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Post by Tweetiepy on Jun 15, 2005 21:12:24 GMT -5
I just came back from my club and they had an auction of minerals (I got a bucket made up just for me with tumbling rough) I got all this for $6 (I think it's a good deal) I can identify, calcite (orange, blue & purple) on the right, there's serpentine (I think those are the big chunks), sodalite, some vesuvianite below the purple on the lower left & some other stuff that I can't remember. I'll try to get a better pic tomorrow if we can get some sun at some point and get some close ups as I'd be interested in knowing what else I have. Here's my complete load.  Rollingstone: is this the watermelon tourmaline that you were talking about? I coulda bid on a chunk of tourmaline that was tricolored but I was told not to tell them that I tumbled them as they were a collection piece and I was told that since it was fractured it would crumble into "sand". This piece I could tumble, kinda wondering what it would look like. I was told the 2 mile hike for this kind of tourmaline was not on the agenda since the last time they went they were greeted with shotguns! I'll pass on that one. Any one know the hardness of tourmaline? Sorry it's blurry, I got camera shake...   Thanks for looking |
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flowoxsgarden
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since May 2005
Posts: 196
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Post by flowoxsgarden on Jun 15, 2005 21:17:32 GMT -5
Nice stuff you got there, congrats |
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Post by Cher on Jun 15, 2005 21:32:22 GMT -5
Nice looking stuff you got Tweety. That stuff in the first pic,
near bottom center above the little green ones, black with
white lines all over it. Did you have any idea on that one? I
find a lot of that here, specially when I can get down to Lake
Superior. It doesn't tumlber really well though, parts of it
shine others don't. I'll have to see if I can find a piece to
show you how it looks tumbled. Not sure if I have any that's
gone all the way through though.
The green piece right below it too, with the darker green
spots ... no idea but find a lot of that too. Some of the
pieces I've found, the darker green is almost like tiny
crystals.
Cher
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Post by Tweetiepy on Jun 15, 2005 21:39:17 GMT -5
Cher i think those are serpentine, they're dark green with lighter green streaks through it. I'll hafta get closeups to get details - I forgot, may daughter got some polished blue rocks too. I really have to post pics now!
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rollingstone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2009
Posts: 236
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Post by rollingstone on Jun 16, 2005 1:33:31 GMT -5
Tweet, that pic you have does look like tourmaline, but you'd have to look at the end to see if it is watermelon tourmaline. Watermelon tourmaline has a green outside and a pink interior, so when it is cut crosswise it looks like a slice of watermelon! Here's what it looks like: www.mineralminers.com/html/twmlrgh.stmTourmaline is supposed to come in more colours than any other gemstone, though pink and green are said to be the most common shades of gem tourmaline. Black tourmaline is the most common shade of all, called schorl, but it is not gem quality (might be good for tumbling though). I think you posted a pic of schorl a few days ago. The pic you have in this thread looks to be much higher quality stuff, probably too good to tumble. Tourmaline has a hardness of about mohs 7.5, so it should take a nice shine. I've never seen any tumbled... I looked into it but was put off by the very high price. I guess it's really for facetting or as display crystals, not tumbling. Interesting sodalite in your top pic... I see what you mean that it is very light blue. Thanks for identifying the other rocks, I wouldn't have had a clue what most of them were. If you tumble them, post up pics! (The calcite is probably too soft to tumble.) |
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Post by Tweetiepy on Jun 16, 2005 8:18:09 GMT -5
RS, The outside is black, one end is green however, but I doubt that the inside is pink - I now understand what they meant by watermelon *duh* I figure these are for faceting & not tumbling (but I will try to tumble it anyways - hey if it's rock, I'll try it) The calcite does tumble pretty well, not sure about the polish as mine haven't made it that far yet - but it turns into little balls of color - I'm gonna try polishing them up.
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stefan
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Jun 16, 2005 13:19:03 GMT -5
Tweet I have a bunch of Tourmaline- and that is water melon- water melon is defined as a green rind with a darker center (usually pink but can be dark green, blue, black) I have a green/pink piece that is incredible (I'll get pix this weekend) of course it also cost $75.00 WHOLESALE (direct from the mine). I also have some that looks like yours. I would not tumble it as it is hard material but fractures easily. Cool looking tumbling stuff!
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Post by rockyraccoon on Jun 16, 2005 16:46:45 GMT -5
very nice rocks. so are the calcite specimans collectors items?
kim
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Post by Tweetiepy on Jun 16, 2005 17:19:49 GMT -5
I hope not cuz they're going in the barrel! But the colors sure are nice |
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