbalite is a relative of Rhodolite and Malaya Garnets. They are usually a mix of Pyrope, Almandine, Spessartine and occasionally Grossular Garnets. Almost all gem-quality garnets are a mix of two or more species.

For more information see this link

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Mount Saint Helen’s Ash is a product from a volcano located in southwestern Washington state. It’s the most active volcano in the Cascade Range. This mountain range extends from British Columbia through Washington and Oregon to northern California.

On May 18, 1980, Mount St. Helens, after a dormant period of over 125 years, erupted violently sending over three-quarters of a cubic mile of volcanic ash into the atmosphere. This represented the first major eruption of a volcano in the contiguous United States since the eruption of California’s Mount Lassen in 1914

Shortly after the May 18th eruption of Mount St. Helens it was obvious that in eastern Washington vast amounts of volcanic ash had accumulated. This ash appeared to represent a new potentially valuable nonmetallic mineral resource, and within a few days individuals and mineral-oriented companies began investigating possible uses for the newly fallen ash.

 The ash from this volcano was made into a glass material from which this gem stone was faceted. This man made material that I use comes in greenish and blueish colors.

Click this LINK to see a Oval version

For more info please see this page

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Saint Helen’s Ash is a product from a volcano located in southwestern Washington state. It’s the most active volcano in the Cascade Range. A mountain range that extends from British Columbia through Washington and Oregon to northern California.

On May 18, 1980, Mount St. Helens, after a dormant period of over 125 years, erupted violently sending over three-quarters of a cubic mile of volcanic ash into the atmosphere. This represented the first major eruption of a volcano in the contiguous United States since the eruption of California’s Mount Lassen in 1914

Shortly after the May 18th eruption of Mount St. Helens it was obvious that in eastern Washington vast amounts of volcanic ash had accumulated. This ash appeared to represent a new potentially valuable nonmetallic mineral resource, and within a few days individuals and mineral-oriented companies began investigating possible uses for the newly fallen ash.

Approximately 540 million tons of ash from Mount Saint Helens fell across an area larger than 22,000 square miles. All this during the 9 hours of vigorous eruptive activity on May 18, 1980.

The ash from this volcano was made into a glass material ( Mt. St. Helen’s Ash ) from which this gem stone was faceted. This man made material that I use comes in greenish and blueish colors.

Click this Link to see a round version

For more info please see this page

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This book covers everything from choosing the right crystals and assembling a basic collection of important stones to creating a crystal “center” at home.  This accessible guide helps you add a powerful source of energy to your daily routines. There is a crystal remedy for almost every issue.  It covers physical pain, insomnia, conflicts with loved ones, and more.  You will also find advice on crystal elixirs, meditation, visualizations, and fortunetelling.

Do you want to know how to use these stones in daily life?  Author Cassandra Eason explores the wondrous properties attributed to crystals as an easy-to-understand introduction for the interested novice.  She begins by describing twelve key crystals to assemble and then throughout the book she describes the many uses for them, from in the home, garden, and workplace to love and well-being.

She even tells us about which stones are for health and happiness, as well as well-being.  Want to know about amulets for prosperity, good fortune, and safe travel?  This book tells you all about them.  Ms. Eason also explains how to send healing through crystals.

She begins the book with an introduction.  “Crystals are the most exciting, powerful psychic tools, for they act as transmitters and amplifiers of health, happiness, love, success, and prosperity, and they enhance the home and workplace with both energy and protection.”

Hardcover  5″ x 7″

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This folding beautiful guide comes packed with detailed information on both sides.  The rich design and colorful layout help readers find exactly what they’re looking for quickly and efficiently.  Sturdy board stock and lamination make this informative guide extremely durable.  You’ll find information on the Mohs Hardness Scale, as well as transparency and colors of gemstones.  This crystal and mineral guide also includes each of the 7 main chakras and the gemstones that associate with each of them, not to mention gemstone birth month associations.  This guide covers 60 gemstones, each telling the category, the crystal system, Mohs hardness, the cleavage, luster and transparency.  It also covers the gemstones colors and occurrence, as well as general information about each stone and esoteric aspects.

This guide contains information on 76 different gemstones and minerals, including agates, chalcedony, feldspar, kunzite, quartz, and sunstone,  The guide also includes the Mohs Hardness Scale, as well as information on crystal systems such as cubic, tetragonal, hexagonal, etc.  You will learn a bit about the 7 Chakra systems and the gemstones that associate with each of them.  Also includes in this guide, you will fin day of the week and the gemstones that associate with them, as well as birth month associations and astral stones,

8 pages  Folded size – 8″ x 11″

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