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Post by melhill1659 on Jan 20, 2017 9:26:19 GMT -5
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Post by captbob on Jan 20, 2017 9:36:50 GMT -5
Wow, I am truly surprised. Guess I shouldn't be, but I would not have expected such rocks from that region. With its volcanic origin, I wonder if there is also obsidian there.
Looks like some nice quality picture (type) jasper and even rubies in that 2nd photo!
Rockhounding St. Martin! Who'da thunk
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Erich
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2015
Posts: 411
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Post by Erich on Jan 20, 2017 11:31:57 GMT -5
I thought I'd have to fly out to the west coast area for cool rocks, St. Martin is right down the proverbial road from Miami.
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Post by melhill1659 on Jan 20, 2017 13:26:36 GMT -5
Wow, I am truly surprised. Guess I shouldn't be, but I would not have expected such rocks from that region. With its volcanic origin, I wonder if there is also obsidian there. Looks like some nice quality picture (type) jasper and even rubies in that 2nd photo! Rockhounding St. Martin! Who'da thunk There are lots of black rocks and they may be snowflake obsidian. I'll pick some up next I see it and send out a pic.
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Post by melhill1659 on Jan 20, 2017 13:27:49 GMT -5
What I want to know is!!!! What to look for in huge olivine for good peridot crystals???
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Post by accidentalrockhound on Jan 21, 2017 13:12:08 GMT -5
Very nice finds how fun can that be a vacation on the rocks , I'll take one,
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gemfeller
Cave Dweller
Member since June 2011
Posts: 3,819
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Post by gemfeller on Jan 21, 2017 17:57:39 GMT -5
If I'd collected the stone in image #2 I'd be in full discovery mode. Red crystals? Check. Hexagonal? Probably but can't really tell for sure from the image. If those red crystals are harder than Mohs 8 I'd get excited. I'd even be a little excited if they were around 7-7.5 (garnet). But the possibility of gem-grade ruby is *really* exciting.
The host rock looks tumbled as if waterworn on a beach, but I'd definitely be on the look-out for indications of the source if the above tests checked out. Come to think of it, my relatives have a condo in Philipsburg. Maybe I'll plan a little winter getaway.
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Post by rockjunquie on Jan 22, 2017 12:41:53 GMT -5
I just gotta say... those lot like rubies, not garnets. Wow! That color!
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Post by melhill1659 on Jan 23, 2017 16:29:59 GMT -5
It is exciting in a way but they are all over here and they don't form much over a powdery substance. I am at the beach so the real stones are probably laying every where covered by algae or something 😂 I did find 1 today that was very promising!
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Post by melhill1659 on Jan 23, 2017 16:41:51 GMT -5
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gemfeller
Cave Dweller
Member since June 2011
Posts: 3,819
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Post by gemfeller on Jan 23, 2017 18:47:17 GMT -5
Hmmmm...most rubies fluoresce due to the presence of chromium. Most garnets don't. I have some chrome pyropes that might unless the iron content blacks out the chromium effect. I'll have to check. Anyhow, you have something I think is mighty interesting. Definitely worth some further checking IMO.
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Post by melhill1659 on Jan 23, 2017 18:59:06 GMT -5
I've never cared to find THE get rich gem honestly. I'm more excited about the dendritic jaspers, the awesome opaque waxy banded stuff with greens, blues and yellows! 😂
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Post by melhill1659 on Jan 23, 2017 19:01:21 GMT -5
Plus I am a St Patrick's baby therefore my favorite color is green. This island produces the most beautiful shades of greens I've ever seen.
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Post by melhill1659 on Jan 23, 2017 19:16:14 GMT -5
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gemfeller
Cave Dweller
Member since June 2011
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Post by gemfeller on Jan 23, 2017 19:21:28 GMT -5
If you knew how scarce and expensive natural rubies are that don't require diffusion or glass-filling treatment, you might change your mind. Agates and jaspers are my first love too -- but there's a lot of "prospector" left over from my younger days too.
Just out of curiosity can you say what kind of environment the rock in question was found it? Was it a tumbled beach rock or was it found in the island's interior? It looks like it's traveled quite a way from the original source due to alluvial rounding in water. I think it's significant that the red crystalline inclusions are less worn than the host rock. That means they're harder but how hard depends on the hardness of the host materials.
I won't be heading for the islands to do any prospecting. Even if I found something, hassling with the French or Dutch regulations would probably be a nightmare. But I'm fascinated by the geology of the region, especially its gem potential. Since you like green there's a possibility jadeite can be found on some of the islands as well if memory serves. There's a mineralogist at the NYC Museum of Natural History who's done a lot of research into Caribbean jadeite locations but I can't recall if St. Martin was on the list.
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Post by melhill1659 on Jan 25, 2017 9:44:16 GMT -5
If you knew how scarce and expensive natural rubies are that don't require diffusion or glass-filling treatment, you might change your mind. Agates and jaspers are my first love too -- but there's a lot of "prospector" left over from my younger days too. Just out of curiosity can you say what kind of environment the rock in question was found it? Was it a tumbled beach rock or was it found in the island's interior? It looks like it's traveled quite a way from the original source due to alluvial rounding in water. I think it's significant that the red crystalline inclusions are less worn than the host rock. That means they're harder but how hard depends on the hardness of the host materials. I won't be heading for the islands to do any prospecting. Even if I found something, hassling with the French or Dutch regulations would probably be a nightmare. But I'm fascinated by the geology of the region, especially its gem potential. Since you like green there's a possibility jadeite can be found on some of the islands as well if memory serves. There's a mineralogist at the NYC Museum of Natural History who's done a lot of research into Caribbean jadeite locations but I can't recall if St. Martin was on the list. This Precious French (side) island is definitely an untapped geologist dream. It's been basically tucked away and forgotten about. It has boulder after boulder protrusions of pure olivine, basalt, quarts veins an I'm probably wrong but I'm thinking I found sodalite as well and jadeite. Stupid me left my hardness picks at home. We pack up and leave today. Wish me luck getting my rocks back through customs.
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Post by melhill1659 on Jan 25, 2017 9:48:59 GMT -5
We'll be coming back in a few months and my rock pick will be coming! If anyone else can help me with geological studies it would sure be appreciated! I've searched for hours an only find mentions here and there. Besides taxes, I don't think France even cares about this hidden beauty.
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Post by melhill1659 on Jan 25, 2017 11:20:36 GMT -5
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Jan 28, 2017 5:32:01 GMT -5
The north beach of Jamaica has fine agate and jasper pebbles. East of Ocho Rios for at least 20 miles that has a pebble beach. Banded agate and red jasper and others.
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Post by melhill1659 on Jan 28, 2017 8:46:45 GMT -5
All 40 pounds made it back safely. They went through our luggage with a fine tooth comb but didn't take anything out. Guess they figured out I wasn't smuggling any drugs just a bunch of rocks. Can you image when going through them what they were saying about me 😂😂 To answer an earlier question... these 2 little dead coral reefs are my favorite Rockhounding spots!!! You actually walk to them, you have to wear shoes, the waters are ankle to calf deep and the entire bottom is covered with water worn rocks! For every rock I brought home there are a million more. This is actually the place that restarted my Love of rocks and has inspired everything I've learned since. That was only a year or 2 ago.
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