The Search engine hates me

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Or I dont know how to use it

Hi All

I am sure this question has been asked and answered countless times. Where are your favorite places to go online for quality slabs or rough. I am a newbe at ordering on line. I have ordered 1 piece of hawks eye and I was not really happy the grain was really twisted.

I have been searching for hours for a small slab of high grade black onyx with no luck 

Thanks in advance.

Bless
Shawn

[Talusman]

I buy quite a bit of stuff on eBay. Took a bit of practice for me to be able to judge a seller by their descriptions/grammar/photos/feedback. Otherwise I've bought some rough from miners who have web pages. Haven't ordered bulk rough from the lapidary supply web pages as I'm afraid the yield will be minute ("mine run" material).

Black Onyx might be tricky as the term Onyx is often misused and many online refer to any black/dyed rock as Onyx.

-Jeremy

[James D. Farrow]

Sorry, can't answer the slab question but it's not only you that
is having problems with the search function. No matter what I search
for I get 38 pages of results and most of those don't even have the
words I was searching for.

I think the moderators are aware of the problem.

James

[gemfeller]

Re: Black "Onyx."  Depending on how much you actually need, a 40 x 30 mm. cab (or smaller) from a supplier like Kingsley-North might do the job for you.  I've sliced up several for various projects over the years and they've worked just fine. 

New Era Gems used to offer slabs -- inquire, they might still have some kicking around.     

[Hummingbirdstones]

You are not alone.  The search engine hates everyone!   

Ron's Rocks has some on Ebay. More than a small piece though.  You could message him and ask if he has a piece he can sell you.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/rle-BLACK-ONYX-AGATE-SLABS-BRAZIL-up-to-4-5-x-2-5-11-pcs-1-04-lbs-/131738112380?hash=item1eac34117c:g:NrUAAOSwQYZW0edZ

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Robin and gemfeller

Thanks for the links. They are all dyed. The project calls for a natural untreated hi gloss black stone. Pure black onyx looks to be very hard to find. I am now looking into black tourmaline. Any other sugestions?

Thanks
Bless
Shawn

[rocks2dust]

Search google/bing/yahoo for "black jade" (Edwards or Australian), Thai "black spinel" or "obsidian" if you want it even more glossy.

[Hummingbirdstones]

Same seller I gave you before on Ebay.  I believe I saw a piece of Australian black jade in his store.  That will give you a high gloss shine.

[Enchantra]

Search engines are tricky.  If you don't know how to use qualifiers in the search, or don't use the images to help you, sometimes it is a hit or miss venture.

Qualifiers such as you "don't want treated material?"  So you enter "Black stone -untreated"   The qualifier is the minus sign with the "qualification" you are looking for, or in some cases, what you don't want...

Hope that helps.

I often will scan the images that come up as a listing near the top of the search because it may give me better results.