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Zuni fetish carvers use a wide range of materials, a few of which are described in this list.
Alabaster is a soft gypsum that occurs in red, brown, gray and orange. It's softness makes for easier carving which makes it a popular stone among carvers.Angelite is calcium sulfate-anhydrate. It is referred to as angelite because of its angelic pale blue color. It is found primarily in Mexico, Peru, Germany and New Mexico.
Antler is the antler material that is shed by deer and elk. It's softness makes it a favorite for carvers who specialize in very detailed and miniature subjects. Occasionally, it is burned to adjust the colors.
Amazonite (potassium aluminum silicate) is a speckled stone that is deep bluish-green that is susceptible to carving and polishing. Much of the Amazonite found in Zuni fetish carvings is Russian in origin.
Amber is resin from ancient trees that has been fossilized by age. It comes primarily from the Baltics and often occasionally includes insects or bits of matter that have been trapped in the resin, which increases its value. It is light in weight and comes in variations of gold and brown.
Azurite (hydrated copper carbonate) has a deep blue "azure" coloration that gives it its name. Copper is an important element it the formation of its color. It is a close cousin of malachite, with which it often is found in situ.
Black marble is limestone that is found in Europe. It is solid black and often confused with jet. It' heavier weight, however, makes it easy to distinguish from jet.
Calsilica, also known as "rainbow calsilica" is made up of calcium and silica with wild variations in color, hence the rainbow adjective.
Charoite (hydrated sodium calcium barium strontium silicate hydroxide flouride) is a rare mineral currently found only in Russia. It is bright purple, lavende, lilac or violet, difficult to acquire and expensive. With the intensity of its purple marble look it almost appears artificial. But it is stunningly real.
Chrysocolla (hydrated copper silicate) is blue to green in color and in some varieties is used as a substitute for more expensive turquoise because of its opacity. It is often modified to provide a stone with good carving qualities, durability and the ability to be highly polished. It is found in copper mines and is a by-product of copper mining.
Coral is a form of living sea creature, which is very difficult to acquire in large pieces at reasonable prices because of the deterioration of the world's coral structures. It comes in vibrant red or pink. It is an important material for jewelry and fetish carving offerings.
Dolomite (calcium magnesium carbonate) usually presents itself in shades of red, yellow or pink, with a pearly luster. It is found in massive formations of ancient sedimentary rock well below the surface of the earth. It can be banded or striated in a variety of shades.
Fluorite is a transparent crystalline material. "Purple flourite" is the form most commonly used by Native American carvers.
Ivory (Fossilized) is usually derived from walrus tusks, which comes from Alaska. It is soft and susceptible to delicate carving of small detail. It resembles antler, with which it is often confused.
Jadeite (sodium aluminum silicate) is a variety of jade that is harder than the other form and, while usually green, it also comes in other colors - brown, orange, white, violet. yellow or pink. It is quite rare although it has an ancient tradition as a carving material in China and Central America, where it has been highly valued by artists.
Jasper is a semi-precious stone of many colors and variations. It comes in white, yellow, red and green, but is most commonly seen in brown. Sources are widely dispersed throughout the world with striped or speckled color schemes.The fossilized form is particularly intriquing with intricate matrix.
Jet is a type of lignite coal that resembles black marble but is much lighter in weight. It has been used as a carving and "gem" material since prehistoric times in the Southwest. It is somewhat unstable and fratures easily.
Labradorite (calcium sodium aluminum silicate) is basically gray but has flashes of red, blue or green, known as labradorescence. It appears between translucent and transparent. It is found primarily in Labrador and Scandinavia.
Lapis Lazuli is a brilliant blue with highlights of violet and green. It is lazurite with pyrite and calcite elements and a quantity of sulfur that intensifies the blue color. Lapis is used in jewelry frequently, since large pieces are difficult to acquire and expensive. A light blue shade of this stone is known as "denim lapis."
Malachite (copper carbonate hydroxide) is a semi-precious banded green gemstone. Its name is derived from the Greek "mallow," a green herb. The unique variations caused by the light and dark green color bands make it a very popular material for jewelry makers.
Obsidian is a form of volcanic lava. Its color is provided by iron and magnesium content. There is a variety known as "snowflake obsidian" because of what appear to be snowflakes embedded in the material. These are cristobalite crystals.
Onyx comes in two varieties: Mexican onyx is a form of calcite (calcium carbonate) that has bands of orange, yellow, red, tan and brown, with the appearance of marble. Calcite is one of the world's most common minerals. There is another form of onyx is related to quartz and, while rarer, has similar characteristics. It often shows black and white banding. Both forms polish to a bright shininess with quartz-like appearance.
Opal is a type of quartz made up of amorphous silica with a large percentage of water. It has an irridescent luster and displays variations in color, also known as "fire," when turned in the light. Opal comes in black, white and a milky variation with pronounced orange to red color.
Picasso marble is a multi-colored limestone from southwestern Utah. It appears in extraordinary patterns, some of which resemble natural colors of most animals. It is a common carving material.
Pipestone is also known as catlinite. It is a form of clay with a lot of iron content, which gives it its red appearance. Plains Indians consider it to be a "sacred" material since it often is used for ceremonial items such as pipes.
Pyrite (iron sulfide) is often mistaken for gold and therefore is known as "fool's gold". It is very common in the earth's crust, appearing in almost every type of mineral environment. It is hard and difficult to carve but polishes up to an attractive luster.
Selenite is a crystalline form of gypsum (hydrated calcium sulfate). Transparent to translucent and usually clear or smokey in color. Its name is derived from the Greek word for "moon", reflecting the moon-like glow of its pearly luster. It is related to alabaster.
Serpentine (magnesium iron silicate hydroxide) appears in many colors - grey, olive green, golden or yellow, brown, black and occasionally pink. It has been carved from ancient times and takes a good polish. In its finest specimens it can be mistaken for jade. Fish rock, frog rock and ricolite are forms of serpentine.
Shell comes in many varieties with the most popular for fetish carving an jewelry being mother-of-pearl, abalone, olive, green snail and spiny oyster.
Sugilite (potassium sodium lithium iron manganese aluminum silcate) is a semi-precious gem stone that is intensely purple. It is named for its discoverer, Ken-ichi Sugi, a Japanese geologist. It is rare, quite expensive and usually reserved for jewelry. Primary sources are Japan, Quebec and South Africa.
Tagua Nut is an organic material, often known as "vegetable ivory." It is grown in South America and usually restricts the carver to the general shape of the nut.
Turquoise is one of the most valuable opaque materials in jewelry making. The first evidence of turquoise mining goes back the ancient Egyptians. Turquoise comes in different shades of blue and green with light and heavy matrix, depending on the mine that sources it. Because of its value and popularity, turquoise frequently is stabilized or treated and passed off as natural.
Variscite (hydrated aluminum phosphate) is phosphate-based with variations of blue that are often mistaken for turquoise. It is relatively rare and found primarily in Utah, Germany, Brazil and Australia.
Verdite is a semi-precious material with variations of color ranging from green to brown. Its source is in southeren Africa, principally Zimbabwe, where richest deposits have been olcated. It resembles serpentine but it harder, requiring more of the carver's skill. Some estimates place its age at ore than 3 millions years.
Wild horse is also known as Indian Turquoise, although it has none of the color variations traditionally associated with turquoise. It is a combination of hematite and magnisite, and presents itself with a wild pattern of matrix.
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