One of the hazards of the prehistoric earth, tar pits formed when oil seeps up from underneath the earth; as the petroleum evaporates, the material forms a natural asphalt or bitumen. Some deposits have been large enough to trap creatures, who wander in unwittingly when the tar becomes covered with natural debris like grass or leaves. In some cases, predators went in to eat the trapped creatures, only to find themselves stuck as well. The bones of the creatures sank into the tar and were preserved over millennia inside the tar pits.
The stone stand-in for the tar pit is rolling hills dolomite, with the layers of browns and tans mimicking the bubbling, roiling tar puddles. The stone is surrounded by animal tracks and fused silver 'dirt'. The backside has also been textured with fused silver dirt, with a cut out to reveal the stone. The pendant measures approximately 1" tall and 0.8" wide at the widest point. The raised points have been polished to shine, while the low points retain the oxidized color to show off the depth and details. All metal used in this piece is sterling silver.
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This item is already made, and will be shipped 3-5 business days after the payment is processed. Shipping options will be available to choose upon check-out.
A few notes on caring for oxidized sterling silver: oxidized patina on sterling silver isn't particularly durable to long-term exposure to water (like bathing or swimming) or a lot of scrubbing, as friction is the way to polish silver to shine. Constant exposure to tasks such as hand washing, bathing, swimming, washing dishes, etc., will slowly wear away the oxidized patina leaving a shiny silver finish.
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