Argillite Carvings The Haida carvings of Queen Charlotte Islands along the coast of British Columbia are notable aboriginal art treasures created from a type of a hard, fine black silt argillite, sometimes called "black slate", which occurs only at a quarry on a Slatechuck Mountain in the upper basin of Slatechuck Creek, near the town of Skidegate on Graham Island just 80 miles south of Ketchikan. Argillite is only available the Haida Natives and can only be carved by the Haida's. This artwork has been prized around the world since the Haida first began carving it to sell to sailors around 1800, and modern Haida carvers continue the tradition today, with stunning design and skill.
