Welcome
to the
Million Souls Mine
Situated on the road to Toadhodtka, as described in an early map, in east Pasco County, Florida, the Million Souls Mine is actually a prehistoric quarry site where ancient people dug out the fossilized coral rock that lies under the ground.
Because the incredible coral at the Million Souls Mine has not been properly studied, Dan and Sally have opened their property to a team of archaeologists and geologists.
Learn more here
Millions of years ago, our gemstones began as live corals. Thousands of years ago ancient people created tools and weapons with it. Now, Dan and Sally have given these old souls new life.
"The state of Florida is especially known for its silicified fossil corals, from Tampa Bay to the Withlacoochee and Suwanee rivers, including the well-known, agatized coral geodes. But corals from the Wesley Chapel area are unique and unmistakable. Commonly used by prehistoric Native Americans to make stone tools, these solid and beautifully colored ancient coral colonies have indeed been given new life in the lapidary productions of Dan and Sally Yoder at the Million Souls Mine."
- Dr. Jon Bryan, Roadside Geology of Florida
In the categories below you will find additional information and available material for Knapping, Lapidary, Display Specimens and Ready to Wear Jewelry.
For purchasing we keep it simple: you contact us and we'll go from there!
We have an active and engaging Facebook Group where Lapidary Artists and Knappers show off their Million Souls Mine coral creations.
Click the link to check us out!
GIFTS & READY TO WEAR
Our pendants and dangle earrings are creatively wrapped by Sally in 14/20 yellow gold, 14/20 rose gold or 925 Sterling Silver. We are careful not to leave loose ends or rough spots!
Your satisfaction is guaranteed. We know a single photo cannot convey all the detail. If your selection doesn't meet your expectations, you can return it for a happy, full refund.
The ready to wear jewelry is shipped in a gift box with a little vellum greeting describing the coral, and the quarry.
Shipping costs are included in the listed price on all Ready to Wear Jewelry. We keep it simple; if you see something you like,
email Dan
Currently Available
Half Love Pendant
Wrapped in 14/20 Yellow Gold
Blue Lightning
14/20 Rose Gold $115-
Sunset Dangle Earrings
14/20 Gold $115
Petticoat
925 Sterling $89
Polyp Sammich
14/20 Rose Gold $115
Terrestrial Post Earrings
$45
Little Love
14/20 Gold $85
Stormy
925 Sterling $80
Mystic
14/20 Rose Gold $80
925 Sterling $90
Beauty Mark
925 Sterling $95
Sunlit Dangle Earrings
$45
Sherbet Post Earrings
Beachin' 2"
14/20 Gold $95
14/20 Gold $85
Honey 2.3"
Mountaintop 2"
14/20 Gold $85
14/20 Gold $110
Ripple 2.5"
Winding 2.25"
14/20 Gold $95
14/20 Gold $110
Rich 2.5"
14/20 Rose Gold $120
Curves 2.75"
$45
"Tan Lines" Wine Lolly
14/20 Rose Gold $105
Into the Sun 2.25"
14/20 Gold $110
Big Duo 2.75"
14/20 Rose Gold $85
Little Duo 2"
14/20 Gold $115
Creamsicle Dangle Earrings
925 Sterling $99-
All the Littles 2.5"
14/20 Rose Gold $95
Kitty 2.25"
Archipelago 2"
925 Sterling $79-
Brightness 2"
925 Sterling $79-
Mighty 3"
925 Sterling $99-
925 Sterling $85-
Robin Hood 3"
Gemini 2"
925 Sterling $75-
925 Sterling $79-
Natural 2"
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Falling In
3 1/4"
925 Sterling $99-
925 Sterling $79-
Bliss 2"
Trails 3"
Sterling $160-
14/20 Gold
$95-
Edge-y 2"
Rosy Love 1.75"
14/20 Rose Gold
$95-
925 Sterling
$65-
New Love 1.75"
Melded Love 2.25"
925 Sterling
$80-
925 Sterling
$65-
Traveling 1.75"
Peachy 2"
925 Sterling
$79-
925 Sterling
$79-
Dimples 2.25"
Raining Love 2"
925 Sterling $79-
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925 Sterling $125-
Marque
4"
Polypful 2"
14/20 Rose Gold
$105-
Journey 4"
14/20 Rose Gold
$135-
14/20 Rose Gold
$105-
Bright Curves 2"
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Arrow 2"
925 Sterling $89-
There are a number of different types of specimens.
Most will need additional information.
We want you to be able to properly evaluate,
so please do not hesitate to ask
for additional photos or information.
Prices listed for Display Specimens
do not include shipping.
Your Satisfaction is guaranteed.
If your selection doesn't meet your expectations,
you can return it for a full, happy refund of the purchase price.
Please note that you would still pay the shipping.
Display Specimens
"Deep Blue"
Species: Siderastrea
Location collected: Million Souls Mine, Pasco County, FL
Simply the bluest blue coral specimen we have ever seen. Measures approximately 6" x 4" and 1.5" thick. Has a fully polished face. It's a Collector's fondest dream: the finest specimen of its kind in the world. Change my mind! $1,200-
"Hurricane Watch"
Newnan spearpoint
made by Joel Robinson, from a large thermal split of heat-damaged coral. The finest material is just beneath the cortex, and this stunning example of percussion knapping is as fine as it gets. Made to closely replicate a classic Newnan, an iconic Florida style.
Measures 5.5" x 2.75"
$400-
"Thermal Split Grande"
A spectacular piece that split off in the kiln. Comes with display stand. Measures 8 x 8 x 1.5"
$300-
"Toadhodtka"
approx 4" Polished one side.
Comes with display stand.
"Sam's Rock"
approx 4" A stunning example of 'Pinhead' coral. It shows super fine detail of the structure. Truly a great study specimen!
$95-
"Osceola Gobbler"
Measures 5" x 2 1/8" Percussion knapped by Joel Robinson
from a heat damaged coral head. Magic! Gem quality.
$300-
"Micanopy Madness"
Measures just under 5" x 2 1/4" Percussion knapped by Joel Robinson from a heat-treated piece of coral at the Million Souls Mine. Micanopy is a small town near Gainesville. In the 1970's it was famous for a strain of pot called Micanopy Madness. Micanopy is also in the heart of the Northern reach of the Newnan culture, in fact, the point style is named after Lake Newnan in Gainesville.
Now let's talk about who Micanopy really was... Chief Micanopy was the one who rose from cover and fired the shot that killed Major Dade in the ambush massacre that started the Indian Wars in Florida. That happened right here within a day's march of the Million Souls Mine at the historic Dade Battlefield, Dade City, Florida.
$265-
About the Mine
The mine itself is both an archaeological site and a geological wonder. Here, the coral was preserved when it was replaced with silica from the deteriorating limestone clay. Over time the silica filled in the voids in the coral skeleton to create the massive, beautifully preserved agatized coral heads that set this site apart from the other agatized coral of all the world.
Agatized coral is formed in one of two ways: mold cast and full replacement. It is important to note that, here, at the Million Souls Mine and the surrounding area, the corals were fully replaced. In other words, the exact structure of the coral was preserved in a silica skeleton and then filled in with more silica over time. So, the solid corals here often show fine detail of the original structure, polyps and striations.
Archaeologically, our mine ties in with the workshop sites all around us, where ancient workmen cooked the quarry blanks in fire pits and refined them into beautiful spearheads and tools. We hope to share our reverence for the history, and the ancient peoples who chose this spot.
When we started work here at the Million Souls Mine, we quickly realized there was precious little information available about "Pasco County Agatized Coral". It seems the research work had been done on the Tampa Bay corals. The only published work we could find was by a PhD Geologist named Sam Upchurch. We clung onto it for what tidbits we could get! So, it was serendipitous when we met Sam and some of his scientist buddies, and doubly delightful to welcome them to our Mine. Here's some pics taken during their ongoing study here...
Fine detail in fully replaced coral
Pictured along with Dan are Archaeologist Bob Austin and Geologists Sam Upchurch and Jon Bryan.
Get to Know Us
We are Dan and Sally Yoder, the lucky stumblers who bought this property to retire to, after raising our family in Venice, Florida. We knew it was a coral quarry, but what we didn't know is that it is in the heart of the most beautifully colored agatized coral deposits anywhere on earth!
We were following our dream, although we didn't really know which direction to go until we met Bob Caveglia, a wonderful blessing of a man who heads up the King's Point Lapidary Club. He gave us a huge boost, getting us started cutting and polishing our soulful gems.
Now, we stay happily busy with the creative aspects of jewelry-making: finding the best rock, cooking, cutting, polishing and crafting. But we are constantly reminded of those who worked this rock for their livelihood. We often find broken quarry blanks left behind thousands of years ago, which we finish into jewelry cabochons. That is a collaboration spanning history!
We hope you'll think of us every time you need a TRULY one of a kind, hand-crafted gift for those in your life who appreciate natural history.
THE BEST WAY TO ORDER IS contact
Let him know what you are interested in, and he will take it from there. We're easy!
From the prehistoric start to Sally's final polish, each piece of our coral holds a
Million Souls!
Thank you for joining us.
