181lizard
Cave Dweller 
Still lurking :)
Member since December 2005
Posts: 2,171
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Post by 181lizard on Dec 4, 2006 0:28:01 GMT -5
This is another batch of slabs I won on e-bay. (& no! I didn't pay $21 for these ;D!) All 5 were $4.20 plus a very reasonable shipping. They listed these as: Sodalite, Saganite, Red Moss, Dendritic Agate & Larvakite.  I took a couple pics extra. The Dendritic Agate was real pretty when backlit.  The sodalite is a nice little slab & seems to be cut extra thick. But the one I was surprised about was the Larvakite...Look!  This one I tried to get a real close-up.  I hadn't heard of this one before & didn't find a ton of info on it, but seems to be from Norway? It said it's schiller effect is from the feldspar in the rock. At first I thought it might be like a labradorite...but it was different. Very pretty blue. The really close up pic sorta shows a paintbrush look. I sure hope you all are able to see what I did! |
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Post by akansan on Dec 4, 2006 0:42:50 GMT -5
I have a couple pieces of it laying around. It's very popular in the kitchen counters and tiles around here - one of the things I noticed at buffets in the area AFTER I got interested in this hobby!
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181lizard
Cave Dweller
Still lurking :)
Member since December 2005
Posts: 2,171
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Post by 181lizard on Dec 4, 2006 0:50:53 GMT -5
Ya know what? Has anyone ever tried using some of their rocks/slabs for a kitchen or maybe a fireplace hearth? Wouldn't we all be pee green with envy?
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Post by rockkitten on Dec 4, 2006 1:16:48 GMT -5
I have a whole box of it that I got free from Slim a long time ago. i gave some to jrtrio awhile back. maybe he's done something with his.
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Post by Bikerrandy on Dec 4, 2006 5:03:00 GMT -5
It's man-made I believe.
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Post by connrock on Dec 4, 2006 5:51:04 GMT -5
Larvakite was used as ballast on the old sailing ships coming from Norway and is not common to the USA.
There are large amounts of it in Lake Ontario at the southeast end of the lake.
The ships dumped the Larvakite into the water before loading their cargo and it's still there.
There is a campground on the Eastern shore of Lake Ontario called Rainbow Shores due to the high concentration of Larvakite seen on it's shores!!
connrock
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Post by joe on Dec 4, 2006 9:23:17 GMT -5
I love that stuff! Slim gave me a box of that a long time ago. Here's a couple of pendants I made from it.    It's good stone, you'll like it! |
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,492
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Post by Sabre52 on Dec 4, 2006 12:26:04 GMT -5
Pretty nice looking material. According to my books, it is a natural material and is a Scandinavian form of labradorite which is in the feldspar group. Unlike the Finnish material ( spectrolite) which is multicolored, this material comes only in the pearl gray to bluish tones. Common use is apparently countertops, decorative items etc. Sure makes some nice looking pendents too....mel
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Post by gemkoi on Dec 4, 2006 14:33:18 GMT -5
Yup, when i worked for a rockshop out of Gilbert, AZ I cut hugh slabs of that stuff. And i have seen it mainly used in homes for counter tops. Dan from d&brockwerks made a nice knife useing laravite as the blade.
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Post by texaswoodie on Dec 1, 2008 9:04:11 GMT -5
Hey John, yet another spammer.
Curt
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Post by Bikerrandy on Dec 1, 2008 14:18:18 GMT -5
No kidding. He did bring one thing to my attention though, anyone heard from Liz lately? Looks like the last time she logged on was 15 Oct.
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rallyrocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2005
Posts: 1,507
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Post by rallyrocks on Dec 1, 2008 15:12:58 GMT -5
My brother did up his whole kitchen with stuff that looks a lot like your Larvakite, it is really nice!
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Post by krazydiamond on Dec 1, 2008 17:15:48 GMT -5
there is some history to Larvakite, apparently it's Scandinavian in origin and was brought to the great lakes as ballast and dumped it on arrival. it's great stuff to cab.
KD
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DeanW
has rocks in the head
Member since December 2007
Posts: 721
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Post by DeanW on Dec 5, 2008 1:56:38 GMT -5
For a housewarming gift some rockhound friends of ours gave us a very nice cutting board / trivet made from that Larvakite - I never knew the name till now so thanks a lot!
Dean
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