Amethyst Sage - It's variations, colors, patterns etc, how to cut, polish, etc.

[Deer Sky]

WOWSER...  TNTMOM has talent... I love the two tear drops, the last one best. Perfect choice in shape for the cabochon and what a great finish on them. So many people just see how many cabs they can get out of a slab. Designer pieces come from finding the perfect image in the slab and making it into a piece of art. Glad I found you folks. Yes, I liked all the other cabs as well. Now if I can just find out why some of my pictures will not post I will start sharing some of my work as well.

[PontiousP]

I was looking through this thread and thought that some of bobby1 photos were actually dendrite opal agates. This is my reference, or at least one of them...
http://thumbs4.ebaystatic.com/d/l225/m/mN5Fwk6bdJ-MORsHIlbopHQ.jpg

I find that trying to understand the names of stones can be confusing at best. Can you all help me with this one? Thanks

[socalagatehound]

I was looking through this thread and thought that some of bobby1 photos were actually dendrite opal agates. This is my reference, or at least one of them...
http://thumbs4.ebaystatic.com/d/l225/m/mN5Fwk6bdJ-MORsHIlbopHQ.jpg

I find that trying to understand the names of stones can be confusing at best. Can you all help me with this one? Thanks

As far as I know, Amethyst Sage is from the same location as the old Denio Dendritic agate. It just came out as Amethyst Sage when the purple variety made it to market.  Without the color showing, it is very similar to a number of other dendritic agates found at other locations.  I just think Amy Sage is more popular and looks better because of the color. I know I love the stuff enough so my wife has to set the budget for me....haha.

Craig

[tntmom]

I finished up the sister slab cab to one of the cabs above and the round I showed with the stencil.  Where is everyone elses Amethyst Sage?  This material is so different depending on each artists eye.  It is wonderful material to view and so different with each cab!

[mehoose]

Divne and slick as usual ;) 

[Enchantra]

I own this cab now!
Holy smokes it's more gorgeous in hand than in the pictures!     

Now I just need to plan a fitting design for it!

[RockIt2Me]

Material from Tony.

IMG_20121222_144032[1] by fatsister
IMG_20121222_144019[1] by fatsister,

[Alvin]

that sure is nice stuff

[mehoose]

Oh YUM slab! Score!

Enchantra I'm sure you'll do it justice 

[tntmom]

WOW Nancie!!!!  GORGEOUS SLAB!!!!!  Tony rocks!  All of my cabs came from his material too! 

[Frantic Tumbler]

Amazing cabs and slabs.

Still want to know exactly what the stuff is, though. Doesn't it have to show purple to be called "ame?"

Mn oxide dendrites in what, brecciated jasper, opal, agate, or amethyst?

Crystalline or cryptocrystalline, hardness, toughness, does it undercut, need special polishing techniques?

Locality, sources, price range...?

Thanks to everybody posting pics, it's appreciated!

[Isotelus]

It's kinda weird stuff and varies piece to piece one rough to another. It's variable nature put me off at first but grew too like it.

Some of the brown/tan nodules are more jasper like with dendrites, manganese is the colorant in the dendrites and amethyst color in the pieces that show violet.

It is cryptocrystalline quartz and seven in hardness. Pieces that have some of the white opal included in them can undercut. Other pieces are white or grey agate.
No special cutting techniques- as most agates diamond or silicon carbide will work.Tin or Cerium for polish- i like polish oxides on suede leather but opinions will vary. You can also run it all the way out with Diamond abrasive.

It is Nevada material.

Sources Tony on this site has some as well as Dale Huett of WestCoast Gems

[light house jack]

I want some rough! Wow, that material is spectacular.

[PhilNM]

Material from Tony.

IMG_20121222_144032[1] by fatsister
IMG_20121222_144019[1] by fatsister,

Wow! NIIIIIIIICE! The box I bought from Tony didn't have anything even close to that! You made out like a bandit!!!

[tntmom]

Adding one more.  This one might just be my favorite so far but..... I don't know.  I love every single piece of this material.  Here's a biggun though that worked up perfectly!  51.18 x 35.60 x oops still on the dop.  Can't give you the height yet but it is close to 8mm ;)