Colorado Topaz |
Colorado Topaz |
Feb 15 2015, 02:02 AM
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#1
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Rock Bar! Group: Members Posts: 898 Joined: 9-January 14 From: Denver, CO Member No.: 116,265 |
My friend and fellow claim owner went up to our claim for the first time this year on Saturday. He found the top of a colorless Topaz crystal that is nearly flawless inside. 193.5 carats(38.7 grams). We just confirmed it with a scratch test and a specific gravity test. It has some red and green inclusions near or on the surface. Looks like we can add this to the growing list of minerals that can be found on our claim.
I was able to take some photos. -------------------- |
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Feb 15 2015, 08:53 AM
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#2
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Master Mucker! Group: Members Posts: 2,430 Joined: 6-June 13 From: Falcon, CO Member No.: 82,915 |
Wow, very nice find!
-------------------- Find Colorado Prospector on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/170314493176558
CP Lifetime Member |
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Feb 15 2015, 12:55 PM
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#3
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Diggin' In! Group: Members Posts: 6 Joined: 6-February 15 Member No.: 120,097 |
My friend and fellow claim owner went up to our claim for the first time this year on Saturday. He found the top of a colorless Topaz crystal that is nearly flawless inside. 193.5 carats(38.7 grams). We just confirmed it with a scratch test and a specific gravity test. It has some red and green inclusions near or on the surface. Looks like we can add this to the growing list of minerals that can be found on our claim. I was able to take some photos.
That's awesome! How exciting! Congrats |
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Feb 15 2015, 01:03 PM
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#4
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Shovel Buster! Group: Members Posts: 52 Joined: 1-April 13 From: Saguache, Co. Member No.: 65,104 |
Hoping to see a long field report here soon.
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Feb 15 2015, 02:40 PM
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#5
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Moderator Group: Members Posts: 4,459 Joined: 25-August 09 From: way on up thar Member No.: 6,983 |
Congratulations, that is stunning!
-------------------- /l ,[____], l---L-OlllllllO- ()_) ()_)--o-)_) BLACK SANDS MATTER! Very Happy CP Lifetime Member CP CORE TEAM Referral Code CE213 |
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Feb 15 2015, 03:09 PM
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#6
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Master Mucker! Group: Admin Posts: 7,186 Joined: 7-October 03 From: Colorado Member No.: 4 |
Score!! That is a fantastic Topaz and what a great way for him to start the new year on the claim. Like I said...good things to come for you guys because it's your time! So excited for you guys, you will have to make sure you keep a camera or video recorder (for your own records) on hand for those action shots when those beauties are being pulled out.
Looks like a healed face (?) on the one side giving it very cool features, looks incredible!! Congratulations on the great claim finds guys! Tell him I said "congrats" from me also please Mike! You guys "rock" literally!! -------------------- 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 15 2015, 03:09 PM
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#7
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Diggin' In! Group: Members Posts: 4 Joined: 11-January 15 Member No.: 119,955 |
Wow - very nice, Mike! We drove past Pilot's Peak yesterday - the weather was so pretty and I'm glad you had such success!
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Feb 15 2015, 04:16 PM
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#8
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Diggin' In! Group: Members Posts: 8 Joined: 22-April 11 From: San Luis Valley Member No.: 17,143 |
Congratulations, very nice find!
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Feb 15 2015, 06:25 PM
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#9
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Rock Bar! Group: Members Posts: 898 Joined: 9-January 14 From: Denver, CO Member No.: 116,265 |
make sure you keep a camera or video recorder (for your own records) on hand for those action shots when those beauties are being pulled out. Looks like a healed face (?) on the one side giving it very cool features, looks incredible!! I promise to pull my cameras out more often and use them this year. I don't see any healing on there but besides a few chips on the side(pic 1 left side) it is natural face on the sides and several small terminations on the top. Pic 3 shows the fractured bottom (perfect basal cleavage). My guess is this is the top of a larger crystal that must of been 400 ct. or more. When we started prospecting the area over a decade ago we were originally looking for topaz crystals but found just about everything else first. Now we found one! There is only 2 well known areas for cut quality, bi-colored topaz in the world.... Ural Mts. Russia and Colorado, right in the area we are working in. Hope I can get into some of those. -------------------- |
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Feb 15 2015, 07:24 PM
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#10
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Master Mucker! Group: Members Posts: 1,301 Joined: 17-February 12 From: Central CO Member No.: 41,357 |
Very cool find!
-------------------- Caveman
Aulus Livius Maximus World Traveler, 7 Continent Walker LEVEL 3 LIFETIME MEMBER Referral Code: SE2104 |
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Feb 18 2015, 12:01 PM
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#11
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Master Mucker! Group: Admin Posts: 4,149 Joined: 7-October 03 From: Colorado Member No.: 3 |
That's a sweet season opener, congrats you guys!!
-------------------- CP-Owner/Administrator
www.ColoradoProspector.com IF YOU USE IT, THE GROUND PRODUCED IT! MINERS MAKE "IT" HAPPEN!! |
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Feb 18 2015, 01:00 PM
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#12
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Master Mucker! Group: Members Posts: 1,282 Joined: 13-January 14 From: Lakewood, Colorado Member No.: 116,305 |
Great job boys!!!! Sorry I've been slacking on responding. Awesome specimen!!!
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Feb 19 2015, 11:18 PM
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#13
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Shovel Buster! Group: Members Posts: 71 Joined: 2-July 13 From: Colorado Springs Member No.: 86,914 |
Nice find! Very beautiful, congrats!
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Apr 18 2015, 12:43 PM
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#14
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Rock Bar! Group: Members Posts: 730 Joined: 6-July 14 From: Grant, CO Member No.: 117,890 |
Question - how do you know it's topaz and not a clear quartz? What tests did you do, either in the field or at home, to know?
Colin -------------------- - You Rock! (Literally)
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Apr 19 2015, 07:50 AM
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#15
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Shovel Buster! Group: Members Posts: 171 Joined: 19-October 14 From: Denver Member No.: 118,315 |
It is not very hard to test for TOPAZ. If you have an isolated piece to test, you can do the home gravity test we have talked about in a few other topics. Quartz's specific gravity is 2.65 (times heavier than water). And Topaz is 3.4 - 3.6 (times heavier than water). If you find pieces that have crystal faces, then you can maybe tell from the different crystal shapes. If you have a different type of sample that can't be tested these ways, then let me know, or bring it to the next outing, and we will try to figure it out.
-------------------- Thankful member of COLORADO PROSPECTOR CLUB
Level 2 Joined Oct. 19th 2014 (pay member since Apr. 1st 2015) Referral code: DS531 "Like a fine gemstone, the mind is more beautiful when it is open and free to receive the light." - (Dave's ramblings 52 : 80 ) |
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