Types and Varieties of Chalcedony
“O Chalcedony, Chalcedony, wherefore art thou Chalcedony” This has to be one of the most popular stones amongst rockhounds and lapidary artists. So many varieties, and so many things you can do with the material, and most of the material is affordable. This all adds up to a great stone to have in your collection […]
Varieties of Obsidian
Obsidian comes in quite a few varieties and you’re bound to find them at your local rock and mineral show. The material is great for lapidary artists looking to cut and polish them because it’s very forgiving and produces nice-looking cabochons and carvings. If you haven’t considered adding Obsidian to your collection then I think […]
Types and Varieties of Purple Crystals
Purple crystals are very popular among rockhounds and crystal collectors but do you know all of the types and varieties? You might be surprised how many varieties can be sourced around the world. So, I created a fairly robust list of the ones I’ve collected over the years and I hope you find some unique […]
Gabbro
Gabbro rocks are dark-colored, coarse-grained, intrusive igneous rocks. It’s typically dark green or black and primarily composed of Augite and Plagioclase. Here’s a cool fact you might want to know, Gabbro is one of the most abundant rocks in the deep oceanic crust. These rocks have various uses within the construction industry because they’re used […]
Fossilized Dinosaur Eggs
Up until the 1980s, discovering fossilized dinosaur eggs and the bones of young dinos was incredibly rare. Over the last 40 years, fossilized dinosaur eggs have been found on several continents and I remember when they showed up at the Tucson Gem and Mineral show. Everyone was very skeptical of them being original because they […]
Emerald Values and Pricing
High-quality Emeralds are expensive and demand a premium due to their rarity. It is not uncommon to see faceted Emeralds selling for $5,000+ per carat. If we are talking sizes ranging from 5 to 25 carats then the cost per carat is between $3.00 to $10.00 per carat. If you’re looking at Emerald cabochons, you’ll […]
Celestite Values and Pricing
When valuing Celestite you’ll need to break up the pricing into two distinct groups. For gemstone collectors, you can expect to pay $15.00 to $125.00 per specimen depending on the size and overall rarity. If you come across a faceted stone then it will have a light blue color and might have a cloudy look […]
Apophyllite Values and Pricing
Apophyllite crystals and crystal clusters are affordable in small to mid-sized specimens and will cost between $25.00 – $250.00. When dealing with specimens anything goes when it is unique and sourced from a location that is no longer producing material. If you look hard enough and long enough you’ll eventually come across a faceted piece […]
Dolomite
Dolomite is relatively common and most rockhounds are not looking to collect Dolomite on its own. Now, if you own a nice house or have a nice backyard then you’re a collector of Dolomite but we’re not here for the construction uses. You’ve probably come across Dolomite while digging for and viewing rocks and minerals. […]
Magnesite
Magnesite is a relatively affordable gemstone with colors ranging from whites and grays to a yellowish-brown hue. If you’re at your local rock and mineral show then you’ll see this material in rough, cut slabs, and finished cabs. I wouldn’t expect to see this material faceted. Something incredible about Magnesite is its luminesces blues, greens, […]