Known as Pyrite Dollars, Sun Dollars, or Miners Dollars, these suns formed 350 million years ago!
The crystal-fanned structure is due to compressed growth between sheets of shale. At one time these were thought to be fossilized sand dollars or lily pads. With restrictions in coal mining, and the depth of these suns being so deep (300'), new ones are rarely mined anymore.
Finding one in my favorite raw gem store in Dahlonega, GA was a nice surprise today, I must say! I got a pretty good deal on this - it set me back all of $10.
This stone has a great energy. I like the strong properties of pyrite (protection, confidence, strength to "conquer it all"), with the balancing and grounding energies of the shale.
It's a beautiful stone - I'm glad we found each other!
