Coast Explorer Magazine - The Explorer's Guide to the Oregon Coast and Washington Coast

Related Features

Pelican Post Coast Explorer Cover

Subscribe

Are you a Coast Explorer? Subscribe to Coast Explorer now and don't miss another issue featuring our beautiful photography and design, interesting feature stories and guides to coastal attractions, events, dining, shopping, arts and lodging.

Annual subscriptions (3 issues) now only $15.

Mining Green: Desert Sun Mining & Gems

Green practices are in place at Desert Sun Mining & Gems for mining sunstones, Oregon's state gemstone.

Article Image As the only stone in the world with embedded particles of copper, the sunstone is spectacular enough. But even as Desert Sun Mining & Gems pulls the salmon red, spruce green and other multi-colored stones from the earth, the mining company is mindful to take care of the planet from which they come. Using green mining practices at their Ponderosa Mine in southeastern Oregon, Talley and John Woodmark ensure every stone on display at their Silver Heron and Blue Heron galleries in Depoe Bay has a heritage they and buyers can be proud of. "There's so much going on in the gem world right now, with some stones being treated or rolled in glass," Talley said. She knows buyers take comfort in the fact that every stone on display, whether it sits alone or is a part of a handcrafted piece of jewelry, is as pristine as the day it came out of the mine. That's why not only is the Ponderosa the only sunstone mine in the world that supplies the single-colored and multi-colored stones the Woodmarks use, but it's the mine that produced the sunstones that inspired state leaders to name the gems Oregon's state gemstone.

To see a collection of loose and set sunstones, Silver Heron Gallery is located at 15 SE Bay Street in Depoe Bay, Oregon (541) 765-2886.

Share/Bookmark
 
  • Published in: Coast Explorer Spring 2008
  • Click to see other items about: Lincoln City
 
 
  • Additional Image
  • Additional Image