Geology
A very short history of stones that wander…

Around 200 million years ago, much of the current Pacific Northwest was composed of micro-continents and scraps of land out in the open ocean.  As the North American continent moved westward, it collided with the Pacific oceanic plate, welding the scraps of land onto the continent.

The tremendous violent forces created large areas of volcanic activity.  After heated silica-rich fluids then percolated through the surrounding bedrock, it caused large areas of sediment and minerals to solidify and petrify over hundreds of thousands of years.

When these and other land masses were exposed to the surface, the natural processes of erosion broke off and weathered small pieces, many of which were tumbled and rounded by rivers and streams over long periods of time.

Beginning around 2 million years ago, a series of immense glaciers scoured northern North America picking up and transporting south everything in their path for hundreds and even thousands of miles.  As these glaciers retreated, much of this debris, including the bounty of already-tumbled stones, was exposed and further transported over time by regional rivers and floods.  Some made their way out to the Pacific Ocean, later washing up on beaches in modern times.  Others can still be found in our rivers and larger lakes.

I joyfully comb the beaches and rivers to handpick the most beautiful ones I find to use in my jewelry.   I think it’s a little magical to be able to wear such an ancient, tangible piece of geologic history around my neck and am happy to share them!