FEATURED GEMS: Enhydro Agate and Fossil Pearls
Enhydrous Cryptocrystalline Quartz Agates:
This unusual agate is a naturally hollow nodule containing ancient water, gases and possibly microorganisms predating the emergence of early man on Earth.
You should consider this pebble as a highly admirable gift from Mother Earth’s souvenir shop—a microcosm—a tiny prehistoric water world encapsulated within an agate. It is Earth’s “geological clock rock” that you get to hold in the palm of your hand, behold the mere existence of it and marvel the biological evidence contained within.
The age of this wondrous agate is estimated to be approximately 40 to 60 million years old. It was born in Brazil during the mid to late Eocene Epoch when life on Earth was vastly different from today. This little agate existed during a time of extended volcanic activity, which created a hothouse-like climate filled with greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane. Oceans were warm and teaming with strange sea life. Hot hydrothermal uprisings, and gasses within, caused deposits of aqueous solutions to create the humble agate.
This agate began its existence much like other less significant agates, in the vesicle of a volcanic host rock, but this one underwent some exceptional occurrences to finally realize a much more elevated status compared to other agates. To completely understand how such a special agate can naturally occur is complex and almost unbelievable.
But as the saying goes “seeing is believing” and to give you some background information, to tell your friends as they ogle your astonishing specimen, I will relay a condensed version: Basically hot silica-rich ground water percolated into the cavities of, Swiss cheese-like, volcanic host rock then little-by-little the siliceous coating crystallized along the walls of the cavity to create a hollow vessel; during which time, heated volcanic groundwater and perhaps rainwater continued to seep into the nodule and became trapped as the chalcedony mineral finished forming around it.
A study from Lock Haven University Of Pennsylvania hypothesized that heated groundwater involved in the making of these specimens from Providence of Rio Grande de Sol, Brazil, typically contains thermophilic microorganisms, and that it is possible that these microorganisms, that thrive in hot water, may become trapped inside enhydrous agates as they form. Aseptic extractions revealed low concentrations of genetic material from several agate water samples in their study.
The process is something like how a geode occurs except this one has water in the cavity. Some specimens may also contain gasses and/or biological matter and/or crystals like a geode. Some people call them water geodes too. So is it an agate geode or an agate nodule? The difference between an agate geode and an agate nodule is that a geode is usually hollow whereas a nodule is solid. This agate should be a solid nodule, like the others it is found with, but this one is an anomaly. This phenomenon is unusual to say the least but then to imagine them surviving, intact, for millions of years is mind-blowing! They survived separating from their protective host rock during the Earth’s turbulent geologic occurrences; extreme heat and pressure; fighting their way to the Earth’s surface; tumbling down hillsides with other rocks & boulders; rushing down streams; hurling off waterfalls; and washing up on beaches, to finally endure mining processes makes finding intact water agates extraordinary!
As enhydro agates go, these specimens are ample in size, are quite full of fluid and the liquid is easily seen with the naked eye. TIP: Inspections of the cavity are best accomplished by candling using a small flashlight. It is best to handle them in a manner which keeps them safe from dropping onto hard surfaces. A special amulet bag is a good way to protect and carry your water agate when you travel with it. Do not subject your agate to thermal shock, freezing or direct sunlight. Do not mail it via air or allow it to be put in your checked luggage.
Available while supplies last at www.theravenandpearl.etsy.com
Fossil Pearls:
Those of you who know me, already know I don't use the term "rare" loosely. I now have to elaborate: It is EXCEEDINGLY RARE to encounter this type of specimen that is readily for sale on the open market. This is the stuff that is usually reserved for serious collectors, museums and institutions of higher education.
Us "regular" folks usually don't get a chance at nabbing one or even get to see one up close and personal; however, the paleontologist who unearthed this awesome creature wants to see it end up in the hands of a jewelry artist with a flair for the unusual. He is hoping someone will see the beauty of the pearl and pair it with a modern pearl to showcase the sheer abstract esthetics of the magnificent pearl.
To appreciate the piece, I'll fill you in a tad more. This guy was born into this world as a rare natural pearl from a Giant Inoceramus Clam, genus of extinct pelecypods, during a time when the great dinosaurs were the dominant land animals. (Triceratops, Tyrannosaurus and Velociraptor lived at this time.)
Now when I say "rare natural pearl" this is because natural pearls are rare anomalies occurring in less that 1 in every 10,000 or more mollusks. A natural modern pearl of this size in today's market would be priced at aproximately 12 to 15 thousand dollars wholesale. There was once a time when only royalty could own pearls. And then you add another factor into the mix, in that this one is about 93 mil years old, whereas most pearls don't survive intact beyond 100 years is super astonishing! Plus it is an extinct pearl! And then to top it off...somebody had to go to extreme measures to locate and dig it up. Believe me when I say "You don't just stumble upon these rolling around on the ground in the park." An entire life-time of research and education goes into the process of locating these.
It took an incredible effort, by a notable Paleontologist, to unearth this pearl and now it is up to an artist to bring it back to life!
Us "regular" folks usually don't get a chance at nabbing one or even get to see one up close and personal; however, the paleontologist who unearthed this awesome creature wants to see it end up in the hands of a jewelry artist with a flair for the unusual. He is hoping someone will see the beauty of the pearl and pair it with a modern pearl to showcase the sheer abstract esthetics of the magnificent pearl.
To appreciate the piece, I'll fill you in a tad more. This guy was born into this world as a rare natural pearl from a Giant Inoceramus Clam, genus of extinct pelecypods, during a time when the great dinosaurs were the dominant land animals. (Triceratops, Tyrannosaurus and Velociraptor lived at this time.)
Now when I say "rare natural pearl" this is because natural pearls are rare anomalies occurring in less that 1 in every 10,000 or more mollusks. A natural modern pearl of this size in today's market would be priced at aproximately 12 to 15 thousand dollars wholesale. There was once a time when only royalty could own pearls. And then you add another factor into the mix, in that this one is about 93 mil years old, whereas most pearls don't survive intact beyond 100 years is super astonishing! Plus it is an extinct pearl! And then to top it off...somebody had to go to extreme measures to locate and dig it up. Believe me when I say "You don't just stumble upon these rolling around on the ground in the park." An entire life-time of research and education goes into the process of locating these.
It took an incredible effort, by a notable Paleontologist, to unearth this pearl and now it is up to an artist to bring it back to life!