Desert Hues Designs

June 27, 2018

MIgardener - Grand Opening Celebration - Port Huron, MI

Desert Hues Mine was established in 2010 after we discovered a quartz vein in a nearby mountain. We enjoy collecting pretty rocks laying about on and near our claim-site. We slab and cab the most attractive pieces to reveal the beauty of the quartz, pyrite and chrysocolla matrix . We also purchase and trade rocks and slabs from Gem and Mineral shows to add more variety to our collection. Also, on occasion we will make ourselves available to guide individuals and small groups (up to 6 people per trip) for a suggested donation of $35 per person or $60. per couple. (By Appointment only.) Follow us out to BLM land (High clearance 4x4 required) and we will show you where to find some pretty Chrysocolla / Quartz specimens that we have become known for! email deserthuesmine@gmail for details

March 15, 2018

GoPro, "Birds of a Feather"

Desert Hues

February 17, 2014

Spring Cleaning

I know it isn't officially Spring yet but here, in Arizona it's "Spring Like" nearly all winter.

Anyway, enough boasting.

Today I bit the bullet and finally dug into our accumulation of slabs on the slab shelf.

Putting them through the soak and sorting them out.

On our Desert Rock hunting trips we often find interesting looking rocks that we think might make interesting looking cabs.

But alas, we are often wrong.

Sometimes we cut a few more slabs just in case there might be something better a little farther and find some "keepers" ...

After 3 years of doing this we end up with a lot of slabs that don't "make the cut" (pun intended) for jewelry, but can be used for craft projects like decorative stepping stones or siding on a bird house.

So they aren't entirely useless.

Now just to find them a home!

January 12, 2014

Serpentine, AKA "Vermont Jade" ....

We recently had 2 separate orders of Serpentine from Vermont shipped to us to be slabbed and cabbed. And I would like to share with our readers what we learned....

( By the way, if anyone is knowledgeable about this stone and has anything they would like to add, we encourage you to comment below!)

This Serpentine came straight from remote areas of the Green Mountains of Northeast Vermont. It is commonly referred to as "Vermont Jade". It is used as a source of magnesium and asbestos, as well as a decorative stone.

Serpentine, AKA “Vermont Jade” isn't a true jade. It is a form of diopside which can also contain green grossular garnet deposits.

It's colors and patterns vary between different stones and even within the same stone...

Serpentine is a durable stone that is found in a large number of places including Australia, Britain, Russia, Norway, Italy, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Brazil and the USA.

Below is the second order that was sent to us.

And here is the order of cabs made from it ..

Metaphysical: Many years ago and to present day Green Mountain Serpentine was considered a protector of vital energy and against invisible powers and believed to contain healing properties and help you feel at ease with yourself and let go of sorrow and pain and to balance your emotions.

*** If you have an appreciation for untreated stones in their natural state, perhaps you would be interested in a wire-wrapped pendent or pocket rock made by Desert Hues Designs just for you! But we have a very limited supply left. E-Mail or Message us on Facebook if you are interested in having some of your own !