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Post by jasoninsd on Jan 20, 2023 20:45:02 GMT -5
I haven't been much of a fan of Mookaite in the past. However, I'm seeing more and more really cool pieces here lately! Way to add to that for me!  That last slab...it looks like a yellow bird wing there at the bottom right! |
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Post by jasoninsd on Jan 20, 2023 22:15:04 GMT -5
I haven't been much of a fan of Mookaite in the past. However, I'm seeing more and more really cool pieces here lately! Way to add to that for me! That last slab...it looks like a yellow bird wing there at the bottom right! First time cutting and I’ve never been much of a fan either, I think it would be better suited to carving. I’ll get a few decent cabs and some nice backing material, then cut the thing into the largest fracture free blocks I can get. I saw big bird’s wing in there! LOL There was a listing on eBay for a SFRB of brecciated Mookaite which I had never seen before. I almost pulled the trigger on it since it went through two auctions and no bidders...but then I didn't...then it was gone. The colors weren't as "flamboyant" as most of the Mookaite I've seen. |
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gemfeller
Cave Dweller 
Member since June 2011
Posts: 4,060 
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Post by gemfeller on Jan 21, 2023 13:39:47 GMT -5
Bravura Cabochon Designs Nice slab. I'm very partial to Mookaite and have cut some cabs I really like from it in the past. It has superior hardness and takes a fantastic polish. I see several areas of your slab I think would cab out very nicely. But that's based on my own rather off-beat tastes. What will you do with it?
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Post by victor1941 on Jan 21, 2023 17:20:27 GMT -5
I have cut several pieces of mookite and find that some has good hardness throughout but other pieces have mixed hardness and undercut in the Uv-18 vibe. My pieces are flat polished and shaped for drilling or doing an edge cut inlay wrap. The colors are very nice and are different combinations like morrisonite. I would cab the bird on the bottom right slab.
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Post by rockjunquie on Jan 22, 2023 10:40:29 GMT -5
Bravura Cabochon Designs Nice slab. I'm very partial to Mookaite and have cut some cabs I really like from it in the past. It has superior hardness and takes a fantastic polish. I see several areas of your slab I think would cab out very nicely. But that's based on my own rather off-beat tastes. What will you do with it? I cut these 6mm slabs while getting a look inside the rock, looking for bright color to cut thin slabs for backing. I don’t think I will cab any unless someone requests a piece and I think it’s the right stone to use, there’s just so many cheap cabs from India to bother. Same goes for nipomo and stone canyon. Royal imperial is another, but the imperial has a much wider range of quality than the others, so great pieces are still pretty valuable. Rock Snob! LOL!!! JK. But, I do like mooka a lot. Not all of them. It's been a very long time since I've seen any I wanted to cab. I agree with yours being great for solid color backings. Perfect, in fact. Nice bright colors and large enough areas for a few cabs.
I have a bunch of Nipomo. I got it before the Indonesian came into the market. I prefer it, though. I do think there is a difference and I don't fancy the carnelian in it one bit. Stone Canyon has just been overdone.
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