stefan
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Post by stefan on Mar 10, 2005 13:54:09 GMT -5
What is it- I see it assosciated with Agates a lot and for some reason I don't know what that is Parallex- must have something to do with banding but what?
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chassroc
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Rocks are abundant when you have rocktumblinghobby pals
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Post by chassroc on Mar 10, 2005 13:59:20 GMT -5
Stefan, That's a term I've never noticed. Can you give an example? csroc
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Post by Cher on Mar 10, 2005 14:06:16 GMT -5
Couldn't find "Parallex" in the dictionary but found "Parallax". The description is ... An apparent change in the direction of an object, caused by a change in observational position that provides a new line of sight. Probably referring to the banding.
Cher
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stefan
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Post by stefan on Mar 10, 2005 14:39:11 GMT -5
Go here: www.thegemshop.com/scroll down to bottom of page and click on eye agate! There it is in the Botswana Agate "parallax"
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Post by BearCreekLapidary on Mar 10, 2005 14:40:51 GMT -5
Hey Stefan,
Parallax ... is just as Cher described it.
It is an optical phenomenon that occours when the eye tries to look between the bands of certain agates. For the parallax to happen ... you have to have extremely tiny bands of color seperated by individual bands of clear agate ... color, clear, color, clear, etc.
There can litterally be hundreds of bands (both color and clear) within an inch of agate! As the eye tries to look into these clear bands (if the stone is held still), you will not see much. But if you move the stone, the eyes (while trying to see between the individual clear bands) see the effect of the clear bands being moved or rotated out of the line of sight (this can happen very quickly ... depending on the amount of bands and their seperation from each other) ... which creates a shadow effect that follows the contour of the stone. This is Parallax. There are different degrees of parallax ... some are absolutely gorgeous ... it looks like the stone is moving within itself ... when the stone is moved.
If you ever find an agate that has a shadow effect as you move it ... it generally will have a parallax.
Hope this helps,
John
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stefan
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Post by stefan on Mar 10, 2005 14:44:11 GMT -5
Yes it does- And You discribed the effect perfectly! I have an agate like that but never new what it was called Here is a scan: the one above the quarter is it!
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Post by BearCreekLapidary on Mar 10, 2005 14:48:54 GMT -5
There you go ... Sounds like you already have one! There are a lot of different agates that typically have a nice display of parallax. Some of them are: Botswana Casa Grande Coyamito Derramadero Laguna Moctezuma Keep your eyes open ... you are bound to find many more John
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stefan
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Member since January 2005
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Post by stefan on Mar 10, 2005 14:54:11 GMT -5
Thanks- It was a term that has been bugging me cause I look at the pictures and I can't see a difference (which makes sense as the bands are VERY TIGHT) but seeing it in person is just ammazing! The one I have is gonna be a do-over as I just think there is more potential there- But there is a chip in the parallax that I'm afraid may be very deep
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Rose
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Post by Rose on Mar 11, 2005 8:37:32 GMT -5
Interesting stuff. I got a parallax !!! (I think ) Its in a polished agate that I bought before I had a tumbler. Its a really cool effect now that its been pointed out to me ! ;D I'll try to post a pic later because I want to know what sort of agate it is so I can get some hopefully and I'm sure one of you luvly people will know
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