A Perfect Day

Questions about or Corrections to Guides

Use the Comment link below to tell me about any mistake you find in any of my eBay Guides, or to ask a question.

Please identify the Guide, I'll try to correct or answer as soon as I'm able. Thank you!

carriebaby
I read the one about Morganite, it being the most recent.. Most excellent! no errors found to my eyes :)
Sep-22-06 23:19:17 PDT Report this comment
auctionhouseannie
It would better/easier, if you put a link on your blog.
Sep-22-06 23:19:33 PDT Report this comment
astynax77
carriebaby... Thank you for the feedback!

msndrew... Good suggestion. I've edited this entry per your suggestion. I had also intended to put a link to this topic into each guide, but wierd stuff happens since yesterday when I try to do that. I think it has to do with the eBay ID problem. I'll try again later today.
Sep-23-06 10:09:37 PDT Report this comment
astynax77
Changes made to both this post, and to the Guides. Thanks for the suggestion.
Sep-25-06 00:15:44 PDT Report this comment
astynax77
I've made changes to the Guide on Feldspar Gems, including adding an explanation that Perthite is often seen being sold as Amazonite. The title is also changed slightly.
Sep-28-06 19:05:53 PDT Report this comment
astynax77
I should have noted that the Guide for Feldspar Gems is at http://reviews.ebay.com/_W0QQugidZ10000000000931280
Sep-28-06 19:07:11 PDT Report this comment
astynax77
Updates have been made to Guides on Feldspars and Oregon Sunstone. I also put up Reviews for several older films on DVD.
Oct-15-06 14:51:49 PDT Report this comment
helloiadoreheliodor
Moonstone/Feldspar guides are the *best*, most lucid explanations of this complex material I've yet to read, and I've been surfing the web for years on this topic: Kudos to you!!!! Much appreciated!
Nov-02-06 07:58:51 PST Report this comment
astynax77
Thanks helloiadoreheliodor (cool ID). There is a lot of confusing info out there, and sellers sometimes mix up the names of the stones. And some misconceptions are becoming ingrained. Still, the whole group is a lot more facinating to collect than something like Diamonds. There are so many polymorphs (subtypes), and even within each of those there are different colors and visual effects. Much more fun, IMO - can you tell I love Feldspars?
Nov-03-06 00:20:59 PST Report this comment
kustos2004
It is frustrating to not know who to blame for this awful text. The author knows just enougg to be dangerous. Some of the misstatements, just some, are listed below:
Albite - not ever pure sodium aluminosilicate
Anorthite - ditto with calcium
The crystal structure does not vary between memmbers of the plagioclase group
Oregon sunstone is not rare and it is not even close in value to red andesine
The name of amazonite does not derive from its having been found in the Amazon.
Amazonite is not known as California jade
Amazonite is not opaque
Amazonite is not chiefly mined in the U.S., especially Virginia
I am not aware of any sources of bytownite in Mexico or New Mexico
Hyalophane is a barium feldspar
Labradorite is not opaque, ever!
Oligoclase is not opaque, ever!
Oligoclase from India does not contain pyrite (not pyrites) and iron hematite is redundant, the mineral name is hematite
"Few, if any, gemstones come in such a variety of colors and types" - what about tourmaline, beryl, spinel, spodumene, quartz, to name a few?

If I didn't know better I would assume that I was reading the text from Wikipedia on feldspars. You, whoever you are, do your readers no service by perpetuating such crap.

John s. White
Jan-20-07 04:11:16 PST Report this comment
astynax77
PART ONE
Sorry you found the article "dangerous." You are correct in pointing out that members of the Plagioclase group share the same crystal structure. I'll delete that whenever eBay fixes the editing function for its Guides.

However, other than that, your own list of "mistatements" hardly raises the bar for accuracy...

If you re-read the article, you will find that I was giving the range from Albite to Anorthite. This theoretically would range from pure sodium aluminosilicate to pure calcium Aluminosilicate as stated. On down, I included the percentage ranges for the calcium content for Albite and Anorthite.

"Oregon Sunstone" is found in only 2 small deposits. While the light brownish-yellow Labradorite "sunstones" can be found in other places, the colored Labradorite and Andesine that fall under the umbrella title of "Oregon Sunstone" are rare. As to comparing values with Red Andesine, it depends entirely on what quality stones you are comparing, and whether one or the other happens to be the hyped-stone-of-the-month on some jewelry TV show.

One of the more cogent attributions for the name "Amazonite" credits initial descriptions from a 19th century expedition to the upper Amazon. There is debate as to whether or not the stones they discovered were actually Jade, or whether the natives obtained Amazonite through trade from other areas. Whatever they found, and/or however it got to the Amazon basin, the name for the stone we call "Amazonite" came from that incident. Amazonite has been called "California Jade," though I agree that this term is more commonly used for Idocrase/Vesuvianite. I will drop that reference as soon as eBay fixes the editing function for the Guide system. Amazonite is indeed opaque. At very best, it can be weakly transluscent in very thin section. I'm not sure what country you believe produces the most Amazonite - do tell. As for "Virginia" - I merely stated that one of the most desirable varieties comes from there (Amelia Count
Jan-23-07 03:58:06 PST Report this comment
astynax77
PART TWO
Most Labradorite gemstones - and the Guide in question only deals with gemstones - ARE opaque. That includes both the Spectrolite type and the type mined in Labrador and used for countertops, etc.

As for Oligoclase not being opaque, I have to disagree. I have seen and handled many pieces of Oligoclase Sunstone gemstones that were a milky color which, with the schiller or other inclusions, rendered them opaque. Even without the inclusions, at best some are merely transluscent.

The paragraph on Oligoclase was a general description of Oligoclase, and simply pyrite as AN inclusion. As for "iron hematite" being redundant, so what? I expect most readers are familiar with pyrite, but in my estimation most wouldn't know Hematite from Goethite. Perhaps I should have worded it differently. Sorry you were confused by that.

As for your equating Tourmaline, Beryl, Spinel, Spodumene and Quartz to the varieties of Feldspar gemstones, come on.

Mr. White, constructive criticism is one thing, and a list of half-baked complaints and assertions is quite another. Your rant does nothing to inspire confidence in your own judgement, but I'll leave it up.
Jan-23-07 04:07:15 PST Report this comment
gmablu
Geez.. after reading all these comments...I don't know what to say. I do watch that Jewerly TV and the hype about Andesine-Labradorite and that is why I read your guide. I am not the smartest in regards to gemstones. I have purchased lots of books. BUT I found the most help and knowlege from your guides. They are more informative than some of my books. I think you should write a book.. Id buy it.
LynnE
Feb-20-07 18:02:07 PST Report this comment
astynax77
Thanks Lynn. Just noticed a big part of my "Part One" has disappeared in the last week. Guess ebay decided to shorten the length of the posts?
Feb-26-07 10:47:26 PST Report this comment
beadhappys
For your "German Silver and Nickel Silver Types" Guide, you may wish to add a comment differentiating Argentium nickel silver and the trademarked Argentium Sterling Silver.
Mar-02-07 23:15:35 PST Report this comment
astynax77
Thanks, beadhappys, I'll do that.
Mar-03-07 10:55:29 PST Report this comment
coinboy9
The 1875 twenty cent piece had a mintage of 36,900. The 1877 20c had a mintage of 510.
Jul-07-07 12:15:47 PDT Report this comment
astynax77
Hmmm. I'm seeing quite a few different numbers for the Philadelphia 1875 production. I used the 37,500 figure found in a couple of books I had on hand when I wrote the guide. Coinworld lists 39,700 for 1875 and another source also puts the 1875 figure at 39,700 and 1877 at 350. Not sure what calculations go into estimates for production during this period, since the Mint's records themselves aren't the most reliable. I'll change the 1875 number to a range that includes your figure. Thank you!
Jul-10-07 17:00:08 PDT Report this comment
qwazx!!!
Is it possible to harden turquoise at home? I have some very soft stone that we have had for many years. Way to soft to work with. Who does this type service if you cannot do it at home? Your article are very interesting and i enjpy them much. Thanks
Aug-16-07 06:14:39 PDT Report this comment
astynax77
Most of the Turquoise stabilization methods require some sort of extra equipment. In order to penetrate the stone to any degree, the resin or silica compounds are applied under pressure. Some are then baked in an autoclave to finish.

You might want to experiment with using Water Glass. This should be obtainable from masonry supply houses, woodworking places (for stabilizing wood), etc. It wouldn't get very far into the stone, or be as, so use only if the pieces are already cut to their final shape. Some people soak, some just coat the stone.

The other method I've found that might be adapted for hobbiests is to soak in a sealed jar for several weeks in a solution of epoxy which has been heavily thinned with acetone. Acetone is flamable, so don't do this around any ignition sources. You'd have to experiment with epoxy types available to you (use a clear type), and the ratio of epoxy to acetone.
Aug-16-07 13:30:11 PDT Report this comment
romgak
Recently Direct Shopping Network introduced blue andesine from Tibet. There is a lot of hype about the red andesine and the 2008 olympics driving all andesine price up. Any truth to this? Supposedly blue andesine with color shift is a single source stone and very rare?
Oct-29-07 09:20:54 PDT Report this comment
astynax77
I can only say that this is another story which sounds very suspicious to me.

The only "blue" Andesine I've seen looks exactly like the Dichroic (color shift) stone that has been around for a decade or so: brownish red to teal blue Andesine/Labradorite from the "Oregon Sunstone" deposits. The non-dichroic blues I've seen also tend more towards teal.

The "secret mines" in inaccessible regions Tibet, or the Congo, or Mongolia also raise more questions. How do they get literally tons of material out of restricted or war-torn areas? Not to mention the large-scale of an operation required to supply enough gems required by the shopping shows and other retailers. And there is never any true verification of these "deposits." It could all be Oregon material being marketed in a way that dispenses with the clumsey "Oregon Sunstone" moniker - but why all the differing stories about origins? IMO, all that does is raise some unpleasant questions, such as the specter of treatments, or worse.
Oct-30-07 15:14:05 PDT Report this comment
thorneberry_rose_emporium
What does MRR with an S under it? Thank you for the other information it is very helpful.
Jan-19-08 19:54:37 PST Report this comment
astynax77
Where are you seeing this mark?
Jan-20-08 00:50:39 PST Report this comment
falerina
Possible additions to: Birthday Gifts: Birthstone Gems and Jewelry. I read that during the Middle Ages, Carnelian was birthstone to May and Ruby to August. Anyway, who decides this to begin with? Its not that big a deal, considering. It is just fun anyway.
Jan-27-08 15:41:45 PST Report this comment
astynax77
Thanks. I'll list those in a note about alternates (there are so many - if you don't like your month's stone, you can probably find something else listed somewhere, LOL). I've read various suggestions as to how stones were decided for various months (such as linking colors, etc.). But I suspect that even the ancient traditions were governed mostly by the availability of certain gemstones, and someone who had quantities of them to sell. It is just fun, and a nice opportunity to give a beautiful gemstone to someone who is very special to you.
Jan-27-08 18:36:54 PST Report this comment
dustpan89-2008
Enjoyed the obsidian guide. I found a soft-ball sized apple-geen piece of, what i believe to be obsidian. Inside, 3 cluster islands of crystals sit, as if captured by a sand globe. Very clear. Grains out like obsidian. Had a knowlagable,educ. in geology say pretty sure to be obsidian.A few tiny bubbles scattered threw-out. What-cha think? And on a experimental note: Do ya think its possible to melt, then Blow, obsidian?? I live in Bend,Oregon. I love it here, its pretty Glassssssy!
Jul-29-08 09:22:29 PDT Report this comment
astynax77
Howdy. I live near Sisters.

You might post a picture over in the Jewelry and Gemstone ID group at http://groups.ebay.com/forum/Jewelry-Gemstone-Identification/Cover-Page/1500034317
Would like to see. I've only seen small pieces of actual green mixed into something else, excepting the Burns Green variety, which is fairly opaque. Most of the large pieces of colored "obsidian" are slag glass.

You could melt and blow obsidian, though you'd have to add some soda ash and lime (as is done for recycled glass) to make it more workable. I believe that was one of the things done to create the "St. Helens" lab gemstones.
Jul-29-08 13:29:49 PDT Report this comment
morning-star
The guide on Feldspar Gems should be removed. First, mineral names are NOT capitalized. Plagioclase is not a -general classification for stones which do not seem to fit neatly into other sub-groups,- whatever that means (and they are not stones, they are minerals). The feldspars are a group; the plagioclases are called a solid solution series between albite and anorthite. The use of those intermediate names (andesine, bytownite, etc.) is being retired. The alkali feldspars do NOT share the same chemical makeup, they are a solid solution series between the Na-feldpsars and the K-feldspars. Why do you distinguish between andesine and Oregon sunstone? Some of that is andesine, with copper coloring (read the article in Gems & Gemology by Chris Johnston). Hyalophane can be found in a number of localities. Amazonite is transparent in thin section. Those are just some of the major errors. Please do some research before spreading disinformation. All of this data is easily available from web pages of mineralogy professors posted on the Internet.
Aug-09-08 09:07:56 PDT Report this comment
astynax77
In response to morning-star: As I've pointed out previously, the guide deals with *gemstone* types. The guide does prominently note the reason for capitalization. It also points out that those gemstones which are members of the plagioclase series. That there is a push to retire the names of those minerals which make up the plagioclases is irrelevant to this guide, which, again, is a discussion of only those types which are used as gemstones, and not all feldspar minerals. Of course, they all *do* share a common makeup - that is exactly why they are all classed as feldspar. I called out Oregon Sunstone because it is a recognized name for labradorite (and occasionally andesine) which has been used and recognized for decades in the gemstone trade. If there is a source other than the Balkans for hyalophane which is utilized for gemstones, I'd be happy to include it/them. I could find none when the guide was first written. Amazonite being transparent in thin section is - again - irrelvant for the purposes of the guide's discussion of *gemstones*. If you wish a guide appealing primarily to collectors of mineral specimens, I'm certain that ebay would be happy to see you write one.
Aug-14-08 19:26:41 PDT Report this comment
morning-star
Gemstones are still minerals--and you are using the mineral names, which are not capitalized, and neither are gemstone names. The errors pointed out are errors whether or not you are referring to gems; they are minerals before they are gems. The comment about amazonite is in response to what you wrote to kustos2004. I doubt you are going to change, but silence implies consent, and at least some of us have tried to point out the glaring issues.
Aug-14-08 20:18:12 PDT Report this comment
astynax77
Sorry, but as you've no doubt noticed in many mineralogical and gemology references, there are many, many instances where mineral (and gemstone) names are capitalized both for emphasis, and because of differences of opinion over capitalization. Regardless, the guide already contained a note that it is more the norm to leave mineral names in lower case - so why hoist this straw man?

As for amazonite being transparent or translucent in thin section, so are many otherwise "opaque" minerals (even metals such as gold). I've never seen gem amazonite stones cabbed or faceted in such thin section that they could be considered either transparent or translucent - and I've looked through a lot of amazonite.

What you (and perhaps Mr. White) see as "glaring issues" seem to be an attempt to hijack a guide specifically focused on gemstones into an exploration of mineralogical minutiae.
Aug-15-08 00:59:09 PDT Report this comment
morning-star
Not to belabor the point, but mineral and gem names (unless they are registered trade names) are not capitalized, period. I don't know how else to get that point across; they are not proper names, this is defined by the IMA, and it is not a matter of opinion.

As far as translucence, I can see where that is a basis for confusion. In technical terms, diaphaneity is defined by a number of qualitative factors, but the bottom line is that almost all gems are technically either transparent or translucent. However, most folks don't delve into those technical aspects so materials like amazonite would be considered opaque to the general public, I'll grant that.

I have only written these comments because your guide, such as it is, invites readers to come here and offer corrections.
Aug-15-08 01:51:23 PDT Report this comment
morning-star
BTW, I found your guide when looking for information about the putative red andesine or labradorite from China/Congo/Brazil/etc., on which I have done some research. It looks like you are trying to expose the truth about those materials and I applaud your efforts.
Aug-15-08 01:54:18 PDT Report this comment
astynax77
What may be correct usage regarding the names in a mineralogical journal does not carry over into gemstone references the public sees or into usage in materials targeted to a general readership. I'm sure we both could fill shelves with non-technical guidebooks and articles where this is so. And even in the mineralogical world, style and other considerations can and do trump the *guidelines* that are in place (e.g., some mineral shows require labeling specimens using upper-case, upper-case is often used for emphasis, upper-case is used in titles and headings, etc.).

I accept your point of view, although my position remains that going to all lower case would render the article much more difficult to comprehend by average, gem-buying readers. In trying to make the guides more accessible, I conciously used upper case to make the names stand out and be more easily comprehended by the audience here. I had tried using alternatives such as bold and italic to make all occurences of these terms easier to swallow, but that proved unworkable because of ebay's constraint on document length. Hopefully, others who have a problem on this point or who miss the notation will find their way here for the further explanation.
Aug-15-08 10:53:52 PDT Report this comment

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