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Post by toiv0 on May 10, 2020 11:57:23 GMT -5
Found this in a bag of odd shaped cabs. Can scratch it with a dental pic (see the back). Has a little orange peeling on front.
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gemfeller
Cave Dweller
Member since June 2011
Posts: 3,796
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Post by gemfeller on May 10, 2020 12:19:19 GMT -5
It's hard to be sure from an image, but it looks like either sugilite or richterite to me. The two are often found in association, with sugilite trending toward purple and richterite toward blue. The inclusions of matrix are a tip-off to me, as they're somewhat typical of the way some of the material is cut. Stones without matrix grade higher of course. It can be a bear to polish well.
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Post by toiv0 on May 10, 2020 12:52:37 GMT -5
It's hard to be sure from an image, but it looks like either sugilite or richterite to me. The two are often found in association, with sugilite trending toward purple and richterite toward blue. The inclusions of matrix are a tip-off to me, as they're somewhat typical of the way some of the material is cut. Stones without matrix grade higher of course. It can be a bear to polish well. This is a deep darker purple than the pic.
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Post by greig on May 11, 2020 10:02:02 GMT -5
It probably won't be sugilite if you can scratch it with steel. To me a knife blade is generally 5 on Mohs and Sugilite is 6.5. Streak would be white. That said, I don't know the Mohs of your dental pic, but suspect it is not really hard as that would potentially damage tooth enamel.
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gemfeller
Cave Dweller
Member since June 2011
Posts: 3,796
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Post by gemfeller on May 11, 2020 14:34:23 GMT -5
Sugilite is often mixed with quartz, vein matrix and other minerals. Hardness is variable, from roughly 5.5 to 6.5. A lot depends on the hardness of the dental pick and the area of the stone that was tested. Dyed marble, quartzite and serpentine have been sold as sugilite, so an ID from an image is risky at best. It does look a bit like sugilite but it would need lab testing for verification.
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Post by rockjunquie on May 11, 2020 16:08:09 GMT -5
The color looks right as does the matrix. Same with a little orange peel. Even the little cracks look right. Maybe... I'm leaning, yes.
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