Instead of disparaging gems/semi precious gems why not share your
favorite stone? My middle name is literally Pearl, so I’ve always
leaned towards them. My favorite color is green and I tend to seek
out the nice rick greens no matter the value perceived of it. Then
there is a whole different category. I love certain rocks, when cut
can be just as beautiful as the precious ones. I love Tiffany Stone
when it has the nice purples and pinks. But my current top of the
list is Satin Flash Opal.
Before you scratch your head about the last two, as soon as I get my
backside to stop hurting and get my camera out, I will take pictures
of both. Tiffany stone or bertrandite is a hazardous stone to cut. It
is the ore they get beryllium from. The mine that use to allow large
boulders to be taken out of the claim, is completely closed off
today. There is a rumor it might open up again, but I’m not holding
my breath.
Satin Flash Opal is mined near the Tiffany Stone. The area it comes
from is about the size of a football field. I’m good friends with the
two who have the mine. It is like Australian opal only in the fact
that no two stones will look alike. And they both have many and varied
versions of the same composition. Once it is polished there are those
who swear it is plastic. It is not. I will take pictures of both the
rough, the preforms I have and the cut and polished stones. The
background colors can range from a clear to gold to a beautiful pink.
When in the sun it doesn’t have the huge areas of rainbow color play
like the Australian opal, but it has pinpoint flashes of rainbow
colors.
Ok, now what are your favorites?
Aggie in Fl. dreaming of Tucson in Feb.