| This mysterious black stone is actually a rare type of slate that can only be found in the Queen Charlotte islands of British Columbia. Argillite was seen as a sacred stone, often used in religious ceremonies of the Haida’s.
Because of subsistance laws, only the Haida Natives of Southeast Alaska and Southwest Canada can harvest this unique stone. The harvesters are not allowed to remove the material from the area on a wheeled vehicle. They must instead cut out the desired piece and backpack it out of the restricted area. The only way that argillite can legally be sold is if it is made into an art form by a Haida Native.
Argillite is exceptionally rare and each piece is distinctively unique. When worn against the skin, argillite takes on a luster, similar to pearls. |
