|
Post by frane on Jan 15, 2009 21:41:48 GMT -5
|
|
UtahRockHound
spending too much on rocks
Sometimes your the Windshield, sometimes your the Rock.
Member since May 2008
Posts: 301
|
Post by UtahRockHound on Jan 16, 2009 1:38:57 GMT -5
Nice box of rocks. :-)
The Silinite has me wondering now. It is not one I really know or heard to much about, but it would explain what I found over in the San Rafel last summer. It looks just like it. Only problem is the stuff I found is so brittle, cutting or polishing is out of the question.
|
|
|
Post by frane on Jan 16, 2009 7:31:15 GMT -5
Yep, the selenite is much too soft for anything other than have as a nice specimen. It is a 2 on the MOH scale and is in the Gypsum family. What doesn't show well in the photo is the fine thread like crystal sparkle it has. Very pretty. The rest of the box is good tumbling stuff. I have never had more than a chip of the crysocola so I am looking forward to seeing how that turns out. It is really pretty! Fran
|
|
|
Post by Bikerrandy on Jan 16, 2009 8:18:50 GMT -5
That's quite a package, that'll keep ya busy. ;D Nice stuff!!
|
|
|
Post by Michael John on Jan 16, 2009 19:49:42 GMT -5
Thanks for all the kind words, Fran!
I do tend to leave the pieces a bit on the large side, so that people who want to cab some of it can do-so.
That quartz is some cool stuff. The colorings and inclusions make for some really nice cabs.
Although I'm not generally a big fan of green, I really like that dark green stuff. The shade is very rich-looking. It has quartz in it and is quite hard, so I guess it's fair to call it a jasper.
The dark purple jasper is interesting. If you wanted to cab it, you could use pure purple, or banded purple, or a piece with the darker spots. I'd love to see it combined with the lavender jasper in a piece of jewelry.
Again, as advertised, the Chrysocolla is low grade. It looks better in the pics than it is, and it won't look like "typical" Chrysocolla once it's tumbled. I just wanted to reiterate that, so that your hopes aren't too high for it.
The Selenite is definately for display. If you were to try to cut it, you'd end up with a bunch of tiny pieces. There is some Selenite that can be cut and cabbed, but not this particular type.
Again, Thank You, Fran!
|
|
NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
|
Post by NDK on Jan 16, 2009 23:13:48 GMT -5
Great rocks Fran! Looks like tons of great tumbles to be had.
Nate
|
|
|
Post by NatureNut on Jan 16, 2009 23:20:48 GMT -5
Ooooh the colors!
|
|
|
Post by frane on Jan 17, 2009 0:20:00 GMT -5
Well, in preparation for this wonderful box, I went ahead and ordered another tumbler. A double 6 pounder! I have already started going through and picking out some stones that I am going to cut up for cabs and maybe some preforms to throw in with the tumbles. Some of the quartz ones that look white are really iridescent looking. I will have to cut a few of them! I am going to have a lot of enjoyment out of this box! Fran
|
|