Our lapidary materials are generally well-known already so we have not tried to incorporate them in this information. However, since we try to specialize in the less common materials that you may not recognize, we will try to provide some pertinent information about them strictly as a brief reference. If there is a need for greater detail we will try to oblige.
Campbellite - A copper mineral assembage that came from the Bisbee Campbell shaft in the late 1800's in "lunch boxes". It does have it's own unique appearane living up to it's own name.
Chrome Tremolite - Calcium Magnesium Iron Silicate and a few other elements thrown in for good measure. - It forms a series with actinolite.- Hardness 5 - 6 - Translucent to transparent, interlocking, long-bladed, prismatic crystals make lapidary procedures difficult. The inclusion of chrome gives it its wonderful green color variations. The ones sold by DiWolf are from St. Lawrence County, NY.
Druzy quartz over Barite - The matrix is silicated limestone that had clear barite crystals growing on it. Subsequently a druzy (lots of very small crystals) quartz grew over the top of the matrix and the barite. A very lovely sparkly black and white mix was created by Mother Nature. We just remove some of the excess material and polish the edges for use in jewelry or display pieces.
Eudialyte - A complex silicate of calcium, sodium, zirconium, cerium, iron and manganese, with hydroxyl and chlorine. - Hardness 5 - 5.5 - Crystals- tabular or prismatic are mostly translucent. Tints or shades of red are thought to be from manganese. The ones sold by DiWolf were from pegmatites in Kipawa, Quebec, Canada.
Kyanite - Aluminum Silicate - Hardness 4 - 7.5 - Crystals are thin brittle and cleavage is pronounced. Has a glassy luster. It is transparent to translucent and often color zoned. Blue is the most common color. The crystals have extreme variation in hardness, making lapidary procedures difficult. The ones sold by DiWolf are mostly from Brazil.
Purpurite Quartz - SiO2 - Silicon dioxide - Hardness 7.
Agate - usually a banded cryptocrystaline quartz that is usually translucent to tranparent
Jasper - also a cryptocrystalin quartz massive and opaque The lapidary material is usually selected for its pictures and landscape scenes.
Serandite
Serpentine - Magnesium iron silicate hydroxide - A group of rock-forming minerals. When it forms rock it is known as serpentinite. It is always a secondary mineral derived front the alteration of magnesium rich silicate minerals and is found in both igneous and metamorphic rocks. The color is usually in the greenish range with a soapy feel, and a greasy luster and commonly opaque. Relatively soft and frequently used for carving.
Sphalerite - Zinc sulfide
Stichtite - Hydrous magnesium chromium carbonate hydroxide - Hardness 2.5 or less. - It occurs in serpentine rock and is massive, foliated, lamellar, fiberous, or as micaceous scales. It's color is bright lilac to rose-pink. The ones sold by DiWolf are from Tasmania. |
