Lapidaryforum.net

Let's Rock => Rock Talk => Topic started by: 55fossil on January 04, 2017, 02:59:57 PM

Title: Bertrandite, need a mineral expert or
Post by: 55fossil on January 04, 2017, 02:59:57 PM
    I was sorting my slabs of Bertrandite aka Tiffany Stone. A number of the slabs have numerous crystal pockets that are gorgeous. Also a piece with sagenite and some clear purple pieces that look like fluorite. So, does anyone know a site with good information? I would also PM with someone if they know this stuff. I will try and post some pictures later. Just got another 6 inches of snow I need to go shovel. Yeah, wahhh, I know. I use to live in South Dakota and we did not worry until it hit the top of the front door.  getting old  thanks,  Neal
Title: Re: Bertrandite, need a mineral expert or
Post by: Ranger_Dave on January 04, 2017, 10:27:28 PM
Do what the Swiss do; have another front door on the second floor.
Title: Re: Bertrandite, need a mineral expert or
Post by: Orrum on January 05, 2017, 05:47:28 AM
We might get snow this weekend, hardly ever happens here.
Title: Re: Bertrandite, need a mineral expert or
Post by: Alyssa on February 27, 2017, 03:19:03 PM
I'd love to see pics of the slabs with the crystal pockets!
Title: Re: Bertrandite, need a mineral expert or
Post by: jha789 on March 30, 2017, 01:14:17 AM
I would have to look around a while to find any slabs of bertrandite (Tiffany Stone) with crystal pockets, but here is a cab I finished up this week. It was sitting around preformed and caught my attention - so I finished it.
Title: Re: Bertrandite, need a mineral expert or
Post by: hummingbirdstones on March 30, 2017, 07:27:15 AM
Oh, now that is special!  I don't think I've seen bertrandite with drusy before and it is stunning!   :headbang:
Title: Re: Bertrandite, need a mineral expert or
Post by: 55fossil on March 30, 2017, 11:45:41 AM
   That is a very fine piece. Beautiful crystal pocket and you nailed it with the shape of your cabochon.
Title: Re: Bertrandite, need a mineral expert or
Post by: tkcaz on April 02, 2017, 07:16:35 PM
Those are some of the nicest TS cabs I've seen.
Title: Re: Bertrandite, need a mineral expert or
Post by: jha789 on April 04, 2017, 12:02:48 AM
On the subject of Tiffany Stone, here is my favorite one, although it does not have any druzy.
Title: Re: Bertrandite, need a mineral expert or
Post by: Mark on April 04, 2017, 02:50:15 AM
On the old forum, I posted quite a few pics of Tiffany Stone.  I had a wide variety of material and several of them had weird features like crystals.  I also remember a piece that was split down the middle by a line, with totally different types of Tiffany on each side.  There was a thread or two that were just about Tiffany.  Search for that thread and you will see a lot of different types of stone.  One member posted some incredible Tiffany from a show that was very expensive but oh so sweet.
Title: Re: Bertrandite, need a mineral expert or
Post by: hummingbirdstones on April 04, 2017, 07:14:15 AM
Another beautiful cab!  Tiffany Stone is wonderful stuff if you get the good quality.
Title: Re: Bertrandite, need a mineral expert or
Post by: ileney on April 04, 2017, 03:47:04 PM
Those are stunning!
Title: Re: Bertrandite, need a mineral expert or
Post by: gemfeller on April 04, 2017, 04:36:52 PM
The posted cabs are truly outstanding!  Beautiful.

I like some of the other Tiffany color variations too, like this one.  It even has some tiny black dendrites.

 [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]
Title: Re: Bertrandite, need a mineral expert or
Post by: 55fossil on April 04, 2017, 06:57:15 PM
   Here are some pictures of the crystal vug in one of my slabs. The slab is dry. Not quite as nice as some of the cabochons here but I really like the piece.
Title: Re: Bertrandite, need a mineral expert or
Post by: Amethyst Rose on April 07, 2017, 12:15:35 PM
Neal

I cut a lot of this material before it was called Tiffany Stone back in the early 1990s.  A friend of mine was given permission to collect at the site and he brought home hundreds of pound of nodules, much of which I cabbed.  There can be fluorite cubes in some of the cavities.  The are not common but I have seen a few to maybe 3-4 mm in size.  Quartz lined druzy pockets were uncommon but were nice when you could cut them.  Much of the black was softer than the rest of the colors.  Orange was the rarest color, then bright yellow.  Bright reds were uncommon. 

Great material when you can find good quality and the pieces shown are very nice.

Bob Johannes
The Amethyst Rose
Title: Re: Bertrandite, need a mineral expert or
Post by: Mark on April 12, 2017, 03:12:11 AM
Nice druzy there fossil.  Yellows, blues, and purples, nice color variety.  I may have many of my pics on this notebook, i'll have to look around and will post them if i can find them.  I have heard stories of back when they let people in to collect on weekends or nights.  I remember that there was an incident or two where someone took out tons and tons at a time and the mines management was not happy and closed it down totally to collecting.  Its really sad when a site closes down and there is still stone left.
Title: Re: Bertrandite, need a mineral expert or
Post by: Mark on April 13, 2017, 05:21:51 PM
I found some of my pics on my notebook, so here are a couple.  There are 2 slabs and 2 pics of each.  The one piece is half deep purple Tiffany and half multicolored from tans to oranges with a bit of druzy.  The is one really weird piece.  There is a normal shot and a closeup where you can see the line that delineates the two types of stone.  The other piece is also a half and half stone with a distinct line between the different halves. The one half is purples to grays with the other half cremes to white with some agate and druzy.  I'll look and see what else i can find.

(http://i644.photobucket.com/albums/uu164/markdarkstar/tiffany%20stone%20half%20and%20half_zpswsvsrhdr.jpg) (http://s644.photobucket.com/user/markdarkstar/media/tiffany%20stone%20half%20and%20half_zpswsvsrhdr.jpg.html)

(http://i644.photobucket.com/albums/uu164/markdarkstar/tiffany%20stone%20half%20and%20half%20close%20up_zps3akvszx9.jpg) (http://s644.photobucket.com/user/markdarkstar/media/tiffany%20stone%20half%20and%20half%20close%20up_zps3akvszx9.jpg.html)

(http://i644.photobucket.com/albums/uu164/markdarkstar/tiffany%20stone%20another%20half%20and%20half_zpspryoqxnt.jpg) (http://s644.photobucket.com/user/markdarkstar/media/tiffany%20stone%20another%20half%20and%20half_zpspryoqxnt.jpg.html)

(http://i644.photobucket.com/albums/uu164/markdarkstar/tiffany%20stone%20another%20half%20and%20half%20closeup_zpsguqeppq7.jpg) (http://s644.photobucket.com/user/markdarkstar/media/tiffany%20stone%20another%20half%20and%20half%20closeup_zpsguqeppq7.jpg.html)

Title: Re: Bertrandite, need a mineral expert or
Post by: Mark on April 13, 2017, 05:45:38 PM
Here's a few more.  First a pastel piece with almost orb patterns in places.  Then there is a piece that is half normal Tiffany and then half that is a bluish agate type stone.  I have a full view and a close up.  The last one is a very richly colored piece with colors from red, creme, purple, black, and white.

(http://i644.photobucket.com/albums/uu164/markdarkstar/tiffany%20stone%20pink%20to%20purple%20and%20orbs_zpsccn3tphf.jpg) (http://s644.photobucket.com/user/markdarkstar/media/tiffany%20stone%20pink%20to%20purple%20and%20orbs_zpsccn3tphf.jpg.html)

(http://i644.photobucket.com/albums/uu164/markdarkstar/tiffany%20stone%20half%20normal%20and%20half%20agate_zpswujemimz.jpg) (http://s644.photobucket.com/user/markdarkstar/media/tiffany%20stone%20half%20normal%20and%20half%20agate_zpswujemimz.jpg.html)

(http://i644.photobucket.com/albums/uu164/markdarkstar/tiffany%20stone%20half%20normal%20and%20half%20agate%20close%20up_zpsurmttjh6.jpg) (http://s644.photobucket.com/user/markdarkstar/media/tiffany%20stone%20half%20normal%20and%20half%20agate%20close%20up_zpsurmttjh6.jpg.html)

(http://i644.photobucket.com/albums/uu164/markdarkstar/Rainbow%20Tiffany%20Stone%20slab_zpsdnuoo7wl.jpg) (http://s644.photobucket.com/user/markdarkstar/media/Rainbow%20Tiffany%20Stone%20slab_zpsdnuoo7wl.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Bertrandite, need a mineral expert or
Post by: Mark on April 13, 2017, 06:14:58 PM
A few more.  First a really kool piece with a hole in the middle and quartz.  Next a piece with some really bright colors.

(http://i644.photobucket.com/albums/uu164/markdarkstar/Tiffany%20Stone%20nodule%20cross%20section%20with%20quartz%20center%201_zps2lbnkepx.jpg) (http://s644.photobucket.com/user/markdarkstar/media/Tiffany%20Stone%20nodule%20cross%20section%20with%20quartz%20center%201_zps2lbnkepx.jpg.html)

(http://i644.photobucket.com/albums/uu164/markdarkstar/Tiffany%20Stone%20nodule%20cross%20section%20with%20quartz%20center%202_zpsnerl5kjt.jpg) (http://s644.photobucket.com/user/markdarkstar/media/Tiffany%20Stone%20nodule%20cross%20section%20with%20quartz%20center%202_zpsnerl5kjt.jpg.html)

(http://i644.photobucket.com/albums/uu164/markdarkstar/Tiffany%20Stone%20-%20brecciated%20orange%20stone_zpsbbztmpmp.jpg) (http://s644.photobucket.com/user/markdarkstar/media/Tiffany%20Stone%20-%20brecciated%20orange%20stone_zpsbbztmpmp.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Bertrandite, need a mineral expert or
Post by: 55fossil on April 13, 2017, 09:05:33 PM
   Very nice material.....