Sonora Dendritic Agate cut by The Gem ShopJoshua Tree Necklace and Earrings
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Here is a lovely, tiny piece of Sonora Dendritic with a perfect Joshua Tree in it. I have a lot of questions about it, e.g., the invoice called it "Sonora Dendritic Agate" when this material is usually referred to as Rhyolite. It may be that as more of this relatively new material is mined, veins of more highly silicified material are being found and they called this particular piece "Agate" for that reason.
The Joshua Tree in the stone is formed by what are referred to as maroon dendrites. We've spoken of black dendrites from various forms of Manganese Oxide many times before, but what are these maroon dendrites? We know that Manganese has pink forms: Rhodochrosite is Manganese Carbonate (MnCO3), so is it possible that these are also some form of Manganese? Or are these dendritic patterns made of some other material? So far I haven't found the answer.
What we do know something about is the Joshua Tree! The first thing we should observe is that this amazing tree is not always valued. Look at the image of the second book listed below. The photo shows a magnificent specimen but the title is in a box that obliterates much of the tree. In fact, the Ancient Trees book below quotes explorer John C. Fremont calling it "the most repulsive tree in the Vegetable Kingdom." Fortunately James Cornett calls it the "symbol of the Mojave" and has penned a wonderful appreciation of Yucca brevifolia. The range of the tree is remarkable, extending into the Sonoran Desert, the Great Basin Desert, up in the Cajon Pass, and even up to 7,000 feet in the San Bernardino Mountains.
I hope you appreciate this little stone with it's pretty desert landscape! It seemed be happy with labradorite which I used in the necklace and included in the little oxidized sterling chain. The chain also has some larger faceted stones, the one in the center is likely a garnet. The earrings are long and delicate. Please order this one-of-a-kind set and enjoy wearing it with business attire, a feminine lace blouse or a tee shirt. It's a versatile set that works with a wide range of colors.
