While we're under construction... If you're interested in this category please contact Dan at danyoder99@gmail.com
Million Souls Mine
The Million Souls Mine is a quarry in Pasco County, Florida, where we find the prettiest gem grade agatized coral you will ever see.
The mine itself is both an archaeological site and a geological wonder. Here, the coral was preserved when it was replaced with silica from the deteriorating limestone. Over time the silica filled in the voids in the coral skeleton to create the massive, beautifully preserved agatized coral heads that set this site apart from the other agatized coral of all the world.
Starting around 8,000 years ago, native Americans began practicing the art of heat treating rock to make it more malleable for flint knapping. At that time, the pre-historic Floridians started quarrying the coral from this site. The color you see in the rock we are processing was originally discovered by the Native Americans in that heat treating activity. We've found hammerstones, quarry blanks and more evidence of ancient people getting their tool and weapon material right here at the Million Souls Mine!
The Million Souls Mine sits on an 11 acre property in Pasco County, Florida. Dan found the mine while searching the state for an archaeologically rich site. Seeing possibilities here, he purchased the place and began stockpiling. Sadly, Sally didn't see the beauty in the rather nondescript rocks until an invitation to the King's Point Lapidary Club. Polishing her first cabochon from her own slabbed coral was wildly exciting, and continues to prove our coral is not only gem quality, it has a seemingly endless array of colors and polyp variations. Each new slab Dan cuts has us giggling like kids at Christmas!
From finding, washing, cutting, designing, grinding, shaping and polishing and even wire wrapping, every single step happens right here. At the Million Souls Mine, we are doing real things in real time with a very unique gemstone.