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Arizona Gemstones

“the List”

The purpose of the list is to document all the gemstone rough occurring in Arizona. At present the list is not complete and it is hoped that it will never be complete because new material is constantly being found.

There are holes that will hopefully be filled during the 2012 Tucson gem shows. It is to intended to be a field collecting guide and location information, if given, is usually sketchy.

We have worked most of the materials in the list and would like to someday say we have worked all of them. Any assistance in increasing the list will be appreciated.

Diana and Wolfgang at DiWolf

The Quartzes

• course crystalline -clear, amethyst, rose and smokey

• cryptocrystalline - translucent agate common gemstone definitions

• cryptocrystalline opaque – jasper- common gemstone definitions

Much of the cryptocrystalline material of Arizona is both agate and jasper.

Some of the “named” materials are:

• Petrified wood – agate and/or jasper

Green Petrified wood – rare one time find

• Moss agate – agate

• Gem chrysocolla – chrysocolla in agate and/or jasper

• Druzy quartz over gem chrysocolla

• Tiger eye – agate and/or jasper

• Green lizard stone – jasper

• Orbicular jasper (~10mi S of Quartzite)

• Graphic granite – quartz and feldspar

• Fire agate – agate/jasper with play of color

• Liesegang sandstone – cemented quartz s]and with liesegang rings

• Chrysoprase – early name for gem chrysocolla

• Blue Chrysoprase - early name for gem chrysocolla

• Blue Chalcedony - early name for gem chrysocolla

• Copper mineralized argillite

The Metals

Minerals:

• Pyrite / Marcasite

• Chalcopyrite

• Bornite

• Chalcocite/Digenite

• Galena

• Cinnabar

• Cuprite

• Azurite

• Malachite

• Smithsonite

• Brochantite

• Linarite

• Stibnite

• Hemimorphite

• Atacamite

• Caledonite

• Turquoise

• Conichalcite

• Vanadinite

• Variscite

• Scheelite

• Copper

• Gold

• Silver

• Iron and meteorites

• Wulfenite

• Dioptase

• Zunyite

• Kinoite

• Shattuckite/ Ajoite

• Papagoite

• Dumorturite

• Hematite – specular

Rocks:

• Meteorite- iron

• Copper – mineralized argilite

• Copper – mineralized basalt

• Campbellite

• “Cody Stone” galena in quartz

• Pudding stone

The Classics

• Beryl – Aquamarine faceted up to 40 carats, cabs

• Corundum – ruby & sapphire

• Diamond – yes – gemstone unlikely in meteorites

The Leftovers

• Feldspar – graphic granite, moonstone

• Garnets

• Tourmalines – schorl some albaite

• Opal

• Chrysotile – opalized or silicated

• Barite

• Fluorite

• Magnesite – “Wild Horse Magnesite”

• Calcite

• Peridot

• Unakite

• Jet

• Marble

• Travertine

• Obsidian/ Apache Tears

• Limestone - banded

• Limestone – fossilized

The Unnaturals

• Inca Stone – Block

• Smelter Brick

• Smelter Slag

• Jewelry Block – “you name it, we'll make it”

• Turquoise Paint on Rock - “the Ancients” - fraud

• Gold, silver, or copper impregnated quartz – proud of their product, it's cool

• Urban conglomerate

Beware or Be Aware

• Gold – chalcopyrite sold as gold

• Silver – galena sold as silver

• Bohmeite – limestone – worm holes filled

• Cody Stone – galena in quartz

• Inca Stone – Beautiful block of copper in turquoise

• White turquoise – fraud - magnesite

• “White Buffalo turquoise” - fraud – magnesite

• White Buffalo Magnesite – yes magnesite

• Campbellite – Copper oxide assemblage from Bisbee – OK

• Campbellite – Copper oxide assemblage from Morenci – fraud

• Arizona absolute black jade – comes with accurate descriptive sheet

• Jewelry block – very cost effective substitute with proper disclosure

• Jewelry block – fraud when not properly labeled

• Gold, Silver or Copper impregnated quartz – they are justifiably proud of their product

• Smelter brick –

• Smelter Slag - very few people know these products – leads to possible problems intentionally or unknowingly