2020-05-01_Lapidary_Journal_Jewelry_Artist

Meet Carl and

Carl and...

Ellensburg agate enthusiasts have

been hunting this lovely blue chal-

cedony since at least the 1940s.

Housing and ranchette develop-

ment over the years have gradually

restricted access to the areas that

were popular with fi eld collectors in

the past, and fi nds of good jewelry

grade pieces are becoming more

scarce. Fortunately, one source

remains a steady producer of high

quality rough and fi nished stones: the

Carlson family from Tacoma, Wash-

ington. They can meet the demand

because they own several claims

in the Wenatchee National Forest

where the agate seams are located.

Three generations of Carlsons, all

named Carl, have been involved in

the 78-year-old family business, a

high-end jewelry store in Tacoma

materials

This large piece of Ellensburg blue agate rough was the first piece found by C Roy Carlson

in 1964. PHOTO: JIM LANDON

Occasionally Ellensburg blue agate is

uncovered that has a drusy coating of small

micro-crystals. This specimen is the largest

in existence. PHOTO: JIM LANDON

A cut piece of Ellensburg agate shows off the gorgeous blue.

PHOTO: COURTESY CARLSON BROTHERS JEWELRY

specializing in one-of-a-kind jewelry

featuring the gem. C Roy Carlson

made the initial discovery for the

family after spending years riding

horseback along the ridges and

valleys above Ellensburg looking for

rocks and crystals. He found his fi rst

big fl oat piece of Ellensburg agate

in 1964, followed by a second piece

that fi t into the fi rst one in 1968.

After years of diligent searching and

digging innumerable test holes by

hand, the Carlsons fi nally found the

well-hidden seams where the fl oat

had originated and claimed their

fi nd in 1981.

Since then, C Roy’s grandson, Carl

the 3d, and son, Carl senior, have

spent part of each summer excavat-

ing on their claims using a backhoe

to chase the elusive vertical veins,

which in some places run to a depth

of 12-16 feet. At the end of

each day of digging, the exca-

vations are partially fi lled in to

dissuade claim jumpers, and

at the end of each dig season

their excavations are com-

pletely fi lled. Carl senior, now

a spry 95, still cuts all of the

cabochons that go into the El-

lensburg blue pieces produced

by Carlson Brothers Jewelry.

MAY/JUNE 2020 39

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