First as I am not a lapidary, I need to take it to my jeweler to get a professional evaluation on it to determine whether it should be cut, or not as that it the only way to really determine its real value. Looking into it with my jewelers loupe I can see a couple of tiny specks of graphite in it. As for its rating of color and clarity based on any occlusions and whether or not, they can be cut out without losing too much of it that is up for the lapidary to decide. If it will greatly increase its value, I will have it done. Otherwise I will keep it in its raw form and have it mounted into a ring for myself. So at this point, I can't really tell you. Plus I am waiting to see if I find any others in the concentrates that I brought home with me before I go to the jeweler.
Come on.Really I didn't know I was taking an exam?
Your bait-line broke already with me and besides you didn't have the right kind on it anyway. What were you trying to catch with that anyway a minnow?
Sweet! Nice find!
Every year you go and do that? Sounds like fun.
Thank you. I eyeball constantly of course as believe it or not, that's how many of the larger ones are found. I dig and pan usually simultaneously. I like it best after heavy rains or having water nearby. I set up catchalls in streams. As I am digging, I fill my sarucas with soil and gravel and place them in running water to do the rinsing for me while I keep digging, dry sifting in double screens and filling buckets. I always try to work smarter, not harder.
