Metal detecting, gold panning, gemstones etc

[robbiegal]

wow
gemstones
and now pure gold

far out!!
Hi Kel
Here is Mum's ring - which is my engagement now. This red stone looks almost black when I wear it.
And then here is a pic of a garnet drop earring that is about the same colour as the one I orginally had - can't find it now!! Blimey! But that colour or lighter is what I's be after. And I'd prefer an Australian garnet if possible?
ps again - it's about 5mm across

[keldaw]

these are some of my stones , may be a bit dusty from sitting out in my shed since last july , when we came back from our trip out west ..











 just remember on all gemstones
 more light better pictures ,,. ,, kel ,,

[Robster]

Lovely looking stones Kel, another fun form of noodling.!! You are now my most knowledgable expert in this field. Hope you get some sales.!!!

[keldaw]

my gold  ..stored away nice and safe and cool ..



 



and some of my thunder eggs,  when they get cut in
half , there is always a different patton in side each one .




 thunder eggs look so much better after being polished

     ,, kel ,,

these pictures of my gold and thunder eggs are taken with my new camera ,

 the pictures of my gemstones are taken with my old camera

 so much better .     ,, kel ,,

[Robster]

A Bit of Colour fron Coober Pedy/ Flinders Ranges Fossil.

[Australian coin]

o pretty, do you know what the fossil is, I think the round ones are called ammonite, and opals are made from silicon, I seen a program and there's a very special fossil that is made of opal too, an Aussie bone from something and its very rare.

[Robster]

I have seen the fossilised dinosaur that was discovered many years years ago.! My younger sister spent a couple of years in Coober Pedy (Police Officer) so I visited often.! Met a couple who excavated a new room in their dugout for an impending new arrival (baby) and found $40.000 of opal in the process.!:yahoo:

Wetting the rock brings out the colour.!

[robbiegal]

these are some of my stones , may be a bit dusty from sitting out in my shed since last july , when we came back from our trip out west ..











 just remember on all gemstones
 more light better pictures ,,. ,, kel ,,

Hi kel
Are these all garnets?
the orange ones are lovely (the round ones)

[keldaw]

hi robbie  , no mate only the round are garnet,

the oval ones are zircon .

 we dug all our stones ourselves , over 35 years ago ,up in the hart range , in the north/terr .

if you like them i can give you a few uncut stones [ zircon ] for you to play around with , and maybe you can get a couple of them cut to suit you one day , when you feel like it ..
 if you like , p/m your address and watch for the mail man ..   ,, kel ,,

[robbiegal]

thanks so much Kel
those deep red granets look very much like the one that I already have in the ring (I think). ALthough the highly faceted one looks a bit more browner & brighter

what lovely stones
i'd be looking at gemstones like that each night instead of my old pennies

will pm message you and google zircon as I know little about it
cheers robbie
and maybe i'll have to dig up the local lapidary club contact details  to find someone who can cut stones!!

[Robster]

Kel, I have a 'pink zircon' fron the Harris Ranges (according to the scrap of paper tucked in with it) Are these common.?
Robbiegal, I am a bit the same- could look at shiny things all night.!:exclamation:

[keldaw]

Kel, I have a 'pink zircon' fron the Harris Ranges (according to the scrap of paper tucked in with it) Are these common.?
Robbiegal, I am a bit the same- could look at shiny things all night.!:exclamation:

robster , lots of different pinks , in gemstones , the most common colour is champaine and there is light and dark in that to ,
 zircon is cut for weight , some  other stones ,, stones like my iolite in above pictures [ the small blue ones in the box ] are cut for colour .
if you look at iolite one way it is blue , turn it around a bit and it is clear , so it must be cut on the colour format .pictures of gemstones on p/c will never really show the right colour , the light makes the difference . if it is a pink ,, pink , then it would be better then common . ..   ,, kel ,,
:wavemulticolor:

 if it is pink like the 2nd  guy in this lot , then you have a very uncommon  pink zircon .. ,, kel ,,
robbie ,
gemstones are a thing that i dont think you can buy via the net ,.except for the pretty junk from overseas . most of them cheap ones are man made..
 first , you must have the exact size to fit the setting , or a jeweler has to alter the setting , very expencive if not cut to aust no in the setting sizes .also the colours are never the exact same as what shows on the pc , enless it maybe ok if pic is taken by an expert ..
zircon prices , are whole sale prices selling to cutters or jewelers
 larger cutable stones   $ 2.00 per ct , uncut , retail at $ 4.00 per ct ,,,.cut stones $ 40 per ct ,   .. prices in australia to cut stones are around $ 28.00 per ct
that is when, they are cut then weighted.
 these prices are rough est , because it depends on where you are and were you have it done .   ,, kel ,,

[keldaw]

robbie , which stone are you talking about , please??
 start from the top 4 then the next 4 then one at a time down , and let me know by number please ..   ,, kel ,,
straight below robster,s opal is my first lot of 4 stones ,
top 2 are zircon , and bottom 2 are garnet, then the next picture of 4 stones are zircon ,then the next 6 are garnet , all different sizes .
 and not under the light in the same position , it is the light that makes the difference ..   ,, kel ,,

[robbiegal]

i rather like that zircon
it looks like citrine

[keldaw]

it certainly does look like citrine ,
 but not so i can give you my word it is zircon ..
again the light ..  ,, kel ,,