Hunting gemstones

[3dkicker]

Anyone ever go hunting for gemstones? Find anything of value?

I took a little road trip down past Zooker's home and I'm getting a chance to dig for treasure. They've got to blow up some new rock and I get to be part of the first group to go in and search. Got a free bucket of rocks with my hotel room and pulled some nice gemstones out of it today. I've only searched 1/4 the bucket and have some nice bling already. Three big rubies and three small ones and five blue topaz similar in size to the small rubies. Haven't found an emerald yet but have a purple sapphire, an aquamarine, and a couple gems that I've forgotten what they are. Don't know the value of them and won't until they get cut. Don't know what that cost will be either.

By the way I just realized I went over 2,000 posts!!! Hooray! Happy day.

[bassackwards]

sounds good i'v allways wanted to do that

[3dkicker]

What I'm amazed about is that they don't look anything like the final product. The rubies are six sided, have a triangle pattern, and are a light purple color. The topaz look like clear pea gravel. Some of the garnets have 10 or 12 diamond shaped sides but some are just rounded off. They also have a rust like covering that washes off, or some does, so they aren't the dark red color you normally see. Mostly rust colored.

[Jim80]

I watched that show treasure hunters for a while and the gem stone thing looked like a blast( no pun intended) congrats on the finds so far .

Jim

[nofearengineer]

Originally Posted by 3dkicker

What I'm amazed about is that they don't look anything like the final product. The rubies are six sided, have a triangle pattern, and are a light purple color. The topaz look like clear pea gravel. Some of the garnets have 10 or 12 diamond shaped sides but some are just rounded off. They also have a rust like covering that washes off, or some does, so they aren't the dark red color you normally see. Mostly rust colored.

Are they rubies or star rubies? I didn't even know you could find true rubies in the U.S. If so...that's amazing!

[1/4 stick]

Originally Posted by nofearengineer

Are they rubies or star rubies? I didn't even know you could find true rubies in the U.S. If so...that's amazing!

If I remember right they're real certified rubies to be found in and around Franklin County.

[bassackwards]

well 3d if you hit the jackpot don't forget all of us (a new fish finder would be nice)

[3dkicker]

Nofear - yep just rubies no big deal

Basswards - I've got a list going right now mentally. I'll add you just under the new deck and patio .

[66KingFisher]

Dude we live in Arkansas.....theres a rock shop every 100 yards along the highways round here dontcha know.....lol

Seriously though, there are some cool stones and gems when you get to lookin.....besides not far south of me is the only diamond field in north America thats open to the public....some dude found a 6 carot diamond last week.....the wife and I have yet to venture down there but were plannin on it once the weather cools off a touch.

I remember seein a show on tv a few years back about treasure hunting or something??....the host was a pretty blond gal that was always diggin up precious stones from this region or that....don't know the name of the show but I enjoyed watching it, and it made me realize what treasures really are around us when we get to lookin.

By the way....Ruby is my birthstone.....i've never seen a raw ruby so if ya find a bunch send me a couple....i'll trade ya some purdy rocks from Arkansas....lol

[bassackwards]

at lest im on the list

[Bryan]

Sounds pretty cool. Got any pics of the gemstones?

[3dkicker]

Got a conflicting point of view from a gem dealer at a seperate location about 4 of the stones I have. He couldn't identify one of them which was identified by the people who run the mine . Interesting. I'll have to do a little more investigative work to see if I have anything of value or not.

Rubies are red sapphires. Sapphires, good ones, should have a star that can be seen when they are in rough form (or so I was told by the dealer). I was told that they won't cut well or won't be good gems when cut .

In the pic you see six rubies on the right beneath the two quartz crystals. The big stone is aquamarine, it has a lot more green to it. Amazonite is the other big one on the right. Not a great picture. Amethyst is just above the aquamarine. Above that are two garnets. The three to the left of the garnets are sapphires of some sort. The three on the left top are minor stones. The group of smaller eight stones on the lower left are topaz.

Total take so far. Hitting the mine tomorrow.

[3dkicker]

Here's the view fom the top of the mountain for those who don't get out to the Blue Ridge Mts often.

[zooker]

top two on the right are crystals...nice pendate pieces..


hmm only thing i have to say is. call from hickory. then look for exit 170 at stop sign go left big truck stop on right -horns-..

zooker

[3dkicker]

Got it. I'll call from Hickory if I leave early if not I'll let you know.

[66KingFisher]

I've never been to the blue ridge mountains but your pics look alot like the Ouachita mountain region we live in.....beautiful vistas around every turn.....love it.

[3dkicker]

Sorry about the delay in concluding my trip but I've been without computer access for a few days. Now I'm good since I've returned back to work.

Finished up the trip with 5 stones that could be faceted or cut. Two rubies, two topaz, and one green tourmaline. One topaz is a true natural blue that will produce two cut gems. Didn't get a estimate on them but was told that the better ruby will produce a 1 ct. emerald cut gem valued at about $450. It's going to be a little while until I get the gems but it will be worth the wait.

Met Zooker on the way home. We met up for an hour or so and chatted. He's doing well but has to head back in for some follow up treatment and will be away for 4 days. Don't know if he'll have access to a computer or be in any condition to post but I'm sure he'll be up and chasing those nurses real soon.

[zooker]

ya smitty is was good to talk to you also..


you should see the nurses i have.i guess they only hire up the FINE lookin ones....

zooker

[MallenManson]

Does a 1/4 bag of Petoskey Stones count?

[3dkicker]

There was a Gem & Mineral Flea Market going on and they had those stones there and a lot of other fossils. Some were really expensive. They had a lot of geodes. There were dark rock structures like stellagmite/tites with amethysts in them there also. They were going for $5K each.

[MallenManson]

The biggest Petoskey I've seen was 70#. I wanna steal it....