So, I have returned from Tucson with a TON of new rock goodies to share and use. This post is going to be L.O.N.G….
I’ll start with photos of lovely stones, then show off all the turquoise, and wrap up with all *matching* pairs for earrings or plugs. Tomorrow I’ll post some extra photos as well, so stay tuned!
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Below, from left to right, we have: Blue Biggs Picture Jasper, Plume Agate (looks like snow!), a STUNNING piece of petrified wood, and a primo piece of Mohawkite! Mohawkite comes from the Mohawk Mine in Michigan. Within the snow white quartz you’ll find a shiny mix of copper arsenates with nickel, cobalt, silver and iron. The stones are a by-product of silver and copper mining.
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Below from left to right: graveyard plume agate, ocean jasper, agua nueva agate, and petrified palm wood!
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Below from left to right: two different kinds of LOVELY petrified wood, and a primo cut of Morgan Hill Poppy Jasper/Guadeloupe Jasper!
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Below from left to right: primo Imperial Jasper Nodule, two lovely landscape jaspers, and two Mexican Bird’s Eye Ryholites!
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Below is a large and super duper lovely Medicine Bow Dendritic Agate!
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Next up-Mini cabs! Perfect for little rings or necklaces. From left to right, top row, we have: a sweet round mini Turritella Shell Fossil (perfect ring size!), red plume agate, and lace agate.
Bottom row from left to right: picture jasper, plume agate, lace agate, and a beautiful little Imperial Jasper (lovely lovely olive and rust colours)
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Also new are some sweet Wild Horse Magnesite cabochons:
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In the picture below we have a great high quality dendritic quartz (plant fossils trapped in clear quartz), and a STUNNING mini Golden Rutile Star Quartz. This is one of the nicest and rarest quartz types out there (on par with Medusa quartz). This is the only one I’ve been able to get my hands on, and its a FULL STAR! Usually you just see half of the design or a part of the design in a cab. This little full star lovely is perfectly round, small, and calling for a ring!
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The jasper stones below I’ve heard called many names. The most popular are bird’s eye rhyolite, or ollithic limestone. Either way, whatever it is, it is definitely jasper, and fantastic! They remind me of lily pads, or rose gardens. The two stones on the right are slices of Montana Agates:
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TURQUOISE TIME!
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The amount of high quality natural turquoise I found was so exciting, especially because I found hardly any after diligently hunting the entire first day I was at the Gem Show. For those unfamiliar with “The Gem Show”, it is held in Tucson, AZ at the beginning of each year. There are several major gem/mineral/jewelry shows, and dozens of other mini shows. I only attended two-the major Gem Show at the Tucson Convention Center, which is more for gemstone dealers, and the larger tent/trailer gem show at the old Electric Park. Last year I met the nice Mr. Jim, who actually remembered me this year! The majority of my new turquoise (and all Fox Mine and #8 Mine turquoise) is from him. My darling niece patiently helped me pick out matching pairs. The Electric Park show was like an open candy store! Behold my newly found treats:
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The pictures below are all from assorted mines, if you fall in love with one of these stones or are even a tad curious-ask me and I’ll tell you which!:
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Other turquoise scored included a single piece of turquoise from the ever popular and rare Damale Mine! This fat cab (really, like a bubble), is more minty as opposed to the yellowish hues the Mine is known for. It reminds me a little of the Peacock Mine, and has a fantastic web to it. The two stones to its left are OLD STOCK Carico Lake Mine turquoise. These little guys are the real deal, and have deep tight webs with extremely saturated colour:
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Another rare mine that I was surprised to find so much of out there is one of my favourites: the Apache Mine. Known for its minty turquoise and black matrix, I’ve only ever had two cabs of this that had immediately been sold in pieces. This is extremely original material, and only comes from one mine! I got Apache Mine turquoise from two different vendors….the second batch below being the Mine Owner! She was a pistol!
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This huge one is calling for a cuff bracelet, what do you think?
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Below is from the Mine Owner, top grade turquoise! The colours are even more intense in person. The two cabs on the top right are currently reserved for an earring pair:
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MATCHING TURQUOISE AND GEMSTONE PAIRS!
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The pictures below are all of matching turquoise pairs, mines as labeled, all from the fantastic Mr. Jim:
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These are my favourite catch of anything by far. These three matched pairs are all natural, *old stock*, #8 Mine turquoise. These are the tightest webs I’ve ever seen. They are all top grade, smooth, high polished, exquisite little beautes. Ain’t nothing better:
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OTHER GEMSTONE PAIRS~
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From left to right in the picture below, we have: two pairs of NATURAL rounded trillion cut drusy! Perfect for elegant plugs or earrings, especially fitting for events and weddings! Next to them is a pair of oval shaped Mastadon Ivory (which would look nice with wampum beads, non?), and a great pair of lemon chrysoprase.
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Finally we have, from left to right:
snowflake obsidian, super tall Four Peaks Mine amethyst gemstones, STUNNING square blue chalcedony gemstones, and sweet little red sponge corals (their detail is a little lost in the photo, but they are sponge-patterned)
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Well, that’s all folks! Everything you see is currently up for grabs except the matching Apache Mine cabs. Stay tuned for a Post of newly completed commissions…
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xx Stray Arrow
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