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Post by Tweetiepy on Jun 5, 2008 20:50:01 GMT -5
A colleague clued me in to this place that sold rocks - I was told rough and polished stones - turns out she had small bins of polished rocks (metaphysical stones - healing powers & such) I was told that this store owner didn't really know what she was selling in terms of rocks. I got a small half clear-half milky piece of citrine for 1$. and these two pieces of Lapis Lazuli for $3 each  - I'm planning on trying to cut these pieces in half to get two mini slabettes from each so that I can do a mini cabbette from them for my daughter who just LOOOoooOOOves lapis! I know Lapis is very expensive but was wondering if these were worth the $3 I paid for them? Should I even attempt to try to cut them in half or just leave them like this (I've never worked this stuff before either) I may mess it up too! I'm not really concerned with the $3 I paid but was just wondering if I should go back & buy out her stock!  ;D Here they are (again a weak battery pic) - It's not sodalite right?  |
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Post by larrywyland3 on Jun 5, 2008 21:08:55 GMT -5
Looks like iron pyrite to me, which means its likely to be afgan lapis. nice dark blue. My understanding is that the purple blue is tops, followed by the dark blue and then the denim blue. Any corrections welcome on that. I don't think the one on the left looks thick enough to cut into two; the right one is hard to tell. I think the price was pretty good. I found some suglite that was tumbled in a shop once; you can find some great stuff that way.
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181lizard
Cave Dweller 
Still lurking :)
Member since December 2005
Posts: 2,171
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Post by 181lizard on Jun 5, 2008 21:13:13 GMT -5
Tweet...it looks like you got some good color in those lapis rocks. I think they're nice quality...but what do I know?! LOL
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Post by rocklicker on Jun 5, 2008 23:51:25 GMT -5
I don't know much about lapis but they sure are pretty I like the pyrite bands in them.
Steve
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Post by krazydiamond on Jun 6, 2008 8:28:51 GMT -5
looks like some good lapis to me. nice shine for tumble polished, too. you might get a few mini-slabs out of them. lapis is a little soft to work with but not too bad. you might get a few 14mm x 10 mm cabs out of those...enough for earrings?
i've worked with the denim lapis but nothing higher in quality. go for it, Tweet!
KD
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Post by Tonyterner on Jun 6, 2008 8:52:32 GMT -5
I've seen lapis on ebay go for ridiculously high prices and fairly low prices. This looks like nice stuff but considering how small the cabs will be after you cut it I wouldn't consider it a great deal, just a good one. Can't wait to see the cabs you make.
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fanatic
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since October 2007
Posts: 233
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Post by fanatic on Jun 6, 2008 8:59:02 GMT -5
I saw lapis in a local rock shop and they were selling it for $1.50 a gram!
I had one small slab that was a gift from someone I bought several slabs from. I cut it into one pendant and one long thin earring piece. On the WF it 'felt' soft, but it tumbled well. Very similar to sodalite in my opinion. Everyone loves the color and I've been searching in vain for a fair price to buy some more.
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Gem'n I
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2008
Posts: 980
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Post by Gem'n I on Jun 6, 2008 20:48:30 GMT -5
It was my understanding most of the really good lapis came from Afganistan...we know what is going on there so the stuff coming out now is likely smuggled and brings primo prices since it passes through many hands.
I have never seen purple blue lapis but I can tell you the stuff with pyrite take it up a notch in value...it is a bugger to get a good shine on short of diamond equipment...I might think about cutting the pieces you have unless you can finish with diamond polish.
Larry
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darrad
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2006
Posts: 1,636
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Post by darrad on Jun 6, 2008 22:01:13 GMT -5
That is some nice Lapis. I think with a thin blade you could get a small pendant and 2 earrings pieces out of them. $3.00 was a steal in my opinion.
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Post by LCARS on Jun 9, 2008 22:01:31 GMT -5
Looks worth the $3 to me.  |
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Post by deb193redux on Jun 13, 2008 9:11:30 GMT -5
Mama's Minerals ofers 20-30 pieces per pound for $60/lb. This averages $2.40 per piece. Since yours already are proven for polish, the deal seems good. Not great because of size, but still good. www.mamasminerals.com/page/MM/PROD/RRO-LAPISOther places do sell the stuff for higher prices. The stuff from South America is cheaper, but often comes mixed with Azurite. |
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- I'm planning on trying to cut these pieces in half to get two mini slabettes from each so that I can do a mini cabbette from them for my daughter who just LOOOoooOOOves lapis!
;D
