Post #379198 by Robin on Fri, May 9, 2008 6:34 AM

On 2008-05-08 07:04, timidtiki wrote:
Hi Robin -

I envy you Summer plans, and remember living most of my life along the California, Oregon and Washington coastal areas. I had planned to retire near Port Angeles (Washington) but fate sent me East.

I don't know where you ae beginning your trip, but you can find some nice chloromelanite (black jadeite) beach pebbles near Cresent City, California. I also purchased some really beautiful emerald green jade (pic attached) from an eBay seller who claimed it came from a deposit near Skagit, Washington. The seller said it was jadite but I have some reservations about the claim. Anyway, whether jadite or nephrite it is nice carving material.

Good luck, good carving, and a pleasant Summer to you.

Well thanks Timid. The West Coast of the U.S. is really some beautiful country. I drove 101 from L.A. to Washington one year up and around the Olympic Peninsula, and hopped the ferry in Port Townsend and then to the San Juans...I spun on the deck of the ferry, and thought this is some of the most beautiful country I've ever seen....can't wait to get back there. I haven't seen the east side of the peninsula yet. Things just fell into place this year...I'm feeling pretty lucky...now if I can just find some jade!

I'll check out the Crescent City and Skagit County areas. Thanks for that. Wish me luck! Any more tips or contacts greatly appreciated. I'm not sure how to hook up with people in the know. I might need a decoder ring.

From my limited knowledge and from what I can see in the picture...I'd say that piece was nephrite...and really pretty. The jadeite I've seen has a really distinctive structure..way different from nephrite. Tama? Paipo? PrarieJade?

I've done some limited research on where to find jade in Wyoming...apparently there was a Jade rush much like the Gold rush in the 30's/40's, and there has been tons and tons of the stuff mined there. I have isolated an area to look around in Wyoming....fingers crossed.

Ben...thanks...I use the same system Ben for water...works really well. I saw the above black jade piece while I was at Ben's Chop. Still in pretty much the same stage...Ben...get on that one...it needs out of the box! Traveling light....lots of room for rocks.

Tama...will get that thing spinning better...I'm gonna change out motors and arbor. I hate it when my fingers go numb! Your assessment of the stone process is much like the clay process. When everything goes just right, and you know you've done something fine...oh man...it's the best....and then there's the humbling part too.

JadiGypsy