metalsmith
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Post by metalsmith on Feb 11, 2017 10:53:18 GMT -5
Here is another one. Note the turquoise from the Fox Mine looks just like a lot of the turquoise I have been mining here in Southern Nevada that some people have claimed is chrysocolla even though the specific gravity is too high for chrysocolla but is correct for turquoise, it does not gel in acid like chrysocolla and tests very high in phosphate again consistent with turquoise but not chrysocolla: www.horsekeeping.com/jewelry/stones.htmThis is why I have tried to get across to some people that it can be very difficult differentiating turquoise from chrysocolla just from a picture. Testing for phosphate is more accurate. Good resources Phosphates: variscite?
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metalsmith
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Post by metalsmith on Feb 11, 2017 10:52:05 GMT -5
I'm just eyeballing a similar 4 wheel arbor here in the UK; good to know it is good. Now just to find !!10 gallons!! of slabs
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metalsmith
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Post by metalsmith on Feb 11, 2017 10:31:57 GMT -5
Wow, is everyone running through all the prior guesses before taking a shot? That's a lot of work, guess I should have made five guesses early on. Yup
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metalsmith
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Post by metalsmith on Feb 11, 2017 10:30:48 GMT -5
My guesses are 282 305 314 318 324 and I'll pay the shipping if I win
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metalsmith
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Post by metalsmith on Feb 11, 2017 9:17:47 GMT -5
I didn't know about spontaneous combustion. I reckon the best way to see if anything is combustible is to set light to it ... a small amount in a controlled environment, with a backup plan and an escape route if not do it outside!
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metalsmith
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Post by metalsmith on Feb 10, 2017 15:55:10 GMT -5
Beautiful work. Wonderful detail on the sunstone and amazing polish on the garnet. I love it when so called hobbyists put the professionals (or should we call them commercial cutters) in their place.
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metalsmith
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Post by metalsmith on Feb 9, 2017 16:29:22 GMT -5
1) I agree with the possibility of howlite 2) Malocolla (chrysocolla - malachite) 3) Maybe another Malocolla with Cuprite (if red) 4) Again, looks to have flecks of green ... possibly pale chrysocolla I have a friend who is an ornithologist. He can tell what birds are in a flock from 100 yards, even when the flock is in a bush and behind a wall. But then whilst we struggle with their appearance at that distance, he tends to be going by the song, flight pattern, environment. The point being, whilst the visuals can provide clues, these rocks have properties that will sing out the truth of their identity. SG and hardness are easy enough to do.
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metalsmith
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Post by metalsmith on Feb 9, 2017 12:24:17 GMT -5
The agate is very sci-fi. Love the velvet shattuckite... I've never seen those hues before. Stunning work.
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metalsmith
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Post by metalsmith on Feb 8, 2017 16:44:57 GMT -5
Best wishes, for six zero!
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metalsmith
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Post by metalsmith on Feb 8, 2017 15:06:27 GMT -5
Mindat TurquoiseMindat ChrysocollaThere may be a small amount of overlap, but generally this works. Combined with hardness tests should give a good level of surety. Before long you'll know which is which and be able to distinguish all but the occasional stones with ease. Just to complicate matters, Turquoise sometimes intergrows with Chrysocolla. Also Variscite is sometimes confused with turquoise; however, variscite is usually greener. Rocks comprising turquoise or variscite have sometimes been called / marketed as "variquoise".
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metalsmith
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Post by metalsmith on Feb 7, 2017 13:27:36 GMT -5
I like that idea. Etsy alone is not bringing me any sales for the last 5 weeks. I am a little worried about fees stacking up though. etsy listing fee and relisting fee every few months .20 cents each time etsy selling fee when the item does sell (3% of the selling price) paypal fee for handling the money (3% of selling price plus .30 cents per transaction) wix website e-commerce fee ($17 per month) domain name fee (free with wix e-commerce ?) Am I missing anything Chuck Is that $17 for wix ecommerce - surely not just for seamless transition to Etsy? A URL would do that!
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metalsmith
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Post by metalsmith on Feb 7, 2017 13:15:56 GMT -5
Just recently found this material at another mine. Looks like it will make some nice cabs, but not sure what the blue is yet. 20170206_130130-1 by James Sloane, on Flickr The cab is actually more blue but it is overcast today so could not get a very good pic. Image not showing but the link appears to work fyi...
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metalsmith
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Post by metalsmith on Feb 6, 2017 17:01:16 GMT -5
Hey Metalsmith what do you scratch the turquoise with to do the streak test? Sorry, I missed this. Unglazed porcelain is the 'official' streak-test. Dishwashers seem to do a great job of de-glazing porcelain, so there's one opportunity. Alternatively the swarf I speak of can be observed on cutting disks or flat laps. Just run water to keep things damp and you should find a paste forming. The consistency will vary with the amount of water, but even dry, Turquoise is white and powdery; Chrysocolla is blue / green - olive.
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metalsmith
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Post by metalsmith on Feb 6, 2017 16:53:28 GMT -5
I'm all for nit-picking - it helps us improve.
Of course it has to be mixed and matched with a healthy dose of reality and that is you have a great result right there!
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metalsmith
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Post by metalsmith on Feb 6, 2017 15:04:31 GMT -5
My cabbing machine sits right by the tumbling machines,both going full bore some days...LOL As a tumbler, do you ever see a tumble come out the barrel that screams to be a cab and then cab it? All of em! Then some of the cabs are asking to be facetted!
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metalsmith
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Post by metalsmith on Feb 6, 2017 15:03:21 GMT -5
I clicked on cabber, but then read your comments.
I'm midway between a cabber and facetter. I haven't quite moved from rocks to highly reflective / refractive index materials normally associated / typical of facet-cut stones.
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metalsmith
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Post by metalsmith on Feb 4, 2017 10:17:40 GMT -5
Well you are alive so you must have won the disagreement. Could have been a draw. That is if the car is still with us as well. Sorry Chas. I'm glad you are well. Haha! I think we're both uglier than before. Yeah mate, getting there. Has been a slog. You guys are good medicine.
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metalsmith
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quarz?
Feb 3, 2017 16:30:46 GMT -5
Post by metalsmith on Feb 3, 2017 16:30:46 GMT -5
I have think lepidolite ? The specific gravity of Lepidolite at 2.8-2.9 should be distinguishable from Quartz at 2.65
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metalsmith
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Post by metalsmith on Feb 3, 2017 16:20:31 GMT -5
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metalsmith
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Post by metalsmith on Feb 3, 2017 15:34:26 GMT -5
The italina use of the word "serpentine" misleading. In your link, as this is being used to describe an igneous stone. In the description it is called adesite porphyry with phnocrysts of pagioclase. That is andesite with feldspar crystals. Clearly not "serpnine" as any geologist would drine. But I take it you did check the link posted above (and here for convenience)..?
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