Maybe Sapphire Maybe not.

[G Freeman]

Found this as I was digging haven't had it checked yet but looks like the rough sapphire in the picture on Manufacturer of Wholesale Semi Precious Stones, Buy Gemstones Online from Thailand and India under rough Sapphire. This will scratch a quartz crystal I have. Here is two photos. It weighs 395 grams. Thanks. the stone on the far right in the photo with several rocks I found yesterday is the one, and the single stone.

 

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[BurntBear]

Neat finds! I'm not really sure what to make of it just yet. The Sapphires I've found have mainly been star Sapphires, which are very distinct; or smaller specimens that have been broken down.

Here is a shot of one of my pink Star Sapphires: Note the easily visible parallel plane striations.

32 ct.



Now, here is a shot of the same specimen with backlighting: You can see the bands running almost the opposite direction of the striations.



Here are a few random larger corundum specimens. These are actually all ill-shaped,broken star Sapphires. The largest of them is about 200 cts. The "square" chunk is a lesson learned in the worst way, lol. Before knowing what we had and what we were doing; my partner decided to cut off the "excess" of this star sapphire. The block is around 100 cts.

 

[shaman15771]

WHATS THE ONE IN THE BACK MIDDLE?

 

[G Freeman]

WHATS THE ONE IN THE BACK MIDDLE?

Not sure shaman15771, But it is blue all under the thin coating so the whole middle stone looks like Sapphire too with the parting of the blue streaks in it that is very glassy and just found it yesterday. Looking at it through my 50x loop I can see blue under the light color that covers part of it. Thanks for asking.

 

[BurntBear]

Hey Freeman,

Can you see through it in any places with a light behind it? If you can, can you see through the blue? It appears from the photo that it could be agatized or opalized petrified wood (in reference to the specimen in the back middle).

 

[Eu_citzen]

Those in the background look exciting, I am seeing crystal faces.
It resembles low grade Dumortierite that I have seen. Same hardness as quartz, though.

Cordierite may be slightly harder then quartz, also. Another hardness test with topaz may be a good idea.

 

[G Freeman]

Hey Freeman,

Can you see through it in any places with a light behind it? If you can, can you see through the blue? It appears from the photo that it could be agatized or opalized petrified wood (in reference to the specimen in the back middle).

BruntBear, the light will not shine all the way through it. shining the light from one side it goes almost halfway through it and from the other side I can just see a couple of windows that show the blue light.

 

[G Freeman]

Those in the background look exciting, I am seeing crystal faces.
It resembles low grade Dumortierite that I have seen. Same hardness as quartz, though.

Cordierite may be slightly harder then quartz, also. Another hardness test with topaz may be a good idea.

Thanks for reply Eu_citzen. Yeah the wife and I were excited too when we found them. That is a good idea using topaz to determine the hardness, never thought of that. Thanks I will try that. I will have to research Cordierite. Great ideas.

 

[G Freeman]

Eu_citzen the stone at far top left looks to me like smoky quartz with some kind of schist over most of it that wont wash off but the crystals have a very shiny appearance to them. Some photos I took of that one the camera would just show a blinding light and could not handle the glare. Showed that one to Gemologist and she said it was quartz but did not know what the stuff was on top of it so I will have to find me another Gemologist or someone else to look at my gems as I thought she should know.

 

[Eu_citzen]

A gemmologist works with gems. (most of the time) They don't see other minerals all to often, I'm not sure but I bet they don't see rough to often either.
Don't be surprised that she didn't know what was on top. Keep him/her around, always good for help.

Finding a geologist for feedback or getting a good book on mineral identification might aid you greatly.

 

[BurntBear]

A gemmologist works with gems. (most of the time) They don't see other minerals all to often, I'm not sure but I bet they don't see rough to often either.
Don't be surprised that she didn't know what was on top. Keep him/her around, always good for help.

Finding a geologist for feedback or getting a good book on mineral identification might aid you greatly.

Perfect advice. I actually switched from seeing a "gemologist" to a "geologist". The geologist has been right every time. The gemologist was very knowledgeable in cut stones; but was a little lost on rough.

 

[Brian T. Booth]

<img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1041345"/>Found this as I was digging haven't had it checked yet but looks like the rough sapphire in the picture on Manufacturer of Wholesale Semi Precious Stones, Buy Gemstones Online from Thailand and India under rough Sapphire. This will scratch a quartz crystal I have. Here is two photos. It weighs 395 grams. Thanks.<img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1041344"/> the stone on the far right in the photo with several rocks I found yesterday is the one, and the single stone.

Can you take pics of each individual stone? That way I can see a little better of what we might be dealing with.

Thank You.

 

[allen_idaho]

From the color, shape and texture, it does not appear to be sapphire.
Sapphires usually form in a pretty unique matrix shape that I am not seeing anywhere in your pieces.

For example, here are some small sapphires that I dug up.

 

[G Freeman]

You are probably right allen_idaho. Thanks for input on this. Everyone is a great help.

 

[G Freeman]

Thanks Brian. I need to do that.

 

[G Freeman]

Can you take pics of each individual stone? That way I can see a little better of what we might be dealing with.

Thank You.

Brian here is picture of one of the rocks top left rock.

 

[G Freeman]

Can you take pics of each individual stone? That way I can see a little better of what we might be dealing with.

Thank You.

Here is a picture of top center stone Brian. Hope it helps. Thanks. Don't have any more pictures of other two stones right now I will have to wait for another sunny day.

 

[Brian T. Booth]

Here is a picture of top center stone Brian. Hope it helps. Thanks.<img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1042626"/><img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1042627"/><img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1042628"/> Don't have any more pictures of other two stones right now I will have to wait for another sunny day.

Thank You for the images. After examining the images, I believe that both specimens are quartz. Great finds. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me anytime.

Good Luck and Happy Hunting.

Brian T. booth

 

[G Freeman]

Thanks Brian for reply. You might be right about being quartz but I have never seen this type of blue green crystal in any of the quartz I have found in my area. Some say quartz won't scratch quartz and the stone did scratch a quartz crystal I have. Thanks a lot.

 

[Eu_citzen]

Two pieces of quartz have the same hardness, they shouldn't scratch each other. But will often leave a "white line" of finely powdered material.
Sometimes that white line can fool you to think it got scratched.