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 Post subject: To be or not to be, Chrome Andalusite...
PostPosted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 8:51 am 
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One of the more prominent new gems on ebay seems to be chrome andalusite.
But does it exist or should it be grouped together with erinite and 15 ct flawless alexandrites for 0.99$?

What do you say?

And if it exists, can you purchase it safely somewhere?


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 Post subject: Re: To be or not to be, Chrome Andalusite...
PostPosted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 9:18 am 
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Never heard of it...

When I say that, I have in mind a very conservative bunch of gemology and mineralogy publications. So far, only twice I 'heard' of real new finds of precious rough of interest before said publications wrote about it.... and one right here on this forum! That's what makes me very, very cautious about any such 'news' - there just aren't that many new gem materials.

Also, I have yet to find 'news' on Ebay - it seems that FleaBay takes even longer then the traditional trade channels to get any new material with 'traditional' appeal (i.e. wearable durability, reasonably saturated hues far from gray and browns *)


(*) you can find this theoretical recipe for gem worth explained properly in the first chapter of Richard Wise's 'Secrets of the Gem Trade' - that book helped me put all those bits of info about precious stones in a nutshell... it might do the same for you.


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PostPosted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 9:37 am 
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Are you referring to andalusite that has chromium content and thus shows red under a chelsea filter? Or to something else?

If so, I don't think it's terribly common, but not especially valuable either. I had a couple pieces of it once, small pieces, but I never had them verified as Andalusite...though they certainly were strongly dichroic.

J-

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PostPosted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 9:47 am 
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Hm... to clarify: my post refers to a startingly green material labeled 'Chrome Andalusite' and looks nothing like the usual brownish, trichroic Andalusite.


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PostPosted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 9:54 am 
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Oh sorry Valeria, I should have quoted. I was responding to ms_effie's post.

Jason

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PostPosted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 2:05 pm 
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Got it!

Thanks for the bit of news, in fact :P I had no idea that some Andalusite was worth looking at through a Chelsea filter at all.


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 Post subject: Thanks for the replies and the confirmation of my fears...
PostPosted: Tue Feb 26, 2008 9:39 am 
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You should always listen to your ebay warning bell I guess... :)


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