Lapidary_Journal_Jewelry_Artist_-_February_2016_

By Sharon Elaine Thompson

SMOKIN’ STONES

MOONSTONE PHOTOS: COURTESY JOHN F. HEUSLER, G.G.

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lapidary journal )( Jewelry artist

IF A ZEBR A’S STRIPES were green and

white, it would look a lot like chrysotile. With its alternating

bands of nephrite-green serpentine and creamy-white chrys-

otile, this is a strongly graphic gem material.

Chrysotile was the original source of asbestos, and the

asbestos fi bers give the white layers a hint of chatoyance,

says John Heusler of Slabs to Cabs. Chatoyance — the cat’s-

eye eff ect — is caused by light glancing off the fi bers under

a curved surface, rather like the light sliding over the curved

surface of a spool of thread. Asbestos fi bers are what give

tiger-eye its unique chatoyance as well, and some sources use

the trade name Silver Eye for this chrysotile and serpentine

mixture as well.

Because of its striking appearance, chrysotile and

serpentine should take center stage in any piece of jewelry. A

natural pairing would be small cabs or beads of serpentine or

nephrite. Greenish pearls, too, would provide an elegant foil

to a chrysotile and serpentine cab.

Look for a stone with an interesting pattern. Heusler likes to

cut the stones so that they balance an area of tightly spaced

stripes to an area of plain serpentine. Stones with the pattern

at an angle can create a great deal of visual interest, especially

if that pattern is carried into the mounting around it.

Chrysotile &

Serpentine