rallyrocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2005
Posts: 1,507
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Post by rallyrocks on Sept 9, 2006 0:36:55 GMT -5
And quite a mix of materials in this batch- two types of opal, Andamooka matrix (the dark blue stuff ) and Spencer fire opal (the white overexposed stuff) a couple of Brazillian agates, a condor agate some Morgan hill PJ and a handful of self-collected things from Montana Nevada and Arizona. I'll try to post some close ups later  |
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Post by stoner on Sept 9, 2006 2:04:33 GMT -5
Nice work Rally. The blue opals look pretty cool.
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Post by krazydiamond on Sept 9, 2006 9:05:50 GMT -5
oh, yeah, love the blue stuff!!!
KD
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Post by Tweetiepy on Sept 9, 2006 9:15:50 GMT -5
Blue stuff takes my cake - I also like the rutile quartz too
Beautiful job - love the shapes
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rallyrocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2005
Posts: 1,507
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Post by rallyrocks on Sept 9, 2006 11:23:10 GMT -5
It seems those matrix opals photo better than they look in real life- the surface it really pitted and porous, so even after a 50,000 diamond polish they appear somewhat dull and gray, but the colors really seem to show up nice in the picture. This material is probably also a good candidate for doing doublets. The spencer stuff is really challenging as the fire only exists in microscopic layers, let me see if I can find a decent shot...  the egg shaped one was cut with the color layer and the pictures don't do it justice as it flashes fire just about any way you look at it, the other one you can see from the stripe of green was cut across the fire. I've still got about 5 lb of rough Spencer, so I should get plenty of practice, but like I was saying, both of these opal types would probably give best results if cut into doublets or triplets. |
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rallyrocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2005
Posts: 1,507
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Post by rallyrocks on Sept 9, 2006 15:44:58 GMT -5
well I won't have a close-up of the rounded matix opal as I just sold it for $15!
which is about half what I paid for the slab they came from, but it went to a friend.
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Post by rockds on Sept 9, 2006 17:26:36 GMT -5
I think you did a very nice job, all your cabs turned out nice with good shapes and very nice shines. Ah opal, is it not fun to work the stuff!!
robert
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Zoran
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since September 2005
Posts: 880
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Post by Zoran on Sept 9, 2006 17:49:45 GMT -5
Greath job. I am looking forward for some new close ups.
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rallyrocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2005
Posts: 1,507
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Post by rallyrocks on Sept 10, 2006 0:04:32 GMT -5
OK here are a few; Condor agate 29x27mm  Brazil agate 26x22mm  Not sure exactly what this is- some sort of lace agate from "the rockshop that time forgot" 34x15mm  the obligatory Morgan Hill Poppy Jasper 31x22mm  self-collected blue chalcedoney (unknown location, probably NV or AZ) 24x12mm and 30x15mm  self-collected yellow chalcedoney (unknown location, also probably NV or AZ) 24x17mm and 23x18mm  And I fianlly tracked dowm my "mystery jasper" location in NV, this is from a road cut right near Beowawe 39x16mm  Rutilated quartz 30x15mm  And finally a piece of agate that I found in MT but appears nearly identical to a slab I bought marked "Oregon Sunspot"- so maybe this is "Montana Sunspot" a really beautiful purple/blue material with orange edgeing and little orange spots. 40x17mm  |
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Post by rockyraccoon on Sept 10, 2006 0:23:13 GMT -5
great job! love those blue andamooka ones. now just where are their close-ups?
kim
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rallyrocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2005
Posts: 1,507
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Post by rallyrocks on Sept 10, 2006 0:34:15 GMT -5
oops I nearly forgot...  |
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Post by ladyt on Sept 10, 2006 19:47:46 GMT -5
Awesome!!  Tonja  |
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stefan
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Sept 11, 2006 10:06:10 GMT -5
Great stuff!
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