This pendant is made from copper replacement agate collected in the Keweenaw Peninsula region of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
Material like this is highly inconsistent in both quality and structure. Most of what is found in the field is fractured, incomplete, or not suitable for cabochon work. Even when usable material is located, it often requires extensive sorting and testing before a workable section can be identified.
This particular piece was cut from a section that still retained enough structural integrity to be shaped, which is not always the case with this material. Many hours in the field can result in very little usable stone, and even promising finds often break down during cutting due to internal stress and mixed mineral zones.
The cutting process itself is slow and deliberate because copper replacement agates behave unpredictably under the wheel. What appears stable externally can shift or fracture internally during shaping, requiring constant adjustment during the grind and polish stages.
This pendant represents one of the few usable outcomes from a material that is far more commonly lost or discarded during preparation than successfully finished.
Set in sterling silver and finished to preserve the natural character of the stone.
Dimensions of pendant: 33mm x 15mm