stones are priced from $50-$75 per
carat, with exceptional stones going
for up to $125 a carat.
The blue color in Ellensburg chal-
cedony is not due to any elemental
impurity, but rather to the interac-
tion between light and the micro-
crystalline structure of the material.
Microscopic silica spherules disperse
light via a process called the Tyn-
dall eff ect, known to many as what
makes the sky look blue. The inten-
sity of the blue is determined by the
nature of the light entering the stone
and the distribution of the spherules.
Sunlight, fl uorescent, incandescent,
and LED light all impart diff erent
blue hues.
Variation in skin color also
imparts diff erent hues to a stone.
Ellensburg agate has a secondary
pinkish purple color that can be
neutralized by skin tones that are
pinkish or reddish. The translucency
of the stones is thus color sensi-
tive as well as light sensitive. When
selecting a stone that best matches
the skin tone of a customer, Carl
(3d) places individual stones on
the backs of their fi ngers until they
fi nd one that delivers the best color,
which works best when there is a
large inventory to choose from.
The Carlson family controls every
step in the exacting jewelry produc-
tion process. They mine the agate,
process it into fi nished cabochons,
and design and fabricate each
unique piece of jewelry. Each cabo-chon is set in gold because, as
Carl says, “yellow complements
blue.”
Ellensburg blue agate is argu-
ably one of the very best blue
chalcedonies around. It com-
mands high prices that refl ect its
appealing color, subtle response
to light, and rarity.JIM LANDON is a long-time high school
science teacher, rockhound, and jewelry
artist who lives in the foothills of the Cascade
Mountains in Washington State.More Blue!
GO FLY A KITE
PAGE 42RADIANT ENAMEL SILVER
PAGE 50DELICATE THRILL
PAGE 54Find Them
CARLSON
BROTHERS JEWELRY
WWW.CARLSON-
JEWELRY.COMC 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 first
big float piece of Ellensburg agate in
1964, followed by a second piece that fit
into the first one in 1968.Third generation Carl Carlson is a goldmine
of information about anything that has to do
with Ellensburg blue agate.
PHOTO: JIM LANDONMAY/JUNE 2020 41
38 Landon_EllensburgBlueAgate_mayjune20.indd 41 3/16/20 3:43 PM