What makes Tiffanystone Unique?
TiffanyStone is from rare, old-stock material recovered from the original beryllium mining operations in Utah. Featuring deep purples, soft pinks, creamy whites, and dramatic manganese veining, each piece reveals the chaotic geological forces that formed TiffanyStone. Natural druzy quartz pockets and opalized zones add depth and texture, making every specimen completely unique. With the original mine long exhausted, pieces of this quality are no longer replaceable.
Our
Story
Todd Harris began working at the Brush Wellman beryllium processing plant around 1984. The company mined beryllium from a large open-air pit, where the ore was found in soil surrounding striking purple nodules. At the processing plant, these nodules were crushed and discarded as waste.
At some point, Todd wondered what would happen if he brought a few of those nodules home and cut them into cabochons. What emerged was something unexpectedly beautiful—rich purples, soft pinks, whites, and intricate natural patterns. It was clear this material deserved another look.
Todd and his wife, Malinda, believed others might see the beauty they saw. To better understand the stone, they sent samples to the Geological Survey and received a fascinating report confirming its unique geological formation.
With little more than belief and determination, they decided to try selling the stone at the Denver Mineral and Fossil Show. They were told it would be nearly impossible to get a booth—but they tried anyway. Against the odds, they were accepted, marking their very first trade show in the rock, mineral, and fossil world.
Their booth featured spheres, slabs, and cabochons made from this vibrant stone. They knew one thing for sure: they didn’t want to call it Opalized Fluorite. They wanted a name people would remember.
During the show, a gentleman stopped by looking for a gift for his daughter. Todd and Malinda asked him which name he preferred for the stone—TiffanyStone or Ice Cream Opalite. He smiled and told them his daughter’s name was Tiffany. He became their largest sale of the show, and in that moment, the name TiffanyStone was born. They have never regretted that decision.
Building a market for TiffanyStone took years of sacrifice, dedication, and, sadly, loss. When they first introduced it, almost no one wanted it. Slowly, through persistence and belief in the material, awareness began to grow.
The following year, they were accepted into the Tucson Gem Show—an enormous milestone. Nearly three decades later, TiffanyStone is still being sold, cherished, and collected.
During this time, Todd made the life-changing decision to leave his job at the beryllium plant and pursue the rock world full-time.
One of the original open-pit mines once held a stockpile of the most beautiful nodules. Over time, that pit was fully mined out for beryllium, and new pits were opened elsewhere. The original nodules—especially those with the most vivid colors and complex patterns—became increasingly rare.
Even today, Todd follows any lead involving former mine workers who might still have nodules in their yards. After years of exposure to the elements, most are no longer usable. But every so often, a few remarkable pieces are recovered.
Now that TiffanyStone is finally known and recognized, there is very little left.
Over the years, the stone has been called many names. Some have recently referred to it as “Purple Passion,” likely because the phrase sells well. In the early days, international buyers—particularly from Asia—showed interest, often wanting large quantities for very little cost. Just before the housing crisis, Todd and Malinda took a significant risk and sent nearly 20,000 pounds of TiffanyStone to China for manufacturing. They never saw the stone—or any finished product—again. Somewhere, extraordinary pieces likely exist in private collections.
Despite the challenges, TiffanyStone has been a true blessing. It has connected Todd and Malinda with wonderful people from all over the world and allowed them to share a rare and beautiful piece of Earth’s history.
No two pieces are alike. And once it’s gone, it’s gone.
