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Post by gemkoi on Jul 23, 2006 19:57:37 GMT -5
This is some rare Arizona material in which only one miner brings to the market i know of. And i see hime every year at the Mesa Flagg gemshow here in Arizona. Never sells rough, and this material i bleieve to be a soft matrix. I did not cut this cabochon but i figure you would all enjoy the photo no dout.  |
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Post by stoner on Jul 23, 2006 20:03:44 GMT -5
Wow, now that is some nice looking poppy material. You say he never sells any rough? Why do people do that? It just irks me to no end when somebody has nice material and won't part with any of it.
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Post by Cher on Jul 23, 2006 20:08:53 GMT -5
That's very pretty too, a shame that it's so hard to get.
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Post by gemkoi on Jul 23, 2006 22:27:50 GMT -5
Ya, i come to understand theres always gonna be avaible issues for good rough. And from what ive seen in cabs he sells, and what he told me. Three really isnt much to mine, let alone sell rough off. Same with with gold in quartz, the good stuff. I once had an offer for trade on some nice Alaskan Gold in Quartz, but when the guy stated what he wanted in trade for just two preforms. I was like, sorry, I didnt need it that bad. And he stated as well he didnt sell rough of it, becasue in most cases it would be bought at the mine by collectors. And he was saying $1200 per pound! And even with the Nice folks who recently posted condors and south american rocks. They only sell specimens becasue of avaiblity of good rough. And i know i got plenty of bunk or leaverites, dont need more becasue i got an ich.
I buy cabs each year i see the miner of this Poppy, and within a few days of putting them online they sell. And last year, his cabs looked to be the bottom of the good stuff. I hope he has new ones this year.
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller 
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,494
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Post by Sabre52 on Jul 24, 2006 10:06:10 GMT -5
Wow! Really beautiful and interesting piece. Never seen the like of it and I can see where the rough would be pretty darn rare......mel
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Jul 25, 2006 10:02:26 GMT -5
Yea Super rare material like that is not worth selling- THere is not enough of it to get rich (I mean what good is $1200/ Lb.- if you can only get a pound or so a year?) It irks me too cause it is one of those- "you can't have it" things- It only makes me want it more!!! Ah well- Very beautiful material- but I have to question how stable is it- Azurite is not the stablest copper oxide out there?
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Post by gemkoi on Jul 25, 2006 12:30:47 GMT -5
Actaully, natural Azurite is farily stable for cutting. I have plates from Morenci of 80& pure Azurite with slight malachite and tenorite sudos taking over the Azurite. These are extremely stable and cut and polish identically like good malachite. messy, and soft. but will take a polish and hold up in a setting. In contrast, generally speaking Azurite will be more durable and stable than Chrysocolla.
This poppy stuff, i can not say for certain becase no rough to ever play with. But the Miner stated they are not treated(nor can i see any resin or glue treatment in the stone). And he siad he worked it like Turquoise. And this cab is rough 4mm thick! Ive had this cab for a few years, and every year when i have bought more of his cabs and sold them right away. I have never heard back about breakage from customers.
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Jul 26, 2006 9:08:03 GMT -5
Good to know- I was always under the empression that Azurite was really unstable- therefore not a popular material to work
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Post by gemkoi on Jul 26, 2006 13:02:20 GMT -5
I think it more to do with there really isnt much Azurite peroid. Chemically speaking, Azurite is easily replaced by other copper secondari minerals. Rockn Gem mag had a good articall last year on this effect. As Azurite gets easily replaced by these other minerals like Malachite and tenorite. But doesnt replace any mineral itself. Therefor, most azurite is specimen form becasue its actually qiute rare when it just Auzrite. And people generally do suspect it cant be cut. But not the case. IT just there isnt enough out there to justify as a lapidary material.
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Post by sandsman1 on Jul 26, 2006 13:29:02 GMT -5
that is realy nice rock i like any blue rock ---- or mix of
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Post by gemkoi on Jul 26, 2006 16:28:25 GMT -5
There many places here in Arizona were the ground is blue and green from copper ersoin. Copper Basin is the frist that comes to mind. Southwest of Prescott, AZ. fun collecting, once brough home a copper nodule from that area that had Azurite on the surface, but copper ore inside.
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