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Post by rockpickerforever on Oct 11, 2016 15:49:47 GMT -5
Recently, I was fortunate enough to acquire some Obscurium. (Yes, I know, this term also refers to something else, music related. Google it if you want to know what....) It is very rare, and one would be extremely lucky to get their hands on some of it, let alone see it, in their lifetime.
This is a stone that goes way back to the beginning of time. It is mined on the far side of the River Styx (not to be confused with the band). It is better known as Lucifer Stone (yes, his birthstone), sometimes also called Brimstone. It is not rare in the sense that it has been mined out, it's just a matter of logistics. Not many people make it back from collecting trips to hell, lol. Now, if you should ever get out to hell and gone, and back (the crucial part), be sure to pick some of this stuff up. (Although you may have to sell your soul to pay for it.) However, the proceeds from selling it upon your return will more than pay your travel costs! As you may have guessed, it is red in color. It is extremely hard on the Moh's scale, 10.001. Yes, folks, it is harder than diamond! Consequently, it needs to be worked using Unobtainium, and we all know how expensive that stuff is!
I picked up a couple faceted pieces of it at the swap meet a few months ago. The first one was cut by a man that had recently passed away. Like a lot of things found at the swap meet, his widow was just getting rid of his lapidary equipment and rocks/gems, had no idea what it was or its value. I understand he passed immediately after cutting this stone, his heart gave out.
Sorry for crummy pictures. Auto focus wouldn't work, stone too shiny. Set camera on manual focus, eyes not what they used to be. I think I'll keep it. The heart has a hole drilled in the cleavage (caused a tiny little chip - maybe that chip broke the guy's heart after he had spent so much time and effort faceting it?) for a jump ring, but I'd like to try my hand at wrap for faceted stones. I can hide the chip with a flourish. The setting needs to remain open on the back to let the light through. But due to the depth of the stone, it will have to be tallish, so the culet (the point on bottom) doesn't poke the wearer. I need to find and watch the video I have somewhere and give that a try.
The second one, I'm not convinced that it is Brimstone. May just be an imitation. (Funny, paid the same for both of them - $1.50 each.) Was just a single earring, perfect if you are like Vincent van Gogh. Or, you could wear something totally different on the other ear, go bi-polar! No table on the tops of these stones, they have the point on top instead on the bottom. Different....
Oops, could have cleaned it up a bit before taking pic...
Now, if you should ever come across some of this stone, let me warn you - DO NOT shape it into a cross or a heart. Beelzebub doesn't much like that!
(Disclosure - I did buy these at the swap meet, for the price mentioned. However, the rest of the story is fabricated. No one died in the making of these pieces of jewelry.)
Jean
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Mark K
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2012
Posts: 2,600
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Post by Mark K on Oct 11, 2016 17:43:55 GMT -5
I think there might be a mine for that stuff where I work.
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Post by rockjunquie on Oct 11, 2016 19:17:13 GMT -5
I was looking at the stats for my rock shop and found the term "stone of death" as a keyword term someone used to find a cab in my shop... it was a death valley aka wingate agate. I thought that was pretty weird to see. What would have been more weird is if it had been a psilomelane because I once did an art piece with one called "The River Styx".
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Post by mohs on Oct 11, 2016 19:38:37 GMT -5
That hearts full of fire Jean it needs a back lit picture maybe hang it from the rear view mirror
is the back of the heart a pavilion? what's the back like?
is it really stone ?
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Post by spiceman on Oct 11, 2016 21:51:10 GMT -5
lookalikamilon - green rock that is flat, straight and no imperfections.
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,685
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Post by Fossilman on Oct 11, 2016 22:32:44 GMT -5
Nice material Jean!!!!!!!!
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geezer
spending too much on rocks
Member since April 2016
Posts: 338
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Post by geezer on Oct 12, 2016 6:37:34 GMT -5
Jean, I heard he cut the stone AFTER he died!
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Post by 1dave on Oct 12, 2016 8:22:28 GMT -5
lookalikamilon - green rock that is flat, straight and no imperfections. Wow, chameleonite = a stone that changes color!
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geezer
spending too much on rocks
Member since April 2016
Posts: 338
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Post by geezer on Oct 12, 2016 11:08:26 GMT -5
lookalikamilon - green rock that is flat, straight and no imperfections. Wow, chameleonite = a stone that changes color! Not to be confused with karmacamelonite = a stone that changes color that the "New Agers" want REALLY BAD!
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Post by rockpickerforever on Oct 12, 2016 12:56:26 GMT -5
That hearts full of fire Jean it needs a back lit picture maybe hang it from the rear view mirror is the back of the heart a pavilion? what's the back like? is it really stone ? Ed, I wish! Only in the story... Pretty sure it is glass, based on the way it chipped when drilled. But it is heavy, so maybe leaded glass? It is so clear and flawless, no air bubbles.
Took some more pics of it, working to get them to Flickr now. Give me a few minutes...
Jean, I heard he cut the stone AFTER he died! Ha ha, good one! I believe "the devil made him do it!" Surprised at the quality of the work, what with the heat down there, and whips cracking on him and everything...
spiceman, 1dave both of your offers very original, I like them! lookalikamilon and chameleonite. geezer, karmacamelonite for the new age rockers is good, too.
Thanks everybody for playing so far. More, please!
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Post by rockpickerforever on Oct 12, 2016 13:18:14 GMT -5
WARNING - Nine Eight photos!
Back side - culet
Facedown, from the pointed end of the heart
The table and pavilion, showing chip where it was drilled. This pic is in focus, looks worse than it really is!
The table, thin girdle along the edge visible
Close up of chip. Gahhh! Would have broke my heart, too!
Looking down into the cleavage
All in all, a bang up faceting and polish job!! Well worth what I paid for it...
Thanks for looking!
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Post by mohs on Oct 12, 2016 17:07:06 GMT -5
That freaking great jean! Make me want to get into faceting start with glass maybe work my way up.
I wonder why he pavilion on it?
how was he expecting a person to wear it?
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Post by mohs on Oct 12, 2016 17:08:47 GMT -5
always drill the hole first then facet? hmmmm... a chipped heart is common
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Post by mohs on Oct 12, 2016 17:14:07 GMT -5
being that its glass I would think a vertical hole in the cleave would have been a better idea but then maybe the heart would have broke always drill first ! ha ah
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Post by 1dave on Oct 12, 2016 22:14:46 GMT -5
That freaking great jean! Make me want to get into faceting start with glass maybe work my way up. I wonder why he pavilion on it? how was he expecting a person to wear it? Perhaps they ruined the face and that was the only way to salvage it. Probably made with a machine that makes a thousand at a time.
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Post by Pat on Oct 12, 2016 22:27:20 GMT -5
Jean, they are beauties. Wise to have the pointy end facing out. That way, the wearer won't get stuck.
Glass or not --- beautiful color.
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Post by 1dave on Oct 12, 2016 23:18:31 GMT -5
Jean, they are beauties. Wise to have the pointy end facing out. That way, the wearer won't get stuck. Glass or not --- beautiful color. I've seen leaded glass brilliant cuts in many attractive colors an inch across for $3. 00 at Shell food markets.
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Post by rockpickerforever on Oct 13, 2016 11:57:02 GMT -5
That freaking great jean! Make me want to get into faceting start with glass maybe work my way up. I wonder why he pavilion on it? how was he expecting a person to wear it? Exactly, Ed! If you had this one a chain around your next NECK (dang spellcheck!), and was hit in the chest (playing teamball, dodgeball, airbag in your car going off - YIKES), it would definitely leave a mark! It is a just over 3/4 inch wide and tall, and from he tip of culet to top of table, 7/16 inch. Just holding it with hand where it would lay, if one were to push slightly on it, you can tell that a strong blow would make it hurt. Even through clothing, would not need to be nekkid! It is sharp and pointy. Maybe the cutter had to compromise... That if he cut a heart, it had to be one that could inflict pain? Pretty and painful. Old Lucifer would certainly like that, lol.
When I said lead glass, what I meant was leaded crystal, like Waterford. Something else to take to a show to have a gemologist take a look, maybe give me the RI?
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Post by mohs on Oct 13, 2016 17:36:07 GMT -5
all I can see is that faceted hearts rock!
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Post by greig on Oct 14, 2016 11:58:54 GMT -5
When I am collecting, I am of course trying to find "beauties", but take home my share of "uglies", which are stained, caked, weathered, etc. Sometimes they are redeemable with cleaning, slicing, tumbling or etching. Others become colorful sand or discarded. Here are my basic categories: Uglies - poor specimens at first inspection Fuglies - still poor specimens after cleaning or cutting Garden Fuglies - larger specimens that I have tossed into my rock garden Flying Fuglies - so ugly that I tossed it into my neighbor's garden Fugtology - the wasted time in collection and study of uglies
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