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Post by rockpickerforever on Mar 7, 2017 16:05:01 GMT -5
Received this link from someone on Yahoo Groups:
www.crystal-world.com/cutting-chrysoprase-with-steve-hompot/
Had never heard of this before.
Rainbow lattice sunstone 
From Wiki
Rainbow lattice sunstone with hematite and ilmenite equilateral triangle inclusions
Rainbow lattice sunstone is a type of feldspar which is predominantly moonstone that is made up of 75% orthoclase and 25% albite.
The inclusions (internal features) are referred to as: the result of crystalographically oriented exsolution crystals within the feldspar mass, these are hematite and ilmenite.
hematite (Fe2O3) which are small mainly yellow to deep orange platelets which can be hexagonal shape and are generally in one plane within the feldspar. This effect is called aventurescence or "sunstone effect" which gives some of the gems an orange glow.
ilmenite (FeTiO3) titanium iron oxide which creates the lattice effect. This forms as a very thin blades that occur in one plane at different levels. These blades orientate (north/south) in different levels by a process known as lamellar twinning and also displays “Sagentic twinning”, which forms the lattice pattern. The ilmenite inclusions in many cases have oxidized or altered through geophysical processes to give the iridescence or rainbow effect across the lattice patterning. The ilmenite that has no alteration remains black with a metallic sheen. The ilmenite also predominantly forms equilateral triangles and the lattice pattern has triangular terminations.
MORE
Yeah, I so wanno go there!
On a related note, 
there was also info on the Fluorite Feldspar Mine near Blythe . More UV photos!
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Post by Pat on Mar 7, 2017 16:54:53 GMT -5
Wow! That sunstone doesn't look real, but more like gunnysack material. I'd love to find it!!
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NDK
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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Post by NDK on Mar 7, 2017 16:56:50 GMT -5
That sunstone is flipping cool Jean! I happen to have a buddy going to New Zealand and Australia for 2 weeks next month. I've got him talked into picking me up some rocks if they look good (spending I believe a week hiking New Zealand), but he knows nothing about the hobby so I just said if something looks cool grab it. I don't want him to (and wouldn't expect him to) waste his vacation looking for rocks for me.
Australia is on my bucket list. Actually was even before I got into this hobby. Maybe someday I'll get to rock pick there!
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Post by rockpickerforever on Mar 7, 2017 18:27:33 GMT -5
That sunstone is flipping cool Jean! I happen to have a buddy going to New Zealand and Australia for 2 weeks next month. I've got him talked into picking me up some rocks if they look good (spending I believe a week hiking New Zealand), but he knows nothing about the hobby so I just said if something looks cool grab it. I don't want him to (and wouldn't expect him to) waste his vacation looking for rocks for me. Australia is on my bucket list. Actually was even before I got into this hobby. Maybe someday I'll get to rock pick there! Thanks, Nate. Yeah, I think so, too. It's just too perfect, almost looks like it is man made.
From the website in the original post:
That website has one cab for sale, $350US. If all that is true about it, probably not going to be lucky enough to come across some in the wild. But, that wouldn't keep me from a trip to Australia. For opals, maybe... Australia has been on my bucket list for a long time, too.
Nate, when do you wanna go??  Jean
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Post by spiceman on Mar 7, 2017 20:49:49 GMT -5
That is a nice looking stone but lots of money to go to Australia, also there are too many bugs, spiders and snakes that can kill you. I addicted to breathing and will wait for someone on EBay to sell them.
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Post by beefjello on Mar 7, 2017 21:57:08 GMT -5
That is really cool! The pattern is reminiscent of some cut meteorites I've seen, 'cept in Technicolor  |
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rivarat
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since June 2016
Posts: 140 
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Post by rivarat on Mar 8, 2017 0:00:18 GMT -5
Not much of this around. I don't have any in my collection. Quick look showed a small amount for sale link |
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,723
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Post by Fossilman on Mar 8, 2017 10:45:25 GMT -5
Australia has the coolest rocks,minerals and other collectables in most any country......Lets go....
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Mar 8, 2017 10:55:05 GMT -5
I saw that one too Jean. I did about 20 minutes of Google rockhounding and learned it is commercially dug out. Meaning some may remain.
The fluorescent"mine" is unclaimed. I have a friend who knows the guy in the videos. Hoping to get some that way.
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spiritstone
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Member since August 2014
Posts: 2,061
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Post by spiritstone on Mar 8, 2017 20:33:04 GMT -5
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NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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Post by NDK on Mar 9, 2017 9:54:48 GMT -5
Nate, when do you wanna go?? Jean [/p] Hmmm, I'm off next Tuesday. That gives us time to pack lol |
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,612
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Post by jamesp on Mar 9, 2017 10:15:01 GMT -5
Unbelievable Jean. Mother's Nature at it's finest.
Mother's Finest "Piece of the Rock" 1977. Home town Atlanta band. Seen em many a time. r-o-w-d-y bunch
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Post by rockpickerforever on Mar 9, 2017 10:31:29 GMT -5
Isn't that some cool stuff, jamesp? Too bad feldspar is so soft, not something I'm too keen to work with. Never heard of that band, an Atlanta thing you say? |
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,612
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Post by jamesp on Mar 9, 2017 11:32:43 GMT -5
Isn't that some cool stuff, jamesp? Too bad feldspar is so soft, not something I'm too keen to work with. Never heard of that band, an Atlanta thing you say? Yea, Atlanta. sort of a Tina Turner thing except Ms. Kennedy may have made Tina sound like a melody. Ears still damaged from illegal sound levels they amplified. LOUD band. check out size of noise maker lol.  |
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Post by nowyo on Mar 12, 2017 23:18:18 GMT -5
That's some really cool stuff, but no on the going to Oz. Too many relatives there.
Russ
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Post by broseph82 on Mar 16, 2017 14:11:50 GMT -5
Beware... there is also African Rainbow Sunstone that is close in similarity but much cheaper to purchase. I did a cab of it awhile back, noticed that a med to high dome isn't always practical for this material. Keeping it low to flat promotes the pattern and lattice colors much better.  ![]()  Where can I get rough of this in large scale? |
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spiritstone
Cave Dweller
Member since August 2014
Posts: 2,061
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Post by spiritstone on Mar 19, 2017 9:01:31 GMT -5
Beware... there is also African Rainbow Sunstone that is close in similarity but much cheaper to purchase. I did a cab of it awhile back, noticed that a med to high dome isn't always practical for this material. Keeping it low to flat promotes the pattern and lattice colors much better. Where can I get rough of this in large scale? Sorry, Cant help you out. The seller I purchased it from is no longer around after checking. Type in African rainbow sunstone on ebay and see what might come up. The only advice I can offer. |
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,723
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Post by Fossilman on Mar 19, 2017 10:50:25 GMT -5
Also can get a hold of Casey at Richardson Ranch in Madras,Oregon... He has many connections in that area now...
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Post by broseph82 on Mar 19, 2017 13:25:30 GMT -5
Also can get a hold of Casey at Richardson Ranch in Madras,Oregon... He has many connections in that area now... Casey and I talk from time to time and Ive ordered some large scale rocks from him in the past. Ill do that thanks. spiritstone when you told the name the first time thats where I went and checked. Wasnt excited about what I saw. Thank you though |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 19, 2017 13:27:50 GMT -5
Aussie goods  |
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Jean
