Custom Wire Wrapped Variscite Snowville, NV Necklace/Pendant Sterling Silver .935
This is a free from cabochon custom cut and polished and collected from our friend Jim Campbell. Message from Jim Campbell I left a little of the brown colored host rock in the finished piece because it easily identifies that it came from the Snowville mine. There is very little of this material available to cut, so it’s super rare.
Overall size: 1 7/8 x 3/4 Inch or 48mm x 19mm
What is Variscite:
Snowville Variscite – Utah’s Hidden Gem with a Rich History Nestled in the remote hills of northwestern Utah near the small town of Snowville, this unique variscite deposit was first discovered in the mid-20th century. Since then, it has grown in reputation and is now considered by many collectors and lapidary artists to be one of the finest sources of variscite in the state—and even the entire American Southwest. Variscite from Snowville is often mistaken for green turquoise due to its vivid coloration. It's also been referred to as "variquoise"—a term that blends "variscite" and "turquoise" but is not recognized scientifically. While "variquoise" is more of a marketing term than a mineral name, it speaks to the material’s unique crossover appeal in both gem and mineral circles. Mining activity in the Snowville area has been relatively limited and small-scale, with most material coming from surface or shallow workings. This limited production, combined with the high quality of the material, has made genuine Snowville variscite increasingly rare and sought after. Provenance is key when dealing with Snowville material. Over the years, variscite and variscite-like material from Nevada—particularly from the Candelaria areas—has sometimes been misidentified or even misrepresented as Snowville material. While similar in color, these other sources often differ in matrix patterns, hardness, and overall stability. For collectors and jewelers alike, knowing the true origin of a specimen adds not only to its value but also to its historical and geological significance. With its vivid green tones, natural stability, and increasing rarity, authentic Snowville variscite remains a prized material—a true hidden gem in Utah’s mineral heritage.