Septarian Nodules
Septarian nodules, also known as dragon stones, are highly sought after by rock hounds and mineral collectors because they formed millions of years ago in a unique way. These dark mud balls are distinctive stones with yellow, gray, and brown tones in large art-like bands. The grays and browns come from dead algae while the […]
Gemologist Guide to Identifying Sugilite
Sugilite is easy to identify because it has a vivid purple color with streaks of black mixed in. This material can be opaque or translucent and is used in bead making, carving, and other lapidary arts. It was originally discovered at the Wessels Manganese Mine and has a trade name of Wesselite but the most […]