Faded Denim Leland Blue Pendant 086

Like you favorite pair of faded blue jeans, you will want to wear this every day. Comfortable, stylish, and the perfect fit for any occasion. This Leland Blue stone is bezel set on a hand textured sterling silver back piece, even the bale holding the chain is textured. There are additional sterling pieces fused on to the silver that match the texture of the stone.

The teardrop shaped stone is a wonderful smooth soft blue with dots and specks that are one of the signatures of Leland Blue.

Leland slag is not really a true gem, nor is it sea glass. It is in a category all its own. Leland Slag is byproduct of smelting iron-ore, which is no longer done. It is waste, tossed aside into Lake Michigan never to be seen again until now... 145 years later. It is a beautiful stone that has earned a spot in my lineup. Read the nerdy, yet necessary, natural history below.

LELAND BLUE (ANTIQUE FOUNDRY GLASS) c. 1875-1900
This unique “gem” is a byproduct of the short-lived days of smelting iron ore in Northwest Lower Michigan. The ore from the Upper Peninsula’s Mesabi iron range arrived in Leelanau County by schooner. A charcoal made from beech and maple hardwoods plus a local limestone flux were used to refine the ore. The slag byproduct was considered waste and dumped into Lake Michigan.

This material ranges in color from black to green, to blue and purple, with the various shades of water-like blues being the most prized and rare. Under 2% of the slag created was blue, depending on environmental factors. The lucky and determined beachcomber may still find pebbles along the shore.