WHERE ON EARTH?
Weird and Dead Stuff

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WHERE ON EARTH?
Weird and Dead Stuff

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WHERE ON EARTH?
Weird and Dead Stuff
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You are on Fairy Stone Crosses  Page 1

Contents:  Fairy stone cross pendants, necklaces, bookmarks, plain crosses & matrix; Andalusite Chiastolite stone crosses; Legend of fairy stones

FAIRY STONE CROSSES

from the Area outside Fairy Stone Park, Virginia.

Natural staurolite crystals that normally form just a bar shaped crystal, sometimes two fuse together into crosses, as you see in the natural "bloom rock" matrix below:

Fairy stone matrix.jpg (38694 bytes) 

The crosses formed are these three styles:

3_fairystone_crosses.jpg (39679 bytes)

Here is a sampling in our own collection, we have 2200 available at any given time for sale, all sizes:

fairycollection.jpg (37740 bytes)

Fairy stones are brown staurolite, a combination of SILICA, IRON and ALUMINUM (and dots of real garnet). Together, these minerals crystallize in twin form, accounting for the cross-like structure.

Found only in rocks that have been subjected to great heat and pressure, the stones are most commonly shaped like the St. Andrew's and Roman crosses, though others are in the shape of the Maltese cross.

The rare staurolite stones are found elsewhere (such as in Russia or France), but not in such abundance and not shaped so nearly like crosses as those in the vicinity of Fairy Stone State Park.

These are legally dug by hand and shovel near Fairy Stone State Park in Stuart, near the top of Bull Mountain which covers about 50 acres in Patrick County, Virginia by permit only, then the softer matrix stone is carefully filed away until just the cross remains.  

Regardless of the color that you may see on your monitor, fairy stones are a natural tan/reddish brown color, with little dots of real garnet.  The fairy stones will turn darker and smoother as they are worn or held, as they will absorb body oils.

See "the Legend of the Fairy stone" below.

Individually photographed below, you get exactly what you see in each photo.

 

LEGEND OF THE FAIRY STONE

Found in the area of Fairy Stone State Park, Stuart, Virginia.

Many hundreds of years before Chief Powhatan's reign, fairies were dancing around a spring of water, playing with naiads and wood nymphs, when an elfin messenger arrived from a city far away.  He brought news of the death of Christ.  When these creatures of the forest heard the story of the crucifixion, they wept.

As their tears fell upon the earth, they crystallized to form beautiful crosses.  When the fairies disappeared from the enchanted place, ground about the spring and the adjacent valley was strewn with these mementos of the event.

For many years people held these little crosses in superstitious awe, firm in the belief that they protected the wearer against witchcraft, sickness, accidents and disaster.

A CHEROKEE INDIAN LEGEND

A Cherokee Indian legend of the staurolite is an ancient story, and has been passed down through many generations.  It was told to us by an old man of Cherokee descent, who said that he believed the crosses are better than gold.

The legend speaks of a ceremony that would be held once a year, at the time of the Spring Equinox.  The festival, centered on the staurolite "cross" brought many different Indigenous tribes together for food and trade during the special event.  People brought their personal "crosses" to the ceremony; and special "crosses" that were kept in a vault made of soap rock would be unearthed.  All were put into a fire that was built at sunset.  There the "crosses" would be heated until glowing hot, and they would be carried with green sticks to a special mound or rock.  The staurolite would glow for hours; and would be kept continuously hot by reheating until the rising of the sun.  This legendary ceremony was to assure the people safe passage, rain during the growing season and an abundance of food in the fall.  Thus, the staurolite has been a symbol of good luck and faith for centuries with many Cherokee people.

 

PENDANTS

Drilled through from top to bottom with a pin insertion, made into loop at the top

 

MEDIUM SIZE FAIRY STONE CROSS PENDANTS

(average 3/4")

Individually photographed below, you get exactly what you see in each photo.

GOLD WIRED


#CR502-3  $20


#CR502-4  $20


#CR502-6  $20


#CR502-9  $20


#CR502-14  $20


#CR502-16  $20


#CR502-20  $20


#CR502-23  $20


#CR502-28  $20


#CR502-32  $20


#CR502-34  $20


#CR502-37  $20


#CR502-42  $20


#CR502-46  $20


#CR502-48  $20


#CR502-49  $20


#CR502-51  $20


#CR502-52  $20


#CR502-62  $20


#CR502-65  $20


#CR502-66  $20


#CR502-86  $20


#CR502-118  $20
SILVER  WIRED


#CR503-2  $20


#CR503-4  $20


#CR503-7  $20


#CR503-8  $20


#CR503-26  $20


#CR503-41  $20


#CR503-47  $20


#CR503-48  $20


#CR503-49  $20


#CR503-55  $20


#CR503-56  $20


#CR503-57  $20


#CR503-59  $20


#CR503-65  $20


#CR503-66  $20


#CR503-67  $20


#CR503-70  $20


#CR503-73  $20


#CR503-77  $20


#CR503-111  $20


#CR503-126  $20

 

SMALL FAIRY STONE CROSS PENDANTS  

(average 5/8")

Individually photographed below, you get exactly what you see in each photo.

GOLD WIRED


#CR504-12  $18


#CR504-17  $18


#CR504-18  $18


#CR504-19  $18


#CR504-20  $18


#CR504-25  $18


#CR504-41  $18


#CR504-42  $18


#CR504-47  $18


#CR504-48  $18


#CR504-53  $18


#CR504-57  $18


#CR504-62  $18


#CR504-77  $18


#CR504-104  $18


#CR504-105  $18


#CR504-106  $18


#CR504-108  $18


#CR504-109  $18


#CR504-110  $18


#CR504-112  $18


#CR504-114  $18


#CR504-116  $18


#CR504-117  $18


#CR504-120  $18


#CR504-121  $18


#CR504-123  $18


#CR504-129  $18
SILVER WIRED


#CR505-33  $18


#CR505-43  $18


#CR505-58  $18


#CR505-62  $18


#CR505-63  $18


#CR505-65  $18


#CR505-69  $18


#CR505-73  $18


#CR505-75  $18


#CR505-76  $18


#CR505-79  $18


#CR505-81  $18


#CR505-84  $18


#CR505-85  $18


#CR505-86  $18


#CR505-87  $18


#CR505-88  $18


#CR505-89  $18


#CR505-90  $18


#CR505-91  $18


#CR505-92  $18


#CR505-93  $18


#CR505-94  $18


#CR505-96  $18


#CR505-98  $18


#CR505-106  $18

 

FAIRY STONE CROSS NECKLACES





#CR510-1

SPECTACULAR.  Eleven fairy crosses (all 3/4”)

29” long necklace with 13x6 Mookaite beads flat oval beads; round 8 mm Mookaite beads;
4 mm gold brass textured accent beads; gold safety clasp closure


$180  SOLD





#CR510-2

Five fairy stones (all 3/4")

28” long necklace with 9X5 mm flat rectangular with rounded edges Mookaite beads;
8 mm round Mookaite beads; 4 mm textured gold brass accent beads; gold safety clasp closure

$125 
SOLD





#CR510-3

Three fairy crosses (all 7/8" long)

On 28-1/2” necklace with 12x8 mm and 9x8 mm rounded edge barrel shaped Goldstone beads; 8x5 flat donut goldstone beads;  4 mm round goldstone beads and 3 mm round textured brass accent beads near clasp; gold safety clasp closure

$105





#CR510-4

Five fairy stones (all 3/4”)

28” long necklace with 8mm picture jasper softly  faceted round beads; 3 mm gold textured brass round accent beads

Gold alloy safety clasp closure


$115  SOLD





#CR510-6

Five fairy stone (all 3/4”)

28” long necklace with 6 mm softly faceted Mookaite jasper beads with 3 mm gold textured brass round accent beads

Gold alloy safety closure

$115





#CR510-7

Three 3/4" fairy stone crosses
6 & 8 mm round African green turquoise beads; 3 mm gold brass textured accent beads; gold brass barrel twist closure

$95
  SOLD





#CR510-8

Five fairy stones (all 3/4”)

28” long necklace Carnelian round beads 6 mm, long four-sided beads 14x20 mm (tapered ovals), 3mm textured gold brass spacer beads.

Gold alloy safety clasp closure

$110



     

#CR510-9

Five fairy crosses (four are 5/8”, bottom is 3/4”)

30” long necklace with slim cylinder golden tigereye beads 15x6mm and 6mm round tigereye accent beads

Gold alloy safety clasp closure

$115 
  SOLD





#CR510-10

Five fairy stones (all 3/4”)

28” long necklace with rice shaped 6x9 mother of pearl beads and 6 mm round faceted mother of pearl beads; 3 mm round textured brass accent beads

Gold safety clasp closure

$110
 




#CR510-11

Five fairy crosses (Four are 3/4", bottom cross is 1")
on red tigereye bead necklace 12x8mm, with 6mm faceted red tigereye accent beads; ; gold alloy safety closure, 30” long

$115





#CR510-12

Three 3/4" fairy stone crosses
8x12 mm oval enhanced green Chinese turquoise bead; 5x8 textured rice shaped silver plated beads, and 4 mm textured round accent beads; silver alloy barrel twist closure

$118





#CR510-13

Five fairy stones (all 3/4”)

34” long necklace with 14x6 mm slim tube Golden Tigereye beads;
4 mm gold brass textured accent beads; gold safety clasp closure

$125 
  SOLD





#CR510-14

Five fairy crosses (all 3/4”)

28” long necklace with rice shaped 8x15 mother of pearl beads and 8x6 flat round mother of pearl beads; 3 mm gold round brass textured accent beads

Gold safety clasp closure

$120
  SOLD





#CR510-15

38” long necklace

Fairy crosses: bottom is 3/4” long and wide; four 7/8”

Beads: Mother of Pearl 6x9 mm oval, 5 mm round faceted; 3 mm textured gold brass accent beads

Gold safety clasp closure

$130





#CR510-16

26" long necklace
Five 3/4" fairy stone crosses
8x10 mm oval Chinese turquoise
Gold brass 3 mm textured accent beads
Gold brass barrel twist closure

$110





#CR510-17

24" long necklace
One large 15/16" fairy cross, silver wired; 4 mm black onyx beads above & below
10 mm round blue sodalite beads, 8 mm round smooth black onyx beads; silver alloy barrel twist closure

$78

FAIRY CROSS BOOK MARKERS



#CR515-1

Brass feather bookmark is 4-1/2" long to the bend; 3" of gemstone mixed beads including Mookaite and serpentine and picture jasper, ending in a sweet little 3/4" fairy cross drilled through and attached.

$30

JUST THE CROSSES, NOT MADE INTO JEWELRY

FAIRY STONE CROSSES

(SMALL, 5/8")

Individually photographed below, you get exactly what you see in each photo.



#CR593-3  $12


#CR593-4  $12


#CR593-5  $12


#CR593-19  $12


#CR593-21  $12


#CR593-23  $12


#CR593-25  $12


#CR-593-29  $12


#CR593-58  $12


#CR593-59  $12

 

FAIRY STONE CROSSES

(MEDIUM, 3/4")

Individually photographed below, you get exactly what you see in each photo.



#CR594-2  $14


#CR594-25  $14


#CR594-28  $14


#CR594-32  $14


#CR594-38  $14


#CR594-39  $14


#CR594-41  $14


#CR-594-58  $14


#CR-594-107  $14


#CR-594-132  $14


#CR-594-142  $14

 

 

CHIASTOLITE ANDALUSITE CROSS IN STONE

Chiastolite is a brown variety of andalusite which contains a black cross. The name chiastolite derives from the Greek chiastos meaning "cross marked". It is named for Andalusia, Spain where it was once found. The mineral chiastolite is a variety of andalusite with the chemical composition Al2SiO5. It is noted for distinctive cross-shaped black inclusions of graphite. In areas around Georgetown, California, metamorphosed sediments contained andalusite and chiastolite in a graphite rich metasediment. Andalusite is called Lapis Crucifer in ancient texts.

Individually photographed below, you get exactly what you see in each photo.

j599-12.jpg (150657 bytes)

#AND-599-12  $14
j599-31.jpg (148705 bytes)

#AND-599-31  $14
j599-34.jpg (145587 bytes)

#AND-599-34  $14
j599-43.jpg (152557 bytes)

#AND-599-43  $14

ANDALUSITE CROSS IN STONE PENDANT

Cross made into pendant (loop glued on back)

Individually photographed below, you get exactly what you see in each photo.

SILVER PENDANT



#AND-P-599-50  $16
SOLD

 

VIRTUAL TOUR TO FAIRY STONE STATE PARK AREA to find FAIRY STONE CROSSES

We met with our good friends Dale & Renee (left-hand photo), who introduced us to the Fairy Stone Man's family:

fairydalereneeoscar.jpg (56379 bytes) fairyfam.jpg (37400 bytes)

Pete, the Fairy Stone Man:

fairystoneman.jpg (75181 bytes)

Glenn, Heidi, and Dale with Pete:

fairyglenndaleman.jpg (96624 bytes) fairyglennheidiman.jpg (105248 bytes) fairymananddale.jpg (40297 bytes)

Searching for our own fairy stone crosses, only Pete has a permit to dig:

fairysign1.jpg (84227 bytes) fairysign2.jpg (53868 bytes) fairytrip1.jpg (167301 bytes) fairytrip2.jpg (180732 bytes) fairytrip3.jpg (156251 bytes) fairysearch1.jpg (38432 bytes) fairysearch2.jpg (87825 bytes) fairysearch3.jpg (38457 bytes) fairysearch4.jpg (38652 bytes) fairysearch5.jpg (38453 bytes) fairysearch6.jpg (38403 bytes) fairysearch7.jpg (38739 bytes) fairysearch8.jpg (40487 bytes) fairysearch9.jpg (38537 bytes) fairysearch10.jpg (40679 bytes)

The day's finds were not too bad!

 fairyfinds.jpg (39272 bytes)

Here's Pete going to the shed where he files the crosses:

fairyshed.jpg (40450 bytes) fairyshed2.jpg (40088 bytes) fairyshed3.jpg (39605 bytes) fairyshed4.jpg (37561 bytes) fairyshed5.jpg (36751 bytes) fairyshed6.jpg (37195 bytes) fairyshed7.jpg (37251 bytes)

  Here you see the finished cross, he has filed away the softer stone to leave only the hard cross crystal itself: 

fairyshed8.jpg (37667 bytes)

Some are just too hard to file, they end up outside:

fairyshed10.jpg (37069 bytes) fairyshed11.jpg (40572 bytes)

 

"The Hand of God" cloud formation, I'm sure you'll enjoy.  This phenomenal natural photo was taken by Sue Beatrice in southern New Jersey:

Hand_of_God.jpg (13211 bytes)

She contacted me with more information from her online gallery on how it was taken, except for resizing and color correction, this is really what she saw & photographed:

Here's another image taken moments later as the cloud was dissolving:

pbase.com

Kudos, Sue, on a once-in-a-lifetime photo!

 

Here is the beauty wrought by our German customer Sabine with the fairy stone crosses into necklaces:

sabine1.jpg (52090 bytes) sabine2.jpg (50861 bytes) sabine3.jpg (55904 bytes)

 

Fairy stones in matrix, this great specimen from France is displayed at the Smithsonian Museum:

smith fairystones France.jpg (38257 bytes)

 

STONE CROSS MOUNTAIN MUSEUM

April 2007

We visited the museum in Martinsville, Virginia and had a personal tour of the museum by Don Hopkins himself.  The museum represents a lifetime labor of love for him, and it made our tour that much more interesting and educational.  Here is Don at the museum:

museum23.jpg (138559 bytes)

An impressive array of fairy stones in all sizes and thicknesses that he found in Virginia:

museum1.jpg (148937 bytes) museum3.jpg (135910 bytes) museum16.jpg (132690 bytes) museum20.jpg (144543 bytes)

Here are many stone crosses

museum4.jpg (161150 bytes) museum13.jpg (154838 bytes) museum14.jpg (150249 bytes) museum22.jpg (138170 bytes)

Several hundred fairy stone crosses in matrix in this showcase, wow!

museum21.jpg (142880 bytes)

STONE CROSSES FROM OTHER STATES & COUNTRIES
From Georgia & North Carolina:

museum18.jpg (142864 bytes)

Minnesota, Australia, Madagascar, and New Mexico:

 museum19.jpg (132843 bytes)

From Minnesota:

museum6.jpg (142581 bytes)

From Maine:

museum7.jpg (143110 bytes)

From Madagascar:

museum8.jpg (141601 bytes)

From Russia:

museum10.jpg (132500 bytes)

museum17.jpg (137814 bytes)

From New Mexico:

museum11.jpg (147122 bytes)