Lapidaryforum.net
Rockin' Jewelry => Wire Wrapping => Topic started by: Amethyst Rose on June 07, 2016, 10:34:43 AM
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Found the rough for this pendent in an estate we purchased. Howardite from Nevada. Nobody seems to know exactly where in Nevada this material was found but the best material had patterning resembling a rattlesnake. Unfortunately, much of the material had a large amount of fractures.
This piece was wrapped in 24g Sterling Square and 22g 1/2 round wire by my wife. It will be available for sale at the Agate Expo in Cedarburg.
Bob Johannes
The Amethyst Rose
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Howardite?? I've actually never heard of that. Sure looks like Petrified wood to me. Pet wood is all over the Southwest. Nevada has some areas of really nice wood.
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Some people have all the luck. It was a private claim at one time but the story I got was that it is now in one if the military bases and you can no longer get in there
Rattle snake agate!!!
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Not a petrified wood. It is a seam type material from 2 to 8 inches thick. Lot of vug pockets with druzy or botryodial lining. From what I have been able to determine, one old timer mined this material back in the 60s and collected maybe 1-2 thousand pounds much of it lower grade. From the hardness and cutting charetristics I believe it is a partially agatized, partially opalized volcanic tuff.
Jhon, that would be likely and much like the Wingate and Bullion Plume agates from California that can no longer be collected
I have one 10 lb chunk to cut as well, when time permits.
Bob Johannes
The Amethyst Rose
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Very nice! I still have one little slab of Howardite left from a purchase long ago. It's neat stuff -- they used to call it "Plaid Agate." I don't know the exact source either but I remember reading speculations that the unusual pattern resulted from hydrothermal pressure pulses during deposition. Wish there was more of it.
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Beautiful little piece. I hope my big chunk comes up with some good color and pattern.
Bob Johannes
The Amethyst Rose
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Do you know what howardite is worth. The rattle snake pattern can sell for $180.00 per lb the good cabs go for $2.00 to $10.00 per caret. That's what I meant about some people have all the luck. That was some score.
When you cut the 10 lb piece be careful on the orientation to be sure you get the best patterns
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Yeah, Howardite is great when it's the high grade like the photos in this thread. I wish there was more of it too.
There's a bit of new material out there called Flamingo Agate (I think) that looks similar, is also from somewhere in Nevada, and is supposed to be harder and with less fractures. If the sales pitches can be believed, that is. Haven't bought any of it myself, but it looks good.
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I got some material last year at the Contin-Tail show in Buena Vista, Colorado that when I first saw, I thought it was Howardite. Guy said he dug it up earlier in the summer and had not yet named it. Highly opalized, and looks a lot like Howardite without any Rattlesnake pattern. Bought all the slabs he had (no rough available). Having seen pictures of the Royal Flamingo, it could very well be the same material. Sorry but I don't have any pictures of it. Will have some cabs in Cedarburg in a month.
Bob Johannes
The Amethyst Rose
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Good to hear from someone who has some of the "Flamingo". Is it really more solid and stable than Howardite? The prices I've seen on it have kept me from "testing" it.
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It has fewer cracks but it is still fragile and won't stand up to any type of abuse. It is mostly opalized rather than jasperized like Howardite and as such is not as tough as howardite. At least the material I have which may or may not be the Flamingo.
Bob Johannes
The Amethyst Rose
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This site has what I think are excellent images of the new Flamingo Agate aka Royal Flamingo Agate. Very nice stuff!
Bob, take note of his comments about the market for Howardite. You may have a gold mine if your 10-pounder is what you hope it is.
http://www.dominiongems.com/#!Flamingo-Agate-from-Nevada-a-new-lapidary-material-thats-hot-in-Quartzsite/cd86/56a2ce570cf2f3c826e30ca2
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I looked on Ebay for flamingo agate, 3.9 lb for $249.00 HOLY CRAP!! its nice but not that nice. my wife would call it baby poo. If I was to spend that kind of money I will buy Guatemala jadeite. Howardite is overpriced you have to pay for the rareity
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The pictures shown by Dominion Gems look identical to the material I purchased. The big piece will just have to wait until after Cedarburg to get cut. No time with my having to travel back to Minnesota next week for my Mom's memorial. Just won't have time to cut it at all.
Bob Johannes
The Amethyst Rose
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Nice! Beautiful stone and wrap!