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Post by superioragates on Jul 25, 2011 8:01:38 GMT -5
Just HAD to show you guys!! This stuff is killer hard....and is sooo stinkin pretty!! I wanted to make sure of an ID on it, before I posted it, but now I know for sure. This also kinda disproves the theory that it's only found over by Crosby....I am 50+ miles from Crosby MN, and I found this on in my back yard. Kinda cool...huh? No Quartz in it, so it's Siilkstone, not Binghamite....and very very little Hematite...so pretty decent quality....exciting for me!!   Thanx for looking!! Marie |
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Post by stonesthatrock on Jul 25, 2011 9:16:59 GMT -5
prudy stuff........... I have no idea
mary ann
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Post by Toad on Jul 25, 2011 9:52:51 GMT -5
That is cool looking material
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Post by FrogAndBearCreations on Jul 25, 2011 10:37:32 GMT -5
Beautiful stuff!
I'm envious
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Post by tandl on Jul 25, 2011 10:57:40 GMT -5
I`ve seen silkstone before and think it is awesome . yours is a fine example  |
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Post by tanyafrench on Jul 25, 2011 12:32:49 GMT -5
Marie, that is beautiful! The cabs are great as well, but the stone is outstanding.
Tanya
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Post by tkrueger3 on Jul 25, 2011 15:09:47 GMT -5
That's a stunner, Marie! In your back yard, huh? Wow. I think I can find some limestone in my back yard - in fact, I know I can, because that's all we have around here! LOL! ;D
Tom
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller 
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,514
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Post by Sabre52 on Jul 25, 2011 15:36:35 GMT -5
Wow that stone is really brightly colored. Never worked that before. Does it have flash in different directions like tiger eye and is it difficult to work?.....Mel
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mc2
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since April 2009
Posts: 1,147
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Post by mc2 on Jul 25, 2011 15:41:33 GMT -5
That is pretty material, I have not heard of it before.
Mike
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Post by superioragates on Jul 25, 2011 16:15:01 GMT -5
Thanks everybody!! I am pretty proud of this find.....supposedly only found on the Iron Range here...(over by Crosby, MN) ....and here it is...right in my back yard.....this coupled with my 7 pound hunk of Binghamite...well...ya just gotta love that!! lol MC - Silkstone is pretty rare, as is Binghamite, or so they say. The mine over at Crosby I guess is shut down..... And it is closely related to Tiger Iron, in make up.....close, but not the samee ...hard to explain Mel...the only hard part about it is that it's HARD.....my agate kinda hard.....Once ya get through the 100 grit...and the 180...shaped up and all, it's gravy. Getting through those stages tho..wow....didnt think I would ever get it done..lol I guess, from what I understand, Silkstone can come in all kinds of hardnesses...but, the less Hematite in it, from what I understand, the better the quality...course, then, the harder it is, the more you run in to the fracturing thing, like the Lakers...but hey...it's cool stuff, and it takes a KILLER mirror shine. I only have a little bit of it left in there.....I "think" I do anyways...lol...I know I got several cuts from that rock, and after the first cab I made from it, I put it aside for a day when I needed a challenge. As for Chatoyancy....these pieces  have proven to not have any movement in them, I am hoping that the next ones will have some..... Thanks again guys..I am so super psyched about this stone....just too cool! I am thinking I have a tiny bit of gold fill wire left in there, paired with some sterling to wrap them up, should make something pretty.....hahahahahaha |
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Minnesota Daniel
freely admits to licking rocks
A COUPLE LAKERS
Member since August 2011
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Post by Minnesota Daniel on Jul 26, 2011 0:47:06 GMT -5
It's gorgeous, but if there is no chatoyancy, why do you think it's silkstone? BTW, I have some rough Binghamite that is highly weathered, which kind of disproves the theory that it's only found in mine tailings near Crosby. Personally, I think we just haven't yet found where all the rest of the Binghamite and Silkstone is.
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pporky
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since May 2007
Posts: 1,932
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Post by pporky on Jul 26, 2011 2:23:48 GMT -5
WOW Marie Thats Briliant material and you have made a couple of great cabs from it. Bill
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Post by Tony W on Jul 26, 2011 12:31:51 GMT -5
Nice! Don't know the material, but I like it! T
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stoneviews
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since April 2009
Posts: 1,864
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Post by stoneviews on Jul 26, 2011 16:40:35 GMT -5
Yes I like it too, nice job!!!
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bgast1
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2010
Posts: 1,076
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Post by bgast1 on Jul 27, 2011 0:43:25 GMT -5
Very pretty, Marie.
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Post by superioragates on Jul 27, 2011 9:07:13 GMT -5
Thanx everybody....this stuff is kinda cool to work up, even tho it is hard as hadies! lol
From what I have found out, silkstone does not have to have chatoyancy to be silkstone, but if it does...makes it that much more valuable. I am just really happy it is....just cuz...well, I found it in the back yard!! lol
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NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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Post by NDK on Jul 27, 2011 12:42:11 GMT -5
Those are some fine cabs Marie. Nice job!
I cut a piece of binghamite I purchased at The Gem Shop this past winter, and it doesn't have any chatoyancy either.
Nate
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Jul 27, 2011 12:48:08 GMT -5
Looks like silkstone to me. I especially like the patches of red jasper in it. I've found both Binghamite and Silkstone to have uneven chatoyancy. Sometimes it's just the jasper that is chatoyant.
Congrats on the find!
Chuck
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have proven to not have any movement in them, I am hoping that the next ones will have some.....
