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What we refer to in the trade as "pig" stones-these Extra Large Collector Cabochons are huge! These collector cabochons are at least 60 mm or almost 2.5 inches long. They are perfect as just a collector item, as a display piece, or epoxy on a belt buckle or hoop finding for a one of a kind piece of jewelry. Great for the creative jeweler or wirewrapper who dreams big!

Please click on the Category of the particular material on the left for specific details about the gemstone material.

Please note-softer materials may not be suitable for everyday wear belt buckles!

This lovely cabochon material is known as Apache Gold. It is bright and shiny gold Chalcopyrite in a black Shist found in "The Big Hole" in Jerome, Arizona.

Located high on top of Cleopatra Hill (5,200 feet) between Prescott and Flagstaff is the once thriving mining town of Jerome, Arizona. The town was established in 1883. In 1918 fires spread out of control over 22 miles of underground mines, burning the inflammable massive pyrite. One of the mine fires continued to burn for twenty years. United Verde moved to open pit mining instead of underground. Blasting in the mines frequently shook the town, sometimes damaging or moving buildings; after one blast in the 1930s the city jail slid one block downhill intact.

By 1953, after belching copper for more than 70 years (and about 800 million dollars worth!) the mine was closed down. Now it is mostly a quaint little tourist town. Due to the 30-degree incline of the mountainside, gravity is pulling the entire town down the slope!

Metaphysical Properties: Chalcopyrite is said to assist one in finding lost objects!