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ť My first piece of rough - Jackson's Crossroads Amethyst from Georgia

My first piece of rough - Jackson's Crossroads Amethyst from Georgia

P: 8/13/2009 3:55:18 PM
cellentani Ideal Rock Total Posts: 2,274 Last Post: 11/20/2009 Member Since: 12/28/2008	I purchased a piece of JXR amethyst rough, and received it today. Unlike 4 Peaks amethyst that has red flashes, JXR amethyst shows more blue. However, I've got a couple pics in direct sunlight where I swear I can see some red. I was told by the seller that it should cut a couple of top quality gems, possibly up to 5-6 carats. Frankly, this is just a fun project for me, and I'm not really concerned about maximum yield. I'm trying to keep my expectations low, so if I decide to cut it, I'll be happy with a 4 carat gem. I've heard that JXR material is hard to come by and is much rarer than 4 Peaks, so part of the decision processs is whether to cut it at all. However, I'm not a "rocks and minerals" kind of girl, so I have a feeling this one is headed for the chopping block. The color is not a deep, dark Siberian purple, but it will be interesting to see what color a finished gem would have.
Posted: 8/13/2009 3:55:18 PM

There are 26 replies to this message. There are 26 replies on this page.

P: 8/13/2009 3:57:46 PM
cellentani Ideal Rock Total Posts: 2,274 Last Post: 11/20/2009 Member Since: 12/28/2008	.
Posted: 8/13/2009 3:57:46 PM

P: 8/13/2009 3:58:30 PM
cellentani Ideal Rock Total Posts: 2,274 Last Post: 11/20/2009 Member Since: 12/28/2008	.
Posted: 8/13/2009 3:58:30 PM

P: 8/13/2009 3:59:43 PM
cellentani Ideal Rock Total Posts: 2,274 Last Post: 11/20/2009 Member Since: 12/28/2008	.
Posted: 8/13/2009 3:59:43 PM

P: 8/13/2009 4:00:51 PM
cellentani Ideal Rock Total Posts: 2,274 Last Post: 11/20/2009 Member Since: 12/28/2008	Sometimes when I hold the piece up, it looks lighter, and it almost always looks better in my hand.
Posted: 8/13/2009 4:00:51 PM

P: 8/13/2009 4:01:37 PM
cellentani Ideal Rock Total Posts: 2,274 Last Post: 11/20/2009 Member Since: 12/28/2008	.
Posted: 8/13/2009 4:01:37 PM

P: 8/13/2009 4:02:32 PM
cellentani Ideal Rock Total Posts: 2,274 Last Post: 11/20/2009 Member Since: 12/28/2008	Anyone else see those reddish flashes?
Posted: 8/13/2009 4:02:32 PM

P: 8/13/2009 4:05:42 PM
Chrono Ideal Rock Total Posts: 11,281 Last Post: 11/20/2009 Member Since: 4/22/2004	Thanks for the pictures. I definitely see a strong blue component and a hint of red in that one flash picture.
Posted: 8/13/2009 4:05:42 PM

P: 8/13/2009 4:18:40 PM
tourmaline_lover Ideal Rock Total Posts: 6,491 Last Post: 11/20/2009 Member Since: 9/20/2008	Cellentani, Nice piece of rough. It reminds me a great deal of Zambian material. Very strong blue component and almost looks like tanzanite. Please let us know who you get to cut it, as I need a cutter for my tourmaline rough.
Posted: 8/13/2009 4:18:40 PM

P: 8/13/2009 4:30:29 PM
cellentani Ideal Rock Total Posts: 2,274 Last Post: 11/20/2009 Member Since: 12/28/2008	Date: 8/13/2009 4:18:40 PM Author: tourmaline_lover Cellentani, Nice piece of rough. It reminds me a great deal of Zambian material. Very strong blue component and almost looks like tanzanite. Please let us know who you get to cut it, as I need a cutter for my tourmaline rough. Haha, that's the trick, isn't it? Which tourmaline are you cutting - the one with nice termination?
Posted: 8/13/2009 4:30:29 PM

P: 8/13/2009 4:38:29 PM
D&T Ideal Rock Total Posts: 7,410 Last Post: 11/20/2009 Member Since: 10/27/2008	wow, looks like a fun project. can't wait to see what you end up doing with it or who you will go to get it cut. I'm sure it will turn out beautifully
Posted: 8/13/2009 4:38:29 PM

P: 8/13/2009 5:37:49 PM
tourmaline_lover Ideal Rock Total Posts: 6,491 Last Post: 11/20/2009 Member Since: 9/20/2008	Date: 8/13/2009 4:30:29 PM Author: cellentani Date: 8/13/2009 4:18:40 PM Author: tourmaline_lover Cellentani, Nice piece of rough. It reminds me a great deal of Zambian material. Very strong blue component and almost looks like tanzanite. Please let us know who you get to cut it, as I need a cutter for my tourmaline rough. Haha, that's the trick, isn't it? Which tourmaline are you cutting - the one with nice termination? Yes, that one!!
Posted: 8/13/2009 5:37:49 PM

P: 8/13/2009 6:17:16 PM
cellentani Ideal Rock Total Posts: 2,274 Last Post: 11/20/2009 Member Since: 12/28/2008	Date: 8/13/2009 5:37:49 PM Author: tourmaline_lover Date: 8/13/2009 4:30:29 PM Author: cellentani Date: 8/13/2009 4:18:40 PM Author: tourmaline_lover Cellentani, Nice piece of rough. It reminds me a great deal of Zambian material. Very strong blue component and almost looks like tanzanite. Please let us know who you get to cut it, as I need a cutter for my tourmaline rough. Haha, that's the trick, isn't it? Which tourmaline are you cutting - the one with nice termination? Yes, that one!! How big is your tourmaline rough? Have you shopped it around to any cutters? I actually contacted BK about it, and I'll probably send it to him just for an evaluation. I have the sense that some of the higher-end cutters wouldn't want to bother with it, and frankly, I don't blame them - we both know the risks. You'd probably feel more comfortable going to someone more established, though. What I realized today is that 85 carats isn't as big as it sounds.
Posted: 8/13/2009 6:17:16 PM

P: 8/13/2009 10:39:11 PM
cellentani Ideal Rock Total Posts: 2,274 Last Post: 11/20/2009 Member Since: 12/28/2008	For what it's worth, I emailed the seller about the color, and while JXR amethysts are predominantly purple-blue toned, they can have red flashes - just not as common. I kind of like the red, and it only comes out in certain light.
Posted: 8/13/2009 10:39:11 PM

P: 8/13/2009 11:24:37 PM
Fly Girl Ideal Rock Total Posts: 3,756 Last Post: 11/21/2009 Member Since: 1/9/2007	Very nice rock. Nice pictures, too. I find it so difficult to make my amethyst photos look like what I see in person. Interesting that the red flashes are showing up in sunlight. That's different than Siberian color, where I understand that the red flashes show up under incandescent light. At least that is true for my new little Zambian. Good for you to get some cool American amethyst. Looking forward to how this project turns out. **** Life is a Journey, not a Destination. ****
Posted: 8/13/2009 11:24:37 PM

P: 8/14/2009 9:39:34 PM
amethystguy Ideal Rock Total Posts: 635 Last Post: 10/14/2009 Member Since: 5/26/2009	glad you got a piece..the saturation looks good on the piece..can't wait to see a cut stone..when the largest gem show in the southeast does it's theme around a little 2 acre mine location you know it's got to be good..glad you snagged a piece up..I looked through a whole coffee can full of JXR rough yesterday and saw nothing close to the quality of yours..it's rare to find a good facetgrade piece..like i said before out of maybe 350 hours of hunting I have only ever found maybe 4-6 good facetgrade pieces..with good color...now who is going to cut it
Posted: 8/14/2009 9:39:34 PM

P: 8/14/2009 10:26:26 PM
cellentani Ideal Rock Total Posts: 2,274 Last Post: 11/20/2009 Member Since: 12/28/2008	Date: 8/14/2009 9:39:34 PM Author: amethystguy glad you got a piece..the saturation looks good on the piece..can't wait to see a cut stone..when the largest gem show in the southeast does it's theme around a little 2 acre mine location you know it's got to be good..glad you snagged a piece up..I looked through a whole coffee can full of JXR rough yesterday and saw nothing close to the quality of yours..it's rare to find a good facetgrade piece..like i said before out of maybe 350 hours of hunting I have only ever found maybe 4-6 good facetgrade pieces..with good color...now who is going to cut it amethystguy, I'm gratified to hear that you think it's a good piece. Those 350 hours - is that time you actually spent digging at the mine, or digging through coffee cans? I've seen pics of the mine from 2005, before it was sold; is it still open to the public? And by the way, the seller said she has a few more pieces left, in case you're interested. Now you've got me nervous about the cutting...
Posted: 8/14/2009 10:26:26 PM

P: 8/14/2009 10:48:30 PM
amethystguy Ideal Rock Total Posts: 635 Last Post: 10/14/2009 Member Since: 5/26/2009	yea it's still open..it's real cool place..just a little cleared area in the middle of the forest in the heart of georgia..right smack dab in plantation country....when you think of slavery and cotton plantations a 150 years ago you would think of this area..check out my post under "question for amethystguy..there is some pics of some 4 peaks and JXR facet rough..
Posted: 8/14/2009 10:48:30 PM

P: 8/15/2009 5:56:16 PM
autumngems Cut Rock Total Posts: 411 Last Post: 11/9/2009 Member Since: 7/24/2003	Cellentani, Very nice, I got a piece for JCR rough too, trying to decide what to cut it into.
Posted: 8/15/2009 5:56:16 PM

P: 8/15/2009 6:32:29 PM
cellentani Ideal Rock Total Posts: 2,274 Last Post: 11/20/2009 Member Since: 12/28/2008	Date: 8/15/2009 5:56:16 PM Author: autumngems Cellentani, Very nice, I got a piece for JCR rough too, trying to decide what to cut it into. I saw your JXR rough in the other thread - it's unbelievable!! Are you going to try to get the biggest cut piece you can, or a few smaller pieces?
Posted: 8/15/2009 6:32:29 PM

P: 8/15/2009 7:17:01 PM
LtlFirecracker Ideal Rock Total Posts: 3,000 Last Post: 11/20/2009 Member Since: 2/29/2008	Cool stone, the color has so much depth
Posted: 8/15/2009 7:17:01 PM

P: 8/15/2009 7:21:06 PM
szh07 Ideal Rock Total Posts: 1,317 Last Post: 11/19/2009 Member Since: 4/28/2008	Very pretty! Do you get to kind of 'decide' what shape it will be cut into? Or will the cutter figure out what's 'best'? See, you and me have a better time than most can dream, Have it better than the best, and so can pull on through. Whatever tears at us, whatever holds us down, And if nothing can be done, We'll make the best of what's around.
Posted: 8/15/2009 7:21:06 PM

P: 8/15/2009 8:07:05 PM
cellentani Ideal Rock Total Posts: 2,274 Last Post: 11/20/2009 Member Since: 12/28/2008	Thanks LtlFirecracker! szh07 - I'll wait to hear what the cutter thinks, because I'm no expert! However, I'd like to have a stone I can wear, so I don't know what choice I'd make between a bigger, more valuable cut gem, or a more modest, wearable size - what do you think?
Posted: 8/15/2009 8:07:05 PM

P: 8/15/2009 9:15:40 PM
szh07 Ideal Rock Total Posts: 1,317 Last Post: 11/19/2009 Member Since: 4/28/2008	Hmmn...now that is some food for thought. The practical of me would say to go to for a smaller gem that you can wear often and enjoy daily. What's the fun in having a beautiful amethyst that lives in your jewelery box? However, the romantic side of me, says, 'Practical? No thanks.' The romantic in me would love to a big, beautiful statement piece, one that people whisper about after you walk by. See, you and me have a better time than most can dream, Have it better than the best, and so can pull on through. Whatever tears at us, whatever holds us down, And if nothing can be done, We'll make the best of what's around.
Posted: 8/15/2009 9:15:40 PM

P: 8/15/2009 11:42:20 PM
cellentani Ideal Rock Total Posts: 2,274 Last Post: 11/20/2009 Member Since: 12/28/2008	Date: 8/15/2009 9:15:40 PM Author: szh07 Hmmn...now that is some food for thought. The practical of me would say to go to for a smaller gem that you can wear often and enjoy daily. What's the fun in having a beautiful amethyst that lives in your jewelery box? However, the romantic side of me, says, 'Practical? No thanks.' The romantic in me would love to a big, beautiful statement piece, one that people whisper about after you walk by. Haha, I like how you think! I realize though, that I like my colored stones to be on the big side anyway, around 8mm (to cover my fleshy fingers ). So maybe there won't be a dilemma at all.
Posted: 8/15/2009 11:42:20 PM

P: 8/18/2009 12:36:13 PM
autumngems Cut Rock Total Posts: 411 Last Post: 11/9/2009 Member Since: 7/24/2003	Cellentani, I am not quite sure, perhaps two gems. I would like an asscher and a pear also
Posted: 8/18/2009 12:36:13 PM

P: 8/18/2009 12:45:22 PM
Chrono Ideal Rock Total Posts: 11,281 Last Post: 11/20/2009 Member Since: 4/22/2004	AutumnGems, I'm concerned that the size loss of cutting it into 2 might be too great. Ill probably keep it as one very large stone.
Posted: 8/18/2009 12:45:22 PM

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