The "Green" movement and its effect on jewelry making~ Part 2 Gemstones

Welcome back, readers!  Here is part two in my series exploring the effect that the 'green' movement is having on jewelry makers.  I would like to explore the realm of gemstones as today's topics. 
I know many jewelry designers and creators, myself included, love to work with gemstones.  Whether they are in bead form, cabachons or faceted stones, there's just something about a gemstone that is unique and attracting to the eye. 
To start with, there are typically two types of gemstones on the market today: natural gemstones straight from the earth and man made or grown gemstones from labratories.  These two options in and of themselves can often spark controversy.  So, let's take them seperately, starting with natural gemstones.
Natural gemstones, like another other mineral in the earth, are a limited resource.  Since these minerals occur naturally in our earth, this means that is can take thousands of year and the perfect conditions for some of these minerals to build back up into the stones we recognize as gemstones.  So, while the earth is still capable of producing more of these mineral deposits, it is a very lengthy and condition specific task.
With that being said, there does not seem to be a visable end to the supply of many gemstones at this point in time.  I have not found any information about gemstone depletion aside from an article about Tanzanite.  Many tourist spots across the US and around the world have mines where tourists themselves can mine, dig and pan for precious and semi precious gemstones.  I myself have done this time and time again.  It's an enjoyable activity!  And it's nice to see exactly where your gemstones and beads are coming from.  It can also teach you a lot about the properties of certain stones.  For example, mining your own opal can very quickly teach a person how very fragile this mineral is.  The tendency of veins of opal in rock to crack and shatter while being dislodged from the earth is a clear indication of what care one must take with a ring displaying a fragile opal.  I've had many a friend who have had their prized opal rings crack and shatter.
There's a lot of controversy surrounding the mining of gemstones like rubies, diamonds and emeralds.  In countries outside of the US where these stones are mined, the workers and work conditions are not what they ought to be.  Because of this, many jewelrs are looking for  what are called "conflict free" gemstones to use.  An excellent source for more information regarding this is the following link: http://www.brilliantearth.com/about_products/
Synthetic, man made or labratory grown gemstones are different in that they are not naturally occuring in the earth itself.  Scientists and geologists have done the research and discovered methods of growing these mineral deposits in controlled labratory environments.  Thus, they have created man made rubies, emeralds, diamonds and sapphires.  Much of today's commericially sold jewelry is actually made utilizing these stones.  After all, they look the same, have the same properties and the cost tends to be much lower.  There is less labor involved with growing gemstones versus mining them from the earth. 
So, there's a little more information and a really goo resource on the topic of gemstones.  If any of my readers have more information or some informative links or resources, please leave that infor in the comments section so I can update and better inform my other readers.  Feel free to add!

The 'Green' movement and it's effect on jewelry making~ Part 1 Silver

There's been a lot of hoopla on Etsy over the renewability of certain objects and materials used in jewelry making lately.  And it's sparked an interest for me in researching that topic.  I am always interested in the discussion between being more "green" and it's effect on artists and their work.  I think it's great to be green but the speculation lately has been about what can be done and what can not.  At any rate, it's a great topic to investigate further.  And I want to look for more information and give myself and my readers a better picture to draw thier own conclusions from.
*For the record and preceding my article and research findings, I would like to state that I am not going to post my opinions nor views on the renewability of materials or resources I research nor am I going to put down other artist who use or do not use these materials and resources.  I wish this article to be informative and nor a deragatory diatribe about how we should or should not support certain handmade artisans based on this information.  I believe each human being on this earth capable of making that judgment call on their own after educating themselves about the topic and forming their own opinion of the issue based on their own personal beliefs.  I will not shove my beliefs at you if you would in turn do the same for me.*
That being said.... let's begin our information hunt.  I want to start with a material that I use sparingly in my designs due to the high cost: silver.  I wear a lot of silver and therefore have a natural curiousity to learn more about it.     
When one searches for information about silver mining, it is brought to light that a lot of mines that produce silver also produce other precious metals that may bring a higher price than silver.  This would lead someone like myself to conclude that perhaps many mines are more concerned with mining those other metals than silver but this is once again speculation.  To delve more into that idea, I would have to interview someone in the mining industry... which I may consider for a later blog.
I also made the observation that there seems to be quite a small list of mines actually producing silver at all.  Makes me really wonder about how much more of this resource is truly available.  Also makes me curious as to how many companies out there are going to be asking to recycle silver bits and scraps as well as perhaps unused or broken silver jewelry.  Reminds me of all those gold commercials we are seeing at the moment on TV.
I've also made an observation from looking at several different mining company websites.  It appears that many of them have either purchased more land for mining purposes or are in the process of acquiring more land.  some companies have expanded their operations on land they already own.  To the outside observer this means that the mineral resource is perhaps less than it used to be.  Again, without further information from the source it would be difficult to say for sure.  Just for you own personal research, here are a few good links for researching on your own. 
http://www.silverseek.com/links/   This is a great resource.  It gives you live prices on silver as well as a comprehensive lists of silver mines.  You can link to many of these silver companies websites directly from here.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silver_mining_in_the_United_States  I know there are those of you out there that HATE when others site Wikipedia for information but I believe this particular page is a good source.  I like that it gives you an idea of where in the US silver ore is being mined.  It's always good to be conscious of where your metals come from if at all possible.
http://www.miningnerds.com/silver-mining-report-all-countries  This is just a cool resource that gives you a good list of how much volume of metal each mine produces as well as their listing price for silver.  There's a ton more information there as well that I haven't really deciphered what it is or means.

Another thing I discovered as I delved into the mining of silver is how they extract the metal from the earth.  Most mining is a pretty earth invasive mission.  Most minerals are extracting from the ore, or rock containing the mineral, through a process called smelting.  Smelting is a chemical process in which the minerals are leached from the ore using other chemicals such as carbon or mercury.  Many other chemicals can and have been used in the smelting process as well.  Smelting also involves roasting or melting out minerals and chemicals from the ore.  This process can also produce hazardous chemicals as biproducts.   The one that comes to my mind most readily is cyanide.  My father used to tell me stories of the copper mines in MT.  He pointed to an old smelting chimney on an abandoned mine once and showed me how the trees on one side of the mountain still to this day do not grow.  Cyanide gas still resides in soil there.
I would venture a guess that gold, copper and other metals are mined and extract in much the same ways as silver.  So, this information could really span over those materials as well.
       
Now, while this this information can paint a pretty dissmal picture, please understand that in no way is this article meant to sway you in one direction or the other.  I am merely providing information.  Also, keep in mind that new and better ways of mining are always being discovered and researched.  I am aware that more and more efforts to recycle metals and minerals are being employed.  We are always changing and always moving in new directions.

Recycled Vintage piece

I took care of my sick bf all weekend.  But in between fetching him water and making meals I did manage to create another new piece.  This one is made around a piece of broken vintage costume jewelry.  I simply took the rhinestone encrusted piece and did some wire magic around it adding various crystals and beads.  Then I added some antiqued brass chain and voila!  More vintage bling.

Bead Trends October issue

I once again will have a featured piece in the October issue of Bead Trends magazine! YAY! And I am submitting LOTS of pieces for the November issue as well. I'm just going to keep submitting until maybe they ask me to be the featured designer... or they get sick of me. Whichever happens first I guess.

They are featuring this pair of earrings.

Featured Studio Piece 4-14-10

Today I would like to feature one of my more colorful and complicated wire pieces. It was inspired by the look and shape of peacock feathers. I used a light purple mothe rof pearls coin for the focal point or "eye" of this feather inspired necklace. I then surrounded it with brass beads, deep green freshwater pearls, and smokey quartz beads for a grounding neutral. The frame and wrapping wire is brass. The chain I used is a gold toned chain. This is a large necklace, a real statement piece, very bold and bright. $65

Featured Studio Piece 4-8-10

Today's featured studio piece is a new listing. I made these lovely dangly earrings just this past week and LOVE the sparkle they produce. They are quartz, amethyst and green cubic zirconia faceted briolettes wrapped in silver toned wire. I then suspended them from different lengths of siler toned chain and attached them to ear wires. Lovely shine and color... sure to please any ear! $25

Featured Studio piece 3-22-10

Back again with the daily featured studio pieces! Today's piece is a beaded piece that I strung using silk thread. It combines the lovely pale pink of these freshwater pearls with the stunning green of aventurine. In between I have done some lovely sterling silver spacers. Topping the whole piece off is a gorgeous silver flower toggle and bar clasp meant to be worn in the front or even to the side. A truly gorgeous necklace worthy of a spring queen! $50

Featured Studio Piece 3-15-10

Today's featured studio piece is a personal favorite of mine I call Garnet Bubbles. Its a smaller, more dainty pendant made from copper wire with both green and red garnet beads. The circular shape of the frame and of the beads make it look like a bunch of bubbles trapped in copper. $25