181lizard
Cave Dweller
Still lurking :)
Member since December 2005
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Post by 181lizard on Aug 17, 2006 12:57:33 GMT -5
This is a specimin that was marked as Imperial Calcite. (I'm thinking the "imperial" is used as a selling point.) I've also seen it called just green calcite. At any rate...it's green, so of course, I had to have some. At first I thought it might have been dipped or covered with something to give it the high shine it already has... (even though that would be a no-no ) but I've seen soooo much of it that looks like this in the bin, I guess it naturally occurs?! It's just a piece I added to my so called specimin collection. (husband calls em "another damn rock".)
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offbeat
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Member since May 2010
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Post by offbeat on Aug 17, 2006 20:04:35 GMT -5
Wow! That is really cool looking, Liz. Is it easy to come by? Looks like it would make some great looking cabs! I like the colors. Bill
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181lizard
Cave Dweller
Still lurking :)
Member since December 2005
Posts: 2,171
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Post by 181lizard on Aug 18, 2006 12:17:56 GMT -5
I bought this hunk from Ed's Rock Shop in Portland about a year ago. They have this one bin they keep rotating calcite in and I always check in to see what kind they currently have. Last time I was there, it was a golden yellow.
It comes in a huge variety of colors. I'm not sure how it would cab...it's a little on the delicate side. Maybe I'll just get a new hunk of whatever they have & do a tumble!
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rallyrocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2005
Posts: 1,507
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Post by rallyrocks on Aug 18, 2006 13:41:43 GMT -5
Calcite is listed on mindat as being Mohs 3, better be careful trying to tumble it as stones this soft tend to disappear real fast...
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181lizard
Cave Dweller
Still lurking :)
Member since December 2005
Posts: 2,171
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Post by 181lizard on Aug 20, 2006 13:06:45 GMT -5
I figured as much!
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Post by Tweetiepy on Aug 21, 2006 8:51:48 GMT -5
It looks nothing like the calcite I saw! your stuff looks glass like, my calcite (orange crappy stuff) looks pretty soft and less glass-like - I wouldn't tumble it or try to polish it - I'd leave it like that - it looks wonderful
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Post by gemkoi on Aug 21, 2006 14:10:27 GMT -5
Nice looking piece Liz. I am skpectical on it being calcite. It sure looks like Flourite from Mexico. But both minerals can tend to be confused when its massive.
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181lizard
Cave Dweller
Still lurking :)
Member since December 2005
Posts: 2,171
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Post by 181lizard on Aug 22, 2006 12:07:04 GMT -5
Shain...I thought the same about it maybe being flourite...I even asked them if they had any "pineapple calcite" specimins. (supposedly, that is the kind I was looking for in The Dalles a couple of weeks ago & i wanted to know what I was looking for next time I go back.) They took me back to the same bin I got this from...it now has big hunks of this, only in a golden color.
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rallyrocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2005
Posts: 1,507
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Post by rallyrocks on Aug 22, 2006 13:11:36 GMT -5
Fluorite should be harder than Calcite, and calcite should be more reactive with acid. But both materials are found in a wide range of colors, so I wouldn't base any identificaiton on color without doing more tests.
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