Thursday, May 13, 2010

Twin Golden Calcite Crystal

Ok so one more fabulous piece (museum quality) that will be at the Mineral Market show on May 22nd in Seattle. If you have questions on this specimen, contact me. Check my website WWW.earthlightgems.com for contact information.

This is a twin golden calcite crystal (actually two crystals radiating out from the same root between them) on a matrix of barite crystals from Elmwood, Tenn. The calcite is perched beautifully on the matrix of barite. The photograph does not show the barite however if the shot is taken from the other side, the calcite presents perched on a wall of finely articulated barite crystals rather than matrix so it is sort of a two sided piece with each side having its own features. With the appropriate lighting, the calcite "shoots" beautiful rainbows from within.

The mine in Elmwood, Tenn. has been closed for years and specimens from this locality have been highly prized both here in the states and particularly in Europe for the last 30 years due to the extraordinary associations of different minerals expressing in highly aesthetic compositions. This is a classic.

Dimensions: overall dimensions of the specimen is 12" long x 9.5" high x 4.5" deep with the calcite crystal/s itself 8" from tip to tip.

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Sneak Peak at Mineral Market Show in Seattle

Here is a sneak peak at a few things I will be bringing to the Mineral Market Show in Seattle at Lake City Center on May 22nd. I have information about this show on my website. WWW.earthlightgems.com

Youngite with Druzy, Selenite Ball, Marcasite Stalagtite.
This Marcasite Stalagtite, is very long, the longest I have ever seen.
This is a very large polished FreeForm Labradorite, it has a gorgeous blue flash.
Ok this picture does not do this justice it is a gorgeous huge cluster of Green Fluorite.
Fabulous Amethyst Crystal Cluster with a carved stand made to fit.
This is an upclose picture of the Large Selenite Ball, so cool.
This picture has some more marcasite stalagtites, a fabulous druzy cluster, and some Aquamarine specimens with Muscuvite
This is a huge slab of polished specular hematite, along with a blue cluster of Fluorite.
Ok so I love this Rhodocrosite freeform polished dish, so beautiful. I also have a very nice smokey quartz and a gorgeous stibnite.
This picture has a fabulous smokey septer, Lapis, Druzy cluster,Pink/Purple Fluorite, and a sample of one of the spinel pieces I am bringing.

I will have two tables and a lot of things as back stock to fill in as things sell. This is a don't miss show. I will be waiting to bring these items into the shop until after the show, so don't miss out. Alot of the things I am bringing are one of a kind items, and I may not ever see them again.

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Crystals in the Rough


This is what I started with, a whole box with a bushel of Dirty Quartz Crystals from Arkansas. I ordered an entire bushel, it came in this large garbage bag in a large box, I will be pulling out trays of crystals for awhile to clean.

This is going to take weeks and weeks of cleaning if the weather stays good. All I plan on using is a toothbrush and water.

Up close of some of the crystals.

See the side by side view before & after 1/2 of the tray is cleaned. This took hours the rest will have to wait until next weekend.

Lots more to go, but here are some of the cleaned crystals.

Here is some more of the finished crystals after scrubbing with a toothbrush and water for hours I think these turned out pretty clean. I probably won't even need to do the soak in the acid wash, as most people do. But of course this will take a lot more work then just soaking in the acid wash for a week.
I like the feel and satisfaction you get when you clean the crystals yourself.

Kimforbeads