Under the Sea
- GEMSTONE: Oregon Sunstone, 43.81 Carat Award Winning Carving
- ARTIST: Darryl Alexander, Arizona
- MINE: Sunstone Butte Mine, Oregon
- MUSEUM: Smithsonian, Washington DC
There are few times when we are lucky enough to see a dream become reality.
Dave Wheatley spent many grueling days searching for a location to start an Oregon Sunstone mine. With determination Dave finally found a promising location on a small volcanic intrusion known as Little Eagle Butte. He and his partner, Tammy Moreau, set up camp and went to work digging test pits, at first without much success. After some time they moved to a new location on the other side of the butte. We helped dig at this new location for a week and found only a few scattered gems. Upon leaving the mine we wondered if Dave and Tammy would ever meet with success. After some weeks Dave called to say the thought they were into something good. When we got back to the mine in late September it was raining off and on and their equipment was having problems, but they persisted. Through some muck and occasional times of sunshine the light finally showed on a good number of beautiful Oregon Sunstones. Sunstone Butte Mine ultimately became a reality. Known for producing large, colorful gems with good clarity, Sunstone Butte Mine has become one of the most significant finds and producers of Oregon Sunstone.
On the last day during one of the early mining seasons at Sunstone Butte we found and arranged to acquire a remarkable piece of gem rough. Darryl Alexander cut that gemstone into the national award winner, Under the Sea. This and other gemstones from Sunstone Butte Mine were donate to the Smithsonian. It was this donation that served as a catalyst to launch American Gemstones, but that is only part of the amazing story of Sunstone Butte Mine.
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