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Colorado Amazonite
CP
post Oct 18 2008, 12:44 PM
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Here are some pictures of Colorado Amazonite which we discuss and work in often.

Small thumbnail size specimens cool.gif
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Large cabinet piece happy088.gif
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The blue coloration of amazonite is due to a very small amount of lead while formation occured.
Cabochons from amazonite sometimes have this elegant "sheen" or chatoyancy like this one Mrs.CP did.




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Denise
post Feb 26 2010, 08:13 AM
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I love the natural formation shapes Amazonite has! Here is a good example of shape, but color is not as blue.

Attached Image

On the backside, you can see how there was a smokey quartz forming in the Amazonite, but was broke off many years ago underground.
Wonder if there is a tip hiding inside the Amazonite? chin.gif We will never know, because this piece is staying just the way it is. happy112.gif

Attached Image


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Forestwalker
post Feb 27 2010, 06:10 PM
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It's beautiful stuff, my aunt got a piece at a rock show last year. I hope to find some in the pegmatites near me, lots of K-Spar in the pegmatites here.


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CP
post Mar 3 2010, 03:23 PM
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Good luck Forestwalker, I hope ya' find some too. It's beautiful stuff.
Just amazing the range of colors from greens to deep blues caused by traces of lead. Cutting it for cabs can be trick though sometimes, but when they turn out nice they turn out really really nice!
For more information on Colorado amazonite and links to detailed mineral data check the
Colorado Prospector Amazonite page.

Happy prospecting and hope everyone hit's THE POCKET!

Life's a vug, dig yours! emoticon-misc-004.gif


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Denise
post Mar 9 2010, 12:38 PM
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Here are a few more examples of Amazonite and its color variations.
The smaller ones on the bottom right havent been cleaned up yet.

Attached Image

Here is an example of some with Smokey Quartz and Microcline.
This piece was trimmed on the bottom a bit so it would sit nicely. smile.gif

Attached Image

Attached Image


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Denise
post Feb 15 2014, 07:59 AM
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Here is a cool piece of Amazonite that will be worked into a cabachon. Also a picture of Dan working it on the machine.

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Attached Image

 

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Denise
post Feb 23 2014, 06:06 PM
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Here is a beautiful 7/8 in. Hexagon Dan made. Amazing sheen in this piece, good job CP! smiley-clapping.gif

First picture that he took shows it with the sunlight on it.....can see some of the sheen at the bottom of the stone.
Attached Image



Second picture is a bit different from the normal Amazonite cabachon pics shown by people. This pic shows the stone with him blocking the sunlight with his hand putting it in the dark. Strange color but shows the sheen really good! Very cool cab Dan!!!

Attached Image


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swizz
post Feb 24 2014, 07:27 AM
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Really nice cab and good pics showing the contrast effect that light has on it. I've seen the sheen before and know exactly what you're showing there.
I have to ask... did Dan create the hex shape or did he slice the crystal and use the natural sides as the hex?


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Denise
post Feb 24 2014, 07:52 AM
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He cut the shape using a template shape and size. Turned out really nice I think. happy.gif
He did several more just need pictures yet. He also made a triangle and set it for a pendant. Looks great!!


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swizz
post Feb 24 2014, 08:09 AM
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Awesome job Dan and I can't wait to see that pendant.
I have another question then.... if you were to slice an Amazonite crystal and cab it.... is there a 'grain' to the crystal or would it generally look the same?


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CP
post Feb 24 2014, 09:48 PM
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Thanks Denise and Chris.
Microcline is a triclinic crystal system and yes, I think there is an orientation to cut the Amazonite and get that pearly sheen to play off the finished piece. I'm no expert but I've seen it along two planes, one with the clevage and another 90 degrees off that axis. The one with the clevage plays best in the light though. That is as long as the stone cooperates without breaking.
It took me several tries to figure out the sheen play when first cutting Amazonite, with some (alot of smiley-laughing021.gif ) trial and error over the years but I think I've gotten a bit better on these recent 7 cut stones. Each of them has a full roll of the pearly sheen across the face. One free form diamond shape I carried the outer diamond shape clear up the dome to the crown, turned out very different with the sheen play star bursting so to speak as the stone is turned in hand.

Trying to catch that sheen in pictures though.....now that's another task! bash.gif

More pics to be updated soon.


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swizz
post Feb 25 2014, 07:58 AM
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Very good info, thanks!
What about doing short vids to illustrate the sheen? Kinda like I did with the Opals but just holding it in your hand and tilting back and forth.


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CP
post Feb 25 2014, 08:39 AM
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Oh yea sure a vid! eating-popcorn-03.gif slaphead.gif
Can't do a video yet with the new camera....well more accurately, I can shoot the vid but not off load it from the cam.....grrrr! Need a software update but haven't gotten that yet. Need to update some equipment to go with some new software upgrades.
I'll update with vid when possible as well. thumbsupsmileyanim.gif


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swizz
post Feb 25 2014, 08:52 AM
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hmmmmm..... is there a way for you to upload it to youtube? That's what I was doing by plugging the camera memory card into the pc with the Opal pics.
If you have a memory card reader for your pc it would be pretty easy to transfer from the card to the pc. There has to be an easy software solution, Canon wouldn't let that dangle. I know it's a pain but if you can't solve it, contact their customer support. It's gotta be an easy fix.


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CP
post Feb 25 2014, 10:03 AM
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Yep Chris that was the first thing I tried to do but I think the new camera has formatted and propietized the new card to read only with canon software. Normally you would be able to just pop the card in the computer's card slot and transfer the files. But when we put the card into the computer the vids that are on the card (viewable on the camera) are not visible as files, it just reads as an empty card. greensmilies-025.gif
You're right though, Canon did not let it dangle at all......it's hooked and pinned as an "only use with their stuff" thing.... GRRR!


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