RocknCritter
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2008
Posts: 489
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Post by RocknCritter on Jan 8, 2010 16:49:12 GMT -5
I have a few slabs I need to sell. Brenda Plume Agate - 2 slabs $7.50 2.25"x3" & 2.5"x4" both .25" thick 4.7 oz combined - There are some pits that will need to be sealed. Kingston Copper - $15 5"x7"x.25" 11.2 oz Quartz with Epidote - 2 slabs $4.50 2.75"x4"x.25" 3"x4"x.25" 7.1 oz combined - The black lines indicate several fractures. Corundum - $6 2.5"x4"x.25" 6.1 oz Colorado Pet Wood - $12 3.5"x3.5"x2" 14.8 oz - The black lines were my slabbing marks. If anyone is interested, we can figure out shipping at that time.
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RocknCritter
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2008
Posts: 489
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Post by RocknCritter on Jan 7, 2010 10:07:38 GMT -5
The photoshopped "molten lava" is plastic. Just like the fake stalagtites in the pix. After all this is a tourist attraction. Yes, the geodes are hollow. However, the next time your in Tucson or a major rock show like Denver, go visit one of the amethyst vendors. You will often see large geodes like this with very uneven crystal growth. Here's some more information about this particular specimen. www.crystalcaves.com.au/empress_of_uruguay_faq.htmwww.crystalcaves.com.au/worlds_biggest_geode.htmWhat the heck: Here's an idea! Let's make a visit to the Crystal Caves - in Australia - a RTH FIELD TRIP! That way everyone can see the "Empress of Uruguay" in person.
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RocknCritter
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2008
Posts: 489
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Post by RocknCritter on Jan 6, 2010 19:26:19 GMT -5
These are not altered by Photoshop. They are all over the place in parts of South America. I have some pixs some from my travels down there. I'll see if I can find a few. If you ever make it to Tucson, there are several companies selling them. In the interim. www.fromuruguay.com/products/amethysts/amethysts/bigpieces.htm
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RocknCritter
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2008
Posts: 489
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Post by RocknCritter on Dec 30, 2009 9:26:44 GMT -5
Hey Chromenut,
These have sold. I should have posted a message to this effect earlier.
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RocknCritter
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2008
Posts: 489
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Post by RocknCritter on Dec 22, 2009 14:31:40 GMT -5
I think everything is sold. Here are a few pixs. This one shows some of the better pieces. This one shows the pieces that are either harder to see inside or they're just smoky or clear quartz. The only milky piece is in the lower left corner of pix #3. To be fair to everyone, I'll do a blind pick/pour between the two groups. Thanks everyone.
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RocknCritter
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2008
Posts: 489
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Post by RocknCritter on Dec 22, 2009 9:21:55 GMT -5
O.K. Since I've received several PM's about this rough and a lot of the questions are similar, I thought it would be easier to post the replies here.
If anyone has ever looked at a bunch of rulitated quartz rough it can be really hard to tell what's actually inside. Ideally, the best thing to do is cut and polish a window and then study what's there. You have to be a prepared for a few surprises both good and bad. If you're not patient, it can be real easy to cut or grind in the wrong place and ruin the best display of rutile.
Most of the rough appears to have gold rutile needles. There are a few pieces that have the copper colored needles. There is at least one piece that might have some very fine silver needles.
Some of the rough but not all of it appears crystal clear. While I haven't studied each piece extensively, none of it appears to be milky or cloudy. As a reference, I recently asked about the cost of the very best AAA+ top grade water clear rutilated quartz. David Epstein quoted a price of $100 per pound plus shipping! So for the price, I've been pretty pleased.
The pieces range in size from say 1.5" to 3-4". None of it has been slabbed but I haven't had any problems cutting down the nodules.
I'll post pixs of the rough and a few finished cabs later today.
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RocknCritter
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2008
Posts: 489
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Post by RocknCritter on Dec 21, 2009 20:09:08 GMT -5
I just got way more Rutilated Quartz rough from Brasil than I can use. So I'm selling off some it. Almost all the pieces show some rutile needles from I can see but there are a few pieces of clear and smoky quartz. I paid about $10 a pound including the freight from the Green Paradise and figure I'll sell it for the same plus shipping to anyone interested. There are 6-7 pounds. If you've ever wanted to cab, facet or carve Rutilated Quartz here's your chance. Let me know.
Happy Holidays!!
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RocknCritter
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2008
Posts: 489
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Post by RocknCritter on Dec 21, 2009 20:02:05 GMT -5
O.K. I've reduced the price.
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RocknCritter
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2008
Posts: 489
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Post by RocknCritter on Nov 10, 2009 9:10:47 GMT -5
I have nine foam gem trays and all the jars for sale for $20. This includes the shipping in the USA.
There are eight trays that hold 24 jars and one tray that holds 50 small jars. All the foam trays and jars are white.
The foam is a little yellow and some of the jars have some sticky residue on the back from the little stickers I used to id everything. Otherwise, they're in good condition. New these trays and jars usually sell for $6-9 for each set. So here's your chance to get these at about half price!
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RocknCritter
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2008
Posts: 489
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Post by RocknCritter on Oct 31, 2009 15:23:15 GMT -5
After I posted earlier and logged off something struck me about the polyhedral obsidian.
Is it just me or does anyone else see what might be wrong about this statement?
Obsidian is amorphous. By nature, it can't form in a cubic or polyhedral structure as I understand it. Agate (quartz) is trigonal and would be more likely to form this way. I'm CERTAINLY not an expert yet the more I think about it, either this artifact is agate or an extremely rare form of obsidian (or for all we know, something completely different).
Have you ever held it up to the light to see if there are little growth lines or rings?
Or maybe Harley is on to something. The term polyhedral doesn't refer to the crystal structure. Instead maybe it has more to do with the usage.
Either way: FASCINATING> In the voice of Spock from Star Trek.
You're a lucky girl to have this collection!!!
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RocknCritter
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2008
Posts: 489
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Post by RocknCritter on Oct 31, 2009 9:19:46 GMT -5
. #13 If I knew Spanish, I might know what he thought this might be. azadon y raspador = grub hoe and scraper
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RocknCritter
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2008
Posts: 489
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Post by RocknCritter on Oct 31, 2009 9:11:53 GMT -5
#6 Has the word (Polihedral ) on the label, have you ever held that little guy in front of a bright light ? Some Crystals have a bubble containing water in them. Never heard of a water bubble in Obsidian but it wouldn't take long to check it out ! Harley Howdy Everyone, I think in the above post from Harley he's referring to "enhydro" crystals - rocks that have small water or gas bubbles. These are certainly some pretty cool inclusions that can be seen when the crystal is held up to the light. When you move the crystal, you can see the bubble move. "Nucleo polihedral obsidiano" refers to the polyhedral center of the obsidian. The best known polyhedral specimens are the three and four-sided agates from Brasil. If you need to translate some of these terms, babelfish.yahoo.com/ is pretty helpful.
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RocknCritter
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2008
Posts: 489
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js gems
Oct 6, 2009 21:22:16 GMT -5
Post by RocknCritter on Oct 6, 2009 21:22:16 GMT -5
I was set-up as the same gems shows as JS Gems 3 or 4 times this summer. I think just about every morning I would see John heading off to the post office with a bunch of red, white and blue priority mail boxes. They really do have excellent customer service.
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RocknCritter
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2008
Posts: 489
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Post by RocknCritter on Sept 30, 2009 11:24:20 GMT -5
It looks like calico lace agate to me.
Then again, the older I get the more I use to remember...........
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RocknCritter
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2008
Posts: 489
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Post by RocknCritter on Sept 26, 2009 9:43:32 GMT -5
In August I bought a Gryphon C-40 band saw from John at JSGems. Before the purchase, he took the time to demonstrate the different saws he sells and explain the differences.
After getting home, I set-up the saw and started cutting on my new tool. But after about 18 cabs, the blade wouldn't stay on. I tried to make the adjustments suggested in the manual yet still wasn't successful in keeping the blade in place.
In the end, the lower wheel was out of adjustment. During this little crisis, John and Alan at Gryphon patiently made suggestions and eventually help me solve the problem. Since Alan was out of town initially and it took a little time for us to make contact, he even set me a new blade and some extra guides.
If you want to cut some different shaped cabs, get a Gryphon band saw.
If you want to deal with someone who really, really cares about the lapidary arts, support JSGems.
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RocknCritter
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2008
Posts: 489
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Post by RocknCritter on Sept 26, 2009 9:29:59 GMT -5
Well, it's a small world. Last week at the Denver Gem & Mineral shows I was checking out a display of some really nice cabs. After looking at what I thought was everything, I started to walk away. However in one of those moments of indecision I decided to do a 180 and see everything on the other side of the exhibit hall. So I walked back by the booth with the cabs. In one upper corner there's a whole display of black etched cabs that catches my attention. Eureka! They're all similar and nearly identical to my cab. The same black material. The same style of intricate etching patterns. The woman in the booth is named Lisette Thierry. She very kindly explains that she cut them from black onyx and etch resist film. Not only is she the cab cutter, she normally doesn't work the trade shows. So in one of those little coincidences in life I get to meet the artist and learn about a new technique. Since I bought the cab I've been really intriqued by this piece. Now I can sleep a little easier
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RocknCritter
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2008
Posts: 489
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Post by RocknCritter on Sept 13, 2009 10:45:58 GMT -5
Every single time I see one of Ken's knives, I start to drool.
On my monitor, the stone looks more like larvikite (aka Norwegian moonstone) than labradorite.
Either way, it doesn't matter. I just need to find a bib now.............
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RocknCritter
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2008
Posts: 489
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Post by RocknCritter on Sept 13, 2009 10:40:27 GMT -5
Since Amazonite isn't found in Tejas, there's a better chance of it being serpentine. There are four or five recorded serpentine locations in the state. (Or is it still a country? ) The closet locale to SA for serpentine is in Knippa.
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RocknCritter
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2008
Posts: 489
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Post by RocknCritter on Sept 2, 2009 21:15:09 GMT -5
Hi Rc I can only go by what was wrote on the Package from Manchester Minerals (Hiltons wholesale) and it says B -------- No !!! Your right its Chile ive just checked them.
Thanks for pointing this out
Appoligies to other RTH members
Jack Yorkshire UKNo apologies necessary Jack. In hindsight I should have pointed out that there might be differences in the way lapis and sodalite polish. I have worked with both and prefer lapis eventhough my heart goes with the Brazilian sodalite. We all make mistakes identifying all the different gemstone materials. Once I was given a light pink faceted stone. All I could remember was that the name started with "T". So I called it pink topaz. Rare. Elusive. Unique. It was a common pink tourmaline
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RocknCritter
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2008
Posts: 489
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Post by RocknCritter on Sept 2, 2009 21:08:17 GMT -5
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