Whatever happened to zebra stone?

[Luann Udell]

Speaking of mystery beads....
A few years ago, I bought a variety of zebra stone beads (actinolite), a sort of dark sage green stone with bands of cream and black.  Very pretty!

Now it seems to have disappeared from the market!  There is zebra JASPER, which is a totally different fish.

Is the zebra stone on the R&T site the real actinolite stuff?  Is it the same sage green/black/cream?

I have another mystery stone in my collection, but it's hard to describe.  If I send a bead along, would you or someone on the R&T staff maybe be able to identify it?  It's a very soft, pale green, almost celadon-colored, totally opaque.  The beads were not highly polished, and it's almost a hard talc-like material.  I want to call it steatite, but I don't think that's right....  They almost look like they could be ceramic, but I'm really sure they are a stone.

They're another bead that you could find fairly easily and they coordinate with the zebra stone beautifully.  And I can't find THEM anymore, either!

Talk about your fading rock stars....

[marym]

QUOTE

Talk about your fading rock stars....

 '>  '>  '> ... ahh the art of wit.

I think I have a few of those same zebra stones... If I'm picking up what you're puttin' down- I think you might be  talking about Zebra dolomite... ? Mybe I'm wrong but we have none of this in regular stock.. I own this one actually-
Poor rock stars from the 90's... don't they all just fade away?.

I bet one of our lovely phone reps would be happy to check our road stock though... seems there should be some selection somewhere.

As far as ID-ing the other stone, I can only speak for myself but if you send it over care of Mary I will be happy to play detective for you. I can''t promise I will stay so on top of it that it will be returned. '> Maybe a picture would be a better idea?

Talk to you later Luann!

-Mary

[Luann Udell]

I'll try to get the two samples in the mail in the next day or so.  Thank you, Mary!
Luann

[Russ Nobbs]

Stones DO fade out of the marketplace, often because the rough material stops being available. We hear stories about why that happens but they are hard to track down.
Consider how much ocean jasper has changed in appearance in the last 4 or 5 years. We are told that the stuff that comes out of the ground from the same area now is different looking.
Here's some sites that claim to know more about it:
http://www.phoenixorion.com/phoenixorion/crystals1a.htm

http://www.crystalascension.com/crystals/x2136.html says (in part) Ocean Jasper is also known as Moon Jewel Jasper or Orbicular Jasper. We had originally thought that Ocean Jasper was the result of a fossilized algae deposit, but it is actually volcanic in nature! According to the U.S.G.S., "Orbicular Jasper forms when a silica rich rhyolitic ash flow cools quickly. Quartz and feldspar crystallize in spherulites, radial aggregates of needle like crystals, that provide the interesting structure seen in this kind of jasper." The only known source location for Ocean Jasper is a remote area along the coast of Madagascar.

[Luann Udell]

Zebra stone may be extinct??!!

[marym]

{gasp}

[Luann Udell]

Hey Mary, I sent out the samples this week.  Can't wait to hear the "professional opinion" on the samples of zebra stone, "river stone" and the odd  broken turquoise bead!

[Russ Nobbs]

The odd broken turquoise was easy. I think it's dyed, crazed magnesite from one of the earlier batches of that newish enhanced product. If it was ours it was before we realized what was coming under the guise of turquoise was really a new way of enhancing a white stone.  

Was it darker when you first got it?
We haven't seen (or been told about) dyed magnesite becoming lighter with age or exposure to light.

We'll try to get some pictures of your samples posted for the benefit of everyone reading our forum.

[Luann Udell]

I can't remember how dark it was--I think the color has stayed fairly stable.
The "faux turquoise" is actually something I like--I like that pale, soft look.  It's probably why I bought it.   Hate paying turquoise prices, though!  Fortunately, it was only one strand.... '>

Can't wait to see my "fading rock star" beads in the limelight!  

[marym]

Luann I have not been able to get to the forum as much as I've wanted to lately- but I will do my best to get these pictured tomorrow and uploaded for every one to see.

It's confirmed that the one striped stone IS Zebra Dolomite. Btw.

...coming soon to a forum near you... fading rock stars!

[marym]

   '>

[marym]

B= dyed, crazed magnesite
D= Zebra Dolomite

Russ you have the samples Luann sent for further chatting.

Luann- I will get back to you on using the cord ends you sent- thanks!!!

[Luann Udell]

Any word yet on A & C?  
Luann

P.S.  Googling for "zebra dolomite" has helped enormously--great work, R&T stone ID detective team!   '>

[notatriplet]

Luann,

Mary has given me your sterling silver toggle clasp to "play" with.  I must agree that it is a handsome clasp and a bit curious, too.  I also agree that it would look fabulous used as the closure for a multi-stand necklace or bracelet, and small beads such as seed beads or tiny pearls would be ideal.  

I did find the design of the toggle difficult to use.  The integrated bullet ends are shallow making it near impossible to hide your finish knot, and the interior crossbar made for difficult beading.  I was able to use a twisted wire needle (such as item #65-070) to thread through the cross bar, by bending the tip into a hook shape.  I would recommend making your multi-strands with a single length of stringing line that way there will be only one finish knot.  Our no-stretch  cord, item #61-329-01 or -02 would work well.  I recommend concealing the knot in the length of beads, and not in the bullet end.

There are many aspects of jewelry making that are difficult, so despite the design flaw I would recommend using this clasp as it is unique and attractive.

Mollie
  :'> make things  :'>

[Luann Udell]

Mollie, you are a peach!  Thank you so much for your findings and recommendations.  I'll hold on to the sets--they were discontinued items so I got them for a very good price, much less than I'd pay for separate components.  But I'm glad you agreed the "thinking" on the design of them was a bit baffling.  And I like your solution!
Do I sense another box of thank you goodies in the works?  hmmmmm....  '>
Luann