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Post by fernwood on Jan 21, 2019 8:47:16 GMT -5
Appreciate any comments. Most of the rocks I collect on my land have no Internationally known name. There are some regional names for some of them. Have been using the term Chalcedony for others, but it sure is not as appealing as Agate, Jasper, etc. Since my land is covered with glacial debris, attributed to the Niagara Escarpment, I have used that term as well. Very few are even aware of the Niagara Escarpment or what it is/was. Have been giving them a brief description that it is fossils from the sea which covered this area long ago.
I also have lots of rocks/slabs from other areas. Some I know the ID/location of, others not.
So, when you sell items, do you get more action when there is a specific name/location? Do you even offer items for sale with no known ID or location?
Thank you.
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Post by rockjunquie on Jan 21, 2019 8:54:35 GMT -5
Yes, named items get a lot more attention. People, of course, like to know what they are buying. The more you can tell them, the better. Also, most people who buy cabs are jewelry artists who have to resell that cab in one way or another. They like to tell their clients what the stone is.
eta- I think when you know your rock is a jasper or agate or whatever, that helps a lot. And, yes, if you don't know then "mystery stone" is appropriate. But, sometimes just agate or jasper, etc will suffice.
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Post by MsAli on Jan 21, 2019 9:04:39 GMT -5
I like to have ID for a couple of reasons
1. I really like to look up where they came from.
Thier history, like how they were discovered and got thier name
2. If I ever sell one, I like to know what I'm selling
I'm pretty good at saying agate or jasper, whatever, but most do have specific name that's been given to them
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Post by rmf on Jan 21, 2019 9:36:25 GMT -5
To a Geologist agate is agate. Sometimes referred to as chalcedony. Chalcedony is intergrown cryptocrystaline quartz (SiO2) and moganite (SiO2). These SiO2 are chemically the same but crystalize in a different crystal system (hexagonal and monoclinic respectively). Agate tends to have mineral impurities that make the alternating layers contrast. Chalcedony tends to lack the colorful minerals. Agate and Chaldedony are used interchangeably often since they are the same on the impurities and environment are different and add a different look, feel, density and sometimes hardness. to a lapidary these differences are the spice of life and as you well know some are highly prized like Laguna and Lake Superior while others are lesser character and quality like Georgia Lace Agate. The type of agate can tell a lapidary a lot about cutting. For example if I take a Tennessee Agate (Paint Rock Agate) which was formed in the ocean bottom and cut it I do not get the first beginning of a polish until I get to 1200 diamond. If I take a Laguna, Lake Superior or Montana and get to 600 grit diamond I have the same initial level of polish. These volcanic origin agates are harder and denser than the ocean bottom cousins.
Each environment provides a unique color and pattern range. But it is a range and can overlap other agates from different locations. That is why sometimes it is hard to tell if it is from one location or another. These differences provide eye candy that some prefer over others and that appeal is what drives price. This is why they sell "Mexican Onyx" and not Travertine. True Onyx is Chalcedony and a higher hardness and value. Travertine is lower hardness and value but you sell more calling it Mexican Onyx. The answer to the original question. Proper ID drives accurate pricing. It costs the same to cut a TN Agate and a Lake Superior Agate even though one is harder than the other but, the market at least for now, world wide would favor the Lake Superior Agate. That might not be true in TN from time to time but in most states Lake Superior Agate drives a premium price.
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Post by Pat on Jan 21, 2019 10:14:25 GMT -5
Some people like to know the original source of the rock they are interested in, others just want to call it something. If you tell them jasper or agate, some are satisfied with that; others want to know what jasper is or what agate is. The more information you can give them, the better even though they might only remember jasper or agate. Husband calls everything agate. He is right about half the time!  |
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,718 
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Post by Fossilman on Jan 21, 2019 11:24:23 GMT -5
When I sell, they want the ID and locations...
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jan 21, 2019 15:24:04 GMT -5
I agree with what others have said: collectors and cutters like to know what it is and from where it came. Otherwise, it gets priced the same as the (sometimes carelessly, but often intentionally) misidentified bulk stone that comes from Asian markets. A bluish agate from an unidentified source is likely not going to fetch much, but a bluish agate from a specific area (Madison, Ellensburg, Mohave) will be worth the trouble of selling. "Pretty" sells, but it doesn't sell for much. Frankly, the Asian bulk sellers would be doing themselves a great favor if they all decided to put more emphasis on accurately stating the origins of the often beautiful material they have to offer and being up-front about treatments. The situation now is that few trust them.
For your local material, it is still worth selling if you can give the general name and general location from whence it came (e.g., central Wisconsin agate). Some of the things you've shown are very uncommon in your area, so you should indicate that (and price a bit higher than stones that are more common). It wouldn't hurt to include some of the explanations you've given for how they came to be found there (glacial erratics, places exposed or skipped over by glaciation, etc.) - I've found those details interesting here, and I expect many potential buyers would also.
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,492
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Post by Sabre52 on Jan 21, 2019 17:40:00 GMT -5
Guess it depends on whether or not you are someone who just likes pretty jewelry or someone who collects. For the collector, ID and location are pretty important. To my wife, shiny and pretty are important. Though I will admit, a lot of jewelry wearers want to know ID and collecting location too. Even the wife had to have a blue topaz from Mason, Texas. But it had to be a sparkly Lone Star cut too.
Kind of like taking my wife into a gun store. I like brand, price, performance features etc. She likes the $18,000, shiny, fully engraved, gold and silver plated, Colt revolver that is too fancy to even shoot. Different things are important to different folks *L*....Mel
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Post by MsAli on Jan 22, 2019 10:54:23 GMT -5
So here is m question especially for those that are very good at ID
When someone posts something for ID what makes you help them out and what makes you look but not respond?
Sometimes I feel it isnt worth it too ask for help
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Post by woodman on Jan 22, 2019 11:01:19 GMT -5
So here is m question especially for those that are very good at ID When someone posts something for ID what makes you help them out and what makes you look but not respond? Sometimes I feel it isnt worth it too ask for help If I feel that I can help ID something I do, if I don't have a clue I keep my mouth shut so that I don't muddy the water. A wrong ID is worse than no ID. I get asked to ID wood and most times it is impossible from a photo. |
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Post by Pat on Jan 22, 2019 11:08:52 GMT -5
I'm not very good at ID, but respond if I think I know the answer. If I don't know, I keep my mouth shut : )
Helps if the asker posts good photos --- well-lit, closeups, source, and results of any tests done. They should offer as much information about the rock as possible. Looking at a rock online is not as easy as holding in your hand.
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Post by miket on Jan 22, 2019 12:05:06 GMT -5
So here is m question especially for those that are very good at ID When someone posts something for ID what makes you help them out and what makes you look but not respond? Sometimes I feel it isnt worth it too ask for help All I can speak of is from my own experiences here. Every time I've posted something looking for help on ID I've gotten responses- whether it was for more information or what someone thought it was. I'd think that if a person were to look and knew what it was or had any suggestions, they would help. Especially here on RTH. It's always worth asking, in my opinion. |
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Post by rockjunquie on Jan 22, 2019 13:04:37 GMT -5
Maybe I'm wrong, but it seems like most of the ID posts do get some kind of answer.
If I don't know, I don't say anything. Why would I?
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Post by rockpickerforever on Jan 22, 2019 14:04:04 GMT -5
Maybe I'm wrong, but it seems like most of the ID posts do get some kind of answer. If I don't know, I don't say anything. Why would I Funny, but not knowing doesn't stop some people from responding, lol. |
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Post by parfive on Jan 22, 2019 17:59:39 GMT -5
Funny, but not knowing doesn't stop some people from responding, lol. Bingo. Always good for a laugh. Someone asks a question about “whatever” and . . . I don’t have a whatever but . . .
I’ve never seen a whatever but . . .
I don’t know what a whatever is but somebody will be along eventually with an answer. |
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Post by rockpickerforever on Jan 22, 2019 18:22:30 GMT -5
Funny, but not knowing doesn't stop some people from responding, lol. Bingo. Always good for a laugh. Someone asks a question about “whatever” and . . . I don’t have a whatever but . . .
I’ve never seen a whatever but . . .
I don’t know what a whatever is but somebody will be along eventually with an answer.Hit that nail on the head, Rich. |
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Post by Pat on Jan 22, 2019 18:32:15 GMT -5
Bingo. Always good for a laugh. Someone asks a question about “whatever” and . . . I don’t have a whatever but . . .
I’ve never seen a whatever but . . .
I don’t know what a whatever is but somebody will be along eventually with an answer.Hit that nail on the head, Rich. Now, now, you two. I have used the last comment to bump the inquiry up in the Recent Topics/Threads, so it could be seen by someone who could help. |
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zarguy
fully equipped rock polisher
Cedar City, Utah - rockhound heaven!
Member since December 2005
Posts: 1,791
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Post by zarguy on Jan 22, 2019 18:34:56 GMT -5
So here is m question especially for those that are very good at ID When someone posts something for ID what makes you help them out and what makes you look but not respond? Sometimes I feel it isnt worth it too ask for help I'm silent when they post lousy photos, a single photo, 95% background - 5% stone, lack of info like location, hardness, etc. Lynn |
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Post by rockpickerforever on Jan 22, 2019 18:42:32 GMT -5
Sorry, Pat . I know what you are saying. Although it gets a little repetitive when it has already been bumped to the top, and several more people say the same thing. I've a feeling that the original poster already knows it is gorgeous, purty, or yummy. Not exactly what they were looking for. |
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Post by MsAli on Jan 22, 2019 18:52:53 GMT -5
So here is m question especially for those that are very good at ID When someone posts something for ID what makes you help them out and what makes you look but not respond? Sometimes I feel it isnt worth it too ask for help I'm silent when they post lousy photos, a single photo, 95% background - 5% stone, lack of info like location, hardness, etc. Lynn so I am genuinely curious about this and in no way being factitious but, What if they dont know location? They know its an agate, ryolite, jasper etc. How many pictures are optimal? Does pictures of the matrix help in some cases? I know me personally I do a heck of a lot of trying to figure it out on my own and sometimes do not have a clue but want to learn and the only way I can do that is to ask Thank you |
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