Sunstone from Oregon is gaining attention as a natural and untreated product of the United States. amzn_assoc_title = "My Amazon Picks"; The sunstone from Oregon, USA, shimmers due to copper inclusions. Colors of the stone vary from clear, champagne, yellow, light pink, salmon, orange, and red to … A Diversity of Gems. The red stone contains the highest concentration of copper, over 200 parts per million (0.02%). This website visitors assume full responsibility for any use of this information and are encouraged to contact local agencies directly to inquire about the most up-to-date information and regulations. Oregon Sunstones at the Spectrum Mine We had a lot of fun at the Opal Mines and met some great people. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Rare and beautiful mineral crystals, Oregon Sunstones are found only in the high desert of southeastern Oregon. amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon"; Champagne or Clear specimens can often be … It has been found in Southern Norway, Sweden, various United States localities and on some beaches along the midcoast of South Australia. The lava was covered by water for thousands of years until dry weather, winds extreme temperatures dried out the lake entirely. A calcium-rich Oregon sunstone formed in molten basaltic lava flows thirteen to fourteen million years ago during eruptions of the Steens Mountain. The Oregon sunstone is well-regarded as some of the highest quality feldspar found not just in America, but all over the world. Opening dates for 2015 are Memorial Day Weekend, May 22nd through September 30th. Double Eagle Mining is a mining company of the worlds rarest known gemstone, Oregon Copper Bearing Sunstone. Sunstone is typically red-brown in body color with a metallic shimmering effect caused by tiny platelets of hematite, goethite or pyrite. Oregon Sunstone is the Official State Gemstone of Oregon, and one of the rarest and most valuable gemstones on the planet. Visit Spectrum Mine and dig for Oregon sunstone gems from a designated pile of fresh unprocessed ore for free all day and keep what you find (mine personnel must be present). When one thinks of an Oregon Sunstone color, Peach/Pink, is first to come to mind. We got a ton more and a ton bigger pieces and a lot of actual sunstones rather than just feldspar. Where you can collect your own Plush Oregon Copper Bearing Sunstone, Directions to our Oregon Sunstone Mine. amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart"; - Answered by a verified Expert. We didn't find what we had hoped for at the Royal Peacock Mine but were satisfied with our findings at the Bonanza. There are a huge variety of valuable rocks, minerals, gemstones and fossils found throughout Oregon. This website is dedicated to the amateur rockhound who is interested in finding rock specimens for their collection. amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit0"; Sunstones have been found in many locations around the world including Canada, Mexico, Norway, Australia, Russia, China, Tanzania, and the United States of America including New York, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Oregon. Over five days in late July 2013, we visited three important sources of gem-quality sunstone in eastern Oregon: the Ponderosa mine in Harney County, and the Dust Devil (figure 1) and Sunstone Butte mines, both of which are about 120 miles further south, in Lake County. In addition, the quality of the copper colored sunstone material from Oregon is better than anywhere else in the world. In the late nineteenth century, ranchers came into Rabbit Basin and cowboys picked up the Sunstone, trading it to local stores and beyond. The Plush, Oregon, sunstone gemfield (Near Hart Mountain) is located approximately 50 miles northeast of Lakeview, Oregon, and 20 miles north of the tiny town of Plush. The best way we know of describing this is to consider an Octopus. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) established the Oregon Sunstone Public Collection Area in the Rabbit Basin between the Warner Valley and Albert Rim. 6 Places Where Can You Go to Dig for Gemstones in California, North Carolina: Places Where Can You Go to Dig for Gemstones in NC, 7 Billion-Year-Old Stardust Is Oldest Material Found on Earth, This is a Rock, Not a Slice of Cheesecake, The Largest Meteorite Ever Found in the United States, Scientists Catch a Volcano Mid-formation in the Indian Ocean. Collecting on mining claims without the owners' permission is prohibited. However, there is a … same as reds . Rare and beautiful mineral crystals, Oregon Sunstones are found only in the high desert of southeastern Oregon. When the Spectrum Sunstone Mine rock hopper fills up and the generator fires up the conveyor belt gets your hopes up: that Oregon’s state gem, sunstones, will roll past you by the hundreds. Oregon sunstone collecting: There are a few places where you can go to collect Oregon Sunstone. Also, sunstones can be collected on commercial Dust Devil’s, Spectrum Sunstone and Double Eagle Mines, all of them are located near the Oregon Sunstone Public Collection Area. Oregon Sunstone is found in only one locality on Earth —Southern Oregon. amzn_assoc_search_bar = "false"; Some exceptional stones can show more than one color. Dichroics. Oregon's famous sunstone is produced from basalt flows, thundereggs are formed in rhyolite, and the silica that produced much of Oregon's opal, agate, and jasper was dissolved from volcanic rocks by hot groundwater. The Reds and Greens are the rarest amongst the color families. For more on feldspar classification and nomenclature, see box B in Rossman (2011). Oregon sunstone, which contains substantially more calcium than sodium, has a composition of about 70% anorthite and 30% albite, or An 70 /Ab 30. However, Oregon Sunstones differ from the classic specimens. This page allows for the entry of Rock collecting locations that have been found by users on the internet or by reference sources. Your email address will not be published. Find a unique collection of sunstone gemstones from Oregon. Visit Spectrum Mine and dig for Oregon sunstone gems from a designated pile of fresh unprocessed ore for free all day and keep what you find (mine personnel must be present). Facet Grade. Yellow - 20 parts per million (0.002%). They are found in certain basalt flows in Lake County and Harney County. Read More Oregon Sunstone In Oregon, sunstone occurs in the south, central portion of the state near the California border. Sunstone (Oregon State Gemstone) Oregon’s state gemstone is a feldspar crystal that weathers out of certain lava flows in south-central Oregon. Hold a nugget of Oregon sunstone in your palm, and you will understand why the 1987 Oregon legislature designated it as the official state gemstone. Information is subject to change at any time, and Oregon Discovery team cannot guarantee that is either current or correct. • Oregon Sunstone contains copper which gives metallic flashes. The owner was great and the whole staff was super friendly. Figure 2. All custom cuy by Steve Moriarty in a variety of colors and shapes. amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "manual"; Spectrum Sunstone Mine, located near Plush, OR, in Lake County Oregon, is an Oregon sunstone mine open to the public for mining Oregon Sunstone. Christopher L. Johnston, Mickey E. Gunter, and Charles R. Knowles (1991) Sunstone Labradorite from the Ponderosa Mine, Oregon. Its resistance to scratching is very slightly less than that of amethyst, and slightly more resistant than tanzanite. The Willamette Meteorite on display at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. The most famous sunstone deposits in the United States are located in Oregon. It is relatively inexpensive per carat, making sizes in the three to ten carat range approachable. Oregon Sunstone is a lively gem. There is a relatively nice toilet/outhouse. The Spectrum Sunstone Mine is located 30 miles northwest of Plush and you’ll want bring a bucket to hold the sunstone riches you find in this pocket of the high desert. $1 - … In 1987, Oregon Sunstones were recognized as the official State Gemstone. Insanely Bloody Reds. It includes information such as collecting locations that I've visited or that I've researched, and also information from other rockhounds. Oregon Sunstone was proclaimed as the official State Gemstone in 1987. amzn_assoc_linkid = "5606a67c148fecc071482f394ba03570"; $8 - $9 per ct. see below. Rough Red Labradorite a.k.a. These pieces are a mix of Sunstones from the Spectrums Double Eagle 13 , the Spectrum Cattle Guarder and other dig sites throughout the Eastern Oregon Sunstone fields. amzn_assoc_search_bar = "true"; Geitgey Rom. Petrified Wood | Where to Find & How to Spot. ⓘ Spectrum Mine Oregon sunstone is a little harder than other feldspars with a hardness range of 6.5–7. Oregon Sunstones. Sunstone is a feldspar crystal that weathers out of certain lava flows in the south-central region of Oregon. The whole point of coming is to find Sunstones, and we came away with a full ‘baggie” worth – some with color – based on a scoop of “high grade” ore - $200. Purchased in early 2019 from Ales Krivanek and mined in the PANA Mine in Oregon it has a very good large size, but what really sets it apart for me is the two strong colors and how vivid these colors are. This created a patronage for a gemstone produced in the United States - especially in the state of Oregon. We then drove to one of the commercial claims - we chose the Dust Devil Sunstone Mine - and paid for a belt run which came to about $80. This is where you would probably get the best prices, and shipping of this item is relatively easy to handle due to its size. Green - 100 parts per million (0.01%). Oregon is one of the nation's leading states for the production of gemstones.These gemstones are mostly a result of the state's long volcanic history. Sunstone - Sunstone Faceted rondelle Beads, Sunstone Micro Faceted, Oregon Sunstone, Sunstone Jewelry, Orange Sunstone, 4-4.5mm, 14 inch $42.99 $ 42 . You definitely feel like you are at a real gem mine. Sunstone is a variety of a mineral called oligoclase. amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon"; The mineral has copper inclusions that provide a shimmering optical effect known as schiller or aventurescence. Here is a list of these "fee mining sites," where anyone can pay a fee and look for gems and minerals. Schillers. It was now time to move on to another location in search of a different type of gem. The highest copper concentration makes Oregon sunstones highly-prized and popular among artisans and collectors. Although intense red and transparent stones with schiller are very desirable, many color varieties are found in Oregon… Copper-bearing sunstones are found only in the high desert of Southeastern Oregon. $4 - $7 per ct. see below. The basalt flows were exposed and the sunstones crystals released. Medium Reds. amzn_assoc_asins = "1889786446,1889786535,087842654X,0870715739"; Your email address will not be published. Oregon Sunstones are found either in Lava flows, or sometimes near the surface when Sunstones through cold winters and hot summers get forced upward to ground level. Sunstone occurs in a range of colors that begin with colorless and ranges through to yellow, orange and red. Also, some of the rarest sunstones resemble alexandrite properties. Quantity. The great variety of feldspar gems … There are two main varieties of Sunstone. Above is picture of a group of extremely fine pieces of Oregon Sunstone rough. Loose Sunstone From Around The World For Sale. Inclusions of hematite and copper give the mineral a golden shimmer. Oregon is home to the most famous sunstone deposits in the United States. (Image credi... What Causes The Color In Oregon Sunstone? Due to this information is subject to change at any time, the Oregon Discovery team cannot guarantee that is either current or correct. Oregon sunstones form in relatively larger crystals and contain numerous hues—those with higher copper content appear darker, redder and more concentrated. Most of this material is mined by companies on private claims. A free location is the Bureau of Land Management's Oregon Sunstone Public Collection Area. Greens (blues & purples) same as reds . Oregon Sunstone Grading System - by Jeff Graham. amzn_assoc_search_bar = "true"; Despite all this, or perhaps because of it, we had a good experience! amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart"; amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "manual"; Oregon Sunstone is a fully to semi-transparent colored variety of Labradorite Fedspar of the Plagioclase family. Located in the remte Rabbit Basin, the Oregon Sunstone Public Colletion Area is in the high dsert habitat f sagebrush and open spacs f south-central Oregon. Apart from Public Sunstone Collection Area, there are privately owned mining claims, namely Spectrum Sunstone Mine and Double Eagle Mining, listed below as fee digging sites for your information. Oregon Sunstones are Oregon’s state gemstone, and if you’re willing to drive (and drive and drive), they’re free for the taking. The color of the Sunstone is dependent on the amount of copper that’s found in the stone. You wont see any redwood trees in the area, but there are plenty of jackrabbits! amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "actilivi0d5-20"; amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "actilivi0d5-20"; In July 2013, our family traveled to the middle of nowhere to hunt for Oregon’s gemstone: the Oregon Sunstone. At a hardness of 6.5-7.2 on the Moh’s scale it is comparable to agate and quartz and suitable for most any jewelry application. The variant “orthoclase sunstone” was found near Crown Point and several other locations in New York, as well as in Delaware County, Pennsylvania’s Glen Riddle and Amelia Courthouse, Amelia County, Virginia. The color can shift from green to red and/or all shades of teal blue to red/pink/orange, etc. Some Oregon sunstones exhibit a glow from within due to millions of microscopic copper platelets, known as schiller. It was the Oregon State Gem, "Sunstone". When one thinks of an Oregon Sunstone color, Peach/Pink, is first to come to mind. Know Before You Go: The boundaries of the Oregon Sunstone Public Collection Area are marked by orange plastic posts that say ‘Oregon Sunstone Public Collection Area,’ and corners are marked with large Bureau of Land Management … Sunstone is found in the high desert of Southeastern Oregon near the small town of Plush in Warner Valley and declared the official Gemstone of the State of Oregon in 1987. This Sunstone is available in a variety of colors including reds, oranges, peaches and greens. Check this website for driving directions before you leave. A few of the sunstone deposits in Oregon are large enough to sustain mining operations. Christopher L. Johnston, Mickey E. Gunter, and Charles R. Knowles (1991) Sunstone Labradorite from the Ponderosa Mine, Oregon. Where you can collect your own Plush Oregon Copper Bearing Sunstone, Directions to our Oregon Sunstone Mine. Don't forget the sunscreen and cold beer if … This is located in the southeast area of Oregon. Sunstone Description. amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit0"; In Oregon, sunstone occurs in the south, central portion of the state near the California border. Luckily for rock-enthusiasts, collecting sunstone is allowed in the Lake County, 23 miles north of Plush. Oregon Geology. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) established the Oregon Sunstone Public Collection Area in 1970 to allow free rockhounding. They sometimes call it the Plush Basin. The spectrum Sunstone Mine, located in the same area near Plush, OR, is one of the states most renown digging sites for Oregon sunstones that is open to the public. Closing dates may vary due to weather. Be aware that there are some mine claims and private lands near the public collecting areas. • Unique Oregon Sunstones are found only in Southeastern Oregon The red facetable feldspar found at the Plush deposit is a distinctly American gem, being found only in Oregon. Spectrum Sunstone Mine, located near Plush, OR, in Lake County Oregon, is an Oregon sunstone mine open to the public for mining Oregon Sunstone. $10 per ct. see below. Most locations are within the private mining claims. Sunstone is metallic in appearance and comes in red, orange or green. This is what changes the sunstones color from yellow (less copper) to red (more copper). We are a fulltime mining source of Plush Oregon Sunstone. Oregon Discovery ©2021 All rights reserved, Best Swimming Holes near Bend | Central Oregon, Best Swimming Oregon Coast & Oregon Coast Range. Closing dates may vary due to weather. Oregon Sunstones at the Spectrum Mine We had a lot of fun at the Opal Mines and met some great people. There are three sunstone productive deposits in Oregon: one in the Lake County and two in the Harney County. This color really shows off the dark inclusions of schiller better than some other colors. Oregon Sunstones. Jul 30, 2015 - The feldspar group of minerals are the most common on the planet, but the plagioclase feldspar designated Oregon’s Official State Gem by the Oregon legislature in 1987 is found nowhere else. Oregon sunstone is a variety of labradorite that frequently displays a stunning aventurescence, or “glowing” or “glittery” schiller effect, caused by copper inclusions. Sunstone History and Lore. Sunstone can be collected on BLM land near Lakeview, OR. To search for Oregon sunstone, you can go to either the Oregon Public Sunstone Collection area for free digging or pay-for-digging sites for collecting sunstone. We didn't find what we had hoped for at the Royal Peacock Mine but were satisfied with our findings at the Bonanza. We sale Wholesale Rough, Cut Stones, Beads, Cabochon, custom cutting and Jewelry. Light Reds. Double Eagle #16 Mine is open to the public for fee digging of Oregon Sunstone, keep all that you find. Hello prospector, You may want to try selling your Oregon sunstones on Ebay. We are located in the high desert of south central Oregon, north west from the town of Plush Oregon. This natural gemstone ranges in size from 3 to 100 carats and rates 6.5 - 7.2 in hardness. Learn how your comment data is processed. Color relates to the amount of copper in the sunstone. Gems And Gemology Winter 220-233 ⓘ Oregon Sunstone public collection area; O'Neal, C. (2013), Field collection and visual analysis of the Oregon Sunstone deposits near Plush, Lake County, Oregon; March. Oregon Sunstone is unique in that crystals can be quite large. For the collector or to put in a custom piece of jewelry. amzn_assoc_region = "US"; The Gemological world is calling it the next Tanzanite, invest now. South-central and southeastern Oregon is the only area in the world where the gem graded sunstones with copper inclusions are found. Sometimes Google Map does not provide correct directions, especially in the forest or mountain areas. When "Oregon Sunstone" was declared the "state gemstone" by the Oregon Legislature, jewelry designers and lapidaries were inspired to work with sunstone and promote it to Oregon residents and tourists.