Thursday, September 19, 2013

How to find your own Priday Plume Agate from Central Oregon - Dig your own thundereggs

Priday Plume Agate wrapped in 14kt Rose Gold Filled Wire by Spiral Notions
This is Priday Plume Agate from the world famous Priday Plume thunderegg beds at Richardson's Rock Ranch (formally 1/2 of the old Priday Ranch) 7 miles N. of Madras in Central Oregon.

Richardson's Rock Ranch is a great destination spot for those interested in rockhounding Oregon. There a huge rock shop, rock yard and rock museum. Richardson's Rock Ranch's rock yard is full of lapidary rough from throughout the world and also right here in Oregon.

From the late spring to mid-fall, as weather permits, access to the world famous beds is granted and you can go dig your own Oregon thundereggs at one of the many dig sites available. We recommend a rock hammer and a LONG STURDY flat head screwdriver for digging and prying in the perlite host rock. I would call first if the weather has been wet or looks like it might become so, make sure to arrive before 3pm for access to the beds and time to dig (they close at 5pm) then check in at the rock shop to sign in and get a map to the oregon thunderegg beds.

These special Oregon thundereggs, the Priday Plume, come from their own bed on the ranch, accessible only through generosity of the owners on specific days (usually Labor Day weekend) included in their normal fee dig. Just because you get access to the Priday Plume Thunder Egg Bed, doesn't mean you will find a plume thunderegg as each thunderegg can have their own unique filling, even one right next to the other. I have seen a pink opal egg come from right next door to a dark green mossy egg. You never know what you will find!

Saturday, September 14, 2013

One of my favorites, Labradorite and Sterling Silver Spiral Pendant


Labradorite is a stone of mystery and desires, it's flash will captivate you and pull you into it's depths. Originally found in the Canadian province of Labrador, other deposits have been found in Finland and Madagascar. Also referred to as the "Black Moonstone" and finds it self at home in the same mineral family (plagoclase feldspar) as the Rainbow Moonstone and the Oregon Sunstone.

First, I hand-selected this beautiful stone, then took sterling silver wire and carefully formed a nice sized bail (good for chains or small ribbons) letitng the wire flow into a spiral, then hammering the spiral to harden it and give it an old-world texture. I then finished it with a light polishing.