Ammonites are related to squid, octopus, cuttlefish and chambered nautilus. They existed from the early Jurassic to the late Cretaceous periods and became extinct around the same time as dinosaurs. Their fossil distribution is found worldwide. The pieces in our jewelry are from Madagascar, Morocco, Peru or Mexico.

Trilobites are hard-shelled, segmented creatures that existed over 500 million years ago. Trilobites were among the first arthropods, and flourished in the sea. When its body grew to large for its shell it flaked off the free checks and climbed out to grow another one. Their fossil distribution is found worldwide, although most of what we use is the Elrathia Trilobite, found in Utah.

Ancestors of the modern day squid, these fossils are dated back to the Silurian Age 400 + million years ago. They could swim as well as crawl along the ocean floor. As they died their shells accumulated upon the ocean floor, then covered by sediments they transformed into stone over the years. The othorceras we use were found in Morocco.

Stromatolites (also called microbial carbonates) are among the oldest forms of life on the planet, some dating back 3.5 billion years. They still exist today. These rock-like buildups of microbial mats that typically formed by the baffling, trapping, and precipitation of particles by communities of microorganisms such as bacteria and algae.

Fossil Coral are found throughout the world. Reefal Limestones are fossil remnants of coral reefs. Massive preservation of Coral reefs has occurred for hundreds of millions of years. Agatized fossil corals are known to occur in many parts of the world: Thailand, China, USA, Indonesia and dozens of other countries.

Amber is fossilized resin or gum produced by some fossil plants. Resins are exuded from within the tree when it's traumatized by attack or growth splits. The earliest recorded fossil resins are of the Carboniferous age, but ambers do not occur until the early Cretaceous.

We have several varieties. The Distilbe species is a Cretaceous Fish from the Santana Formation in Brazil. The Knightia species is a 55 million year old, fresh water, fossil herring. Found at 7200 feet elevation in the Green River formation near Kemmerer, Wyoming.

First discovered in Western Europe during the 1820s, today dinosaur fossils are found on all continents and several hundred distinct types of dinosaurs have now been classified. Dinosaurs are a group of extinct reptiles that first appeared about 225 million years ago and became extinct about 66 million years ago, at the end of the Mesozoic Era. Fossilization usually occurred when a dinosaur died and was buried or covered over by sediment rock particles. The dinosaur bone cabochons we use are mainly from Argentina.

Our Fossil Dinosaur Egg fragments are from Saltasaurus dinosaurs, and found in northwest Argentina. The Saltasaurus was a large plant eating dinosaur with an elongated neck and bony armor plates on its body, that lived during the late cretaceous period.

Petrified wood may become fossilized by silicates such as jasper, crytocrystalline quartz, and even opal. The material remains in its original structure as it is gradually petrified, but may occur in a variety of colors. This replacement occurs near the ground surface where silica is abundant in the ground water.

Because shark skeletons are composed of cartilage instead of bone, the only parts of the shark to survive as fossils are teeth. Fossil shark teeth date back hundreds of millions of years. The most common, however, are from the Cenozoic Era.The teeth we use are most often from the extict Mackerel Shark or the Great White Shark.

Pietercite is a chatoyant quartz which has a fibrous structure, and inclusions of crocidolite and horneblend. It has only recently been found in South Africa, and was given the name of its discoverer Sid Pieters. Pietercite is also known a the Tempest Stone and helps us to weather rough and stormy periods of our life and to build new order out of chaos.

Obsidian is a volcanic rock that forms when lava solidifies so quickly that there is not enough time for crystals to grow. As a rule, obsidian is glass. Glass, unlike crystals, has no regular structure and therefore fractures in smooth conchodial (curved) shapes. The intersection of these fractures can form edges sharper than the finest steel blades. For this reason, obsidian was used by many native cultures to make arrowheads and blades. Mahogony Obsidian - Rust color is caused by iron oxide. Snowflake Obsidian - White inclusions of crystobalite.

Translucent brown obsidian that resembles smokey quartz.

Sheen Obsidian can have a gold or silver iridescence. This is a result of tiny gas bubbles or very small crystals of mica, feldspar or quartz being included in the glass. A stone of achievement for those working to a goal in their life. It is said to create positive influences to overcome problems and provides inner tranquility to ease stress. This stone is an excellent general healer, with grounding and protective energy which shields against negativity. It transmutes negativity into the light and induces creativity. This stone connects with the "inner you" and brings out your best attributes. It cannot be misused.

Rainbow Obsidian is formed when various bands of colors are formed by very small inclusions of feldspar, quartz, topaz and tourmaline. Rainbow Obsidian helps to identify ones owns flaws and gives a clear picture of the changes which are necessary in one's life. Rainbow Obsidian is an excellent grounding stone and keeps one safe from emotional and physical harm while shielding negativity. Possessing Rainbow Obsidian disperses unloving thoughts that arise from inside or that are directed towards oneself, It is a stone of pleasure bringing gratification to one's life.

Lapis is a silicate of sodium and aluminum, containing sulfur. The name is derived from the Latin, lapis which means stone, and from the Arabic azul, which means blue. Lapis is a dark blue microcrystalline rock composed primarily of the mineral Lazurite. It often spakles with golden pyrite inclusions. This beautiful blue stone has many very helpful properties. Lapis is the "stone of total awareness". Other properties include emotional balancing, protection, insomnia relief, and prevents infection.

Mookite is an Australian jasper that combines the colors of yellow and red jasper. It is a stone that bestows strength, and encourages the desire for variety and new experiences. It promotes both a deep inner calm and and a desire for adventure simultaneously.

Jasper is an opaque, cryptocrystalline variety of quartz (chalcedony) that takes a high polish and is used as a gemstone. It is usually stained by impurities and occurs in various colors, such as red, green, yellow and blue. Jaspers are powerful healing stones, affecting different chakras and attitudes according to the color of the stone.

Zebra Jasper a green stone which has greyish streaks through the stone. It is great for meditation and centering. It relieves stress, and increases one's appreciation for the joy in life. Zebra Jasperis a stone that can help us connect to mother earth and to the infinite energy and love in the universe. Zebra stone, by these connections, can show us our own true natures and help us see past illusion. Zebra stone is particularly effective at protecting one's aura.

A jasper that is found in nature to have clusters of spots resembling an animal print. Leopard Jasper is said to help to discover ones animalistic side. They also say it helps one to be more responsible and helps with creative vision. As with all Jaspers, this is a protective stone.

Picture Jasper is widely known for its unique landscape patterns and wide range of colors. Picture Jasper is petrified or silicated mud and in the USA it is found in Idaho & Oregon. Picture Jasper is associated with harmony and visualization.

Dalmation Jasper is a beige stone with black spots very much like a dalmation. It is a stone that lessens or removes disillusionment. It helps one to see their strengths and weaknesses, and encourages grounding both with the Earth and in reality. Dalmatian Jasper increases loyalty and is beneficial for long term relationships. It is a stone of protection from nightmares, depression, and negative thinking. It is also particularly beneficial for healing people who have trouble relaxing and having fun.

Picasso jasper is metamorphic limestone. Metamorphosis is one of the three ways stones are formed (the other kinds of stones are igneous and sedimentary). Geologically, a metamorphic stone forms deep in the earth, its essential nature altered by heat and pressure.

Fancy Jasper is a quartz colored by iron impurities. Different colors appear in fancy jasper because of how the iron reacts to the stones. It varies in color from forest green to burgundy and gold. It is considered a stone that gives a sense of well-being. Fancy Jasper intensifies and lightens that feeling.

Poppy Jasper is the reddish variation of brecciated jasper. It has the qualities of enhancing organizational abilities, relaxation, and a sense of wholeness. It inspires a positive attitude and gives motivation and energy to take creative action.

Rainbow Jasper is the stone that represents lifes fire. This magic mineral energizes the life force, rejuvenates the mind and spirit, promotes generosity, and gives the user courage, wisdom and protection from lifes sources of stress.

Silver Leaf Jasper is a greyish stone with black feathering. This jasper encourages willpower and is worn by independent, highly disciplined people, or by those who would like to be. Silver Leaf was once the scared stones for kings and shamans.

Agates are varieties of chalcedony and occur in nodular masses, in rocks such as volcanic lavas. They are formed from microscopic quartz crystals laid down in bands. Agates are grounding stones aiding in emotional, physical and intellectual balance.

Crazy Lace Agate is a quartz found in Mexico. It is a beige opaque stone with beautiful patterning throughout the stone. Pinks, reds & browns are commonly mixed with the beige background to produce an amazing stone. Crazy Lace Agte is a balancing and protecting stone. It brings laughter and absorbs emotional pain. Crazy Lace Agate is used to help with decision making by balancing the physical, emotional, and mental so that it is easy to make decisions. It also helps one stay focused. It is generally a protective stone, but is particularly emotionally protective. It is also said to ward off the "evil eye."

Pyrite crystals (fools gold) are trapped in agate creating this unusual variety of stone.

Blue Lace Agte is a beautiful, pale sky blue with concentric markings. It is a cryptocrystalline quartz stone. It is a banded chalcedony, the bands having been formed by rhythmic crystallization. It helps you stay well balanced. It sharpens sight, illuminates the mind and helps you speak.

Fire Agate is a cryptocrystalline silica with excellent hardness, about 7. It is known to occur in only two regions in the world -- the Central Basin of Mexico and the Sonoran Desert areas of Arizona and northern Mexico. Due to the way fire agate forms it is seldom possible, or desirable, to cut standardized, calibrated stone. Instead one must follow the contours established as the stone grew. It requires patience, perseverance, and imagination.

Botswana Agate has a grey background with brown, light grey and white bands running through the stone. Origin is Botswana, Africa. Botswana agate enhances creativity and abstract thinking, stimulates and energizes the crown chakra.

Unikite is composed of epidote, red feldspar, and quartz. The green is associated with healing, and the pink associated with the heart--hence it is considered important in heart problems. Because it combines the pink (feminine) with the green (masculine), it is thought to bring emotional balance and alignment. Thought helpful in diagnosing elusive illnesses and help get to the root of the issue.

A druse is formed when the ground water carrying silica is forced into porous areas of rock. Rapid cooling often occurs, causing the formation of tiny crystals on the surface of the rock. These are often called druse. Druse means little crystals.

A geode is a rounded mass of rock that has a cavity lined with crystals or mineral matter. Geodes can be filled with crystals of agate, amethyst and citrine.

This translucent, reddish orange variety of chalcedony was once thought to still the blood and calm the temper. It's various shades of red are due to the presence of iron oxide. Carnelian is also known as a stone of great spirituality. It has been said to be a heling gem with a wonderous capacity for mental and physical healing properties.

Sodalite has a deep blue color similar to that of Lazurite, to which it is closely related. The composition of Sodalite is sodium, aluminium, and chlorosilicate. Sodalite is polished for use as an ornamental stone or sometimes cut into cabochons. Sodalite is found in Maine, in the Ural Mountains of Soviet Russia, on Mount Vesuvius in Italy, and in Norway.

Rhodonite is named after the Greek word for rose, rhodon. Found in Germany and New Zealand. Rhodonite is said to be the stone of patience.

Rhodochrosite (whose name means rose-colored) is a very attractive mineral with an absolutely one-of-a-kind, beautiful color. Although it can be an ore of manganese, it is its ornamental and display specimen qualities that make it a very popular mineral. The color of a single crystal can just astound the observer with its vivid pink-rose color that seems to be transmitted out of the crystal as if lit from within.

Ocean Jasper is found in the northwest coast of Madagascar. Ocean Jasper, also known as Orbicular Jasper, is an agate by standard definition (agate being translucent and jasper being opague). Ocean Jasper is rarely opaque. It was decided to call the material a jasper because rhyloitic patterns have been associated with the jasper category in the past.

Moonstone is the opalescent variety of orthoclase, with a blue or white sheen, rather like the shine of the moon. This is caused by the reflection of light from the internal structure, made up of alternating layers of albite and orthoclase feldspar.

Labradorite has a beautiful iridescence, which means the colors can change depending on the direction and angle of the light stricking the rock. Labradorite was first found in 1770 on the Labrador Peninsula in Canada where crystals several feet across have been found. It is said to be a power stone and strengthen ones intuitions.

Turquoise forms in aluminum-rich igneous and sedimentary rocks that have been altered, often by surface water. The name Turquoise comes from a french word pierre turquin which means dark-blue stone. Turquoise is a valuable mineral and is possibly the most valuable, non-transparent mineral in the jewelry trade. It has been mined since at least 6000 BC. by early Egyptians. Its history also includes beautiful ornamental creations by Native Americans and Persians. It is the birthstone for December.

Chrysocolla forms as circular, microscopic crystals, in radiating groups, or in close packed aggregates. Chrysacola forms in the oxidation zone of copper deposits. It occurs with azurite, malachite and cuprite.

Imperial Jasper is one of the finest jasper on the market today. It is found over a wide area in Guadalahara, Mexico. There are many varieties and each "lot" that come into the United States has some different characteristics from previously imported material. This jasper forms as nodules and usually has a soft white chalky exterior. The colors are typically shades of pink, red, and green.

The toughness of jade is remarkable. It has a strength greater than quartz and was put to work by many early civilizations for axes, knives and weapons. It was later that jade became a symbolic stone used in ornaments and other religious artifacts. Jade is the official gemstone of Alaska.

Print Stone comes out of Western Australia. It is a silicated sandstone. The stone is unique because of it animal-print patterns.

This form of Cryptocrystaline Quartz contains inclusions of small crystals that reflect light and give a range of colors - depending on the nature of the inclusion. Aventurine is reputed to bring it's bearer good luck, abundance, adventures in travel, and emotional health. Independence and career changes are also associated with this stone. Aventurine is Birthstone for Taurus (April 20- May 20) and is the anniversary stone for the 8th year of marriage.

Red aventurine has the properties of aventurine, plus more because of its color and composition. Red aventurine enhances creativity and ability to see possibilities. It can heal the reproductive system, and sometimes reverse diseases. It also can bring prosperity and lessen negativity.

Malachite is a famous and very popular semi-precious stone. It is named for the Greek word for "mallow", a green herb. Its banded light and dark green designs are one-of-a-kind, and give it a unique ornamental quality unlike that of any other stone. It is a stone of transformation and helps with change and spiritual evolution. Malachite helps balance pure love, romance, and one's own well-being. Malachite is a stone of good fortune and prosperity/abundance.

Chalcedony is quartz that has crystals too tiny to see without a microscope. Like Opal, it forms in holes of rocks and can replace organic matter, such as wood and coral. Chalcedony can be found in a variety of colorful forms.

Being part of the calcite family, it is a calcite with metalic copper included in the stone.

Serafinite is a dark-green stone that has silvery chatoyant fibers running through the stone. Serafinite is said to be the "Premier Healing Stone" of this age. It is strongly recommended for the strengthening and activating of chakras. Seraphinite is often referred to an an angel stone because of its higher energies and relationship with angels. Seraphinite is said to help contact angels and communicate with them. Seraphinite is found in Eastern Siberia, Russia.

Bloodstone is a green jasper dotted and feathered with bright red spots of iron oxide. According to the legend of Bloodstone, it was first formed when Christ's blood fell and stained some jasper at the foot of the cross. Bloodstone is said to be a a stone of courage, bringing mental, physical and emotional renewal by releasing blockages. It is said to be particularly good for helping emotional traumas and grief. It also enhances the intellect.

Makume-Gane is made the same way ancient metalsmiths fabricated samari-swords. It it a mixture of silver and copper plates which have been folded and molded together using a combitation of heat and brut strength. Mokume-Gane translates from the Japanese to Wood Grain Metal.

Rainbow calcilica is a newly-found, multi-colored, layered stone composed of calcium and silica. This stone has been recently used for Zuni fetish carvings and in some jewelry (beads and cabochon cut stones). Rainbow calsilica was only recently found in Chihuahua, Mexico and in South America (it's origin remains mysterious). Some people theorize that this stone formed as a result of the runoff of mining or oil-drilling chemicals, and has only formed in the last 30 to 50 years (but this is uncertain).

Kyanite is an aluminum silicate. Not only does it repel negative energy, it looks great with denim. It aligns all chakras. It occurs in light to dark blue, green, colorless and brown colors in a transparent form with the blue color being most used in gemstones. Kyanite is of interest because of the extreme variablity in hardness with direction. In one direction, the hardness is 4.5 and in the other it is 7.

Aztec Lapis is more or less an unknown stone. Mined near Mexico City and it is actually a Jasper. It is termed a Lapis for its blue color. Aztec Lapis ranges from light to dark blue and has metal inclusions. It is a beautiful stone and most look like an ariel view from space of the ocean and coastline.

Serpentine is a rock forming mineral and is found as a constituent in many metamorphic and weather igeous rocks. In Serpentine with Magnatite, it is known to have a magnetic property in the stone. Serpentine is said to owe is name either to it's colors or patterns from an old belief that the stones were effective protection from snake bites. This stone is found all over the world.

Septarian Nodules were formed millions of years ago when the Gulf of Mexico reached what is now Southern Utah. Decomposing sea life killed by volcanic eruptions, had a chemical attraction for the sediment around them, forming mud balls. As the ocean receded, the balls were left to dry and crack. Because of their content they also shrank at the same time trapping the cracks inside.

Ryolite is a volcanic rock made up of quartz, feldspar and plagioclase. It is erupted at temperatures of 700 to 850 degrees celcius. Rhyolite is known as a stone of resolution and perseverence. It is said to help communication of all kinds, and helps one listen easily and without distorting the message one is hearing. It is also a wonderful stone for meditaiton. Rhyolite balances the Yin/Yang (masculine and feminine) energies. It can help one allow other people into their lives, even if one has been reclusive or solitary.

Azurite is a soft, deep blue copper mineral produced by weathering of cooper ore deposits. Copper is a strong coloring agent. Mined all over world, although Lyon France is known for it's stricking specimens. Azurite is often associated with its colorful close cousin, Malachite.

Onyx is a variety of chalcedony which is a form of quartz. Black stones have protective enegeries in the sense that black is the absence of light, and therefore, can be used to create invisability. Onyx can help release negative emotions such as sorrow and grief. Onyx is also worn to defend against negativity that is directed at you.

Black Sardonyx is a banded form of onyx (chalcedony) which is quartz. The colors if its bands are usually white and brownish red.

Red Sardonyx is a varient of onyx with red to orange bands that are sard rather than black. Sardonyx is a banded form of onyx (chalcedony) which is quartz.

Pink Corundum - Lab Sapphire; Dark Blue Corundum - Lab Sapphire; Pink Corundum - Lab Sapphire; Pink Corundum - Lab Sapphire; Red Corundum - Lab Ruby; Purple Corundum - Lab Alexandrite; Aquamarine Blue - Lab Spinel; Minty Green - Lab Sea Foam; Purplish Blue Tanzanite - Lab Spinel

Star diopside comes mainly from India. Star Diopside is included with four crystal faces for the light to travel through. When viewed it looks as if there is a floating star across the top of the gemstone that changes with the light.