Hi Dwayne: I hang out in the background and read Orchid. I’m not a
jeweler, just a rockhound like yourself. There is a neat magazine called
Lapidary Digest put out by a very knowledgeable fellow back east who is
caring for his wife with altzheimers that I think you would find quite
educational. There is no charge, and I think that you subscribe simply by
putting Subscribe in the subject line. Write to lapidary@mindspring.com
This site is dedicated to lapidary only, does not go into faceting and
that stuff. Do you belong to a club? I am sure there is a good gem and
mineral club in your area. One really good advantage to a club is the
chance to go on field trips to places you might not have access to by
yourself. Sincerely, Rose McArthur @O_B_McArthurs