electricmonk
spending too much on rocks
Member since August 2011
Posts: 281
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Post by electricmonk on Sept 30, 2011 4:16:01 GMT -5
Curious where you folks like to get your mineral specimen's, both domestic and import?
We love clusters on matrix type (quartz with pyrite, aragonite and stilibite, etc) as well as individual crystals, etc.
I know there is a lot of crap around and a lot of way overpriced material. Stopped in a new age shop in the PNW and found quartz generators selling in the 125-250 dollar range that can be bought all day long on ebay for 15-25 bucks a pop.
Would love to know where to get the most bang for my buck so to speak...and am dreading to find out if I am wasting money on ebay when other sources are offering better quality for the money.
Thanks!
Erik
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Post by Donnie's Rocky Treasures on Sept 30, 2011 7:11:46 GMT -5
I have some, I just don't know what they are! My collection has been slowly growing, not deliberately though. They just happen to be in the lots of other rock & slabs I have been acquiring at the flea market. I have some really cool one that I will posting pictures of in hopes someone will be able to identify them for me.
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cindybriggs
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2010
Posts: 164
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Post by cindybriggs on Sept 30, 2011 8:19:39 GMT -5
I have pet wood, jasper, flint, agates and chadcedony. Unbeatable prices. Thanks, Cindy
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Post by jakesrocks on Sept 30, 2011 8:57:09 GMT -5
You could always try the following guy. I've bought Wavellite and Quartz specimens from him, and been happy with what I received. arcrystalmine.com/crystals_results.php?category=21This guy is the mine owner. He digs and cleans his own specimens. He sells clusters from the casual collector all the way up to museum quality at what I consider reasonable prices. He occasionally has mineral specimens from other parts of the world that he has traded for. He and his wife do a very good job of wrapping and packaging everything before shipping. I've never received a damaged specimen from him. He is also one of the last people to have the Jeffery Quarry solution quartz specimens for sale. Don
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Post by Toad on Sept 30, 2011 9:46:52 GMT -5
I believe Mary (peachfront) has some specimens....
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peachfront
fully equipped rock polisher
Stones have begun to speak, because an ear is there to hear them.
Member since August 2010
Posts: 1,745
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Post by peachfront on Sept 30, 2011 11:53:08 GMT -5
I have some but would you believe I have still not gotten organized enough to post them? I was planning to post some two months ago. Argh. I hope to post some items soon. It's just slow going around here, as I'm not a professional.
I'm probably out of Wavellite that I'm willing to sell. The rest is for my own collection. Arkansas Quartz...I definitely still have some of that, just need to get it cleaned and photographed. Same with Green Tourmaline needles in Brazilian Quartz, got some goodies there, just need to clean/photograph them.
Prices in the New Age shops are illogical, often not based on the rarity or market value of the crystal at all. It's funny to me, because I follow more of the folklore side of the New Age or crystal power or whatever you like to call it, and quartz/crystal folklore "for the people" in olden times would have been performed with inexpensive stones in my humble opinion.
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unclestu
Cave Dweller
WINNER OF THE FIRST RTH KILLER CAB CONTEST UNCLESTU'S AGUA NUEVA AGATE
Member since April 2011
Posts: 2,298
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Post by unclestu on Sept 30, 2011 13:51:34 GMT -5
Hi .
If you are looking for mineral specimen s try Astro Galleries in NYC MT Minerals on ebay . Theys claim to be the largest rock store in the world. I have done business with them both on and off ebay and they are very trustworthy. They handle anything from museum quality and down. You can get a great deal if you watch their auctions. Another one is eBay Store: open-adit west . Did business with them and they exceeded my expectations.
Also there is Rodney from digforcrystals. He is a forum member and I have done business with him as well. Stu
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snuffy
Cave Dweller
Member since May 2009
Posts: 4,319
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Post by snuffy on Sept 30, 2011 14:02:44 GMT -5
You may try dirtyrockhounds.com, they are in to specimens on there.There are members on here that are on that too.There are some that are selling specimens now.
snuffy
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electricmonk
spending too much on rocks
Member since August 2011
Posts: 281
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Post by electricmonk on Sept 30, 2011 16:42:28 GMT -5
Hi . If you are looking for mineral specimen s try Astro Galleries in NYC MT Minerals on ebay . Theys claim to be the largest rock store in the world. I have done business with them both on and off ebay and they are very trustworthy. They handle anything from museum quality and down. You can get a great deal if you watch their auctions. Another one is eBay Store: open-adit west . Did business with them and they exceeded my expectations. Also there is Rodney from digforcrystals. He is a forum member and I have done business with him as well. Stu Glad to hear you plug Astro Gallery, I have purchased quite a bit from them in the last couple of months but didn't have any comparisons to make. Thanks for the reply
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peachfront
fully equipped rock polisher
Stones have begun to speak, because an ear is there to hear them.
Member since August 2010
Posts: 1,745
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Post by peachfront on Oct 1, 2011 18:34:55 GMT -5
I would be cautious about Astro Gallery unless you are already pretty knowledgeable. My information is old information, but in the 1990s I had an experience where I ordered some insect-included Amber from the Dominican Republic for some friends who wanted Amber. It was fake, and they should have known that it was a fake, since the lines in the resin sandwich were clearly visible. Yes, they made it very easy to return the order, but I felt like it was something that should have never happened in the first place. Your mileage may vary. Most of my sales were to the New Age community, and a bad "real" rock has more metaphysical value and power than even the most beautiful fake, and I simply couldn't risk any more fakes. It was a little upsetting...
I hesitate to post this because it was a one-time screw-up that happened probably 15 years ago and they fixed it the moment I complained. But I don't like how resin is creeping into the world of stone, and that was my first encounter with resin being used to fake a stone so it unfortunately stuck with me.
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unclestu
Cave Dweller
WINNER OF THE FIRST RTH KILLER CAB CONTEST UNCLESTU'S AGUA NUEVA AGATE
Member since April 2011
Posts: 2,298
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Post by unclestu on Oct 1, 2011 18:57:19 GMT -5
Hey Peachfront, it is to bad that you had a bad experience with Astro Galleries. I to purchase all of my specimens for metaphysical reasons as well. With all of the heat treated crap out there one has to be carefull. I purchased a lot of pieces over the past few months from MT Minerals their ebay site and became friendly with Eddie who handles the ebay sales. I have no com[plaint and found them to be easy and pain less to deal with.
Eric what type of minerals do you buy? Open Adit has a vast variety and their customer service is second to none. However if you are looking for some really unique pieces ata resonable price give Rodney a look see. He has some really nice Amethyst crystals and some killer Branberg that he actually mined himself in Africa. You will not be disappointeed with his prices. Good luck
Stu
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electricmonk
spending too much on rocks
Member since August 2011
Posts: 281
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Post by electricmonk on Oct 1, 2011 19:36:06 GMT -5
Found Open-Adit on Ebay, thanks! Is Rodney a board member? Edit: saw you mentioned him in a previous post, "digforcrystals"..thanks! Edit again: can't seem to find an actual spot where he is selling online from that site. It isn't particulaly "navigable" if you follow Do you have to contact him directly to get prices? As it happens I was looking for some Amethyst for a wedding gift for a friend. Thanks!
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meta99
has rocks in the head
Ohio Flint Ridge flint
Member since October 2010
Posts: 540
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Post by meta99 on Oct 1, 2011 20:29:54 GMT -5
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