Rock FAQ

Lapidary is the complex work of engraving, cutting, or polishing stones or gems. A Lapidarist is someone who specializes in these complex workings.

To identify a rough Agate study its translucence, size, weight, and banding. Be sure to look for shallow markings, asymmetrical fractures, and waxiness.

1. Inspect the translucence. Agates come in a wide array of colors including red, blue, white, orange, yellow, and purple. Whatever the color, Agates are translucent to some degree. Using a flashlight, try to spot any translucent edges. If the stone appears opaque opposed to translucent, it is not an Agate.2. Examine for banding. The majority of Agates have some sort of banding. With that being said, there are some Agates that do not have banding, such as the Moss Agate.
3. Measure the stone. Agates are a dense stone and will present heavier than they appear. Their average size can range from around a golf ball (roughly 1.7 inches in diameter), to a softball (3.8 inches in diameter). Compare the size and weight of other rocks in the area, to get a better idea if you have an Agate (or not).
4. Examine the exterior. You will want to look for pit marks.
5. Feel for waxiness. Using your finger, feel the cracks of the stone or
pieces of the exterior that has worn away. If these areas feel greasy or
slippery, it may be a sign of an Agate.
6. Analyze for fractures. Look for irregular fractures on the surface of
the stone. These fractures are referred to as Conchoidal fissures. These
fissures will appear curved with a wave-like pattern.

You can also use a technique that involves sanding the rock with sandpaper, while slowly introducing higher grit levels. The starting level of your grit will vary depending on what type of rock you are working on. For a cut slab of rock you would start with 100 grit and move up to 320, then 400, and finish at 600. As for rough stone you would begin with a grit of 50, and cycle through the same grit levels listed above. You can continue polishing the rocks with a cloth or coat them with mineral oil or commercial rock polish. These polishes can be purchased online for a low cost.

Did you know Arizona is a rockhounders paradise? Wide stretches of public land are open for collecting and offer a outstanding variety of diverse mineral deposits. Fire Agates, Geodes, Quartz, Apache Tears, Jasper, Serpentine, and Calcite can be found in Arizona. Gold, Silver, and Wulfenite are also found here, but are sporadic.

Geodes are found throughout the world. The most robust areas are located in deserts. Common Geode sites are regions consisting of Limestone or volcanic ash beds. The western part of the United States offers many conveniently available Geode gathering sites. Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah, and Iowa have hefty quantities of Geodes.
Arizona has an inclusive circulation of Geodes. The land around Payson is one area with lavish Geodes. Geodes found here range in size from marble to grapefruit. Southern Arizona is another area that offers Geodes. There are several rockhounding sites near Gleeson, within the Sugarloaf Mountains. Abandoned mines and their dump areas have been known to produce large quantities of diverse materials, including Geodes. Be extremely cautious when you are near old mining shafts (never enter). Anthem and Lake Pleasant are other hotspots for Geodes.

Wrap the Geode in a sock or t-shirt, then place on a firm surface. Secure the Geode so it does not roll.

For novices, use a regular screwdriver and hammer. More advanced folks use your chisel and rock hammer. Place the chisel/screwdriver in the middle of the Geode, and gently tap a few times with the hammer.

Rotate the Geode a quarter turn and tap again. Continue this until you see a crack form all the way around the Geode.

Once the crack forms, pull the two halves apart and take a look inside!

Arizona has an inclusive circulation of Geodes. The land around Payson is one area with lavish Geodes. Geodes found here range in size from marble to grapefruit. Southern Arizona is another area that offers Geodes. There are several rockhounding sites near Gleeson, within the Sugarloaf Mountains. Abandoned mines and their dump areas have been known to produce large quantities of diverse materials, including Geodes. Be extremely cautious when you are near old mining shafts (never enter). Anthem and Lake Pleasant are other hotspots for Geodes.

The value of a rock specimen can vary, depending on the minerals it is comprised of as well as its appearance. To establish the monetary value of a rock test it for color, clarity, hardness, and surface markings. Size plays a factor in worth as well; Bigger is better!
Scarcity is another factor that can play a role into a rock’s worth. Value of a rock can also depends on where it falls on the Mohs scale (1 to 10 regarding hardness). The harder a rock, the more valuable.

Determining if you have a special rock is different for each piece. There are some basic examinations you can do to determine if you have a special piece, or not. Inspect the rock for its color, clarity, and bizarre optical development. Value of a rock also depends on where it falls on the Mohs scale (1 to 10 regarding hardness). Usually the harder a rock, the more valuable.

A mineral is a dense formation that occurs naturally in the earth. Minerals have a unique
chemical configuration. A rock is a solid combination of more than one mineral
formation and is classified based on its formation process. They too occur naturally.

Certain materials are scarce and once the deposit is depleted, these materials may never be found again.
When this happens your piece gradually increases with value, due to the scarcity. Also, if the market is trending for a certain material, the value of your stone may increase due to the desire of the piece.

Painite is the world’s rarest gemstone mineral. There are fewer than 25 specimens found. Black Opal is only found in ancient hot springs. It is so scarce it runs for $20,000 per carat. Musgravite is found in Australia, and falls at an 8-8.5 on the Mohs Scale. There are only 8 specimens ever to be identified. Alexandrite is a gemstone that exhibits an array of colors dependent on the nature of the lighting. The color change shifts when you pivot the gemstone in your hand. Alexandrite is known for shifting colors separately from the viewing angle, when viewed under an artificial light source. It runs for $100,000 per carat and emits a greenish to reddish color transition.

Benioite was first found in the San Benito River in California in 1907. It emits a blue color that mirrors a diamond. Under ultraviolet light, it beams a powerful blue-white color. Red Beryl first appeared in 1904 within Juab County, Utah. Red Beryl has only been found in a handful of places, and is considered very rare. It goes for $10,000 per carat.

A local Jasper is a great rock to gift to someone. They are found everywhere and come in many colors. Geodes are another great idea for a rock gift. They are fun to break open and see the surprise inside. You can also gift pre-cracked Geodes. The beautiful crystals on the inside are a showstopper. Cabochons are a rock gift that everyone loves. They come in many different shapes, sizes, and colors. Once polished they can be used to make necklaces or pendants.

Is a piece of mineral crystal which is cut and polished to create jewelry or other embellishments. Gems are hard minerals, and their rarity can yield value.

Is a piece of mineral crystal which is cut and polished to create jewelry or other embellishments. Gemstones are hard minerals, and their rarity can yield value.

Since Gems are strong stones they should have no scratches. If you observe nicks or bubbles on the stone, it is fake. Another observation to make, is to assess for imperfections. A real gem should not look 100% perfect, they will naturally have some embellishments, due to how it is formed. If it does not have any flaws, it is fake.

Jadeite is the purest, rarest, and most brilliant gemstone in the Jade family. While it comes in colors such as red, yellow, and black, green is the most common. It presents a unique shade of translucent emerald green (known as Imperial Jade). It is the most sought after Gemstone in the world. It runs for 3 million per carat.

Yes, synthetic gemstones exactly mimic the natural stone. They are created by man in a laboratory.