Large (ish) Thunderegg Slab pricing

[wineslob]

I recently had a rather large-ish McDermitt  thunderegg cut into 1" slabs. I got 7 very nice slabs plus the end pieces. The slabs are roughly 8" in dia. All have small crystalline voids in them. I'll get some pics up asap, but I'm wondering if I decided to sell some of the slabs (probably polished) how do you go about coming to a fair price? One piece was described to me as "specimen" quality. Not sure what that means. 

[Pat]

Specimen quality means don't cut/tumble it. Put it on your display shelf --- as a specimen and as is.

[Sabre52]

Tough call there as "specimen quality" can mean anything from "spectacular museum quality specimen" to "ain't good enough for lapidary uses so make a specimen of it". To me, having collected a few, most Mc Dermitt eggs are not all that fancy, though some have nice crystals. Matrix on the McDermitts I've seen does not polish all that well. Don't figure they'd bring the prices of a good central Oregon moss egg like a big ole Lucky Strike, Utah's Dugway, New Mexico Baker, or Richardsons Oregon stuff. I'd suggest you post pics to get advice as to whether it's fancy enough to even warrant the time spent to lap it and if folks show interest, maybe ask for offers. Always someone who needs a good T-egg to complete a collection but maybe worth more if you'd left it halves. Don't hurt to post pics and ask what folks think.

I still remember my first egg hunt to the Berkeley Hills in Commiefornia. I worked hours to get out a huge nine inch egg . I was so proud of my catch. Afterwards I pestered my pop take me to Buster Sledge's Rock shop to have him cut it. Buster, who had a yard full of Berkeley Hills eggs, rolled it around and announced that the per square inch cutting cost would simply cost more than the egg was worth. Took it home and whacked it with a hammer and he was right, just plain gray chalcedony with no inclusions and a rather mundane quartz crystal center. Oh poop!. Sometimes you have to know when not to put a lot of money into saw and lap time....Mel

[wineslob]

Ok sounds good guys. No cost to me for having it slabbed. I also think you are right with the "eggs" from McDermitt being a bit "blah". Still fun to cut and some to polish. I'll get pictures for the as-is slabs.

[Fossilman]

I sell my T/E slabs at the same price I sell my other rocks slabs as.........$8- to $12 a piece,depending on how nice they look and can be made into cabs and etc....Can't have fracture lines either...(Those I break up,for tumbling).

[wineslob]

Here is what I have:

Well you guys get one pic for now. Photobucket is being weird.

[Fossilman]

Need to put a ruler or dollar bill next to it,for size comparison...Nice stone

[wineslob]

A few more:

One I started on a vibro lap:

I'll get some with a ruler for size, but the bricks they are on are standard  3 5/8" width.

[wineslob]

Here's a "scale" pic:

[deb193redux]

these are ordinary'ish and medium in size. you aren't likely to leverage much value from polish- put polish time in your nicer slabs if selling. or, do it for the fun of it.

[wineslob]

Ok sounds like what I was going to do(for fun). Family members may be getting "gifts"