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Post by christianswest on Sept 3, 2023 6:39:24 GMT -5
I found this in Cherry Creek in Denver. I thought it was thick glass that had been in the creek a while. Then I saw a piece of clear quartz posted and thought of this. I posted it on a FB page and got these suggestions, but I look to this forum for more expert advice. It weighs 1 3/8 lbs and does not scratch with a knife. 1. What do you think it is form the pictures? (I didn’t think that “raw” diamonds were this clear when found) 2. Beyond that, how would I get a better identification? 3. In your opinion, is this a unique piece and has value beyond the value of finding it and having it as a show piece? 4. And if it is quartz or topaz, would you keep it as is, or tumble it? flic.kr/p/2oZFxV3flic.kr/p/2oZDmbbflic.kr/p/2oZFxV3 |
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dillonf
fully equipped rock polisher
Hounding and tumbling
Member since February 2022
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Post by dillonf on Sept 3, 2023 7:12:29 GMT -5
I haven't figured out a good way to tell the difference between field collected quartz and topaz yet. I have a whole container of "potential" topaz in the garage.
Would love to hear others advice! I'll keep an eye on this post!!
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herb
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2011
Posts: 431
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Post by herb on Sept 3, 2023 8:43:42 GMT -5
I haven't figured out a good way to tell the difference between field collected quartz and topaz yet. I have a whole container of "potential" topaz in the garage. Would love to hear others advice! I'll keep an eye on this post!! Measure the specific gravity. Google say topaz is around 3.5 and quartz is around 2.65 Here is a link for a simple way to measure SG if you dont already know: www.johnbetts-fineminerals.com/jhbnyc/articles/specific_gravity.htm |
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dillonf
fully equipped rock polisher
Hounding and tumbling
Member since February 2022
Posts: 1,161
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Post by dillonf on Sept 3, 2023 9:18:49 GMT -5
Thanks
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Post by jasoninsd on Sept 3, 2023 11:21:17 GMT -5
I haven't figured out a good way to tell the difference between field collected quartz and topaz yet. I have a whole container of "potential" topaz in the garage. Would love to hear others advice! I'll keep an eye on this post!! Measure the specific gravity. Google say topaz is around 3.5 and quartz is around 2.65 Here is a link for a simple way to measure SG if you dont already know: www.johnbetts-fineminerals.com/jhbnyc/articles/specific_gravity.htmThanks for that link! I've never really known how specific gravity was calculated!! Really big thanks!!  |
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Post by christianswest on Sept 3, 2023 15:29:23 GMT -5
I haven't figured out a good way to tell the difference between field collected quartz and topaz yet. I have a whole container of "potential" topaz in the garage. Would love to hear others advice! I'll keep an eye on this post!! Measure the specific gravity. Google say topaz is around 3.5 and quartz is around 2.65 Here is a link for a simple way to measure SG if you dont already know: www.johnbetts-fineminerals.com/jhbnyc/articles/specific_gravity.htmi figured it and I come up with gravity of .997. That doesn’t sound like either. Here’s my weight measurements…24oz water and with rock in water not touching sides or bottom my weight is 24.065. When I divide the first by the second I come up with .997. Any ideas? |
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Post by christianswest on Sept 3, 2023 16:00:07 GMT -5
Measure the specific gravity. Google say topaz is around 3.5 and quartz is around 2.65 Here is a link for a simple way to measure SG if you dont already know: www.johnbetts-fineminerals.com/jhbnyc/articles/specific_gravity.htmi figured it and I come up with gravity of .997. That doesn’t sound like either. Here’s my weight measurements…24oz water and with rock in water not touching sides or bottom my weight is 24.065. When I divide the first by the second I come up with .997. Any ideas? Hold the front door!! I figured that incorrectly. I came up with a gravity weight of 2.75 which is much close to the 2.65 for quartz rather than the 3.49 for topaz or 3.52 for diamond. What would you do with this piece of quartz. Keep it as is, grind a bit of the rough area off and then save it as a specimen piece or tumble it? |
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Post by rmf on Sept 3, 2023 19:21:16 GMT -5
Quartz is H=7, Topaz H=8
They have different crystal forms
As mentioned topaz is more dense
But I can't tell from the image since both can look similar
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Post by jasoninsd on Sept 3, 2023 20:58:00 GMT -5
christianswest - Since you asked...I'd leave this one as a specimen...unless I started finding a ton more of them. If this is a "one-off", I would want to leave it as I found it. You can always tumble it...but you can never "un-tumble" it...
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dillonf
fully equipped rock polisher
Hounding and tumbling
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Post by dillonf on Sept 3, 2023 21:28:34 GMT -5
 I Would leave it as a specimen as well!
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Post by christianswest on Sept 4, 2023 6:01:09 GMT -5
christianswest - Since you asked...I'd leave this one as a specimen...unless I started finding a ton more of them. If this is a "one-off", I would want to leave it as I found it. You can always tumble it...but you can never "un-tumble" it... Thank you. It is a “one-off” found on the side of Cherry Creek which is running like a river this summer. No way to speculate where it came from. I’ll try to clean it a little more than find a place around the house for this specimen. |
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Post by christianswest on Sept 4, 2023 6:02:53 GMT -5
I Would leave it as a specimen as well! Thank you for your input and I will clean it and leave it as a specimen piece. Were you able to test the pieces you mentioned using the gravity test? What did you determine? |
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dillonf
fully equipped rock polisher
Hounding and tumbling
Member since February 2022
Posts: 1,161
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Post by dillonf on Sept 4, 2023 6:52:55 GMT -5
I Would leave it as a specimen as well! Thank you for your input and I will clean it and leave it as a specimen piece. Were you able to test the pieces you mentioned using the gravity test? What did you determine? I have tried this method of determining SG in the past and found it too inconsistent for me to rely on it. If I am able to get my hands on a large graduated cylinder I think I could pull it off more accurately! |
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I Would leave it as a specimen as well!
