Discussions

💬 Home 🔎 Search 📅 Latest

╳Discussions

💬 Home 🔎 Search 📅 Latest

Groups

Recent Images in Discussions

EducationWould like to learn everything about spheres

24th Jun 2015 23:32 UTCErika Clarke

Hi everyone,

I'm completely new to minerals, I stumbled into a jewelry store and fell back in love with rocks and minerals like when I was a little girl. The Spheres particularly drew my eye the most. I went and bought a field guide on minerals to try to learn more, but I know it will take a long long time to learn. I'd like to learn more about spheres, especially some of the important things like what to look for when buying: avoiding fakes, detecting manipulations, or other shady practices.

I've been using ebay for 10 or so years so I am comfortable with it but also know people will do anything to make a buck. I'd like to learn anything you guys would like to teach as I am relatively clueless on most of this stuff. Mainly, I'd just like to avoid getting ripped off. So far my favorite materials are the Lapis Lazuli, Amazonite, Apatite, Azurite, (I love blue!) and some of the really colorful Jasper and Agate spheres as well. Thanks for the long read.. looking forward to learning alot here.

25th Jun 2015 01:34 UTCDoug Daniels

Welcome to the site, Erika. You don't tell us where you live. Nevertheless, there may be a gem and mineral club near where you live; they may also have a yearly show. The club would be a good thing to join, as you could learn much from the members there. At the show, there may be at least one dealer with polished spheres of minerals/rocks. You would also be able to view the rough material from which many have been cut. A good way to learn about the various materials. The caveat - once its been cut and polished, even us smart people may have a hard time telling if it is real or a fake. We are all always learning something. And, others here will have advice too. Good luck, and have fun with the hobby!

25th Jun 2015 03:32 UTCPaul Brandes 🌟 Manager

Welcome to Mindat, Erika!

Doug is correct. Depending on where you're located, you should find a mineral club as they should be able to guide you in your endeavors. Then, find a gem and mineral show in your area to further your knowledge of the hobby.

25th Jun 2015 04:07 UTCErika Clarke

SE Michigan, I will definitely look into local clubs. What makes it so easy to fake spheres once they are cut and polished? Is it common to have a big enough piece to make of material to make 2'' to 3'' spheres as they seem super common?

Maybe I can give a few examples..

http://www.ebay.com/itm/261935269238 To me this looks wonderful but it seems to have a super darker purple than most other amethyst spheres I see on ebay do not have. It's also from china. I love how you can see what looks like the ends of the crystal lines. Another thing that many others do not have.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/361325339727 I am not super familiar with Lapis but this one looks like the quartz could be dyed a little darker blue as the white seems sort of hidden. I read about a false lapis called "Gilson Lapis" so worried about that now. I'm really not sure on this one so I passed and let it sell. Unfortunately I will probably be doing that alot for now until I can really be sure I know what I'm getting.

25th Jun 2015 05:04 UTCDoug Daniels

Yes, 2 to 3 inches is a common size, as you need a very solid piece of material to make a sphere. Larger ones can be made, but the rough is harder to come by, and the price goes up rapidly with size. The amethyst sphere you linked looks interesting, and is likely natural; it is a nice deep color for amethyst. If you like it, go for it. The lapis - I would want to look at it in my hand....a high quality lapis sphere would be quite expensive, considering most gem-grade rough is sold by the gram. Best that you passed on this one, until you learn more (and even then, I'd be wary of anything online).

25th Jun 2015 11:19 UTCJamison K. Brizendine 🌟 Expert

Erika,

I would highly recommend trying to find a copy of Robert Ritchie's book: A Sphere Maker's Craft (2009).

The book outlines everything you wanted to know not only about the spheres themselves, but how to make "rough" rocks into them, and how to appropriately tackle the job. I own only a few spheres, but I always appreciate the amount effort people go through to create them.

The only problem with the book is the availability...it has been out of print for awhile

25th Jun 2015 20:30 UTCEd Clopton 🌟 Expert

Erika,

The best way to get a practical feel for minerals and mineral materials is to examine as many correctly identified specimens as you can, preferably in person in museums and in the hands of reputable dealers and knowledgeable exhibitors at shows. At first your favorite blue minerals (sodalite, lapis, azurite) will look a like, but after looking over dozens of pieces, you will get a feel for what's what. The great limitation of field guides is that the few photos that are practical to include in a book don't begin to cover the range of possible appearances that many minerals can assume. A good field guide is a valuable reference, but don't expect to learn the whole business from one book. Give it time, go to shows & museums, make liberal use of Mindat, and join a club!

27th Jun 2015 02:26 UTCPaul Brandes 🌟 Manager

Ok Erika, your location helps a bunch!

If you're looking for a club to explore, below is a link to the Michigan clubs listed on the Midwest Federation page:
Michigan Mineral Clubs

Next, here is the website and flyer for the Detroit Mineral Show coming in October:
Detroit Gem & Mineral Show Page

Detroit Gem & Mineral Show Flyer

Also, there are several mineral displays in the area; one of the best is The Cranbrook Institute of Science in Bloomfield Hills.

The first three sites will help you in your quest to learn about spheres. The Cranbrook site will help you with rocks and minerals.

Hope this helps.....

3rd Jul 2015 01:02 UTCErika Clarke

Thanks for all the help so far! I've learned more just looking at all the specimens out there in pictures online, the local stuff is few and far between so the majority of my purchases will likely end up being online. There are still a few minerals that give me pause for concern, like the lapis spheres. Ironically this is probably one of the ones I want the most. Where should I ask to help identify if something looks natural/not-manipulated?

Here's an example of one that seems like a great deal but I just don't know enough at this point yet.

http://imagehost.vendio.com/a/35090352/aview/DSC_7518_007.JPG

http://imagehost.vendio.com/a/35090352/aview/DSC_7516_009.JPG

http://imagehost.vendio.com/a/35090352/aview/DSC_7515_010.JPG

4th Jul 2015 15:39 UTCPaul Brandes 🌟 Manager

Again Erika, first and foremost you should really find and join a local mineral club in your area of SE Michigan. They will be able to help you with your questions about identifying rock/minerals that go into making spheres. Secondly, the Detroit Mineral Show is coming up in October. I'm almost sure that someone there will be selling spheres and should have them correctly identified for you to examine. The specimen you have pictured does indeed look like lapis, but if you're concerned about its authenticity, joining a local club will help you answer these questions...... or you can always post a message to Mindat with a photo for confirmation as well.

Mindat.org is an outreach project of the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.
Copyright © mindat.org and the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy 1993-2024, except where stated. Most political location boundaries are © OpenStreetMap contributors. Mindat.org relies on the contributions of thousands of members and supporters. Founded in 2000 by Jolyon Ralph.
Privacy Policy - Terms & Conditions - Contact Us / DMCA issues - Report a bug/vulnerability Current server date and time: April 26, 2024 19:31:37

Go to top of page