Stone Canyon jasper pendant 5
This is a hand cut and shaped Stone Canyon Jasper pendant. This is a premium piece from very old stock material I have had in my rock collection for many, many years. Like all of my rocks, I gaze at them frequently, even spray them wet to look at their coloring and eventually they inspire me to figure out what is to become of them. I cut, grind, stare and a shape and pattern emerges. This piece has a high gloss measuring ~ 2.25" x ~7/8" at its widest and ~ 7/16" at its narrowest and 1/4" thick. It is fitted to a 18" Sterling 1.5mm round "Omega" cable with high quality magnetic clasp. It is a smaller version of Stone Canyon jasper 4 also listed on this site.
I have been collecting and shaping stone for over fifty years and still never tire of the variety of colors and patterns that develop when shaping a stone like this. This is a special piece to me and like children, I will miss it when it leaves on its next journey.
Stone Canyon Jasper is a brecciated Jasper-Agate mined near the small town of Parkfield, Ca. known for its proximity to the San Andreas Fault and for the extensive seismic testing done there.
The stone is called “brecciated” as it is a rock composed of broken fragments of preexisting minerals that were pulverized by tectonic activity and then later cemented back together via a finer grain matrix. In a sense it endured a hardship only to come back even stronger.
This jasper is somewhat scarce since most of it sources are on privately held lands. This particular pendant is from a larger “old stock” piece and is quite unique due to the red and black agate within the mix.