Banjocreek
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since March 2003
Posts: 1,115
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Post by Banjocreek on Jun 9, 2005 0:59:45 GMT -5
I guess it wouldn't hurt to post this link. I picked up some rocks from Zimbabwe so if you are interested and even know the names of some of the "Mystery Rocks" let me know. Rather than post them all feel free to view the album. Thanks photobucket.com/albums/v229/banjocreek/Zimbabwe/I plan on slabbing most of this for jewelry but the scrap will always make it in to the tumbler. -Banjo |
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Tonya
spending too much on rocks
Member since May 2005
Posts: 304
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Post by Tonya on Jun 9, 2005 6:24:40 GMT -5
Wow, those are some nice rocks, banjo. I like the sodalite and the blue agate. Those are gonna turn out real pretty.
How do you plan to polish the lepidorite? I have some of that I got off ebay but not sure how to tumble it since it has a lower mohs.
Tonya
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Debs
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since February 2005
Posts: 1,252
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Post by Debs on Jun 9, 2005 7:17:53 GMT -5
Cool rocks Banjo! I love the unakite!
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Post by Cher on Jun 9, 2005 7:54:42 GMT -5
Banjo, how did you keep such a secret? How long did it take to get them? Love those agates, they have awesome banding. You'll be making some stunning wraps with that stuff.
Cher
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Post by Tweetiepy on Jun 9, 2005 8:33:39 GMT -5
I can't wait to see what you do with them! They're all fabulous! Lucky you, Good haul!
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Post by krazydiamond on Jun 9, 2005 8:34:21 GMT -5
cool rocks!! yeh, how long did it take and was there a minimum order?
gorgeous stuff tho! good luck with it!
KD
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Post by Alice on Jun 9, 2005 8:41:21 GMT -5
Nice rocks Banjo
That crystal look a lot like a Herkimer diamond
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stefan
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Jun 9, 2005 9:50:04 GMT -5
Awesome looking stuff- The 3 pic- Mystery crystals- AMAZONITE- also I think those rusty crystals (herkimer looking) might be Flourite? Was this the entire load or were those just select specimens of several tons of material?
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Banjocreek
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since March 2003
Posts: 1,115
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Post by Banjocreek on Jun 9, 2005 13:16:32 GMT -5
Tonya- the Lepidolite will have to be cabbed and polished. i have seen it tumbled, but you are right, it is pretty soft. A nice purple with mica flakes.
RosebudMN-It was easy to keep a secret. I wasn't sure what I was getting into or getting as a return:). It took about 5 days to get here by courier.
KD- No minimun order, but it could be considered a bit pricey. I am negotiating prices on the samples I recieved right now. It was a 20 pound parcel.
Stefan- This was the whole order. It was a sampling, as the gal I am working with is new to this and it sounds like she might be a sales rep working for a broker. We are still working on details for larger amounts and what-not.
I probably have enough in the sample box to keep me in cabs for a good while. The parcel with shipping cost $300, which actually works out to $15.00 a pound. That is real close to retail cost for some of the material, so that needs to be renegotiated, but I was willing to gamble.
The Kyanite sticks alone sell retail for $5-$20, and retail Mtorolite is about $15.00 a pound
So it was probably a fair trade.
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Post by creativeminded on Jun 9, 2005 13:27:29 GMT -5
Very Pretty.
Tami
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Tonya
spending too much on rocks
Member since May 2005
Posts: 304
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Post by Tonya on Jun 9, 2005 14:19:34 GMT -5
Oh, I guess I got my lepidolite for a bargain then, I got 2 lbs lepidolite for 3.99 and 2 lbs lepidolite mica for $3.99 off ebay.
They dont look like much dry but when wet, they are a real pretty purple. I put a couple pieces in 120/220 and keeping a close eye on them to see what they do. Some of the pieces are rather big so havent figured out what to do with them yet.
Please post pics when you get these rocks cabbed or slabbed, I am sure they will be gorgeous.
Tonya
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Post by connrock on Jun 11, 2005 11:14:17 GMT -5
Hi banjo,,,, WOW,,,,,,Nice rocks!! One of your mystery crystals may be aquamarine,,,,,  The brownish crystal may be apatite but i'm not sure. |
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Banjocreek
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since March 2003
Posts: 1,115
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Post by Banjocreek on Jun 11, 2005 18:10:38 GMT -5
Cabbed Basalt with Iron Pyrite.One chunck slabbed and a cab made- 
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Post by Cher on Jun 11, 2005 18:26:48 GMT -5
Oooo that's pretty. Is there white in there or is that just the shine or is that like the hematite, where it's kind of a gun metal. You know that stuff that's so hard to get a decent picture of.
Cher
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Post by rockyraccoon on Jun 11, 2005 22:45:38 GMT -5
which stone is that one banjo? what do you do with the kyanite?
kim
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Banjocreek
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since March 2003
Posts: 1,115
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Post by Banjocreek on Jun 12, 2005 1:30:04 GMT -5
That cab is the Basalt with Iron Pyrite.   The stone is Pitch Black with a great shine and the Iron Pyrite looks white, but it is gold and spashes through the stones. The oval areas are the reflection of the 2 light bulbs, but you can see the reflection near the bottom of the base it is sitting on. I got about 5 slabs off of it and it is a very easy stone to work with. If you don't mind the black and the sewer smell. I'm not sure what to do with the Kyanite sticks. There seems to be more of a metephysical attraction to these things. I should have a cab of Mtorolite next as it is a Chromium Chalcedony it is very haed and polishes great!! Yes, that seems to be the correct spelling all right, Mtorolite. It appears to sell for abot $14.00 a pound, as far as my research goes. Very nice stuff too! |
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Banjocreek
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since March 2003
Posts: 1,115
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Post by Banjocreek on Jun 17, 2005 0:15:45 GMT -5
Here is that cab all wrapped. I think the color and contrast might be better on this shot. It's kinda fun to work with this stuff. Some how my contact in Zimbabwe seems to have fallen off the map or something. The Lapidolite she sent along works better than I thought it would. It polishes sort of like a granite, but the sparkles are eye catching and the color is a Concord Grape Purple.  Lapidolite-   -Banjo |
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Post by Cher on Jun 17, 2005 7:04:29 GMT -5
Looks almost like amethyst doesn't it. Very nice pendant Banjo, I can see the different color now. Weird though, the rough you can clearly see the gold, the pendant looks silver. Either way, it's just nice! I like the way it kind of splashes across the stone. Don't know if I'd want to work with a rock that smells like sewer though *smile*. Your a brave man Banjo!!
Cher
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llanago
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,714
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Post by llanago on Jun 17, 2005 7:15:47 GMT -5
Banjo, that pendant is beautiful! And, since purple is one of my favorite colors, I love the Lapidolite.
llana
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Jun 17, 2005 8:55:37 GMT -5
Banjo- First rate- that Lapidolite held together real good- I had my doubts (it tends to be crumble-y) Hmmm the sewer smell- similiar to working with copolite? I cut into the chunk I got from you and MAN the water went Black and the wife swore I was not getting any more chili! (try explaining that it was the rock)
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