unusual rhodonite - spessartite quartzite

[lithicbeads]

 These wet slabs came out of a piece of local quartzite . The garnet is an alteration product of the rhodonoite and in a lot of these nodules the rhodonite is just a quarter sized bleb or totally gone. the first picture is clear quartzite with garnet balls floating around and the second picture is a side view of the same piece. The third picture is clear quartzite and garnet again. The last picture is  a thin remnant of rhodonite from the center of the nodule. virtually surrounded by garnet. This rough is very hard and solid , no cracks. The surface of the nodules are never black when they are garnetized rhodonite but rhodonite nodules that are not in a quartzite matrix are covered with jet black earthy manganese making for many pleasant suprises on the saw. The garnet and remnant rhodonite are completely silicified.

[Steve]

Very interesting stuff you've got there....................

[ScarlettoSara]

Very unusual but beautiful.

[Helene]

Nice color and lots of depth in your unusual rhodonite.  I would not mind seeing more of it.  Am I off but the first picture looks a little like very high quality Polka Dot Agate with a pinker coloring?  One of my favorites is that Polka Dot Agate with a clear slight blue tint to parts of the stone.  If captured right outstanding!

[lithicbeads]

 Hi, Want a piece of this Helene?  Orange and pink absolutely do not sell for me but this stuff is like candy , I love to cut it. Black and blacker is hot here , the vampire books people really appreciate black stones with a lot of depth which is exactly what most of our quartzites are here , black specular hematite - manganese mixes , again with so much quartz that the hematite is black , it can't weather red as it would like to do.

[Helene]

You know I do Frank.  It's a funny thing, in clothing, decor or anything else I don't care for pink, but been gravitating towards placing pink stones in my jewelry, its just a hobby for me and I don't worry about sales to much.  Cutting stones and metal work is a big stress release.  Love the learning process and so much of it is problem solving, almost a jigsaw puzzle.

How about pink and black together?  Been sketching pieces with that color combination.  Crown of Silver and  Pink Limb Cast would be stricking and unusual. 

You are alway generous.  That includes advice and knowledge, which you have an overabundence of.

[southerly]

That is wild looking material. Yum..

David

[ScarlettoSara]

I am with you Helene. I cant wear solid pastel pink but I  do wear a pink striped dress shirt. For some reason pink turns my skin tone orange. LOL
But I can wear deep rose colors. Pink and black is very dramatic. Art Deco:) And I had a piece of Rhodonite that had a pink and black that was fetching.

[Eu_citzen]

Looking good Frank. I also agree - quartzite is a joy to cut!

[bigdogpc]

Good looking stuff!

[lonelygems]

Nice slabs....soo unique Frank...