What type of stones are these?

[mellowyellowgirl]

Hi Folks

A bit of a strange question. I have a preschooler who loves to collect pretty stones so I have been buying him large robust ones from ebay such as these:

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/156-05-C...723477?hash=item238a189a15:g:zDkAAOSw2tRZcxHP

Obviously this is not a real emerald because it is dirt cheap so I was wondering what these stones are so I can tell my son when he asks. I bought him a cheap ruby and told him it was cheap because it was cloudy and too dark. I would like to give him a more accurate description of there his cheap stones come from though so any help with this would be great!

Thank you!

 

[Seaglow]

My bet is glass or chrysophase.

 

[normanintheskywithsapphires]

I can deduct nothing from these images and description except that Ebay does not care much about rip-offs listed on their market-place.
Is this true only in gems, or also in other product groups?

 

[mellowyellowgirl]

I don't think anyone would buy these thinking they were real though. Although to a kid they are great fun and do look like lovely real life representations of a giant cartoon jewel.

 

[theredspinel]

I don't think anyone would buy these thinking they were real though. Although to a kid they are great fun and do look like lovely real life representations of a giant cartoon jewel.

I think it's the principle of someone blatantly lying and selling under that pretence. It doesn't matter if no one is silly enough to believe them, just the gall to list it as something it's clearly not... gets my goat.

To be honest, it could be absolutely anything in this world! I would guess cheap plastic from the picture and without handling it.

 

[VRBeauty]

Might I suggest that you start with a good picture book on rocks and a visit to a local rock and mineral shop? I remember a wonderfully illustrated DK book on rocks that I got my nephew years ago, and one published by the Smithsonian, but that was years ago... and (I hope) appropriate to where he was in terms of interest and intellect at that time. Barnes and Noble has this list of rock-related books for kids: https://m.barnesandnoble.com/b/books/nature-kids/rocks-minerals-metals-kids/_/N-29Z8q8Zu39. Of course, in my book, there's nothing like holding a book and checking it out in person!

Chances are a google search will turn up a rock shop or two near you. As long as there are rock hounds, there will be rock shops! There you'll probably find a mixture of exotic specimens, and pretty or interesting rocks that can be found near you. Most importantly though, things will be identified correctly. No guessing, and no mystery treatments that aren't 1) disclosed or obvious.

Faux stones like the one you're looking at can pique a kids interest in rocks too, of course. But remember that kids can be more easily fascinated than us jaded adults.... and Mother Nature offers lots of fascinating rocks out there that haven't been subjected to polishing, facettimg, or dyeing, and that may have little or no economic value. My nephew liked to look for rocks on my parents' property in the foothills, and had a knack for finding rocks with nice quartz crystals.

BTW here are my favorite souvenirs from a recent plane hopping/camping trip. The greenish rock is actually about the size of a silver dollar. I wouldn't want to set either of them in jewelry, but they sure are fascinating. One of these days I'll take them into a local rock shop and see if they can tell me more about them.

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