Leland Blue  Heart Necklace

What Is Leland Blue?

Today, people find this slag material on the shores of Leland’s beaches and on the shores of other Great Lakes.

During the late 1800, Leland, Michigan was a smog-filled industrial town anchored by the Leland Lake Superior Iron Company. After the smelting industry failed because of large overhead costs and the lack of a good harbor in Leland, the remains of the industry, including heaps of slag, were dumped into the harbor.

Slag is a byproduct of the smelting process: raw ore is heated, and the desired iron ore is separated from various natural impurities. When those impurities cool, the result is stone-like slag.

Leland Blue, specifically, is the mix of blue glass with other chemicals, but this varying chemical medley can also cause the slag to appear purple, gray, black or a shade of green. 

I love Leland Blue, the light blue  and tan colors of this piece remind me of the the sand and water of the beach. The  heart pendant measures 3/4 inches by 1", it hangs from a 18 inch sterling silver chain with a lobster clasp.