Hi again,
I bought a druzy stone (actually several) at a gem show over the
summer, and I’m not sure what one of them is. The crystal
coating is kind of light mint green. The edge of the matrix is
polished, and is a deeper green. Anybody got any idea what I’ve
got here? I don’t think it’s malachite; the crystals aren’t that
deep a green.
Dave Sebaste
Sebaste Studio
At 10:18 PM 12/20/96 -0600, David Sebaste wrote:
I bought a druzy stone (actually several) at a gem show over the
summer, and I’m not sure what one of them is. The crystal
coating is kind of light mint green. The edge of the matrix is
polished, and is a deeper green. Anybody got any idea what I’ve
got here? I don’t think it’s malachite; the crystals aren’t that
deep a green.
Is it chrysocolla?
E-mail: manmountaindense@knight-hub.com
WWW: http://www.knight-hub.com/manmtndense/bhh3.htm
Snail: POB 7972, McLean, VA 22106
Dave- sounds like prehinite to me… Sometime when I’m up North
Carolina way, I’m going to stop by and see you!
Anne Stickney
Sounds like Uvavorite.
Ringold’s Jewelers since 1908 9865 Bustleton Ave/ Phila, PA 19115
215-671-8190 Fax: 215-969-1803 Ringold@IX.netcom.com
Http://home.aol.com/REGALITE Manufacturing / Mining / Product
Development
Sounds like Uvavorite.
I’m sorry. I forgot to mention that uvarovite garnet druzie is an
emerald green.
E-mail: manmountaindense@knight-hub.com WWW:
http://www.knight-hub.com/manmtndense/bhh3.htm Snail: POB 7972,
McLean, VA 22106
Sounds like Uvavorite.
I think that that is uvarovite garnet druzie. Comes from Russia. I
picked up a few pieces last year at Tucson.
E-mail: manmountaindense@knight-hub.com WWW:
http://www.knight-hub.com/manmtndense/bhh3.htm Snail: POB 7972,
McLean, VA 22106
Dave:
It’s usually asking for trouble to try to I.D. a gem or mineral
without actually seeing it. Considering the description you’ve
given, however, my guess would be either prehnite (as suggested
by another response) or perhaps silica chrysocolla which often
has a clear to greenish-blue quartz druse over a deeper
greenish-blue chalcedony. Some have suggested uvarovite garnet,
but the Russian material I’ve cut recently is very dark saturated
green, like epidote xls, and invariably has a black “rind” or
groundmass that wouldn’t match your description. There are
other possibilities, too.
Rick Martin
MARTIN DESIGNS
Is it chrysocolla?
Hmmm… I hadn’t thought of that, Bruce. I wouldn’t rule it out, but
it’s more green than blue. You could be right, though.
Thanks for your input,
LA (lower Alabama!)
I go to NC a lot, love it up there… I’ve been wanting to go up
NC way, just south of the industrial triangle, I hear they have
lots and lots of potters… also, they have many jewelers in
Chapel Hill I’d like to check out… Anne Stickney
Is it chrysocolla?
Hmmm… I hadn’t thought of that, Bruce. I wouldn’t rule it out,
but it’s more green than blue. You could be right, though.
The reason I mention it is that I bought some last year at Tucson. I
have never really seen drusy used in fine jewelry, but found myself
amazed by the possibilities and found myself buying several varieties.
Bruce D. Holmgrain E-mail: Manmountaindense@Knight-Hub.com WWW:
http://www.knight-hub.com/manmtndense/bhh3.htm Snail Mail: POB 7972,
McLean, VA 22106
Yeah, I know! It’s a fool’s quest to ask for a stone ID in the
internet… without at least including an image. 
Based on
your description, I’d have to agree that it’s not uvarovite.
Definitely not a deep saturated green, and the “rind” is not
black. I’ll have to look at the stone again, but I think the
matrix is kind of layered… dark green and possibly black in a
convoluted pattern? The gem silica idea has merit, since the edge
of the matrix is ground and polished nicely. It may be
chrysocolla-related, but since it’s much more green than blue, it
would have to be a distant relative. The color appears to be in
the mineralization, as opposed to staining.
Which brings us to prehnite (prehinite?). I think I’ve seen
this before, but I can’t conjure up an image in my mind. Can you
(or Anne?) elaborate on that for a bit?
Thanks to all who made suggestions!
Dave Sebaste
Definitely not a deep saturated green, and the “rind” is not
black. I’ll have to look at the stone again, but I think the
matrix is kind of layered… dark green and possibly black in a
convoluted pattern? >
Sounds possibly like drusie malachite?
Rick Hamilton
Hi Anne,
I gotta admit it, I love NC, too… although I’m not a native.
I used to have my jewelry in a gallery in Waxhaw, NC, which is
outside Charlotte. My stuff didn’t move very well, just not the
right “fit” of a gallery for me, although I’ve been invited back
anytime.
The place is Stewart’s Village Gallery, and it’s run by the
Stewarts (surprise!), who are excellent potters. Their pottery
has been nationally acclaimed… they do shows and stuff. Their
studios are on the same property as the gallery. I can’t
remember for sure, but I think his name is John. He’s pretty
lenient about guests in the studio, and it’s really neat to see
his operation. His wife, Holly, (of that I’m sure) does the
shows and pretty much runs the gallery. The gallery represents
all kinds of artists, from glass workers to wood, and of course
jewelry and pottery.
I really enjoyed working with them, a good relationship and I
learned a lot about marketing my work. They liked my work, but
it’s too high-end for the jewelry customers they had. Other
jewelers they represented, whose work I admired, didn’t move very
well, either.
Anyway, another small incentive to come by Charlotte (on I-77
and I-85) before heading on to Raleigh/Durham!
Dave Sebaste
P.S. Around here, L.A. means “Lancaster Area”.
David
I have some old friends who have a jewelry/glass shop in Durham-
Ted and Wren Hendrickson. Ted is an excellent cutter and both he
and his wife Wren are talented jewelers and good people as well.
The shop is located in some converted tobacco warehouse if I
recall correctly.
Rick Hamilton
Hi again,
I bought a druzy stone (actually several) at a gem show over the
summer, and I’m not sure what one of them is. The crystal coating is
kind of light mint green. The edge of the matrix is polished, and is
a deeper green. Anybody got any idea what I’ve got here? I don’t
think it’s malachite; the crystals aren’t that deep a green.
Dave
I bought a druzy stone (actually several) at a gem show over the summer, and I'm not sure what one of them is. The crystal coating is kind of light mint green. The edge of the matrix is polished, and is a deeper green. Anybody got any idea what I've got here? I don't think it's malachite; the crystals aren't that deep a green.
Most of the colored drusy is dyed. Most, if not all, of yours is, as
well.
James in SoFl
Hi James,
Most of the colored drusy is dyed.
A bit of an overstatement, I think. If you’re talking about
quartz/agate drusies, then maybe. But others are usually not dyed:
uvarovite, melanite, malachite, azurite, psilomelane, cobalto calcite
(or dolomite, if you prefer), smithsonite, pyrite, cornetite,
kammererite and more. And even where the quartz/agate drusies are
concerned, there are plenty of natural stones in blues/greens
(chrysocolla & blue chalcedony or lace agate), yellows/tans/oranges
(Brazilian agate and petrified coral), browns/beiges (petrified
woods), purples (amethyst), and more.
Chances are, what Dave has is dyed, but I wouldn’t be positive
without seeing it.
Beth