Barrett
Ideal_Rock
- Joined
- May 26, 2009
- Messages
- 2,218
I can't reveal to much info right now but my buddy and best diggin' pal, Bryan Major of Diamond Hill Mine notoriety/Ultrrocks, hit a very significant find of amethyst in South Carolina. Significant for the quality and the location. Once I am allowed to tell more it will make more sense but I was sworn to secrecy about certain aspects...but ...this material is as good or better than the finest JXR has to offer(let's call it easily as good since I have not seen enough material to say "better" but many will say it is and it's s good at the very least)
I got to see some of the specimens and fondle them and man-handle them and they are s good as it gets in terms of quality in U.S. amethyst. The luster and "crystal" is so noticeable it's striking to see how "water-like" and smooth they really are. As good as anything I have held from any amethyst mine the world over..not just the US. Looks like solid purple water. The color on many of the pieces I saw was of the richest purple color with strong blue secondary. The clarity, on a large portion of the find that was cuttable, is fantastic! The combination of clarity, luster, habit, color, etc. all in top form, with the number or pieces mined, is outstanding and super rare.
As the amethystguy I know a thing or two about amethyst, ya know.
This first crystal I am posting was not even in the top 10 picks from the split after 3 days of digging...so...imagine what the pieces that were chosen prior to this one looked like!!
This one is an easy 25+ct gemstone of exceptional color and clarity. Just fantastic to see in person. The property owner choose as his first pick quite possibly the finest piece of rough I have seen in amethyst. It will never be cut since it's part of a bigger and better museum-grade specimen but it's a 100+cts finished gem of the best color you can imagine in amethyst...even as good as the best Zambian, TL
If I estimated the price of the rough that could be cut from the first choice specimen the land owner got and I compared it to the many many American amethyst rough I have seen, bought, or sold I would guesstimate a $5,000-$6,000 piece of rough. Nicer than the best JXR rough I have ever seen in person.
So ....this crystal was one of only 3 Bryan had on him when I arrived at 5a.m. at DH mine, after hearing the news. I hope to get some pics of the more choice specimens at later time but this was all I had to work with at the time. If you know my name IRL then check out the video on FB I posted...much better than photos...but until I get to reliable wifi, and can upload to youtube, you will have to wait if you don't know where to look.
All these wonderful attributes you see and the icing on the cake is the locale....that makes it noteworthy among the big wigs in the Rock & Mineral business and will cause an eyebrow or two to raise...that's for sure...but that is hush hush until I am given permission to tell
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I got to see some of the specimens and fondle them and man-handle them and they are s good as it gets in terms of quality in U.S. amethyst. The luster and "crystal" is so noticeable it's striking to see how "water-like" and smooth they really are. As good as anything I have held from any amethyst mine the world over..not just the US. Looks like solid purple water. The color on many of the pieces I saw was of the richest purple color with strong blue secondary. The clarity, on a large portion of the find that was cuttable, is fantastic! The combination of clarity, luster, habit, color, etc. all in top form, with the number or pieces mined, is outstanding and super rare.
As the amethystguy I know a thing or two about amethyst, ya know.
This first crystal I am posting was not even in the top 10 picks from the split after 3 days of digging...so...imagine what the pieces that were chosen prior to this one looked like!!
This one is an easy 25+ct gemstone of exceptional color and clarity. Just fantastic to see in person. The property owner choose as his first pick quite possibly the finest piece of rough I have seen in amethyst. It will never be cut since it's part of a bigger and better museum-grade specimen but it's a 100+cts finished gem of the best color you can imagine in amethyst...even as good as the best Zambian, TL
If I estimated the price of the rough that could be cut from the first choice specimen the land owner got and I compared it to the many many American amethyst rough I have seen, bought, or sold I would guesstimate a $5,000-$6,000 piece of rough. Nicer than the best JXR rough I have ever seen in person.So ....this crystal was one of only 3 Bryan had on him when I arrived at 5a.m. at DH mine, after hearing the news. I hope to get some pics of the more choice specimens at later time but this was all I had to work with at the time. If you know my name IRL then check out the video on FB I posted...much better than photos...but until I get to reliable wifi, and can upload to youtube, you will have to wait if you don't know where to look.
All these wonderful attributes you see and the icing on the cake is the locale....that makes it noteworthy among the big wigs in the Rock & Mineral business and will cause an eyebrow or two to raise...that's for sure...but that is hush hush until I am given permission to tell
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