Thank you Danny,
This piece had no odor while I cut it, and I have cut stuff that had a horrid odor! And I cut a lot of lab opal which smells. I tried the flame and it has a smell that is similar to ivory soap. So I guess that would confirm that it has been stabilized :)

Good morning Debbie,
Nope, this one did not grab hold :)

I have actually purchased rough that had to be stabilized myself before cutting, like rainbow calsilica. The stuff I used had to be heated after soaking and left a very obvious bubbled mess around the outside of the stone. I must admit that it worked really good, turning mud into stone. This one must have been processed differently.

While I really don't have anything against a stone like that being treated, I also agree that it should be put upfront when being sold. I would always prefer stones without any treatment, but there is some cool stuff out there, and I love trying new things!

Thank you very much for your insight! Thank you all for the help :)
Have a great evening! Sheila

Thank you Debbie,
I tried the lip thing :) but I'm not sure I'm doing it right. Tried it with a couple different stones and the turquoise does have more drag to it, more so than rough wonder stone or jasper. It tastes bad, so I'm going to stay with it being stabilized.

It took some fooling with my camera (hate fooling with the darn thing) but I finally got a photo that's a little more true to the color.


not really green, but not that bright blue either.
This may be one that I cut up and sell in person, rather than ship it off to someone who had grand delusions based on a bad photo :)

Thanks! Sheila

Thank you PhilNM!
Actually that helps a lot :)

I normally don't buy turquoise rough and did not specifically buy this piece. I had gone to look at some equipment that was for sale by a wife who was selling her husbands stuff...never bought the equipment, but I did end up with all the rough in the shop. This one piece of turquoise was a box and I never even knew I had it till about a month later. I was way too excited about all the cool agates and jaspers I had brought home!

I have no problem being honest as to the stabilizing. My main concern was that I was overlooking anything else that could have been done to it...like dying or what ever they call the squeezed together stuff :)
I don't think it has been dyed, but one of the cabs has this odd light area in the center of it...is that normal?

Thanks a lot for your help! Sheila

:) OK, I'm pretty sure it's turquoise. But that's all I'm sure about. I have had this chunk setting around for about 10 years...I cut a little off here and a little there. I'm now down to about a third of what it once was.

It's not quite as blue as the photo, a little more green, not really green, but not that bright of a blue :)
I'm pretty sure it's been stabilized. Because the sandy matrix does not crumble (like others did when I cut it). I'm kind of stuck at the moment because I want to list these in my store but do not have any experience with turquoise other that cutting a few stones here and there. If anyone out there could give me a little more info on it I would really appreciate it. Here are a couple more photos to go by:



Any thing would be of a help, even if you think it could be fake, I would like to know ;)
Thanks! Sheila

What a lovely agate! A frozen flame :)
I cannot play this time around, but if it's ok with everyone I could offer up the prize. Let me know and I'll post pictures of a couple slabs.
Congratulations Camillia on your win last time! Hope to see more of your work :)
Sheila

You and your aunt will be in our thoughts also...Please take care.

Your stones are amazing :) I love what you did with the ocean jasper...but my favorite is that glowy, yummy, rhodonite and black. It's just beautiful!

Good morning,
I don't have an answer for you, I'm sure you someone will come along and point you in the right direction. But I have to tell you that your post made me just want to cry! I cannot imagine having to give up the things I love and although I don't know the circumstance, I can only give you my sympathy and hope that your health and life improves some.

Sandsave,
I love how you captured the graduating pattern in that Variscite!

And Justin,
what a perfect oval with lots of interest! Having been self collected just makes it better...this is already a hard competition...but here goes :)

This is a new to me material bought as "Navajo Blanket", not much of a description except that it comes from Mexico. After cutting, I think it's the same or similar material as "wonderstone", but I could be wrong :)
slab:

trimmed:

preformed:

Polished:

shine:

Sorry for the not so great photos!

How about lab opal chips in black resin 

complete with little bubble holes :( but I've gotten over it with a little practice.

Good morning,
I buy from this person on ebay...don't know if the price is high or low for this material...but I drool over it a lot and he has several slabs :)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/rle-PINOLITH-SLAB-AUSTRIA-NATURAL-NICE-4-6-X-3-1-RARE-139-grams-/141495809217?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20f1ceb4c1

Hi,
I am really having a hard time finding white howlite (India type) in larger pieces (anything 3 inches and over, the larger the better). I can find the stuff all over the internet, but it's been broken down for tumbling or dyed turquoise :(

If anyone has any they want to sell or trade, I would be happy to hear from you :) I'm looking for 10 to 20 Lbs, but will happily take a couple here and there.

Sorry but it cannot be California rough...my client only wants the white with gray lines (India type)...no brown or tan marks or black lines.

This is one I got off eBay, but they don't have any more :(


I have some tick canyon material and I think it's beautiful, but I am not my client.

Thanks! Sheila

I think you did an amazing job, and some meticulous work 
Congratulations! 

It's not every piece of jewelry that makes her smile like that :)

That is an amazing slab! Mine all look sparse compare to that :)
You made me go out rummaging through my rock pile  :) ...Thanks!