What kind of rock is this? - Democratic Underground

Fridays Child

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Sat Feb-10-07 10:42 PM
Original message

What kind of rock is this?

I got it at the Gem and Mineral Show, today, but I don't know what it's called. Any idea? It looks like white taffy, sort of.

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pitohui

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Sat Feb-10-07 10:45 PM
Response to Original message

1. is it chalcedony?

Edited on Sat Feb-10-07 10:46 PM by pitohui

i should know this but i'm feeling a brain stutter

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Fridays Child

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Sat Feb-10-07 10:49 PM
Response to Reply #1

8. You know what? I think you're correct.

Now that I see the word, it occurs to me that the sign over the display also said chalcedony. Thank you, very much! :thumbsup:

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wildhorses

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Sat Feb-10-07 10:50 PM
Response to Reply #8

10. good to know---thanks

i thought chalcedony was bluer:think:

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flowomo

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Sat Feb-10-07 10:54 PM
Response to Reply #8

19. agate is made of chalcedony I think

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pitohui

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Sat Feb-10-07 10:55 PM
Response to Reply #8

20. no problem

Edited on Sat Feb-10-07 10:55 PM by pitohui

chalcedony is such a broad category and includes so many different looking stones that it can be tricky sometimes, here is an online definition --

Chalcedony is a catch all term that includes many well known varieties of cryptocrystalline quartz gemstones. They are found in all 50 States, in many colors and color combinations, and in sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic rocks. Chalcedony includes carnelian, sard, plasma, prase, bloodstone, onyx, sardonyx, chrysoprase, thundereggs, agate, flint, chert, jasper, petrified wood, and petrified dinosaur bone just to name a few of the better known varieties.

you can see why many people said "agate" straight out, possibly the most common geode of this type would be agate

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Fridays Child

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Sat Feb-10-07 11:49 PM
Response to Reply #20

26. Interesting. It does resemble agate, with all of the lines running through it.

I was tempted to call it an albino agate, until you told me the name. :)

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flowomo

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Sat Feb-10-07 10:46 PM
Response to Original message

2. guessing:

agate geode, often sliced into trnslucent, thin slabs

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okasha

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Sat Feb-10-07 10:46 PM
Response to Original message

3. Onyx.

n/t

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Tin Man

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Sat Feb-10-07 10:46 PM
Response to Original message

4. geode?

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pitohui

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Sat Feb-10-07 10:48 PM
Response to Reply #4

7. geode is not a mineral, but yes it's a geode

i interpreted the question to mean what type of geode

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flowomo

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Sat Feb-10-07 10:48 PM
Response to Original message

5. cut slabs look like this:

Edited on Sat Feb-10-07 10:49 PM by flowomo

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wildhorses

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Sat Feb-10-07 10:49 PM
Response to Reply #5

9. but, those are all different colors

are those agates?

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flowomo

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Sat Feb-10-07 10:52 PM
Response to Reply #9

13. yes, natural is brown, beige and other earth colors....

these are dyed for sale; I have thousands

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pitohui

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Sat Feb-10-07 10:52 PM
Response to Reply #9

14. yes they are all agates, most of them are dyed and mostly bad dye jobs too

i hate to see that done to a nice agate!

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flowomo

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Sat Feb-10-07 10:53 PM
Response to Reply #14

18. not so bad sometimes... I make windchimes from them.....

see my website

http://flowomo.com/

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pitohui

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Sat Feb-10-07 10:56 PM
Response to Reply #18

22. oh i think i was just over-exposed to the blue dye jobs at one point

my preference is the heat-treated (warm earth tone/carnelian) ones

i love to hear the sound of the wind chimes and wish you good luck in your venture!

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wildhorses

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Sat Feb-10-07 10:48 PM
Response to Original message

6. it is a geode of some type

opal...perhaps?? not chalcedony...it is bluer i think:shrug:

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pitohui

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Sat Feb-10-07 10:51 PM
Response to Reply #6

11. chalcedony is not a color

this is a popular misconception because gemstone chalcedony is blue, i know that much

it's in the agate/chalcedony line of things, opal is softer, is my take but hard to tell from here

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wildhorses

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Sat Feb-10-07 10:55 PM
Response to Reply #11

21. yes, that is where i got confused --i work with the gemstone

chalcedony...this is beautiful whatever it is ...

i think up thread they decided it was chalcedony

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pitohui

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Sat Feb-10-07 10:57 PM
Response to Reply #21

23. this is a beautiful stone to work with! EOM

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jgraz

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Sat Feb-10-07 10:51 PM
Response to Original message

12. It's a geode filled with agate

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geode
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agate

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IDemo

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Sat Feb-10-07 10:52 PM
Response to Original message

15. Thunder egg

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Fridays Child

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Sat Feb-10-07 11:55 PM
Response to Reply #15

28. That's beautiful!

:hi:

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Clark2008

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Sat Feb-10-07 10:52 PM
Response to Original message

16. Well, it's beautiful, whatever it is.

:hi:

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Fridays Child

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Sat Feb-10-07 11:54 PM
Response to Reply #16

27. It is a nice one, huh? If you like rocks...

...you'd appreciate the annual Tucson Gem and Mineral Show, which is where I got it. :hi:

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AnotherMother4Peace

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Sat Feb-10-07 10:53 PM
Response to Original message

17. I see you're in AZ - did you get it in Quartzsite? There was a special on TV

about the city (community?) of Quartzsite & it's flea markets and gem/mineral shows. My hubby & I are making plans to visit. It looks like a very interesting place.

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Fridays Child

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Sat Feb-10-07 11:45 PM
Response to Reply #17

25. I got it at the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show...

...an exhibition that has been held here, every year, I'm guessing, for more than fifty years. Dealers and exhibitors come from all over the world but the lady who sold me this rock is a Tucsonan. I'm not sure where the rock came from. It could be local, from Arizona.

Quartzite is just this side of Blythe, California, if I recall correctly. It's a tiny town. I've only driven through but it could be a fun place to visit, especially if you're a rock hound. Just avoid it in the summer--pretty much from May to November--unless you really love the heat. ;)

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Richard Steele

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Sat Feb-10-07 11:01 PM
Response to Original message

24. Chalcedony or onyx.

With that many layers of uncolored white and greyblue...my gut says
you can safely call it chalcedony.

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Richard Steele

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Mon Feb-12-07 02:35 PM
Response to Reply #24

29. ONYX???? D'oh, this worthless brain of mine! "AGATE" is the name I wanted there!

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