rockinronda
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2023
Posts: 220
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Post by rockinronda on Nov 19, 2024 11:49:42 GMT -5
Here’s the backstory: In a conversation with my husband abt selling the tumbled rocks he was like why don’t you just sell the rough? Easy peasy and fast. If you consider pounding boulders of quartz for pieces fast and easy, but he did have a point. Much shorter than 9 mths of tumbling! It is a pay mine however. So that’s a consideration.
But here’s my thing: I’ve read on multiple sites that rose quartz is so common that it doesn’t have much value in the rock world. However ppl I actually know say they just love it and also for its mystical meanings. I would say Hogg Mine stuff is different cause it’s clarity and possible asterism. It is pale to be sure, but I rarely see any so clean internally. You ppl who sell rocks (not necessarily cabs or jewelry) for a living, how do you feel abt Rose Quartz? Do you like Hogg Mine Rose Quartz more than other rose quartz’s?
I’m kinda all over the place. SRY! Husband is back with groceries to put up!
I welcome all feedback!
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gemfeller
Cave Dweller 
Member since June 2011
Posts: 4,059 
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Post by gemfeller on Nov 19, 2024 15:51:00 GMT -5
My reaction probably doesn't help answer your tumbling question. But clean Hogg Mine RQ has good potential for asterism, as you mention. I cab and enjoy (when I'm in the right mood!) chasing stars and cat's-eyes. The material has great color and even clean cabs without asterism are very pleasing.
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dshanpnw
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since December 2020
Posts: 1,157
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Post by dshanpnw on Nov 19, 2024 16:03:57 GMT -5
I don't know where the rose quartz I bought comes from but I doubt it was from the Hogg mine. I absolutely do like me some clean and clear rose quartz. I like tumbling it even though it takes forever and a day. The end result is worth the time and effort.
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titaniumkid
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2023
Posts: 499
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Post by titaniumkid on Nov 19, 2024 22:55:15 GMT -5
To clarify because I can only vote once, I am the crazy kid who buys tumbled rocks (yes... I can't help myself when I see them for sale, especially things that are hard to tumble or difficult to find rough for or just plain pretty), but I'd also buy small chunks because I suck at breaking rocks.
I'm not a seller of rocks. I think the best way to answer your question would be to see what people want to buy, and given lapidary artists don't love working quartz as much as the general rock-loving public love owning quartz, you might get more information by checking out where people sell rocks and seeing what form they sell the rocks in, prices, and sale rates.
My gut feeling, purely based on how much effort goes into tumbling, is that unless you have some industrial rock tumbling set up going on, the amount of time and resources it takes to get quartz tumbled so you can sell it probably means you won't be making a lot of money or even recouping costs. Selling smaller chunks to a market with lots of amateur, beginner rock tumblers or larger pieces for those more advanced with their lapidary skills will probably be more worth your while.
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rockinronda
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2023
Posts: 220
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Post by rockinronda on Nov 20, 2024 12:16:37 GMT -5
I don’t need to make money from rocks but if I want more rock machines (IDO!!!), I need to monetize something I’m doing with them. Hogg Mine is $35 for basic dig Sats only. Less than a hr away. Can basically take as much as you want and one large “yard rock”. So if I could make that back then some to save up for my next machine, makes for a fun day for me!
I have been watching on Etsy and eBay and even Amazon but what I’m watching (that doesn’t seem to come from overseas) doesn’t seem to move very often if at all. I am absolutely the worst at selling my stuff. It feels icky to me to price something I’ve made, but my rock obsession (hobby left a loooong time ago 😆)necessitates me overcoming that. I like making and giving things that make ppl happy!
I always undersell my stuff since I was a kid making bracelets and selling them to neighbors. I never made enough to buy more supplies, or enough supplies, babysitting charged too low, etc lol 🤷♀️. So this is an option I’m trying to explore if it is even feasible. I think there may be a niche market for this special HMRQ. Thinking even of maybe like booking trips according to demand. Tom wants big chunks super clear, Mary wants more colorful stuff, Jane wants smoky and schorl in matrix. Idk just spitballing (yuck!) But I would already have to have like a client list or something. *sigh*
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Post by pebblesky on Nov 20, 2024 12:53:08 GMT -5
As a buyer, for rose quartz I only bought a couple of mini spheres because I couldn't make them myself, and about a pound of tumbled pieces because I knew I would not be super happy about the results if I tumbled them myself, and the level of satisfaction will not justify my huge effort on tumbling them myself. From the one pound I bought I would say only 1/3 are the keepers which I feel are not too flawed, are pinky enough and not too milky.
Would love to see how Hogg Mine Rose Quartz is different though.
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Post by RickB on Nov 20, 2024 15:25:21 GMT -5
Here's another thing to think about with the Hogg Mine rose quartz. This is a faceted 12mm trillion stone I bought from Chris Painter, the mine owner. I got this one from him at a three day dig many years ago. I don't know if Chris faceted this himself. I think he said that he had. I bought a sterling setting, set the stone and gave it to my wife. Faceting really brings out the lemonade color. Hogg Mine GA rose quartz (Chris Painter)  rockinronda |
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Post by chris1956 on Nov 20, 2024 15:35:17 GMT -5
I bought a large rose quartz rock from The Rock Shed for Christmas ornaments but haven't gotten to it yet.
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Post by rockjunquie on Nov 20, 2024 16:01:46 GMT -5
Here's another thing to think about with the Hogg Minie rose quartz. This is a faceted 12mm trillion stone I bought from Chris Painter, the mine owner. I got this one from him at a three day dig many years ago. I don't know if Chris faceted this himself. I think he said that he had. I bought a sterling setting, set the stone and gave it to my wife. Faceting really brings out the lemonade color. Hogg Mine GA rose quartz (Chris Painter) rockinronda
If all rose quartz looked THAT good, I'd buy some. I avoid it for cabbing because of unsightly, if "solid", fractures.
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Post by RickB on Nov 20, 2024 16:21:35 GMT -5
Here's another thing to think about with the Hogg Mine rose quartz. This is a faceted 12mm trillion stone I bought from Chris Painter, the mine owner. I got this one from him at a three day dig many years ago. I don't know if Chris faceted this himself. I think he said that he had. I bought a sterling setting, set the stone and gave it to my wife. Faceting really brings out the lemonade color. Hogg Mine GA rose quartz (Chris Painter) rockinronda If all rose quartz looked THAT good, I'd buy some. I avoid it for cabbing because of unsightly, if "solid", fractures.
Tela, those nice fracture free pieces can be found down there in LaGrange GA. I spent a day chasing veins of clear rose quartz in the massive boulders/outcroppings of it. I had to break a lot of rock away from the clear parts to get large chunks out. Then I was able to separate the clear from the fractured. I haven't done anything at all with it as it's all facet grade. Have a zip lock bag of it around somewhere. There is beautiful clear/flawless blue aquamarine found there also. I did get a couple faceted pieces from Chris and made earrings. |
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gemfeller
Cave Dweller
Member since June 2011
Posts: 4,059
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Post by gemfeller on Nov 20, 2024 17:57:08 GMT -5
rockjunquie A friend sent me several clean pieces of Hogg Mine RQ with star potential some time back. I tried to chase a star but discovered a veil in the stone. I cabbed it anyway because the color is very nice. I have a video of it but no still image I can find. I'll try to shoot one soon -- it's really attractive material.
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Post by rockjunquie on Nov 20, 2024 21:27:25 GMT -5
If all rose quartz looked THAT good, I'd buy some. I avoid it for cabbing because of unsightly, if "solid", fractures.
Tela, those nice fracture free pieces can be found down there in LaGrange GA. I spent a day chasing veins of clear rose quartz in the massive boulders/outcroppings of it. I had to break a lot of rock away from the clear parts to get large chunks out. Then I was able to separate the clear from the fractured. I haven't done anything at all with it as it's all facet grade. Have a zip lock bag of it around somewhere. There is beautiful clear/flawless blue aquamarine found there also. I did get a couple faceted pieces from Chris and made earrings. rockjunquie A friend sent me several clean pieces of Hogg Mine RQ with star potential some time back. I tried to chase a star but discovered a veil in the stone. I cabbed it anyway because the color is very nice. I have a video of it but no still image I can find. I'll try to shoot one soon -- it's really attractive material.
Y'all are making me jealous. Only once have I seen a nice piece in person. It was a faceted kite- I bought it. It's gorgeous when it's good.
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Post by RickB on Nov 20, 2024 21:39:41 GMT -5
rockjunquie A friend sent me several clean pieces of Hogg Mine RQ with star potential some time back. I tried to chase a star but discovered a veil in the stone. I cabbed it anyway because the color is very nice. I have a video of it but no still image I can find. I'll try to shoot one soon -- it's really attractive material. I met a guy at the Hogg Mine that said he would make a small polished ball out of the clean rose quartz. He said that the star would show on both sides. He would then cut it in half and have two round star cabs. |
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rockinronda
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2023
Posts: 220
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Post by rockinronda on Nov 20, 2024 21:50:12 GMT -5
All very cool, very appreciated feedback! Thanks so much!!! 💛
Very cool yes Chris Painter runs the mine but I believe the Jackson’s still own it. To my best recollection.
My avatar pic is of raw HMRQ chunks. I can post some below and also of how it tumbles. It has been hard to keep it fracture free the whole way through but as a first year tumbler and been tumbling this rose for 9 mths now, I’d say it doesn’t take much skill just tenacity lol.
Yeah, I have spent 3 hrs banging away at the boulder with the 3lb then switching to the 2lb hammer, chips eating you up the whole time, just to get the best, juiciest stuff. It’s not easy but sure is satisfying to take it from mining in the ground to smooth and shiny as can be 🫠
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rockinronda
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2023
Posts: 220
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Post by rockinronda on Nov 20, 2024 21:55:23 GMT -5
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Post by catmandewe on Nov 20, 2024 22:10:28 GMT -5
I have several tons of rose quartz from various sources, I sell very little of it though.
If you do get some to sell I would be interested in some just to say I have some.
Tony
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gemfeller
Cave Dweller
Member since June 2011
Posts: 4,059
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Post by gemfeller on Nov 21, 2024 1:20:54 GMT -5
rockjunquie A friend sent me several clean pieces of Hogg Mine RQ with star potential some time back. I tried to chase a star but discovered a veil in the stone. I cabbed it anyway because the color is very nice. I have a video of it but no still image I can find. I'll try to shoot one soon -- it's really attractive material. I met a guy at the Hogg Mine that said he would make a small polished ball out of the clean rose quartz. He said that the star would show on both sides. He would then cut it in half and have two round star cabs. Thanks. I've used that method in the past with quartz from other localities. Sawing can be a bit of a task though. Even when carefully marked, the halves usually need some careful post-sawing adjusting to get the star precisely centered. |
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