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Post by lpl on Jan 11, 2019 13:16:48 GMT -5
Has anyone seen something like this? I'm a bit bummed...
This summer my son and I mined some really nice looking blue agate in southern Colorado. I was pretty excited to find it and the pieces we found had a nice blue/grey color to them. Here are a couple of the rough:
I made a pretty nice cab from come of it shortly after we got back, I just found a nice small piece and ground off the top to expose the blue, and I flattened up the back:
this weekend I played some more with the material, here's a slab:
For this cab, I cleaned it up very nice, removing all of the matrix and lo and behold, it was white, not blue at all! Here's the cab on top of the slab. Same stone:
Is the blue color just coming from the dark matrix? If I leave some of the matrix on and call it blue, is that cheating? I'm curious as to what others have encountered, especially with blue.
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NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,439
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Post by NDK on Jan 11, 2019 13:37:00 GMT -5
That's a bummer. I have cabbed some colored agate similar and had it loose color, but not go completely white. On top of what you suspect, I would think the rind blocking light transmission through the stone is also partially the culprit to the color variation.
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Post by lpl on Jan 11, 2019 13:43:21 GMT -5
That's a bummer. I have cabbed some colored agate similar and had it loose color, but not go completely white. On top of what you suspect, I would think the rind blocking light transmission through the stone is also partially the culprit to the color variation. Thanks Nate, that's pretty much what I'm thinking. I was shocked. And so disappointed...
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NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,439
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Post by NDK on Jan 11, 2019 14:44:06 GMT -5
I agree it's disheartening. Beautiful cab regardless!
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Post by MsAli on Jan 11, 2019 14:53:31 GMT -5
It is a really beautiful cab
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Post by rockjunquie on Jan 11, 2019 14:54:03 GMT -5
I wonder what it would look like in a blackened bezel cup?
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zarguy
fully equipped rock polisher
Cedar City, Utah - rockhound heaven!
Member since December 2005
Posts: 1,791
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Post by zarguy on Jan 11, 2019 15:04:56 GMT -5
We have a similar blue agate here in Cedar City, UT. It's not in veins, but big chunks. The smaller/thinner you make the piece, the more the blue looks gray. Lynn
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lookatthat
Cave Dweller
Whatever there is to be found.
Member since May 2017
Posts: 1,360
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Post by lookatthat on Jan 11, 2019 15:16:30 GMT -5
I don't know much about cabbing, but if you leave the matrix and it's blue... it's blue.
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Post by lpl on Jan 11, 2019 15:24:15 GMT -5
It is a really beautiful cab Thanks Ali. I was hoping for so much more though
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Post by lpl on Jan 11, 2019 15:25:17 GMT -5
I wonder what it would look like in a blackened bezel cup? I think I am going to try that. Maybe I'll call it something silly like chameleon agate!
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Post by lpl on Jan 11, 2019 15:26:26 GMT -5
We have a similar blue agate here in Cedar City, UT. It's not in veins, but big chunks. The smaller/thinner you make the piece, the more the blue looks gray. Lynn This slab was about 1/4" Maybe I'll try a really thick/high dome on one and see what I get.
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Post by lpl on Jan 11, 2019 15:28:17 GMT -5
I don't know much about cabbing, but if you leave the matrix and it's blue... it's blue. That's where I'm stuck...is it blue or isn't it?! I vote blue and maybe just leave what I found as a nice specimen or something...Or leave the matrix on it and leave it as that.
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Post by rockjunquie on Jan 11, 2019 15:39:45 GMT -5
I wonder what it would look like in a blackened bezel cup? I think I am going to try that. Maybe I'll call it something silly like chameleon agate! Do you think it would be more appropriate to call it chalcedony?
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NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,439
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Post by NDK on Jan 11, 2019 16:23:30 GMT -5
Chalcemeleon?
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Post by lpl on Jan 11, 2019 16:24:18 GMT -5
I think I am going to try that. Maybe I'll call it something silly like chameleon agate! Do you think it would be more appropriate to call it chalcedony? That's probably true. But 'chameleon chalcedony' is way too much of a tongue twister!
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Post by MsAli on Jan 11, 2019 17:09:02 GMT -5
It is a really beautiful cab Thanks Ali. I was hoping for so much more though Totally understand Wouldnt it still be blue just not A quality blue?
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Post by MsAli on Jan 11, 2019 17:23:17 GMT -5
PS. That is a perfect cab for the FCC theme for the month ; )
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Post by lpl on Jan 11, 2019 20:24:39 GMT -5
PS. That is a perfect cab for the FCC theme for the month ; ) I had to look it up to see if the theme was disappointment! So many parts of the forum that I haven't poked around in...I may submit it. Probably should get a decent picture though 😊
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Post by MsAli on Jan 11, 2019 20:51:00 GMT -5
PS. That is a perfect cab for the FCC theme for the month ; ) I had to look it up to see if the theme was disappointment! So many parts of the forum that I haven't poked around in...I may submit it. Probably should get a decent picture though 😊 I hope you do I know it wasnt what you wanted, but it is really pretty And your super talented at making cabs That's gonna be bad@$$ in one of your settings
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Post by fernwood on Jan 12, 2019 5:11:16 GMT -5
PS. That is a perfect cab for the FCC theme for the month ; ) I had to look it up to see if the theme was disappointment! So many parts of the forum that I haven't poked around in...I may submit it. Probably should get a decent picture though 😊 Yes, enter it. I like rockjunquie 's idea of a colored bezel or backing. I have been considering doing that with some cabs. Really like the rough material.
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