Description
Enjoy this beautiful marble bear sculpture with jade fish, made with locally-sourced marble from Prince of Whale Island, a delight and pleasant reminder of your Alaskan vacation. The small bear measures approximately 1" and the large bear measures approximately 2.5". Marble from Prince of Whales Island in Southeast Alaska It is true that you can mine fine marble in Alaska! The principal marble quarry in Southeastern Alaska is located at Calder Bay, on the north end of Prince of Wales Island and is the property of Alaska Marble Company. Alaska marble was first used, long before the coming of the white man, by natives, who carved utensils and ornaments from some of the more highly colored varieties. The Russian occupants of Alaska gave no heed to the marble, though they may have utilized a few slabs for tombstones. The marbles of southeastern Alaska were among the first of the mineral deposits of the Territory to be mentioned in the official reports of the United States Government. For many years these marbles excited no interest, for in spite of their favorable location on tidewater there was no market for them and accordingly they had no value. Probably some time in the early nineties a little marble was quarried on Ham Island, in the Wrangell district, and worked up into tombstones, which were sold at localities nearby. These tombstones were in considerable demand among the natives, who learned their use from the white man and substituted them for the crudely carved wooden totems. It was about 1896 that the first thought was given to opening the Alaska marble deposits on a commercial scale, for by this time the rapid growth of the cities of the west coast had made a demand for ornamental and building stone. After some years of prospecting on the deposits on the northwest side of Prince of Wales Island, a quarry was opened near Calder, and shipments were begun in 1902. Since 1904 there has been a steady increase in the marble output of Alaska, which, however, has practically all come from a few quarries in the Shakan-Calder region of the Ketchikan district. Alaskan jade Jade is Alaska's most important gem. It has been the state's official gemstone since 1968. If you are hunting for jade, then all you need to do is visit Jade Mountain, Jade Creek or the Kobuk River basin in northwestern Alaska. These are all areas where nice jade specimens have been found. Jade gemstones are known for manifesting good luck and prosperity. Rooted in Asian cultures, jade is considered a powerful lucky charm that brings harmony to one's life and home.
