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⭐ Gemstone & Mineral Show n Tell
- Thread starter Colin&Lee
- Start date
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Yeah Aussie sapphires can be nearly any colour of the rainbow, pinks are classed as sapphire, once they get that deep red they are classed as ruby. Most rubies do flouresce under uv light due to the chromium content. Some Thai ones don't flouresce due to a higher iron content but you'll find pretty much all Aussie rubies will flouresce a bright hot pink like this.
These aren't Aussie stones but it gives you an idea.
No uv
With uv
These aren't Aussie stones but it gives you an idea.
No uv
With uv
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Nice collection there LW! :Y:
Gemhunter, sapphires and rubies are much harder than zircons or garnets. Harder than most things really. If you're not too worried about marking the surface a little, a stone that you know to be say, a zircon should have a great deal of difficulty making a scratch on the suspected sapphire/ruby, while a sapphire/ruby will easily scratch a zircon or garnet.
There may also be telltale signs visible under magnifaction, such as "sergeant stripes", which are rays of "silk" (tiny rutile crystals) which can give away the crystal shape. Sapphire and ruby crystals have a crystal shape that is hexagonal in cross-section.
Gemhunter, sapphires and rubies are much harder than zircons or garnets. Harder than most things really. If you're not too worried about marking the surface a little, a stone that you know to be say, a zircon should have a great deal of difficulty making a scratch on the suspected sapphire/ruby, while a sapphire/ruby will easily scratch a zircon or garnet.
There may also be telltale signs visible under magnifaction, such as "sergeant stripes", which are rays of "silk" (tiny rutile crystals) which can give away the crystal shape. Sapphire and ruby crystals have a crystal shape that is hexagonal in cross-section.
I have not had the chance to get out for a fossick for some time, but my brother has been sending me the odd photo the get me revved up for Gemfest next year.
This one arrived last night, we have found a few pencil sized tourmaline before, well........ think that is what they are, but this is a thumper
Any ideas of what to do with it ?
This one arrived last night, we have found a few pencil sized tourmaline before, well........ think that is what they are, but this is a thumper
Any ideas of what to do with it ?
You are on fire today Silver... 
:lol: ] :Y:
You could polish it, Cut it into a nice Display Stone or keep it as it is.... :Y:
LW....
:lol: ] :Y: You could polish it, Cut it into a nice Display Stone or keep it as it is.... :Y:
LW....
A few nice ones in there BigRed, great to see! :Y:
:Y:
Sodabowski
Thomas Rodriguez
Wow that's quite the loot bigred! are the reds spinels?
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Hi Colin and Lee
I went saphiring with my late uncle at GG in the late sixties and early seventies. Some nice stones there. Did not find anything like those sizes though. Only small stuff. Blues ,greens and party coloured ones. Also citrines and a few small topazes as well.
I went saphiring with my late uncle at GG in the late sixties and early seventies. Some nice stones there. Did not find anything like those sizes though. Only small stuff. Blues ,greens and party coloured ones. Also citrines and a few small topazes as well.
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Got some nice rough sapphire. Does anyone know an exceptional cutter?
Golden Emu said:
I can vouch for "sneakycuttlefish" he is a member on this forum and based in the Atherton Tablelands of North Queensland.
Cheers
Doug
Sodabowski said:
Red zircons Soda.
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