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Arizona's Gemstones
Arizona
is America's leading gem
mining state, and those
displayed in our logo
above --
Peridot,
Amethyst,
Turquoise, and Garnet
-- are found here in
vivid, natural colors
that come alive in the
brilliant sunshine of
the Southwest.
Peridot
The mines on Peridot Mesa, near the Apache town of San Carlos are among the largest deposits in the world of this bright green gem.
Not often seen in Arizona jewelry stores, peridot is a natural, untreated gem, and is richly complemented by High Karat Yellow Gold.
Olivine crystals at Peridot Mesa,
approximately life size.
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Arizona Peridot?
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"Eighty percent of success
is just showing up."
So said Woody Allen, no relation to me. And I was glad I did -- show up, that is.
Here crystals of are found inside hardened "bubbles" in a volcanic ash flow that erupted violently during the period.
Now, millions of years later, the area is home to some of the descendants of the legendary and fearsome Apache shaman and leader Geronimo.
This mineral, which geologists call olivine, is found in the of the Earth, as well as in interstellar space.
It has been known since ancient times, and has been called the "gemstone of the sun".
Amethyst
Below is a very nicely cut from the Four Peaks Mine near Phoenix. Amethyst is another gem valued since ancient times, and displays a vivid purple color.
In the case of Four Peaks Amethyst, the color is described as "Siberian", meaning that it has a reddish hue, and therefore of the world's top quality grade. Four Peaks (below) can be seen from most of the Phoenix area on a clear day. The mine is located between the third and fourth peaks, from the left.
Crystals of amethyst occur in extremely old rock. They are mined by hand, and transported to the city by helicopter for cutting.
Four Peaks, near Phoenix, Arizona.
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Four Peaks Amethyst?
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Arizona's Four Peaks
is geology upside down.
And you can even wear a piece of it!
We think that part of the appeal in possessing a stone object is its connection to a particular place. This is especially true of precious gems.
When you are wearing a Four Peaks Amethyst, you are wearing a little piece of the mountain with which all Phoenicians are familiar!
Turquoise
Turquoise is now produced as a by-product of giant copper mining operations like the one at right, in eastern Arizona.
When a pocket of the bright blue mineral is uncovered, the turquoise-rich stones are extracted by hand, and many are cut locally.
Some
of
the
world's
finest
turquoise
comes
from
Arizona.
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the
story
on
Turquoise
in
the
Southwest?
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this
GeoStory(TM):
An unassuming mountain now in New Mexico let loose one of the great treasure hunts of all time. It's one of those places you could drive by every day, and never know that.
The treasure was carried far and wide, and those who did the carrying were a mysterious bunch. Who knows how distant, or why it all ended?
Couple that with a little village in the right location, and the result can have a big impact on the world.
Garnet
Arizona Garnets are exquisitely deep red in color, and come from one of the most photographed places on Earth.
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story on
Arizona Garnets?
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