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Post by BearCreekLapidary on Jul 8, 2004 19:54:42 GMT -5
Hello everyone, I have been working on a few cabs today, and I thought I would share some of the photo's with you.  This is Rutilated Smokey Quartz with a gorgeous array of descending Rutile Crystals.  This is Crazy Lace Agate with a very nice shadow effect (not the parallax effect).  This is a close up of the cab above, see how the shadow effect falls between the layers - very interesting. Enjoy, John |
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Post by cookie3rocks on Jul 8, 2004 19:59:11 GMT -5
Just stunning John. Is the first one a cab for jewlery, not intended as a pick? The crazy lace is awesome! Keep it up, you might could do this fer a livin  ;D ;D ;D cookie |
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deepsouth
fully equipped rock polisher
He who rocks last rocks best
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,256
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Post by deepsouth on Jul 8, 2004 21:27:50 GMT -5
Oh John , can it be we are in rock heaven , those pics are indeed STUNNING.
Thanks for sharing them with us
Jack
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Banjocreek
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since March 2003
Posts: 1,115
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Post by Banjocreek on Jul 8, 2004 22:50:17 GMT -5
hey buddy-
That stuff is great.
I particularly liked the Rutilated Smokey Quartz.
I wasn't sure what Rutilated Quartz was until I saw your visual aid there.
What is it doing to be?
They are all real nice, you do awesome work with stones my friend.
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Post by rockyraccoon on Jul 8, 2004 22:59:58 GMT -5
what's inside the rutilated quartz that causes that entrapped hair look? too cool!
kim
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Post by BearCreekLapidary on Jul 8, 2004 23:44:54 GMT -5
Hi guys and gals,
The Rutilated Quartz and the Crazy Lace Agate are both going to be set into a pendants.
I am having a hard time locating any good quality Rutilated Quartz, the piece above came from Brazil. The material without any internal fractures is selling for a premium any more. One individual I know is currently selling the good stuff at 1.15 per gram! A little pricey for rough material.
I purchased a whole cluster of Smokey Quartz that is absolutely loaded with red Rutile crystals. Now comes the fun part, orienting the rough, determining where and how to best cut the rough ... and hope that my assessment was correct ... and with any luck, I'll have some absolutely gorgeous material to work with.
Kim, they are Rutile crystals. They can be red, gold or silver. The black variety is called Tourmilated Quartz. It is believed that the Rutile was the first to grow and then the quartz formed around it, totally encapsulating the Rutile crystals.
I have found with my cutting experience, that there is always Pyrite involved as a base from which the Rutile grows from. I have one piece that has a piece of Pyrite that is itself totally encapuslated by Quartz and it had the Rutile crystals shooting off in a star pattern. These "stars" are highly collectable. I only have one chance to cut it right, so I am going to take my time with that piece and pray to the rock Gods that it can be finished without incident ... if it comes out alright ... I'll definitely get some photo's posted. If something happens to it and I am unable to save it ... you will hear me crying from here!
Enjoy,
John
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rollingstone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2009
Posts: 236
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Post by rollingstone on Jul 9, 2004 0:03:29 GMT -5
That rutilated quartz is amazing, no wonder it commands a premium price. Very nice cutting job at getting it so symmetrical too, not to mention the excellent polish.
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James
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2003
Posts: 876
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Post by James on Jul 9, 2004 2:53:06 GMT -5
You're the man! I whish I had the equipment to make stuff like that.  I have the rough though.  |
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bschultz
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2004
Posts: 234
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Post by bschultz on Jul 9, 2004 9:37:01 GMT -5
Beautiful stuff Bear. Is Bearcreek Lapidary a working commercial shop? If not, it should be.
Bob
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Post by creativeminded on Jul 9, 2004 10:57:23 GMT -5
Love the Rutilated quartz, I got a piece of that on e-bay I think and I broke it up because it was too big to do any type of wrapping on. I have a few pieces tumbling with my rose quartz, aventurine, and sodalite. Which reminds me I need to move the rocks to the next stage today.
Tami
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donwrob
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2003
Posts: 509
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Post by donwrob on Jul 9, 2004 11:28:40 GMT -5
Beautiful work John, that quartz is really interesting stuff. Fantastic job on them both! Cheers, Don
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Post by BearCreekLapidary on Jul 9, 2004 12:01:59 GMT -5
Hello Bob, No, not yet! I have just started my own business. I have always worked for someone else and I thought it was time that I tried to work for myself and see if I could make it work. ;D Like everything else that is just started ... it's a little bumpy and there are hi's and lo's. I am happy being my own boss ... it's a definite change for me. I have had a job since the ninth grade and at the age of 42 ... I figured I would work twice as hard trying to keep from going back to a regular job ... so, here I am! I do a lot of arts & crafts shows across the midwest, as well as some custom cutting for a couple area jewelers and I have a few regular clients as well. I am holding my own right now and the later part of the year holds many shows for us, from Kansas to Colorado. So, wish me luck .. I'll take all I can get! Enjoy, John |
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Post by creativeminded on Jul 9, 2004 13:59:47 GMT -5
Hey Bearcreeklapidary, when is the Bluegrass Festival up in Colby, if it is the right weekend I just might be able to come up.
Tami
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Post by BearCreekLapidary on Jul 9, 2004 21:43:05 GMT -5
Hello Tami,
It is this coming weekend, July 17th and 18th ... but I will only be there on Saturday the 17th.
The hours are 10:00am - 10:00pm on Saturday and 9:30am - 3:30pm on Sunday.
I hope you are able to attend the show, it would be nice to meet you.
If you make it, stop in and say hello ... I'll have some cold beverages (as it is an outside show). Ice cold water on a warm afternoon ... you can't beat it!
Enjoy,
John
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Post by sandsman1 on Jul 9, 2004 23:53:26 GMT -5
hey john you keep doin nice work like that and your biz will do very well,, hell of a job man --seeya---john
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RedwoodRocks
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2003
Posts: 762
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Post by RedwoodRocks on Jul 11, 2004 14:17:44 GMT -5
John, Very Nice! My friends have a jewelry shop. They had a pair of rutilated quartz ear rings. They looked very cool. I always wondered what rulilated quartz looked like. I think the earrings had a price tag of $160! While I think that is expensive, my wife had them make a pair a ametrine earring to match a ametrine pendant that I had gotten her. I think the price was pretty close to the rutilated quartz ones!
I would think that the rutilated quartz rock has different grades, but what is the price range for gem quality rutilated quartz? Not that I can probably afford, but it will give me something to compare to a tumbling grade of stone.
Thanks,
Cal
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Post by krazydiamond on Jul 11, 2004 14:53:12 GMT -5
wow, another really great set of photos, Bear! i like the rutillated quarts, but i think i have a thing for the crazy lace agate. i have some rough but have only sawed a few pieces so far, that's tough old stuff.
i'd like to see the finished pendants on here and more photos of your stuff, absolutely great!
KD
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Post by BearCreekLapidary on Jul 11, 2004 15:38:49 GMT -5
It's me again!
Cal - The price on Rutilated Quartz can vary by quite a bit. The better Rutilated Quartz runs at about 1.00 to 1.25 per gram ... when you get into the AAA Grade material I have seen it sell for 2.00 - 2.10 per gram.
That 2.00 per gram material has absolutely no distracting inclusions or hairline fractures ... it is absouletly clear and problem free. It can be difficult to find in Grade AAA though, especially when you are trying to get a larger cab for a pendant. It's out there ... you just have to pay for it!
KD - I know what you mean ... Crazy lace Agate is one of my many favorites as well!
Enjoy,
John
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;D ;D ;D
I have the rough though. 
