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[hummingbirdstones]

Those look like some very high quality pieces of rough.  Amazing, actually.  Is the second one Carrasite?   Holy smokes, I'm envious.   

[vitzitziltecpatl]

Wow. Those photos show that you didn't just get a large variety of desirable types of rough - you got high-grade pieces. Good for you.

[irockhound]

I pulled some of the trimmed opal out of the bucket.  They need refinement of course but this is what the 6 gallons is made up of.  There is a lot that is already trimmed to Opal only with no host and then the rest is nodules untrimmed.  Rick came by and seemed to like what he saw.  He gave me some great advice in cutting, he is a wealth of knowledge for sure.  These are quick shots off my Titan's lights.

[irockhound]

Some more from cleaning.  The slabs were completely rust covered from a bucket of slabs. others are some of the rough.

[irockhound]

Last post for the day.  These were some pics I took with my phone as I was washing material off.

[vitzitziltecpatl]

Oh, yeah. You got one of those collections we all hope to find. That's the kind of deal where the worst piece in the lot is still good!

Glad to hear Rick dropped in there. You won't find anyone any better - and he for sure won't BS you about anything. You know all you need to know about that Spencer after hearing it from someone like that.

You did get some good Spencer rough there. Lots of different colors and patterns in the flash. Looks like someone started a pear shape with a potch back, and the first big chunk with the red bar is the one I'd have been looking for.

You'll be having fun for a long time with just what we've seen here.

[hummingbirdstones]

Holy crap, you did good!  Gorgeous, gorgeous rough.   

[safossils]

Wow! Really nice stuff...

[rocks2dust]

Some gorgeous pieces there, for sure. The white agate with metallics is almost certainly "Josephine's Crown" from SW Oregon - fetches nice prices. Looks similar to Mohawkite. Not really marcasite, but a blend of various metals. Still, it's a good idea to not store in a damp place (can oxidize/pit similar to pyrite, marcasite and similar metal oxides and sulfides).

[irockhound]

Yeah the first Opal pic Rick said the color bar closest to the camera is just below the surface and they didn't have it perfectly parallel.  The funny thing was the person who gave me the rock also told me "you haven't seen the good stuff" and took me into the garage where there were totes of material.  He only opened 2 totes and my jaw dropped from what I saw.  He was giving them to me but then family dynamics got involved.  History: So Husbands Wife died and they had been talking with me for years about if I wanted more rock.  Wife's dad was the rockhound and jeweler.  After Wife passed away Husband came back to me and asked if I was still interested.  While he was showing me the totes a sister in law called and said she wanted the material.  Husband had asked her if she wanted it and she had no interest but when she found out I was picking it up she changed her mind.  I left all the material still there both rough and totes.  Later he called and said I could take the rough but totes still needed to be gone thru by sister in law.  The sister in law that wanted the material in the totes also said she just wanted polished pieces and I could have the rest.  Still hasn't happened and I found out that the Sister in Law while the family was at the memorial for the Wife who owned this material went back to her sisters house while the Husband and grand kids were at the memorial and took all the wife's jewelry and fur coats etc.  Husband got home and Grand kids had to call the sister and threaten her with police if she didn't return jewelry etc.  Husband said she is one of "those" relatives.  He still wants me to have the totes but I am keeping distance till they resolve their dispute.  Husband had to have all the locks on their house changed to protect from sister in law.  I went back and gave the husband a thousand dollars for the material to compensate him for the great material and told him I would have gladly paid the money in Quartzsite for the material.

[irockhound]

Some gorgeous pieces there, for sure. The white agate with metallics is almost certainly "Josephine's Crown" from SW Oregon - fetches nice prices. Looks similar to Mohawkite. Not really marcasite, but a blend of various metals. Still, it's a good idea to not store in a damp place (can oxidize/pit similar to pyrite, marcasite and similar metal oxides and sulfides).

Thanks for that info.  I was going with Marcasite but it definitely looked like more than one sulfide and damn heavy.  Even in the pic of the sawed edge the different colors of the sulfides is quite clear.  I first picked it up I was thinking no way this is gold but sure heavy enough!  Stunning material though.  I guessed at weight on the pieces just from picking it up, I just weighed on the scale and 30 lbs total.  I can see some beautiful stones coming out of it and can visualize some great knife scales.  He had the material outside on a wall and I was surprised that it didn't have any pitting like some of the marcasite and pyrites I have collected over the years.  I will of course treat it with more respect than outside on a wall.

[hummingbirdstones]

I recently bought a 2.5 lb piece of Josephine's Crown rough and it wasn't nearly as nice as the stuff you have.  It's difficult to find.  Figure a good $30/lb. for that rough at least and $75 and up for cabs.

[vitzitziltecpatl]

I see you mentioned Quartzsite in the earlier post. Will you possibly be there during the Pow-Wow weekend? Robin and I would both like to meet you in person someday. There's a get-together at Desert Gardens that Saturday night at the Idaho Rock Shop booth.

The red bar Spencer is one I'd have to "investigate" further. Around here pieces like that get dismantled at the crack lines to see if there's anything solid enough to cut. Sometimes just touching the crack to the trim saw blade will cause them to let go cleanly.

[irockhound]

I normally come to Quartzsite twice, At the very beginning of the month to check for new finds or fresh barrels and again at PowWow to see known vendors and the special items.  I'd love to meet you also and sure we can find days that match.  I have tried unsuccessfully to meet Amanda the last couple years.  As I remember she would help out at a friends booth on the freeway side an isle or 2 above Pat McMahon but every time I came she would be coming the day after I was leaving LOL.  I only try to avoid schedule conflicts with my wife and her dog shows but she has been so non-stop that I am sure I have some banked time due.

[ileney]

Holy smokes you got some deal! What beautiful material. Wow!