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Post by helens on Jul 25, 2012 19:00:33 GMT -5
I had Gene out today. I found a slab that was real thin and did some practice with it. I took awhile, but I did it-- I got a very lowdome cab. ;D This is a mystery material from Susan. I think it is an agate jasper. HEY! That looks a lot like the cab material I was trying to ID in the slab section!!!!!! What is it what is it?
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Post by rockjunquie on Jul 25, 2012 19:08:04 GMT -5
Sorry, I don't know for sure. Susan24224 sent it to me. I'm pretty sure it was just marked as being from AZ. It may possibly have been from Don (rockpup) but I may have gotten that wrong. Maybe Susan will read this and let us know for sure. This seemed fairly soft. It looks like jasper with agate, but if there is such a creature- it may be more like jasper with quartz. Dunno- not so great on IDs, yet. Doesn't seem as hard as jasper agate I've worked so far.
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Post by helens on Jul 25, 2012 19:20:08 GMT -5
I think Susan is on vacation and won't be back til Monday....
But quick question Tela... do you know if it has silver or gold metal flecks? I THINK I see flecks but can't be sure if it's light reflection or actual metal flakes...
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Post by rockjunquie on Jul 25, 2012 19:30:26 GMT -5
No metal- there is some sparkle from deep and surface druzy.
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jspencer
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2011
Posts: 929
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Post by jspencer on Jul 25, 2012 23:12:43 GMT -5
I accidentally cut a slab too thin once and didn`t want to waste it so I did my first cab with a flat face and a beveled edge. I really ended up liking how it turned out.
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Post by 3rdrockfromthefun on Jul 26, 2012 2:28:31 GMT -5
jan - how big are those framed jaspers and how did you polish them? Thanks!
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Post by talkingstones on Jul 29, 2012 7:04:33 GMT -5
Great thread, Tela! Let me know how you come out with that slab as I've gotten a couple off of ebay like that. Seems they're cutting these slabs reaaaally thin these days!
Cathy
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jul 29, 2012 7:24:14 GMT -5
If that stone is working real easy it may be jasper quartz. I have some brecciated jasper that I thought was filled with agate but when I started drilling it it drilled like quartz which drills pretty easy. The interior crystal flash pretty much sums it up as quartz. I have not seen one agate with interior flash unless the agate had quartz areas in it which I find all the time. The brecciated jasper with quartz Agate with quartz crystals encapsulated in it. Probably part of a geode. Jim
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Post by helens on Jul 29, 2012 12:45:57 GMT -5
I don't know about Tela's, but my cab with the metal was super super hard, definitely agate not quartz. The brecciated ball looks neat, it's almost a sphere:).
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Post by susand24224 on Jul 29, 2012 15:33:24 GMT -5
I'm back physically, but not quite mentally. I have no idea what the composition of the red, etc. slab is but can tell you a bit more. I have gotten several boxes of stuff from Don (Rocpup). The first box was endcuts and pieces for tumbling. I tossed some into a mixed Mohs 7 barrel and it got chewed up. Or at least some of it got chewed up. Don found the rocks somewhere in AZ--he felt they were not indigenous, and the supply is limited. There is a tremendous variety--cream with red and green (Tela posted one of these), the red, etc., some black and white, all with really wild and varied patterns. A few of them are Mohs 7, solid throughout. Most are a bit softer, with varied hardnesses throughout. The "white" on Tela's cab is likely a slabbed crystal area--nearly all of the rocks from Don have multiple druzy pockets; some are nearly 50% crystal. The crystals are mostly dogtooth, and I agree that most are quartz. They are usually loosely attached; it is easy to fracture them cutting or cabbing. A few are softer, perhaps calcite(?) I love these rocks--they are indeed a challenge; one must be careful cutting, trimming and cabbing. But the patterns and variety are incredible. Two thumbs up to Tela for such a nice and thin cab from challenging material!
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Post by rockjunquie on Jul 29, 2012 18:05:03 GMT -5
Susan- Thanks for the great response! ;D I'm happy to know I was on the right track with quartz versus agate. I'm learning slowly but surely.
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Post by susand24224 on Jul 29, 2012 20:04:24 GMT -5
Tela, I'm certainly no expert. But I figure if I give enough information, someone on the Board who knows far more than me will chime in!
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