Gemstone Spheres made from Agate,
Jasper, Marble and other Gemstones

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Quartz is the second most common mineral in the Earth's continental crust.  It is mainly composed of Silica or Silica based minerals.  Although Quartz is known by a variety of names, the most important distinction between types of Quartz is that of macro-crystalline, individual crystals visible to the unaided eye, and micro-crystalline, where aggregates of crystals are only visible under high magnification.  There are many forms of Quartz including Chalcedony, Amethyst, Citrine, and Carnelian which are results of mineral impurities or heat treatments.

Crystal Quartz Sphere

Marble is a metamorphic rock consisting of Limestone but composed mostly of Calcite.  It is used extensively for sculpture, building materials and has many decorative uses.  The pure white Marble is probably the most common form known, but the characteristic swirls and veins of many colored Marble varieties are usually due to various mineral impurities such as Clay, Silt, Sand, Iron Oxides or Chert.  This type of Marble will often have black, white and grey stripes that resemble a zebra pattern.

Marble Sphere

Obsidian is a rock which is a type of naturally occurring glass that was produced by volcanoes when the lava cooled rapidly and froze without sufficient time for crystal growth.  Because of the lack of crystal structure, the edges are very sharp and can be cut very thin.  Pure Obsidian is always dark in appearance but due to gas bubbles from the molten lava rock, a rainbow sheen can be produced resulting in the colors of Rainbow Obsidian.

Spider Web Sphere

Carnelian is a red or reddish-brown variant of Chalcedony but also may come in the colors of orange and pink.  It is quite common and usually found in translucent pebble form.  It is found in several areas of Europe, Iceland and Madagascar.

Carnelian Sphere

Petrified Wood is a type of a fossil as it consists of fossil wood where all the organic materials have been replaced with minerals while retaining the original structure of the wood.  These minerals are most often Silicates such as Quartz.  Other minerals, Manganese, Iron and Copper, in the water or mud during the petrification process give Petrified Wood a variety of color ranges: black - Carbon; green/blue - Copper; red/brown/yellow - Iron.  Petrified Wood can preserve the original structure of the wood in all its detail all the way down to the microscopic level.  Structures such as tree rings and the various tissues are often observed features.  Although Petrified Wood can be found worldwide, it is rather rare in larger quantities and at times can be difficult to obtain by the average collector.

Petrified Wood Sphere

SP611b  Here is a very nice, above average quality Jade sphere.  It measures 2" in diameter and has a nice polish.  This sphere has a super dark Green and Black color mix with an interesting mottled design.  A great sphere to add to your collection.

Jade is an ornamental stone.  The term Jade is applied to two different rocks that are made up of different Silicate minerals.  Nephrite Jade consists of the Calcium-Magnesium mineral Actinolite.  The rock Jadeitite consists almost entirely of Jadeite, a Sodium-Aluminum Pyroxene.  The colors can range from a creamy white to a variety of green colors which include blue, lavender-mauve, and pink.

Jade Sphere

SP604c   This is a very nice, Ruby in Zoisite sphere.  The material is from India.  It is 2 1/4" in diameter and has a good polish.  This lovely sphere has Fuchsia Ruby "eyes" set in a soft Green and White Zoisite matrix.  This sphere is very unique and has a lot of character.  A must have for your sphere collection.

Zoisite is a Calcium Aluminum Silicate that belongs to the Epidote group of minerals.  When it is found transparent, it is formed in to gemstones while translucent-to-opaque material is usually carved into sculptural works.  The latter sometimes has Ruby Crystals which are completely opaque and unsuitable as gemstones, but are well colored and contrast strikingly against the green matrix of the Zoisite.  Zoisite may be green, blue, brown, pink, yellow, gray or colorless.

Ruby-Zoisite Sphere

SP601b  Here is a very nice, very interesting Fossil Rock sphere.  It measures 4" in diameter and has a good polish.  This material is also known as Fossilized Coral.  The sphere is unique and would make a great educational tool or cool gift.

 Fossil Rock Sphere

This material is a new find from Madagascar. The deposit formed as a rhyolite flow but has been completely silicified. The Rhyolitic eyes or orbs come in an astonishing array of colors and color combinations. The back ground can be white, pink, green, red, or yellow. Botryoidal formations as well as white and deep green druzy are also common. This deposit has been discovered at the edge of the ocean. It can only be seen and collected at low tide. The area has no road so the material must be transported to civilization by boat.

Ocean Jasper Sphere

This material is a new find from Madagascar. The deposit formed as a rhyolite flow but has been completely silicified. The Rhyolitic eyes or orbs come in an astonishing array of colors and color combinations. The back ground can be white, pink, green, red, or yellow. Botryoidal formations as well as white and deep green druzy are also common. This deposit has been discovered at the edge of the ocean. It can only be seen and collected at low tide. The area has no road so the material must be transported to civilization by boat.

Ocean Jasper Sphere

Carnelian is a red or reddish-brown variant of Chalcedony but also may come in the colors of orange and pink.  It is quite common and usually found in translucent pebble form.  It is found in several areas of Europe, Iceland and Madagascar.

Carnelian Sphere