RocknCritter
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2008
Posts: 489
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Post by RocknCritter on Mar 5, 2013 9:00:45 GMT -5
mmm opals are N-I-I-I-I-C-E! They are one of the few gems (arguable) where beauty over-rules all common sense. Unlike other rocks that have intrinsic rarity and beauty dependent on their structure, we all know that at its heart, opal is 'just' quartz. Of course diamond is 'just' carbon and they have in common that their structure is what's important. However diamond structure is regular whereas opal structure isn't and it is the irregularity that shapes and colours their 'play'. Your blog is well written, but lacks a simple spell-check. It may be better to either - write the blog in word / similar that can be spell checked or (by all means) write it into the blog directly but don't forget to spell-check it / export it for spell checking. You've missed a couple. Also, I believe that whilst water is fundamental to the formation of opals, it does not all evaporate. Water is retained in between the spherules of opal-quartz and is responsible for the colour and play. The opal quartz spherules size, shape, sorting and orientation determines the water content. However it is known that opals need to be stored properly or they will dry out. This happens over timescales of human lifespans in which case the owner of an opal may discover (probably after many years of storage) that the opal heirloom is now ... err... just quartz! Hope this helps. Quartz and opal are polymorphs - that is they have a similar chemistry (Si0 2) yet a different crystal structure. Quartz is trigonal while opal is amorphous. A couple of other common and well known polymorphs include graphite and diamond and andulusite, kyanite and sillimanite. There are literally dozens if not hundreds of minerals that are polymorphs. On the other end of mineralogy are isomorphic minerals - that is minerals that have the same crystal structure yet a completely different chemistry. The garnet and tourmaline groups are the best known examples. And yes, a mineral can be a polymorph to one mineral while being an isomorph to another. Again using quartz as an example of being a polymorph to opal, it is also an isomorph to berlinite (an uncommon mineral). At it's heart opal is "just" silicon dioxide, the same chemistry of quartz, with the molecules arranged in a completelty different manner. This results in one being a mineral with a defined crystal structure (quartz - trigonal) and the other being a mineraloid without a defined crystal structure (opal - amorphous). Quartz doesn't form as spherules and opal doesn't morph into quartz when dehydrated. When opal crazes, it is simply less hydrated opal. Nothing more. Nothing less. The crystal structure didn't change. In order for opal to become quartz, it would require a large change in temperature, pressure and huge amounts of time. Now where's Mel or another trained geologist that can expand upon this? Mineralogy is the essentially the study of chemistry and crystal structure (geometry) and I'm not particularily good at either of these beyond the basics.
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RocknCritter
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2008
Posts: 489
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Post by RocknCritter on Feb 27, 2013 9:05:14 GMT -5
If the seller is really only asking $250 for this machine, RUN - RUN NOW and grab the thing! A faceting machine for $250 is cheap.
The last Fac-ette machines sold for $4000+. Even if you don't use this very much, at some point another Fac-ette owner will probably give your money back just to have an extra machine for parts.
And yes, you can still buy laps and discs. All faceting machines use the same laps and discs regardless of brand. Fac-ette machines use 8" laps yet if your in a pinch the 6" laps are cheaper.
Good luck and have fun.
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RocknCritter
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2008
Posts: 489
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Post by RocknCritter on Jan 24, 2013 12:06:39 GMT -5
A little rain won't hurt. It's the Quartzsite tornadoes that can be a problem ;D
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RocknCritter
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2008
Posts: 489
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Post by RocknCritter on Jan 21, 2013 19:05:39 GMT -5
I must have missed this thread earlier.
I'm going to try to make it to the BBQ and I'll bring a desert. However I won't know for certain until Saturday afternoon. If business is really busy or I have trouble getting my van out of my booth at the Pow-wow I'll be late. If anyone wants to stop-by I'm in 271.
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RocknCritter
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2008
Posts: 489
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Post by RocknCritter on Jan 17, 2013 9:53:48 GMT -5
There is no known method to provide a positive i.d. of any gemstone based solely on a photograph. If this was the case all the major gemological testing labs (i.e. AGL, GIA, Gubelein, etc.) would be out of business. Without actual data from the piece in question, the best answer is only an educated guess. Look forward to seeing the finished cab.
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RocknCritter
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2008
Posts: 489
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Post by RocknCritter on Jan 4, 2013 10:37:14 GMT -5
You create some nice looking pieces.
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RocknCritter
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2008
Posts: 489
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Post by RocknCritter on Dec 30, 2012 20:29:33 GMT -5
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RocknCritter
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2008
Posts: 489
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Post by RocknCritter on Dec 30, 2012 19:35:28 GMT -5
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RocknCritter
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2008
Posts: 489
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Post by RocknCritter on Dec 29, 2012 20:35:19 GMT -5
That's a nice looking cab.
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RocknCritter
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2008
Posts: 489
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Post by RocknCritter on Dec 29, 2012 20:31:46 GMT -5
Here are a couple of flyers I emailed my customers before each event. I'm getting excited for this set of shows. I really hope to see some of the RTH members in Quartzsite since I'll be pretty anchored at my booth most of the time. See ya soon!
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RocknCritter
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2008
Posts: 489
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Post by RocknCritter on Dec 21, 2012 9:09:51 GMT -5
Not only is it hard to find, the rough is usually very expensive. The shape you choose did an awesome job of framing the matrix. Keep it up!
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RocknCritter
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2008
Posts: 489
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Post by RocknCritter on Dec 21, 2012 9:08:12 GMT -5
That's a very contemporary design that resembles a piece of modern art. You do great work!
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RocknCritter
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2008
Posts: 489
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Post by RocknCritter on Dec 21, 2012 9:07:00 GMT -5
It reminds we of a bird's egg. Nice job.
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RocknCritter
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2008
Posts: 489
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Post by RocknCritter on Dec 21, 2012 9:04:50 GMT -5
There's a fairly decent chance I'll be in some of the footage. At the last Contin'tail rock show in Buena Vista the camera crew spent about 10 minutes filming my cabs, my booth and me. They wanted to do an interview but I graciously declined. After camping for several days, I didn't think the camera could handle such I sight and I didn't want to break the thing. They did ask a bunch of good questions and I hope the series is a success. Since I don't even own a TV I'll have to someone to tape the program, etc...
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RocknCritter
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2008
Posts: 489
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Post by RocknCritter on Dec 19, 2012 21:59:20 GMT -5
Way cool. I've been waiting for an announcement about when this show was going to hit the air. They filmed my booth in Buena Vista at Contin'tail. I'll have to watch and see if my rocks make a little cameo appearance.
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RocknCritter
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2008
Posts: 489
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Post by RocknCritter on Dec 13, 2012 23:05:40 GMT -5
Will a piece of rough with those dimensions work or do you need it already shaped as a cube? I have several pounds of rough Labradorite and can sell a piece if you need some. Just let me know.
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RocknCritter
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2008
Posts: 489
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Post by RocknCritter on Dec 8, 2012 10:13:41 GMT -5
A niche can be any aspect of business that appeals to customer more than the competition. This is not only limited to the product offering(s). It can include better customer service, delivery options, creative promotion and marketing, etc. The most successful businesses are the ones that have a suite of niches and/or the niche isn't as tangible as the product mix.
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RocknCritter
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2008
Posts: 489
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Post by RocknCritter on Dec 6, 2012 22:27:55 GMT -5
I knew I saw this thread somewhere last weekend while I was in Texas. I was viewing it on my new smarter-than-me phone but couldn't reply. The dang auto-fill typing command or whatever it's called is a real pain. Earlier I had tried to reply to someone about some seraphinite pieces and I didn't realize the thing had replaced seraphinite with sepository. They were a little confused Your Etsy store looks great and welcome to the business side of the rock world. I hope plenty of success comes your way. It's always cool to see someone else pursue their dreams and passion. You might try adding the dimensions to the listing and/or adding a familiar item like a coin to your pictures. After I opened my store, a buyer made this suggestion. She pointed out that people don't want to click on every listing they like when shopping for a specific sized item. Like Stoner, I really struggled with pricing also until I found a successful formula. There are pretty much two basic philosophies: cost plus and perception based. Gemstones and minerals almost always fall into the later category. There are certainly some materials that will bring a higher price than just the actual costs and overhead. Likewise, there's nothing wrong with using the cost plus basis as long as you have a really good grasp of the actual expenses and a realistic return on your investment. (As an observation, there seem to be quite a few rock related vendors that undercharge for there products because they don't highly value their own time. After all, cutting a great cab is certainly a talent versus cutting another cab.) Lastly, over time, look to have a unique niche. Do something no else is doing and become the "one" for whatever it is your selling. There are a lot of cab cutters that want to make a little money and that's not a bad thing. However, so many seem to just do whatever the next person is doing and don't add any unique value. There are so many different ways to approach this from specializing in a certain material(s) to cutting something different. Good luck!!
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RocknCritter
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2008
Posts: 489
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Post by RocknCritter on Dec 6, 2012 21:58:25 GMT -5
That's a nice cab from beautiful material! You did a great job with the round shape.
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RocknCritter
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2008
Posts: 489
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Post by RocknCritter on Dec 6, 2012 21:56:20 GMT -5
O.K. I'll be in Quartzsite at the QIA Pow-Wow January 23-27. My booth number is 271. This is a new location for me. It's located in the rows due south of the building. If it's not windy look for the two black flags. I look forward to seeing everyone there!
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