Boulder Canyon Unakite |
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Boulder Canyon Unakite |
 Feb 3 2012, 02:16 PM
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#1
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Diggin' In!  Group: Members Posts: 16 Joined: 20-January 12 From: Boulder, Co Member No.: 38,697  |
Have any of you lapidary enthusiast cut and polished Unakite ?? its a very hard colorful granite vein material composed of Bright pink Orthoclase feldspar in a matrix of green epidote. There are massive veins of it up boulder canyon including right next to Boulder falls
Really great quality carving stone but harder than heck. heres a picture
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Feb 3 2012, 02:42 PM
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#2
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 Moderator Group: Members Posts: 4,459 Joined: 25-August 09 From: way on up thar Member No.: 6,983 |
I am also curious.
There is a fair amount of it on my claim, fist-sized and smaller. I have specimens here but have not tried to cut or polish it. -------------------- /l ,[____], l---L-OlllllllO- ()_) ()_)--o-)_) BLACK SANDS MATTER! Very Happy CP Lifetime Member CP CORE TEAM Referral Code CE213 |
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Feb 3 2012, 03:15 PM
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#3
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Diggin' In! Group: Members Posts: 16 Joined: 20-January 12 From: Boulder, Co Member No.: 38,697 |
Yeah it quite common in Colorado. I have even found big chunks of it in alluvial benches along the Colorado river down in Utah. No doubt they washed out of the high country over the ages.
there is so much of it around here its absurd. I would work some of it myself but I don't have cutting/polishing equipment and dont need another expensive hobby 
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Feb 3 2012, 07:03 PM
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#4
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 Master Mucker! Group: Admin Posts: 7,187 Joined: 7-October 03 From: Colorado Member No.: 4 |
We also find quite a bit of it here in the San Luis Valley. I haven't worked any yet, but i have several pieces set aside to check out. I think the material will sculpt out nicely and make great cabachons. I wil post a piece as soon as I work some.
-------------------- Education is the key to the future,
and participation opens the door to opportunity. Discover your prospecting independence & success! ColoradoProspector.com Owner/Webmaster Core team member ♥  |
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Feb 4 2012, 01:04 AM
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#5
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 Rock Bar! Group: Members Posts: 637 Joined: 5-April 11 From: All of Colorado Member No.: 15,615 |
Oh, So that is what Epidote is. yep, we got a lot of it up there in the claims.
-------------------- Proud CP Lifetime Member
(currently working hard in the procurement department) |
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Feb 5 2012, 12:16 PM
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#6
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Diggin' In! Group: Members Posts: 16 Joined: 20-January 12 From: Boulder, Co Member No.: 38,697 |
QUOTE (Mrs.CP @ Feb 3 2012, 06:03 PM)  We also find quite a bit of it here in the San Luis Valley. I haven't worked any yet, but i have several pieces set aside to check out. I think the material will sculpt out nicely and make great cabachons. I wil post a piece as soon as I work some. I have definitely seen it around Crestone and in the creekbed at The Great Sand Dunes but I recall it being mostly green without the big blobs of rose pink feldspar. I could send you a small chunk from Boulder Canyon that is exceptional |
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Feb 5 2012, 05:34 PM
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#7
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Master Mucker! Group: Admin Posts: 7,187 Joined: 7-October 03 From: Colorado Member No.: 4 |
Thanks DoubleTerm! Here are a couple pictures of a few examples from around the SLV.
-------------------- Education is the key to the future,
and participation opens the door to opportunity. Discover your prospecting independence & success! ColoradoProspector.com Owner/Webmaster Core team member ♥ |
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Feb 6 2012, 12:26 PM
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#8
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Diggin' In! Group: Members Posts: 16 Joined: 20-January 12 From: Boulder, Co Member No.: 38,697 |
Wow that first pic has beautiful pinks in it !! would love to see it sliced and polished !
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Feb 6 2012, 01:55 PM
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#9
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Moderator Group: Members Posts: 4,459 Joined: 25-August 09 From: way on up thar Member No.: 6,983 |
Here are some from my mine. Most have some Quartz showing.
Epidote with reddish inclusions and Quatrz  Epidote fused with Quartz  Epidote with Quartz and other unknown inclusions  -------------------- /l ,[____], l---L-OlllllllO- ()_) ()_)--o-)_) BLACK SANDS MATTER! Very Happy CP Lifetime Member CP CORE TEAM Referral Code CE213 |
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