Da Yooper's Rockhound and Lapidary Guide to

Kona Dolomite

Named after the Kona Hills South of Marquette, Marquette County, Michigan,where it is found. It is quarried and used as gravel, rail road bed fill, riprap, decorative garden, yard and fireplace rock. The majority of the Kona is only good for what it is quarried for, however, there are occurances of some spectacular material suitable for Lapidary and collecting. As a carvings material it can not be excelled, and is rapidly becoming more widely used as more carvers become aquainted with it's properties. Some specimen are suitable for working into Cabs for Jewelry and it tumbles beautifly for decorative polished stones.


Polished Kona Cabachon

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Including:
Kona rough
Kona Slabs
Kona Cabs
Kona Carvings

Index

Kona Type Descriptions
With Images

Polishing Kona

Kona Display

Orange Eye Kona Egg

Da Yooper's Quiz

Stromatolite Formations occur in different forms. Can you name them?
Answer

Copper that has been torn from the vein or lode and moved by glaciers is known as what?
Answer

 

Kona Dolomite specimen come in many shades of red, orange, brown, yellow, pink, cream, and often has shades of turquoise, brown, cream, gray and black banding, lacing and mottling. Often they will have inclusions of a dark Red Crystal Dolomite (Mooseblood Dolomite) and this is the only place in the world where that particular color of Red is found.

Kona Dolomite is a very ancient rock in which Fossil Stromatolite Formations (Blue-Green Algae) from 2.1 to 2.2 Billion Years Old occur. The Fossil Stromatolite Formations were built by some of the first life on earth, and are thought to have changed the atmosphere to allow life as we know it today. Fossil Stromatolite Formations are found in the lower eras of the Middle Precambrian Period. Stromatolites are abundant and are found in many colors and shapes including Domes.

Kona Dolomite is not pure Dolomite as Silica is present which shades into Chert and Quartzite. The strata has been subjected to many forces of nature including intense folding, faulting, and shattering which often results in a breccia cemented with Quarts and Hemetite.

Kona, makes beautiful slabs for clocks & wind chimes. Fantastic Spheres, Eggs, and Bookends as well as Carvings, as it carves fairly easily. It will often cut some excellent larger Jewelry cabs for Bolos, Belt Buckles and Pendants and sometimes some smaller cabs for Rings, Earrings and other jewelry projects.

Although, not well known in the Lapidary world it is beginning to come into favor as more Lapidary Craftspeople become aquainted with it. Not many minerals offer the variety of colors, lacing, mottling and inclusions (Including the Dark Red Crystal inclusions shown in this background of Moose Blood Kona Dolomite that is found only at this location.) or are as easy to tumble, slab and lap. The Clocks, Carvings, Eggs, Spheres and Jewelry Cabs are absolutlely georgous. For examples, please check our Current Auctions.

Kona Type Descriptions
With Images