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Post by vegasjames on Feb 6, 2017 18:22:59 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.
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Post by Psycho on Feb 7, 2017 7:04:36 GMT -5
James are you centrally located to some of these mine locations ? That is some really nice material
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metalsmith
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 1,537
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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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halitedigger
starting to spend too much on rocks
Lost in the Mojave, Sierras or Itoigawa
Member since September 2013
Posts: 104
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Post by halitedigger on Feb 7, 2017 13:29:18 GMT -5
I purchased a bunch of turquoise out at Quartzite. My Japanese customers love it. I bought a few pounds from Campitos, not high grade stuff and not stabilized and some crazy green stuff I think Shotgunner was talking about. $300lb. Looks a little like variscite. Forgot the name of the old lady who was selling it, but it is beautiful.
If anyone is planning a trip up to Royston when they open back up please keep me in mind. My time is split between So. Cal and Tokyo, 2 months here, 1 month there. I'm dying to go back up to Royston.
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Post by vegasjames on Feb 7, 2017 17:59:46 GMT -5
James are you centrally located to some of these mine locations ? That is some really nice material They are all in the same general area about an hour or so from Vegas. Found a few pounds of turquoise in an old mine in California but I doubt if there is much of anything left there. Went through the mines pretty thoroughly. I know the general location of a few more abandoned turquoise mines. One about an hour from here and the other two a couple hours away. I'll check those out someday.
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Post by vegasjames on Feb 7, 2017 18:03:10 GMT -5
I purchased a bunch of turquoise out at Quartzite. My Japanese customers love it. I bought a few pounds from Campitos, not high grade stuff and not stabilized and some crazy green stuff I think Shotgunner was talking about. $300lb. Looks a little like variscite. Forgot the name of the old lady who was selling it, but it is beautiful. If anyone is planning a trip up to Royston when they open back up please keep me in mind. My time is split between So. Cal and Tokyo, 2 months here, 1 month there. I'm dying to go back up to Royston. At the gem club meeting last night they said the mining operation at Royston is definitely closed.
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Post by Psycho on Feb 7, 2017 20:00:02 GMT -5
James are you centrally located to some of these mine locations ? That is some really nice material They are all in the same general area about an hour or so from Vegas. Found a few pounds of turquoise in an old mine in California but I doubt if there is much of anything left there. Went through the mines pretty thoroughly. I know the general location of a few more abandoned turquoise mines. One about an hour from here and the other two a couple hours away. I'll check those out someday. Well I know that exploring mines is on my bucket list so I really think we should get together when the weather gets much nicer lol. I really appreciate your time and effort to be patient and explain things and give me the opportunity to tag along.
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Post by vegasjames on Feb 7, 2017 20:42:20 GMT -5
The weather is great right now. Mostly in the 70s. Fall is the best weather here.
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Post by Psycho on Feb 7, 2017 20:49:55 GMT -5
The weather is great right now. Mostly in the 70s. Fall is the best weather here. Fall would be great, we should be settled in Florida, I'm sure the wifey would love to see Vegas, we can hammer out a trip , will see if I can find some agatized coral for you to work with. Frank
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fireforged
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2015
Posts: 215
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Post by fireforged on Feb 8, 2017 12:33:43 GMT -5
Turquoise streak / swarf is white; chrysocolla is blue-thro-green. I'm sure this has been done before somewhere. Is this test definitive for distinguishing turquoise and chrysocolla? It seems like the best simple way to tell for some one of my skills.
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metalsmith
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 1,537
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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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fireforged
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2015
Posts: 215
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Post by fireforged on Feb 8, 2017 17:58:30 GMT -5
I guess the reason why I am curious is that rocks that I think are chrysocola are identified to me by my superiors in knowledge as turquoise. The above picture shows four stones that I have bought from vendors. Two were identified as turquoise and two were identified as chrysocolla. Which two, in your opinion, are turquoise and which two are chrysocolla? And why do you believe that to be the case?
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Post by 1dave on Feb 8, 2017 20:10:54 GMT -5
Far left is "Defiantly"spiderweb turquoise, and far right. #2 appears to me to be chrysocola with a bit of green malachite. #3 ?
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fireforged
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2015
Posts: 215
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Post by fireforged on Feb 8, 2017 21:08:26 GMT -5
Thank you 1dave. I appreciate you putting your expertise on the line. Is there anyone else? Does anyone else have an opinion?
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Post by vegasjames on Feb 9, 2017 4:55:40 GMT -5
Turquoise streak / swarf is white; chrysocolla is blue-thro-green. I'm sure this has been done before somewhere. Is this test definitive for distinguishing turquoise and chrysocolla? It seems like the best simple way to tell for some one of my skills. Specific gravity helps. The SG of turquoise is higher. And I posted earlier on how to do a phosphate test. Chrysocolla is a copper silicate and does not contain phosphate. Turquoise is a copper aluminum phosphate and therefore will test positive for phosphate.
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Post by vegasjames on Feb 9, 2017 5:00:43 GMT -5
I guess the reason why I am curious is that rocks that I think are chrysocola are identified to me by my superiors in knowledge as turquoise. The above picture shows four stones that I have bought from vendors. Two were identified as turquoise and two were identified as chrysocolla. Which two, in your opinion, are turquoise and which two are chrysocolla? And why do you believe that to be the case? I would say 1 and 3. Three looks like some of the turquoise from parts of Nevada. The brown in there is limoninte (iron oxide/hydroxide) that is common with the turquoise and the substitution or iron for some of the aluminum in the turquoise gives the turquoise a greenish color common in a lot of Nevada turquoises.
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Post by orrum on Feb 9, 2017 9:44:57 GMT -5
Well a guess is what it is from the pic. I say number one is a dyed howlite. Number two is turquoise but I think it's foreign. Number three is a chryscolla mix by the reddish areas. Royston sacred has reddish but not like that. Number four is turquoise but it's either heavily stabilized due to the washy color or it too is foreign. They r pretty but not to me high end.
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metalsmith
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 1,537
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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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Don
Cave Dweller
He wants you too, Malachi.
Member since December 2009
Posts: 2,616
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Post by Don on Feb 9, 2017 17:04:44 GMT -5
I guess the reason why I am curious is that rocks that I think are chrysocola are identified to me by my superiors in knowledge as turquoise. The above picture shows four stones that I have bought from vendors. Two were identified as turquoise and two were identified as chrysocolla. Which two, in your opinion, are turquoise and which two are chrysocolla? And why do you believe that to be the case? Interesting. I don't see any turquoise here. 1. dyed and stabilized howlite. 2-4. various forms of chrysocolla.
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fireforged
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2015
Posts: 215
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Post by fireforged on Feb 9, 2017 18:33:38 GMT -5
I guess the reason why I am curious is that rocks that I think are chrysocola are identified to me by my superiors in knowledge as turquoise. The above picture shows four stones that I have bought from vendors. Two were identified as turquoise and two were identified as chrysocolla. Which two, in your opinion, are turquoise and which two are chrysocolla? And why do you believe that to be the case? Interesting. I don't see any turquoise here. 1. dyed and stabilized howlite. 2-4. various forms of chrysocolla. Would you care to explain and expand on your assessment particularly how you came to the conclusion that number one is dyed and stabilized?
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