by Dale "Cougar" Armstrong, Wire-Sculpture.com

Daily Wire Jewelry Making Tip for
March 9, 2012

Tiger Eye, one in a Series on Quartz

Shop Blue Tiger Eye, Red Tiger Eye, and Brown Tiger Eye Cabochons | Shop Tiger Eye Beads

Imagine living in an exotic place like India or Africa, long ago, and noticing the eyes of a tiger peering at you through a field of elephant grass. Deep rich gold colored eyes, with flecks of bright yellow and pale green, and definitely chatoyant. This depiction also describes the macrocrystalline quartz we call tiger eye, and could very well be the origin of the name as tiger eye quartz is mined in both India and Africa. Although challenging for a lapidary, when the mostly straight fibers of this stone are oriented and cut properly, tiger eye is a perfect example of chatoyancy, shimmering like the eye of a cat. ("Chat" being French for "cat".)

Rough tiger eye, photographed wet on my studio porch.

Tiger eye began as a type of blue riebeckite or asbestos, geologically known as silicified crocidolite. When the silky fibrous mineral crocidolite decomposed, and was replaced by quartz containing traces of iron minerals such as goethite, the beautifully banded brown and gold tiger eye was formed. There is no need to be worried about working with this material, because it is a pseudomorph of quartz "after" asbestos; and we all know that a lapidary should wear some type of face mask or respirator when cutting and grinding any stone!

Monica White created this necklace using a tiger eye donut and beads, and chain.

Tiger's eye bracelet, using tiger eye beads and formed wire, by Irisha Patterson

Natural blue to blue-grey tiger eye occurs when some of the crocidolite remains in the structure of the rock which has been named Hawks Eye; and Falcons Eye is what this material is called when a pale blue-gray is banded within the golden browns. Bi-colored tiger eye, found with both blue and green banding is very rare; the green coming from strands of yellow and blue being evenly dispersed. Although very rare, natural red tiger eye can be found; however, when brown tiger eye is heat treated, it becomes a rich mahogany red called Bulls or Ox Eye. When tigereye is commercially bleached, the result is a lovely honey color.

Wire wrapped Tiger Eye necklace and ring by Donna Geurin: Donna says, "My husband had had a necklace and clip earrings made for me 40 years ago and I had not worn them. When I started wire work (just before gold soared way up), I asked my teacher if we could reset these stones and you can see what resulted."

While we were in Tucson this past February, at one of the hotel shows we saw thousands of pound of rough tiger eye for purchase. (Not me, I already had some!)

As a member of the quartz family, opaque through semi-translucent tiger eye has a hardness of 7 and has been a favorite carving and jewelry making material for centuries. Cameos, statuary, decorative tiles, building columns, ornamental carving of animals and urns have all been made of tiger eye, as well as cabochons and beads of many different shapes. Affordable and abundant, tiger eye is a very popular material with wire jewelry designers. Its natural, earthy shades of gold, yellows, and browns go with about any outfit and are a popular choice when making men’s jewelry, especially rings.

A carved big cat and a cameo, both made of brown/gold tiger eye.

One of the perfume bottles in my collection is a great example of tiger iron from Australia (but carved in China).

Tiger eye is found mainly in South Africa, Australia, India, Arizona, California, and China. However, there are also a couple of different tiger eye forms that you may not have associated with the original material. Discovered in Western Australia in the 1970s, opaque tiger "iron" is a composite of bright brown/gold tiger eye with artistic bands of red jasper and metallic hematite; sometimes labeled Australian Tiger Eye, or tiger eye jasper.

Joani Mullan created this rich necklace and earring set using a combination of red tiger eye, blue tiger eye, and gold tiger eye beads, and copper wire.

Another interesting and very form of tiger eye was found in Namibia in 1962. This material is quite translucent and unlike regular tiger eye, its fibers are not straight and parallel to one another. Distributed throughout the quartz in irregular masses, these fibers can be of many different colors; red, red-gold and dark blue, occasionally with tints of green, resulting in the material we know better as Pietersite or the Storm Stone. Today most of the Pietersite on the market is mined in China; however, sources have told me that the mine has been flooded and therefore closed, thus justifying the high price of "good" Pietersite.

Some nice designer cabochons made of blue Pietersite from China. Private collection, Dale Armstrong.

While shopping at Cloud's Jamboree (then in Quartzite, AZ) I found a beautiful metallic looking brown and gold material that was labeled Pietersite. Obviously I brought some back for my husband to play with and I still have these (now rare) cabochons!

Used as a talisman in many cultures, tiger eye is said to protect the wearer from illness and evil as well as aligning ones Yin Yang energies. The only imitation of tiger eye is glass/fiber optics, so beware of anyone labeling an item as silver tiger eye, eagle eye, frogs eye, or any other name that doesn’t sound quite right to you! What can be mislabeled as “silver” tiger eye could be the mineral Binghamite or Silkstone, found in the state of Minnesota.

Quartz that has specialty minerals within it is generically known as "included" quartz, the subject of next week’s Gem Profile. Have you made wire jewelry with included quartz before? Email pictures to tips@wire-sculpture.com, and they could be featured!

Resources

Print Resources:

• Love is in the Earth by Melody, ISBN 0-9628190-3-4
• 
  The Peterson Field Guide to Rocks and Minerals by Frederick H. Pough, ISBN 0-395-24049-2
• Simon & Schuster’s Guide to Gems and Precious Stones by Curzio Cipriani and Alessandro Borelli, ISBN 0-671-60430-9

Internet Resources:

•  www.mangelsen.com
• www.mindat.org
• www.wikipedia.org

Gem Profile by Dale "Cougar" Armstrong

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by Dale "Cougar" Armstrong, Wire-Sculpture.com

Daily Wire Jewelry Making Tip for
March 2, 2012

Aventurine, one in a Series on Quartz

Shop Red Aventurine and Green Aventurine Cabochons | Shop Aventurine Beads

The often sparkly light through dark green quartz that has been used to create ornamental objects for thousands of years, is what we call green aventurine. Similar to quartzite, but not really a chalcedony, aventurine is a granular quartz rock that is usually available in shades of green; but did you know that it is also found naturally in shades of brownish-red, tangerine-red through peachy orange, cream, white, gray and even blue? Unfortunately I can’t find my stock of aventurine to share with you, however I did find this excellent photo of rough aventurine.

A selection of aventurine cabochons; notice the color variation.

Green aventurine owes its color to inclusions of green mica (fuchsite), colored by the presence of chromium. Hematite or goethite colored mica, and/or scales of iron oxide is responsible for the reddish and orange tones aventurine can have, while hues of blue come from the mineral dumortierite. The metallic iridescence that is associated with aventurine of any color is due to the platelets or flakes of the included mica and/or minerals. This effect has been named "aventurescence". Shades of coral, orange, yellow and peach feldspars in the past, were also called aventurine as in ‘feldspar aventurine’, however these are now better classified as sunstone. 

This carved aventurine perfume bottle really shows the variation of color and the inclusions of fuchsite well. Private collection, Dale Armstrong.

Aventurine heart wrapped in sterling silver by Jackie Morris, using Dale's "Anything" Harness.

The origin of the name aventurine is very interesting. In the early 1700s, a glass-making family in Italy may have made a mistake one day and dropped some metallic crystals into a batch of glass, which resulted in a beautiful product that looked like stars from the heavens had been trapped inside the glass. They named the glass "a ventura", which means "by chance." That special glass is what we now know as goldstone! Because our subject rock resembled this glass, it was named aventurine. 

Joan Madouse wire wrapped these aventurine donuts and aventurine heart using copper, gold, & silver craft wire.

As a member of the macrocrystalline quartz family, aventurine has a hardness of 7 and can be semi-translucent to opaque; therefore this material is rarely faceted into gemstones. For centuries, lapidary use of aventurine for jewelry making has been in the form of cabochons and beads. A good example here would be India, who has always had an abundant source of green aventurine. In the past, it was popularly used in the creation of "beggar beads", as well as for all forms of ornamental statuary, monuments and cut columns and blocks for building. (Beggar beads could also be referred to as "prayer" beads due to the fact that the honorable profession of begging described one who was paid to pray for different people and/or causes.)

This pair of classic cabochon-style rings shows how bright aventurine can be, explaining how it could be mistaken for chrysoprase.

Besides India, green aventurine is also mined in Brazil, Austria, Russia, Tanzania, Africa, China and North America. While Spain, Chile, Australia and Russia has red aventurine as do Brazil and South Africa. Aventurine can be confused with jade, therefore the amazing quality of green aventurine from China is highly valued and has been called "Indian Jade." Other normal look-a-likes include amazonite and feldspar; and rare occurrences of transparent, bright green aventurine has been mislabeled as emerald or chrysoprase.

Judy Copeland created this aventurine pendant by wire wrapping an aventurine cabochon and embellishing with pearls.

Green aventurine cabochon wire wrapped by Janet Cozzens, our featured Wire Artist for March, in sterling silver, and antiqued.

Aventurine can be used as an alternate anniversary stone for the 8th wedding celebration (the traditional stone being green tourmaline) as well as an alternate birthstone for those born in the month of August (peridot being the traditional choice). Metaphysical uses for typical green aventurine include: helping to balance one’s male and female energies; developing ones pioneering spirit and to enhance one’s creativity.

Deborah Collyar created this necklace with a lampwork glass pendant and beads; the green beads are amazonite and aventurine.

Did you know that tiger-eye is classified as a macrocrystalline quartz? Learn about it next week. Have you made wire jewelry with tiger-eye or tigerseye before? Email pictures to tips@wire-sculpture.com, and they could be featured!

Resources

Print Resources:

• Love is in the Earth by Melody, ISBN 0-9628190-3-4
• 
  The Peterson Field Guide to Rocks and Minerals by Frederick H. Pough, ISBN 0-395-24049-2
• Simon & Schuster’s Guide to Gems and Precious Stones by Curzio Cipriani and Alessandro Borelli, ISBN 0-671-60430-9

Internet Resources:

• http://en.wikipedia.org
• http://www.minerals.net/Image/22/43/Chalcedony.aspx

Gem Profile by Dale "Cougar" Armstrong

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by Rose Marion, Wire-Sculpture.com

Wire Jewelry Resource for February 29, 2012

When I was in Tucson, beads were everywhere! And for the most part, they weren’t loose, or in bags, but tied on strands of fishing line or cotton thread, and then bunches of strands, called hanks, were rubber-banded together at the top, often hanging off hooks around the walls of a booth, so you could slide the strands you wanted free from the hank, or take the whole hank.

While I’m not 100% sure why 16 inches is the standard size for bead strands, that’s how long each of my strands was that I brought back with me from Tucson, and these strands came from all over the world! But of course, when I came home and sat down to record the new inventory (not my favorite part!), I thought, I’m not going to count every bead! While some people do enjoy counting each bead to be precise, I thought I might as well put my math skills to use instead. so here’s what I did.

The beads I got the most of were some 4x6mm crystal faceted rondelles (pretty!). After making sure the strand was 16 inches (it was), I converted 16 inches to millimeters, which is 406.4. Now, I took the easy round and typed into Google, “What is 16 inches in millimeters.” But you can multiply your inches (16) by 25.4 to find the measurement in millimeters if you are just using a calculator.

Then, now that I knew that there are about 406 millimeters in a strand, I simply divided that by the width of my beads (4mm). 406 / 4 = about 100, and sure enough (I only counted one strand!) I had about 98 beads on that strand (I think I lost count a couple times). Most bead factories simply string the beads on by the length of the strand, rather than counting, so I’ve found that for smaller size beads, the bead count is within a few beads, give or take, of my mathematical calculation, which is close enough for me.

To find the approximate number of beads per strand in a consistent strand:

1. Multiply the length of the strand in inches by 25.4 to convert it to millimeters.

2. Divide the length of the strand by the width of your bead. This number should be accurate within a few beads!

For another example, if you want to know how many beads are in a 13x4mm tube bead strand, simply divide 406 / 13 = 31. So I would expect about 29-33 beads on a 16 inch strand.

Of course, while this is a pretty good way to find the number of beads per strand, if there are any knots in the thread between beads, or if there are clear spacers between shaped beads to protect them, this method will not give an accurate result, and then it’s best to count them oneself.

I hope this helps you!

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Daily Wire Jewelry Making Tip for
February 24, 2012

Rose Quartz, one in a Series on Quartz

Shop Rose Quartz Cabochons | Shop Rose Quartz Beads

This rose quartz pendant by Judy Copeland is wrapped with gold craft wire in a plaited frame with pearl accents.

by Dale “Cougar” Armstrong, Wire-Sculpture.com

Quartz that has been colored by trace inclusions of iron (hematite), manganese and/or titanium, from pale pink hues through rose, mauve, smoky pink, rose red, and lavender pink colors, is the variety we know best as rose quartz.

(In fact, rose quartz may or may not be called pink quartz – keep reading to find out about this distinction!)

This beautiful pink stone is rarely found in crystal form; rather, it occurs massively in pegmatites; which means it can also be a component of the rock we call granite.

A pretty chunk of rough rose quartz that I have decided to keep as a specimen, rather than to cut and cab it.

Rose Quartz in the East

Gina Smith recently won a blue ribbon at a state fair with this 3 piece set, made with pink quartz, Swarovski crystals, and sterling silver wire.

Although huge dikes of rose quartz that yield large blocks of carving material can be found and have been used by Oriental artists for centuries, one great example of a pink quartz that is not truly rose quartz but more likely a granite, is the amazing Pink Quartz Mountain Range in Sri Lanka called Jathika Namal Uyana.

Geologically, the rocks that form this huge area of mountains are said to be at least 550 million years old, and contain plant fossils that are said to be about 250 million years old! Such research almost verifies that the mountains are actually made of a form of granite. Nevertheless, as the material is a lovely color and easily carved, it is said that part of the Taj Mahal was made from this stone. Around the East, there are also many statues and tributes to Buddha intricately carved of this same material.

Two nice examples of carved rose quartz that live in my studio.

Rose Quartz Properties

Terri McMahon wrapped this 24x40mm rose quartz cabochon in 21-gauge round bronze wire with 4mm amethyst beads.

Some milky pink quartz is almost opaque, but most rose quartz is translucent. Rarely found is a transparent, or gemmy piece large enough to be faceted. The gem quality of rose quartz is usually compromised by internal fractures that either formed during climate changes in northern locations, or when mining procedures include blasting. Rose quartz is slightly dichroic, meaning that it has the ability to split light into a variety of polarizations or slight color changes in a mineral. When rose quartz has included rutile crystals that formed on an axis or asterism, a star pattern similar to a star sapphire can be visible. This very special stone is called ‘Star’ rose quartz.

A nice selection of rose quartz that has been faceted and cabbed. Private collection, Dale Armstrong.

Rose Quartz and Pink Quartz

This rose quartz cluster reminded Jackie Morris of a castle with its points, so she kept the sterling silver wrap wires away from the main body to showcase the stone.

Actually there are two classifications for this color of quartz, and there are some who think the two should be distinctly separated from one another.

“Rose” quartz never forms as crystals whereas “pink” quartz occasionally does.

“Rose” is not sensitive to light, but “pink” should be kept out of sunlight to prevent fading.

Each variety forms in distinctly different environments, “pink” is rarely transparent while “rose” can be found clear; and “pink” owes its color to aluminum and is often found with smoky quartz.

Does the color/name of your quartz really matter when you are making a piece of wire jewelry?

Probably not, but I thought this was an interesting tidbit to share with you.

I actually picked this beautiful sphere up while I was in Tucson a few weeks ago, anticipating this article!

Rose Quartz in Culture

No matter the name, pink or rose quartz is the anniversary stone for the 5th year of marriage and it has been used by humans since the beginning of time, as seen by these arrowheads from Illinois that date between 2,200-1800 BP (before the present). It is also the official state “mineral” of South Dakota (the state “gem” is the Fairburn Agate) where no less than 10 rose quartz mines operate; a mansion was built from blocks of rose quartz in Rapid City; many store fronts in the Black Hills area are made of rose quartz, and tons of the hard, pink lapidary material are shipped all over the world to be used in the creation of ornamental items and carvings.

Part of my personal rose quartz component collection.

Rose Quartz Locations

Linda Overman wire wrapped this rose quartz cross with rose gold craft wire.

Rose quartz can also be found in several global locations that include Brazil, Mexico, Canada, Russia, Australia, New Zealand, and Africa. View this link to see a beautiful specimen of pink quartz crystals from Maine; other notable North American areas are California, Georgia, Colorado, Virginia and Arizona. Stones that can be confused with rose quartz include: kunzite, morganite (pink beryl), pale amethyst and chalcedony.

Rose Quartz Metaphysical Properties

Wire wrapped rose quartz heart by Joan Madouse in rose gold craft wire and rose gold beads.

Most of the legends and lore about rose quartz relate it to being the one stone responsible for all forms of “love” on the earth. Love of one’s self and of others, reconciliation of friends and/or lovers, attaining friendship, and unconditional love.

A metaphysical "wand" that was cut from a large piece of rose quartz. Private collection, Dale Armstrong

Next week I will write a bit about the green quartz that we call aventurine. Have you made wire jewelry with aventurine before? Email pictures to tips@wire-sculpture.com, and they could be featured!

Shop Rose Quartz Cabochons | Shop Rose Quartz Beads

Resources

Print Resources:

• Love is in the Earth by Melody, ISBN 0-9628190-3-4
• Minerals of the World by Walter Schumann, ISBN 0-8069-8570-4
• 
  The Peterson Field Guide to Rocks and Minerals by Frederick H. Pough, ISBN 0-395-24049-2
• Simon & Schuster’s Guide to Gems and Precious Stones by Curzio Cipriani and Alessandro Borelli, ISBN 0-671-60430-9

Internet Resources:

• www.urlaub-sr-lanka.info/sri-lanka-holiday/2011/10/biggest-pink-quartz-mountain-range-south-asia/
• www.sihaderana.com/sl_places_namal_uyana_mountains.php
• www.lankapuvath.lk/images/stories/rsgallery/display/Namal_Uyana5-1.jpg.jpg
• http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/22367493.jpg
• www.wikipedia.org
• www.mindat.org/photo-76772.html
• www.iceageartifacts.com/arrowheads.htm

Gem Profile by Dale “Cougar” Armstrong

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by Rose Marion, Wire-Sculpture.com

Tucson Show Update #1
January 27, 2012

Good morning from Tucson, where it’s expected to be 74° today and clear, sunny skies! I’m thrilled to be back here in Tucson for the world-famous gem, mineral, and fossil shows – usually at least 60 individual shows will be held during January and February! We arrived yesterday, and today is all about setting up our booth and classes area for our sister site, JewelryTools.com, who is hosting 120+ classes over the next couple weeks. I can’t wait to meet all the instructors and explore as many shows as I can!

We’re based out of Kino Sports Complex, at the Tucson Electric Park (TEP) Gem & Mineral Show. While the show doesn’t open until Saturday, when it will be free to the public (and free parking!), I thought I’d wander through the show while people set up their booths and show you what I found. Some vendors have been here for days or even weeks already, setting up their marvelous stock of gems! Take a look:

Strands and strands and strands of gemstone beads at TEP Gem & Mineral Show - don't you just want to touch them?

One of the vendors here has a lot of citrine and amethyst! Since Dale wrote about them recently in her gem profiles, I made sure to get a few pictures. (Click to enlarge)

Amethyst cathedrals waiting for the big day Saturday when the show opens!

A large citrine cathedral or geode - wouldn't that be an amazing display piece!

The TEP Gem & Mineral Show had a lot of petrified wood to look at last year; this year it's a big thing again, too! These fossilized stumps are sure to be popular.

Here are more stumps and also slabs of petrified wood. This is just while the vendor was setting up - I will have to come back when the show starts and see if they have any cabbed or small pieces for me to play with in wire!

Last but not least, I was just turning to leave when I saw these huge pure-white quartz crystals. Can you believe them!

We’ve got a busy day of setting up ahead of us, but I’ll be in touch again with LOTS more pictures and exciting gem & mineral updates from the show in the weeks to come!

Gem profiles by Dale “Cougar” Armstrong will resume after the Tucson shows.

By the way: there’s still time to discover the world of Jewelry-Making in terrific Tucson, Arizona! January 28 – February 12, choose from full-day and half-day classes that will transform your jewelry-making forever! In media including wire wrapping, beading, etching, resin, polymer clay, metal clay, chainmaille, and even more, just stop by JewelryTools.com’s Tool Tent #ES 14 at the TEP Gem & Mineral Show at Kino Sports Complex. Click here to browse all classes!

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