Pipestone (Red)
SKU:
GEMPIP08
High quality red Pipestone from Minnesota
Small pipestone pieces range from 4"x3.5"x1.5" (10x9.8x3.8cm) to 5"x4"x1.75" (12.7x10x4.5cm), and weigh between 2.4 lbs (1.1 kgs) and 3.5 lbs (1.6 kgs)
Large pipestone pieces range from 6.5"x3.75"x2"(16.5x9.5x5cm) to 7.2"x4.5"x2.5" (18.3x11.4x6.4cm), and weigh between 4.4 lbs (2 kgs) and 7.3 lbs (3.3 kgs)
Catlinite, also called Pipestone, is a type of argillite (metamorphosed mudstone), usually brownish-red in color, which occurs in a matrix of Sioux Quartzite. Catlinite is fine-grained and easily worked, and is prized by Indigenous People for use in making sacred Pipes (Calumets, Chanunpas)
Here is a great article from the U.S. National Park Service about Pipestone and its history: