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==Further reading== |
==Further reading== |
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*Armstrong, Lisl "The Sea Glass of Puerto Rico: Puerto Rico's Legacy in Vitreous Form" http://seaglasspuertorico.googlepages.com/home |
*Armstrong, Lisl "The Sea Glass of Puerto Rico: Puerto Rico's Legacy in Vitreous Form" http://seaglasspuertorico.googlepages.com/home |
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*Armstrong, Lisl "What Is Sea Glass?" http://www.naturalseaglass.com/whatisseaglass.html |
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*Beuke, Mary Beth, "About Sea Glass" http://www.westcoastseaglass.net/about_seaglass.html |
*Beuke, Mary Beth, "About Sea Glass" http://www.westcoastseaglass.net/about_seaglass.html |
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*Lambert, C.S. ''Sea Glass Chronicles: Whispers from the Past''. ISBN 0-89272-508-7 |
*Lambert, C.S. ''Sea Glass Chronicles: Whispers from the Past''. ISBN 0-89272-508-7 |
Revision as of 21:50, 29 July 2007
Sea glass (or beach glass) is glass found on beaches along oceans or large lakes that has been tumbled and smoothed by the water and sand, creating small pieces of smooth, frosted glass. Sea glass originates from bottles and jars that enter the water as litter and become broken up by the waves and rocks. Green, clear, brown, and amber beach glass is common (consider the most common colors of beer-bottles), though light blues, yellows and pink varieties have also been known to appear. Much more rare are grey, purple, bright red, and the black varieties. Red sea glass is found only once for every 5,000 pieces found. There are also only two known ownerships of natural black seaglass this variety having a net worth for aggressive collecters of up to two million dollars. This black sea glass is found around Australia coming from 1940's beer, its rarity due to the obscure materials that were used with glass to make the bottles, which increased its rate of decomposition.
Like gathering shells or stones, collecting sea glass is a hobby among beach goers, and many enjoy filling decorative jars or making jewelry from their finds. Generally, the sea glass that one finds has local origins; glass found in a particular location generally would have begun its transformation within the immediate vicinity. This is not always the case—some beaches have a much higher rate of transitory particulates, in which case beach glass particles may travel for several miles. It is rare for sea glass to have traveled farther than this.
Sea glass can also be produced artificially by using a rock tumbler, and some companies sell artificially produced sea glass to tourists or make jewelry from it. As authentic sea glass becomes harder and harder to find, artificial sea glass is sometimes fraudulently advertised as authentic. Rock tumbled glass is not the same as sea glass, since long-term exposure to water conditions creates an etched surface on the glass that cannot be duplicated artificially. The differences can be distinguished microscopically. Sea glass collectors claim that the term "sea glass" should be reserved for authentic specimens, and artificial sea glass should be termed "craft glass".
Sea glass is one of the very few objects made valuable by the actions of the environment on man-made litter.
Further reading
- Armstrong, Lisl "The Sea Glass of Puerto Rico: Puerto Rico's Legacy in Vitreous Form" http://seaglasspuertorico.googlepages.com/home
- Armstrong, Lisl "What Is Sea Glass?" http://www.naturalseaglass.com/whatisseaglass.html
- Beuke, Mary Beth, "About Sea Glass" http://www.westcoastseaglass.net/about_seaglass.html
- Lambert, C.S. Sea Glass Chronicles: Whispers from the Past. ISBN 0-89272-508-7
- North American Sea Glass Association http://www.seaglassassociation.com/
- Webster,Linda, "Lake Superior Beach Glass": PO Box 851, Bayfield, WI 54814
References
See also the book "Pure Sea Glass: Discovering Natures Vanishing Gems" by Richard LaMotte ISBN 0-9753246-0-8 And see the book: "Lake Superior Beach Glass:Linda Webster, PO Box 851, Bayfield, WI 54814