What is Ethical Hand Mining of Crystals All About?

What is Ethical Hand Mining?

I recently spoke with Stephen Wells, the owner of Kacha Stones about the importance of ethical hand mining.

In terms of crystal mining, ethical means dealing with smaller scale miners that aren’t causing wholesale destruction. An example of this kind of destruction would be dynamiting methods used in Brazil for example, where a hillside is destroyed and the rubble sorted and sold for everything from jewellery to road fill.

I mine myself here in Wales and travel to India twice a year to collect my Himalayan and Tibetan quartz from people I have known for nearly twenty years. My other main item is Brandberg quartz where I deal directly with individual miners through another long term contact.  What these four locations have in common, is that the mining is done by hand and holes refilled. The only way you can have any control over this trade is by buying directly from the people digging, which is what I do wherever possible.

As these people work for themselves, the chances are they aren’t treating themselves unethically so other exploitation of labour issues – almost exclusively related to the mining of precious stones – don’t really come into play.

If you want to read more about Stephen's journey check out this delightful interview I did with him a few years back.

Stephen of Kacha Stones - hand mining

Stephen of Kacha Stones - hand mining

Stephen of Kacha Stones Mining

Stephen of Kacha Stones Mining

Omapeleki Brandberg Quartz ~ NEW ARRIVALS!

 "If you haven’t got a negative, the Omapelekis are literally unbelievable, you could pick one online here, I recently bought this years find. It was like Christmas ... but better." ~ Stephen Wells

Here's another beautiful Omapeleki. This picture (below) shows the refined internal layers of a skeletal face. Bottom right of the shaft contains a negative manifestation enhydro ~ a perfect DT crystal water pocket. This "inside-out" nature of the formation is why the photographic term "negative" was used.

Omapeleki healing crystal from Kacha Stones

Omapeleki healing crystal from Kacha Stones

Water Crystals Another interesting feature of the Negative Manifestation formation is that the internal "crystals" (crystal shaped hollows full of water) always have angles parallel to the parent crystal, indicating their resonance with the whole. The water they contain is easily programmed, acting like a re-writable liquid hard disc. More Negative Manifestation Enhydros can be seen on this page.

Negative Manifestation Crystals ~ Omapeleki Brandbergs by Kacha Stones

Negative Manifestation Crystals ~ Omapeleki Brandbergs by Kacha Stones

Negative Manifestation Enhydros Photo from Kacha Stones

Negative Manifestation Enhydros Photo from Kacha Stones

Good for Scrying ~ Enhydro Quartz Smoky Flame Brandberg Crystal We have seen a lot of the rare negative manifestation enhydros, but in the vast majority of cases, the water pockets are irregular and curved like in the picture (see below). The thinness of this hollow causes the bubble to sit at the bottom. One of the reasons crystals are used for scrying is that quartz naturally lends itself as a blackboard for our subconscious to scribble on. This smoky flame Brandberg is a good example.

Brandberg Amethyst from Kacha Stones

Brandberg Amethyst from Kacha Stones

Stonehenge Inner Circle ~ Preseli BluestonePreseli Bluestone is famous for its use in the original inner rings of Stonehenge. Approximately 80 of these bluestone columns, each one harder than granite and weighing about four tons, were transported over 240 miles (385 km) to Salisbury Plain. They originated, as do these, in the Preseli Hills of West Wales. Kacha Stones is within view of these ancient hills, giving us a special connection with this magical stone.

Bluestone was taken over 240 miles for a reason. There is archaeological evidence that small pieces were given to pilgrims visiting Stonehenge over 4000 years ago by the priests. Ancient Welsh folklore also attributes magical and healing powers to this unique stone.

Geoffrey of Monmouth, The History of the Kings of Britain, 12th centuryIn Monmouth's story, when planning Stonehenge Merlin suggests to Aurelius that he ought to send an expedition to the far West of Britain to fetch the stones. The King begins to laugh and asks: "How can such large stones be moved from so far-distant a country?" he asked. "It is hardly as if Britain itself is lacking in stones big enough for the job!" "Try not to laugh in a foolish way, your Majesty," answered Merlin. "What I am suggesting has nothing ludicrous about it. These stones are connected with certain secret religious rites and they have various properties which are medicinally important. Their [giants] plan was that, whenever they felt ill, baths should be prepared at the foot of the stones; for they used to pour water over them and to run this water into baths in which their sick were cured. What is more, they mixed the water with herbal concoctions and so healed their wounds. There is not a single stone among them which hasn't some medicinal value."

preseli bluestone-a Pendant from Kacha Stones

preseli bluestone-a Pendant from Kacha Stones

Kacha Stones*

Glasfryn Newcastle Emlyn, Carmarthenshire SA38 9LT

+44 1559 371503

Ethically mined healing crystals and jewellery. We specialize in rare crystals including Brandbergs, Himalayan and Tibetan. Online for over 15 years. Worldwide Shipping.

kacha-stones.com

*Use KATHY as the discount code at checkout to receive a 10% discount!

Kathy Crabbe Bio Pic

Kathy Crabbe Bio Pic

About Kathy

Kathy Crabbe has been an artist forever and a soul reader since awakening her intuitive gifts at age forty after five years painting with her non-dominant left hand. This awoke her intuition in a big way. In 2008 she created a Lefty Oracle deck and started giving intuitive soul readings that have touched many lives in profound and playful ways. Kathy lives in sunny Southern California with her pet muses and architect husband in an adobe home they built themselves.

 

Valentine's Cats & Dogs

I'm having a big sale in my Etsy Shop for Valentine's Day - there is now FREE SHIPPING until Feb. 14 for all cards/prints/originals. Just enter the coupon code: FREELUV when checking out! All the paintings below were created on silk using silk dyes and gutta resist. They were inspired by 8 years of living in lovely Laguna Beach, California where I spent time frolicking with my 4 legged friends and the occasional mermaid.

"Amazingggg. Kathy is such a dear sweet person. I will definitely buy again from her!! The artwork was sooo beautiful and beyond my expectations. I am so happy I bought this for my friend. Even the envelope had art on it. Very happyyyyy!! :)" ~ Etsy Review

"Juicy Alive! Your cards make me feel like I'm not alone. They restore something in me and make me feel sane again." ~ Tangerine Bolen, 2013

"Just wonderful...looks better than the website image...has already received a number of positive comments when I displayed it in my office." ~ Etsy Review

Vera by Kathy Crabbe
Vera by Kathy Crabbe
Valentine Cats by Kathy Crabbe
Valentine Cats by Kathy Crabbe
Sunset for 2 by Kathy Crabbe
Sunset for 2 by Kathy Crabbe
Tried & True by Kathy Crabbe
Tried & True by Kathy Crabbe
cat heart by Kathy Crabbe
cat heart by Kathy Crabbe
Cafe Cats by Kathy Crabbe
Cafe Cats by Kathy Crabbe
Cool Cats by Kathy Crabbe
Cool Cats by Kathy Crabbe
Lovey by Kathy Crabbe
Lovey by Kathy Crabbe
Cafe Dogs by Kathy Crabbe
Cafe Dogs by Kathy Crabbe
Kathy Crabbe, Astrologer, Temecula Wine Country, California
Kathy Crabbe Creative Soul Guide in Temecula Wine Country, California

About Kathy

Kathy Crabbe inspires soul-seekers to discover their innate gifts and talents through intuitive, creative expression in safe, relaxed and playful environments. She has been an artist forever and a Creative Soul Guide since awakening her own intuitive gifts at age forty.

Kathy lives in sunny SoCal with her architect husband and pet muses, Abby the shaggy black dog and Djinn Djinn, the small scruffy one in an adobe home they built themselves. Kathy is posting one new piece of art a day for 365 days on Instagram at http://instagram.com/kathycrabbeart

To order a Creative Soul Reading please click here.

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