Sapphires, Sapphires |
Colorado Prospector - Gem and mineral prospecting and mining forums > Prospecting, Mineral Collecting and Treasure Hunting Forums > Gem and Mineral Specimen Finds or Processes  |
Sapphires, Sapphires |
 Jul 30 2018, 09:24 PM
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#1
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Diggin' In!  Group: Members Posts: 3 Joined: 30-July 18 Member No.: 151,161  |
Greetings from Montana!
We have a mountain range here called The Sapphires. I imagine it got its name from the crazy amount of sapphires that can be found. Using my trusty classifier and a window screen, I can break down my material into both 1/4" size gravel and sand. Currently I have half of a 5 gallon bucket to go through. There are all kinds of chips and things that look really pretty and clear when wet and turn white when dry. Some are amber, most are some form of clear. Currently I have 9 grams of sapphire and related material. Related as there could be garnets in there. So How do I find out the quality of my finds? Gemologist or assayer? What do I do with a half pound or so of itty bitty sapphires? If I had a water wheel I could get (potentially) a cup of clear glass sand down to dust sized particles. Is there an industrial use for sapphires? I am hoping to find one about the size of a duck egg, baring that, a gem the size of my pinky nail would be great! Most are a little bit bigger than a grain of sand. I have a friend that has a rock tumbler. Would it be worth while to ask her to run this material through the finest medium she has and polish it up? Then what do I do with them? Thanks in advance! |
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Jul 31 2018, 12:10 PM
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#2
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 Rock Bar! Group: Members Posts: 426 Joined: 6-February 04 Member No.: 84 |
Here's a link to a video we made a few years back on sapphire panning.
Leonard https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEmRpGuVw5Y |
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Jul 31 2018, 09:00 PM
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#3
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Diggin' In! Group: Members Posts: 3 Joined: 30-July 18 Member No.: 151,161 |
QUOTE (leonard @ Jul 31 2018, 01:10 PM)  Here's a link to a video we made a few years back on sapphire panning. Leonard https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEmRpGuVw5Y LMAO, I was across the river from there! I know how to find them, just not to do with them. The video doesn't really say... |
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Aug 1 2018, 08:51 AM
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#4
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Rock Bar! Group: Members Posts: 426 Joined: 6-February 04 Member No.: 84 |
Ed sent 2 of his larger ones in and had them heat treated and faceted. They made a nice set of small ear rings. They took care of it at Gem Mountain.
Leonard |
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Aug 1 2018, 06:18 PM
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#5
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Diggin' In! Group: Members Posts: 3 Joined: 30-July 18 Member No.: 151,161 |
QUOTE (leonard @ Aug 1 2018, 09:51 AM) Ed sent 2 of his larger ones in and had them heat treated and faceted. They made a nice set of small ear rings. They took care of it at Gem Mountain. Leonard So a half pound or so of 1/4 carat sapphires aren't worth anything? |
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Sep 5 2018, 10:22 PM
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#6
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Diggin' In! Group: Members Posts: 43 Joined: 28-July 14 From: Evergreen Member No.: 117,968 |
QUOTE (Montana Bob @ Aug 1 2018, 07:18 PM) So a half pound or so of 1/4 carat sapphires aren't worth anything? Nope. Not really. By the time they are cut they are also way less than 1/4 carat anyways. |
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Jan 10 2020, 06:30 AM
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#7
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 Master Mucker Group: Members Posts: 1,439 Joined: 22-February 04 Member No.: 98 |
Bob, I'm rebuilding my rock collection, so I might be able to buy some off you if the price is right....
-------------------- Today's socio-political climate is rock solid proof that Adam and Eve weren't prospectors.
If they were they'd have eaten the snake instead of the apple and we'd still be in heaven.... |
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