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Author Topic: Mesolite and calcite?  (Read 2782 times)

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Stonemon

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Mesolite and calcite?
« on: March 04, 2018, 08:50:32 AM »

I am not much of a specimen collector but I wound up with a couple that intrigue me.
Yesterday I met  young man who works in the rock crushing industry. He works for a mobile crushing outfit and has the opportunity to put his eyes on a lot of fresh broken rock from a variety of quarries in western Oregon.
He bought a collector piece off of my ebay shop and as he was local he wanted to meet up and talk rocks.
He brought some pieces to share and I left the meet-up with two specimens.
First, I believe he gave me a nice piece of fibrous mesolite. Fairly common here in weathered basalt. The second piece however, looks to be mesolite sprays encased in calcite.  Hard to photograph.
I have never seen this before and wonder if any of you have.
Can I polish the calcite to improve the visibility of the included mesolite?
Is this a collectable mineral assemblage?
Any input appreciated.  :icon_scratch:
Thanks
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Bill

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Re: Mesolite and calcite?
« Reply #1 on: March 04, 2018, 12:06:40 PM »

Yes, they are collectable. I have seen calcite crystals growing on mesolite, but nothing quite like your piece where they penetrate very far. Oregon mesolite and other zeolites sell well, though you definitely should write down the exact locations found, as knowing that impacts value if it is ever sold. Other than removing dirt with a soft toothbrush, wooden toothpick or Waterpik-type dental spray, I would suggest leaving the calcite unpolished, particularly if it may ever be sold, as many collectors object to polished crystals. Nice pieces :smiley:
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Stonemon

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Re: Mesolite and calcite?
« Reply #2 on: March 04, 2018, 03:21:18 PM »

Thanks for the info r2d... I am really wanting to window the calcite but I will restrain myself!
The person I got these from says he finds them when using a hydraulic hammer on the big boulders so they will fit the feed on the crusher.
He said the mesolite crystals fill vugs in the boulders that are full of water when he breaks them and only the ones at the right orientation survive when the water gushes out.
The calcite/mesolite piece is just a big unknown for now.... I will ascertain the exact quarry for these.
Best regards,
Bill
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Bill

rocks2dust

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Re: Mesolite and calcite?
« Reply #3 on: March 04, 2018, 05:38:02 PM »

Must be nice to be able to use mechanical equipment to find those. The basalt is hard stuff, and many of the public dig areas are off-limits to power tools. Glad he's interested in rescuing some of those!
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hummingbirdstones

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Re: Mesolite and calcite?
« Reply #4 on: March 04, 2018, 05:55:45 PM »

I love fuzzy rocks!  They are so cool.   :icon_sunny:
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Robin

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Re: Mesolite and calcite?
« Reply #5 on: March 04, 2018, 06:00:15 PM »

Some lovely pieces there Bill would look very nice in the display cabinet something so delicate not seen so often.
Dave
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Stonemon

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Re: Mesolite and calcite?
« Reply #6 on: March 04, 2018, 06:20:07 PM »

I love fuzzy rocks!  They are so cool.   :icon_sunny:
Some lovely pieces there Bill would look very nice in the display cabinet something so delicate not seen so often.
Dave
In life...The rocks and the rest of us get the fuzzy knocked out of us most of the time!!  Makes the delicate special.
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Bill

hummingbirdstones

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Re: Mesolite and calcite?
« Reply #7 on: March 04, 2018, 06:30:20 PM »

So true (except for my brain, which somehow manages to get fuzzier).  You should get an acrylic or glass box to put those beauties in so they don't get dusty.  Would be impossible to clean something that delicate.
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Robin
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