gzed1500
starting to shine!
Member since February 2009
Posts: 31
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Post by gzed1500 on Apr 9, 2009 15:42:35 GMT -5
I just got this off of ebay and am wondering what to do with it. I couldn't resist getting it. It looks so darned purdy. It measures 4.5" x 3.5" and a little over a quarter inch in thickness    |
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Post by 150FromFundy on Apr 9, 2009 15:50:43 GMT -5
I'd trim the edges, polish it, and have one of the prettiest beer coasters around.
Others will likely tell you to cut preforms, make cabs, and turn it into equally pretty wire wraps.
I don't wear jewelery, so beer coaster!
150FromFundy
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gzed1500
starting to shine!
Member since February 2009
Posts: 31
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Post by gzed1500 on Apr 9, 2009 15:51:38 GMT -5
I like it! Great idea on the beer coaster!
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rockdewd
has rocks in the head
Member since October 2007
Posts: 605
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Post by rockdewd on Apr 9, 2009 17:09:59 GMT -5
The big question is what is it? The green/blue looks like chryscolla.
I'm thinking the brown host rock looks softer, almost sedimentary. It would probably undercut if tumbled...
Rick
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huffstuff
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since August 2007
Posts: 1,222
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Post by huffstuff on Apr 9, 2009 18:10:51 GMT -5
That is cool! Definitely keep it as a specimen. Know anyone with a flat lap who can polish it?
Amy
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gzed1500
starting to shine!
Member since February 2009
Posts: 31
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Post by gzed1500 on Apr 9, 2009 18:49:07 GMT -5
It is called Needles Blue as it comes from Needles California.
From what I have read:
"The story: I met a man named Ed Corbin, who had heard of the blue agate through the members of the Needles Gem and Mineral Society Club, who had a mining claim on this deposit. Ed sent samples of the material to Arizona State University in the '60s to be analyzed. The result came back with a surprising 21 minerals to make this gemstone! It is similar to gem silica. Only 1 other deposit of the like mineral make-up has been known to be found; which is in Saudi Arabia. "
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tom
having dreams about rocks
Member since March 2009
Posts: 50
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Post by tom on Apr 9, 2009 19:38:44 GMT -5
That's too cool.
Sort of looks like the Mediterranean Sea all dried up and frozen in time during our next ice age. Wouldn't do a thing to it, its very pretty.
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MikeS
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2009
Posts: 1,081
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Post by MikeS on Apr 9, 2009 19:48:07 GMT -5
At 1/4" thickness, it's ideal for cabbing.....why not have the best of both worlds? There appears to be a fairy equal distribution of the blue material throughout the specimen, you could cut it in half, cab one half of it and polish the other half to display as a larger specimen....
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Post by Michael John on Apr 11, 2009 3:44:41 GMT -5
Very similar stuff is real common in volcanic areas in and around Death Valley, without the blue agate. It's volcanic breccia. The matrix is relatively soft, maybe 4-5 Mohs. Probably hard to get a glossy finish on it, but possible. Undercutting guaranteed. My guess would be that the site that came from is in or near the west side of Death Valley.
Seems kinda silly that they cut the agate/matrix material into slabs. If, instead, they'd dissected the chunk, removing the matrix from the agate, I'd assume the resulting agate would be worth considerably more.
FYI, there IS more blue agate in and around Death Valley. I found a nice piece ... ummm ... somewhere I shouldn't have been. I think I gave Steve a piece or two of it, I THINK Amber has a piece or two (?), and I have a piece or two left. Also, a few pieces from Agate Road have a slight blue tint in them. So, if I've found some, there's obviously much more.
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller 
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,496
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Post by Sabre52 on Apr 11, 2009 18:16:38 GMT -5
Yep, that looks like the famous "Needles Blue" agate all right and MJ is right, the matrix is softer and is probably a feldspar rich rhyolite. I too have heard of several deposits of similar stuff being found on the Mojave Desert. I've seen a little and it seems pretty variable ranging form an almost chrysoprase green shade of blue to more Holly Blue purple shades. Most I've seen is in pretty thin veins but man is it nice stuff. Your slab looks real fine and I'd be tempted to trim it to a minimum matrix piece and cut me a cab....Mel
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Post by frane on Apr 12, 2009 6:27:41 GMT -5
What ever you decide to do, it is a very beautiful blue!
Fran
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