Tommy
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Post by Tommy on Apr 7, 2015 22:07:51 GMT -5
I picked up this slabbette at a show recently - it's VERY hard and not crumbly at all - and it streaks a messy medium gray when grinding. Not transparent at all as you can see in the video. This was sold to me as labradorite ... I don't see it. If it's labradorite it's VERY low quality because there is only the slightest hint of blue flash. Mostly it's silvers and the areas of flash seem too organized to be labradorite. Lastly I know this is some type of banded rhyolite (jasper) but I wonder if anyone can pin down a locale. It's highly silicified - very hard and smooth - and as you can see in the second photo there are small areas that are agatized. Thanks for looking!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 7, 2015 23:06:30 GMT -5
#2 is a countertop granite with loads of feldspar. I think it too generous to call it labradorite, but maybe 'spectrolite'? #1 would you call the feel of the grind "glassy" as in feels like agate/jasper when cutting or would you characterize it as "rubbery" with a less brittle feel to it? #3 sorry for my order but I'm on my Moto X. #3 you got it as wnderstone, it's super nice, call it a day..
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rockroller
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Post by rockroller on Apr 7, 2015 23:24:26 GMT -5
Hah! I saw a countertop just like that a couple of days ago. Don't think I wasn't wondering what it was and if I could get a slab of it. Here is a pic of some 'almost labradorite' or Anorthosite that we hunted in Southern Wyoming. It's pretty nice but a lot more chaotic than that slab there. It also has some good flashes as you tilt it around. Like you said, yours seems too organized. ~Roland
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Sabre52
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Post by Sabre52 on Apr 8, 2015 8:01:28 GMT -5
#2 is larvikite, a feldspar mix that shows some flash. Often used for countertops etc.....Mel
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Tommy
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Post by Tommy on Apr 8, 2015 9:06:20 GMT -5
#1 would you call the feel of the grind "glassy" as in feels like agate/jasper when cutting or would you characterize it as "rubbery" with a less brittle feel to it? It doesn't feel glassy. It's also not slippery like a chrysocolla - if I had to decide I would say it feels most like a solid rhyolite or jasper. Haha it's not enough - I need more!! No seriously it's so far removed from any of the Nevada rhyolites that I've collected or bought or seen that it has me intrigued. Someone on Facebook said probably Utah but nobody seems to have a fix on a potential location.
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Tommy
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Post by Tommy on Apr 8, 2015 9:15:48 GMT -5
#2 is larvikite, a feldspar mix that shows some flash. Often used for countertops etc.....Mel Nice! I would call that a positive ID. I looked up larvikite cabochons and it's not particularly attractive in my opinion so I'll probably toss it in the 'junk' bin. I think I only gave $0.50 for it on the chance that it was something exotic like Hemmimorphite that only rockjunquie would know about heehee. Speaking of Tela - since you were wondering about my picture studio you can see it in all it's glory in the green rock video above. It's slightly better than Scott described it but not by much I guess.
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Post by rockjunquie on Apr 8, 2015 11:22:26 GMT -5
#2 is larvikite, a feldspar mix that shows some flash. Often used for countertops etc.....Mel Nice! I would call that a positive ID. I looked up larvikite cabochons and it's not particularly attractive in my opinion so I'll probably toss it in the 'junk' bin. I think I only gave $0.50 for it on the chance that it was something exotic like Hemmimorphite that only rockjunquie would know about heehee. Speaking of Tela - since you were wondering about my picture studio you can see it in all it's glory in the green rock video above. It's slightly better than Scott described it but not by much I guess. LOL!!! Yes, I did notice your photo gallery!!! Very cool! I actually really like larvakite and have used it lots of times. Cab one up and have a look. It isn't as flashy as a lab but it is nice. It is also called a Norwegian Moonstone-- that should sound exotic enough for ya! LOL!
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Tommy
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Post by Tommy on Apr 8, 2015 12:54:01 GMT -5
I actually really like larvakite and have used it lots of times. Cab one up and have a look. It isn't as flashy as a lab but it is nice. It is also called a Norwegian Moonstone-- that should sound exotic enough for ya! LOL! (note to self ... remember to slip the larkavite in the next Tela-rocks care package)
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 8, 2015 17:56:34 GMT -5
Tommy have you ever cut jade? #1 Feels like that?
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Post by washingtonrocks on Apr 8, 2015 20:24:55 GMT -5
#1 reminds me of the Zoisite I find around here. That green is exceptional!
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Tommy
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Post by Tommy on Apr 8, 2015 21:23:40 GMT -5
Tommy have you ever cut jade? #1 Feels like that? Doesn't feel like jade ... more texture than that but not full on textured like sandstone.
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Tommy
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Post by Tommy on Apr 8, 2015 21:25:21 GMT -5
#1 reminds me of the Zoisite I find around here. That green is exceptional! I've worked with ruby in zoisite - much softer and completely different texture. I don't know what the correct terminology is but the zoisite I worked with would "flake" off every time I thought I had a perfect surface.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 8, 2015 22:42:01 GMT -5
Tommy have you ever cut jade? #1 Feels like that? Doesn't feel like jade ... more texture than that but not full on textured like sandstone. I've cut a few pounds of jade. To me on diamond wheel it feels rubbery. It bounces. I was on the vesuvianite/pulga jade page. Up there in NoCal you have lots of those they have chrome for color and that seems correct. I defer to your far greater experience.
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Tommy
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Post by Tommy on Apr 8, 2015 22:48:28 GMT -5
Doesn't feel like jade ... more texture than that but not full on textured like sandstone. I've cut a few pounds of jade. To me on diamond wheel it feels rubbery. It bounces. I was on the vesuvianite/pulga jade page. Up there in NoCal you have lots of those they have chrome for color and that seems correct. I defer to your far greater experience. Thanks Scott - it's not like that - I've cut a grand total of ONE jade cabochon and it went to hell on me and I threw it into the scrap jar. I think jade should be transparent though yes? This material is absolutely opaque.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 8, 2015 22:51:43 GMT -5
TommyGood jade translucent. Others? Not so much. Look at vesuvianite or pulga jade or happy camp jade.....
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Tommy
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Post by Tommy on Apr 9, 2015 21:49:06 GMT -5
So I need to backtrack a little on the hardness of the green one. I was basing it on how it felt to grind the preform. It's pretty hard but I was able to scratch it with steel tonight ... AND it actually does feel kind of slippery like a chrysocolla type. I'm leaning towards a highly silicified chrysocolla if such a thing exists.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 9, 2015 22:06:30 GMT -5
Wrong color for chrysotile. Malachite perhaps.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 9, 2015 22:07:49 GMT -5
If u have some sulphuric acid it should make a blue solution if copper based.
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Tommy
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Post by Tommy on Apr 9, 2015 22:29:18 GMT -5
Where does one buy sulphuric acid? I guess I could stop being lazy and google it haha.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 18, 2015 21:14:21 GMT -5
Where does one buy sulphuric acid? I guess I could stop being lazy and google it haha. Home depot. Its a drain cleaner. Pep boys its for car batteries. eBay, anything is on eBay.
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