Cabs rock!
A recent road trip to Central Oregon has renewed my appreciation of cabs—cabochons, that is. A fascinating place to find those smooth, polished stones so many of us enjoy in jewelry is at the All Rockhounds Powwow Club of America Gem and Mineral Show in Madras, OR. This is the place to witness rockhound heaven. Row after row of tables of rough and polished rock, not to mention carvings, crystals, faceted gemstones, jewelry, and rock equipment, offer plenty of browsing under hot, sunny skies at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds. A field trip to dig for your own treasures drives home the humbling fact that cabs are ultimately of the earth. They are not only a result of a certain kind of passion and a lot of physical labor but a product of complex geologic forces and time. Names like Montana agate, stinking water agate, polka dot agate, graveyard point plume agate, Deschutes, owyhee jasper, biggs jasper, and morrisonite generally refer to the origin of the rock. From rough rock to sliced slab to cut and finished polished stone, each little cab captures some aspect of the almost unfathomable geologic processes that result in intricate, colorful, often stunning patterns. A mini miracle you can wear. Now, if I can just learn to cut and polish a few cabs from my new collection of rock slabs…
Check out new cabs from Central Oregon selected for sale at Danaca Design.
