sophia13
spending too much on rocks
RIP Jason Strickland, AKA sophia13
Member since March 2018
Posts: 327
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Post by sophia13 on Dec 19, 2018 18:28:10 GMT -5
I've seen Tiffany Stone, Morrisonite, other really cool rocks as I learn more. Would like to know your 3 or 4 favorite materials to cab. Higher end is fine as I'm trying to learn all sides. Hope everyone is doing great.
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Don
Cave Dweller
He wants you too, Malachi.
Member since December 2009
Posts: 2,616
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Post by Don on Dec 19, 2018 18:39:23 GMT -5
My faves are good stabilized turquoise, various hat-mines variscite, lapis lazuli, and fine grained chalcedony of various colors (green, purple, blue, pink).
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Tommy
Administrator
Member since January 2013
Posts: 12,647
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Post by Tommy on Dec 19, 2018 18:45:07 GMT -5
That's a tough one... turquoise has to rank pretty high up there for beauty and value of course, and I don't get to work with it a whole lot but when I do I find it SUPER easy to shape and polish. Lots of variables affect this of course - AND - I've only worked with maybe five types/localities (#8 mine, Kingman, Chinese, Colbaugh pressed, and African) and it's all been really nice to work with. Rough shape and dome on a 220 grit metal, jump right up to 600 soft and end after 3000. My arthritic wrists are always thankful to take a break from agates and jaspers and work on some turquoise.
Secondly I would say thunderegg agates of all types in general, McDermitt and Black Rock Desert in particular. There is SO much versatility with these probably because you get what you get out of a couple inch wide round slice. Lots of times the slice determines the final shape of the cabochon and often with the rough natural edges intact. Love this stuff.
Thirdly... hmmm... gotta be Burro Creek - either classic agate, or a lot of the one-off pieces I collected, or the brecciated jasper agate. It's just so beautiful and diverse, and so forgiving to work with, I can't get enough. One of my favorite customers told me that she described me to another person as "the burro creek guy." lol that brought a smile to my face.
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mossyrockhound
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2011
Posts: 1,278
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Post by mossyrockhound on Dec 19, 2018 18:53:10 GMT -5
My favorites change from time to time. Right now, my favorites are (1) Carey plume agate, (2) Willow Creek jasper, (3) Montana agate, with red areas, dendrites, and clear, and (4) Tahoma jasper-agate.
I really should add Holly blue agate, charoite, Ellensburg blue agate, dark red carnelian agate, lapis, Australian opal ... I better stop.
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victor1941
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2011
Posts: 1,975
Member is Online
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Post by victor1941 on Dec 19, 2018 20:39:05 GMT -5
I really like Imperial/Mexican and Morrisonite jasper, Woodward, Bouquet, and Carey plume, colorful petrified wood and finally Brazilian.
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fishnpinball
Cave Dweller
So much to learn, so little time
Member since March 2017
Posts: 1,491
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Post by fishnpinball on Dec 19, 2018 20:51:50 GMT -5
I find crazy lace agate to be one. Binghamite has been another. Picture jasper for the third.
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Post by rockjunquie on Dec 19, 2018 20:53:18 GMT -5
ocean jasper, willow creek, rhodochrosite (because I love to polish it... and it's beautiful!), imperial and royal imperial jasper, dino bone, brecciated red jasper etc etc etc LOL!
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Post by stephan on Dec 19, 2018 21:32:34 GMT -5
Crazy lace agate Good, solid dino bone Stone Canyon Jasper Owyhee Jasper (most of the claims).
But wait, there's also.... That's a pretty tough question.
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Dec 19, 2018 21:45:31 GMT -5
Australian opal is my first love, preferably black. Willow Creek, Morrisonite, Bruneau jaspers really high up there. Chrysoprase and holly blue in the chalcedony categories. Adore crazy lace agate, too. Oh, and rutilated quartz!
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Post by stephan on Dec 19, 2018 22:13:48 GMT -5
Australian opal is my first love, preferably black. Willow Creek, Morrisonite, Bruneau jaspers really high up there. Chrysoprase and holly blue in the chalcedony categories. Adore crazy lace agate, too. Oh, and rutilated quartz! Rutilated quartz and tourmalated quartz are on my bucket list.
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Post by Rockoonz on Dec 19, 2018 22:14:06 GMT -5
Just reading through the responses reminded me of more favorites. Morrisonite, Willow Creek and all the Porcelain jaspers are definitely way up there. Flame agate, Turkish Stick agate and the plumes as well. Copper ore stuff like Chryssocolla, Variscite, Gem silica when I'm in a soft rock kind of mood. All poppy like jaspers.
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Post by Pat on Dec 19, 2018 23:05:31 GMT -5
Easier to state least favorite—- hematite! Black everywhere.
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hummingbirdstones2
fully equipped rock polisher
Vince A., 1958-2023
Member since August 2018
Posts: 1,461
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Post by hummingbirdstones2 on Dec 19, 2018 23:14:21 GMT -5
Really clean dark green Chrysoprase.
Lapis (personal favorite has pyrite without calcite).
Lightning Ridge Black Opal.
AZ Native Copper - with visible copper showing.
Haven't seen any native copper rough (other than Michigan copper) for sale in years. Here's a link to an old AZ copper cab:
www.hummingbirdstones.com/gallery105.htm
We've sold every copper cab we've ever cut. I hope some of you out there find some somewhere. I've pretty much given up looking... .
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Post by vegasjames on Dec 20, 2018 5:41:42 GMT -5
Copper ores are my favorite and what I cab the most. I also cab a lot of the Nevada Tiffany stone. Just recently started with the jaspers from the Dead Camel Mountains, which I really like. My other favorite is garnet amphibolite.
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zekesman
Cave Dweller
Member since May 2016
Posts: 637
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Post by zekesman on Dec 20, 2018 9:42:44 GMT -5
GEM BONE !!!! Morrisonite, Montana Agate. Vic
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Post by Bluesky78987 on Dec 20, 2018 10:26:54 GMT -5
My preferences lean toward softer stones, since I'm not very patient. I like turquoise, rhodochrosite, Welo Opals, and obsidian a lot, but also, all that stuff everybody mentioned above! It's hard to pick a favorite. Also, self-hounded stuff gets a huge boost up the list in terms of satisfaction-to-cab.
Edited to add: I can't believe I forgot my favorite, LABRADORITE! And Silver Sheet obsidian.
Any chatoyant stone to me is super fun.
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Post by MsAli on Dec 20, 2018 12:07:55 GMT -5
I love Moss agates-they fascinate me Ocean Jasper Obsidian has been fun Rutilated quartz and wood
I LOVE moonstone and Labradorite but have not gotten those down yet
& I can tell you what I want to have and work with if money was no concern
Garnierite in Moonstone Pietersite Rhodochrosite Lightning Ridge Black Opal Cantera Opal Trolleite Iolite Super 7 and last Medusa Quartz
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Tommy
Administrator
Member since January 2013
Posts: 12,647
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Post by Tommy on Dec 20, 2018 12:22:30 GMT -5
Garnierite in Moonstone Pietersite Rhodochrosite Lightning Ridge Black Opal Cantera Opal Trolleite Iolite Super 7 and last Medusa Quartz Remind me, what planet are you from again?
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Post by MsAli on Dec 20, 2018 12:37:02 GMT -5
Garnierite in Moonstone Pietersite Rhodochrosite Lightning Ridge Black Opal Cantera Opal Trolleite Iolite Super 7 and last Medusa Quartz Remind me, what planet are you from again? Jupitar ?
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Tommy
Administrator
Member since January 2013
Posts: 12,647
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Post by Tommy on Dec 20, 2018 13:09:40 GMT -5
No disrespect was intended for Jupitarians, I just had never heard of half the things on your list.
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