Name that stone (again)

[Proteus]

Here''s my group of stones for you all to guess at!

Number 1: A fun stone, complete with rotini noodle inclusion. It''s not a terribly unusual gem, but not as common in this color. It weighs 15.07 carats. It was cut by myself. I dropped it while photographing it, and was scared for a moment. But, it was undamaged.

 

[Proteus]

Number 2:
This is a particularly annoying stone to photograph. Pardon the dust. It was cut by myself. It is moderately included, but has a lot of life to it anyway. It never looks right in photos. It weighs 1.82 carats.

 

[Harriet]

Date: 9/26/2008 1:26:14 AM
Author: Proteus
Number 2:
This is a particularly annoying stone to photograph. Pardon the dust. It was cut by myself. It is moderately included, but has a lot of life to it anyway. It never looks right in photos. It weighs 1.82 carats.

Spess?

 

[Harriet]

Date: 9/26/2008 1:23:16 AM
Author:Proteus
Here''s my group of stones for you all to guess at!

Number 1: A fun stone, complete with rotini noodle inclusion. It''s not a terribly unusual gem, but not as common in this color. It weighs 15.07 carats. It was cut by myself. I dropped it while photographing it, and was scared for a moment. But, it was undamaged.

Danburite?

 

[Proteus]

Number 3:
This stone is pure evil. It is (usually) known for mimicking other stones. I cut this a very long time ago, when I first began faceting. It weighs 1.34 carats.

 

[Proteus]

Number 4: (last one)
This is a wimpy stone in many ways. I cut it a very long time ago, and didn''t enjoy it. It weighs 3.00 carats.

 

[Harriet]

Proteus,
I need to turn in. Please out me out of my misery and tell me if my first 2 answers are right or wrong.

 

[Proteus]

Harriet: Nope, not spess on #2, not danburite on #1.

Danburite is somewhat similar to #1, though.

 

[Harriet]

I better go to bed before I make a bigger fool of myself.

 

[Pieface]

#2 has me thinking of sphene

#1 maybe quartz but I have no idea why that popped into my head!

No clue on the final two.

 

[Proteus]

Pieface,

Yep, #2 is a sphene. Good job!
#1 is not quartz, though.

 

[Pieface]

Shooting 50/50...maybe I should call it a night

I''m sure you''re giving us clues in your little text additions...

Seems like you''re maybe worried about cleavage with #1...

*Pieguy goes away to think a little more*

 

[Pieface]

Ok here goes my average

Based on the clues (well I think they are! ) and no real gemmological explanation

#1 Topaz
#3 Spinel (That stone is yummy whatever it is)
#4 kunzite...but that is because it is the only stone I know that cutters dislike apart from emeralds...


Well...I''ll still be at 20% correct guesses which is much better than normal - haha!

 

[Proteus]

Pieface,
You''ve got the right idea on #1, but it''s not topaz.
#3 isn''t spinel. The refractive index is low.
#4 isn''t kunzite. This is not a commonly cut stone - I happened to dislike it due to its softness.

I''m off for the night... I''ll check back in the morning.

 

[Pieface]

It''s better to remain silent and thought the fool than open your mouth and remove all doubt!

Hopefully someone with keener deductive skills than me can crack some of the others.

Good fun, thanks for posting them Proteus

 

[T L]

Date: 9/26/2008 1:26:14 AM
Author: Proteus
Number 2:
This is a particularly annoying stone to photograph. Pardon the dust. It was cut by myself. It is moderately included, but has a lot of life to it anyway. It never looks right in photos. It weighs 1.82 carats.

This is definitely sphalerite (sp?). I have one almost the same exact color and cut and size (no inclusions though)!

They look like orange red diamonds, but they're too soft to wear in jewelry, so it sits in my box (Mohs of 4 I believe).

It is one of the most beautiful stones out there, and the RI is very high, I think higher than diamond.

ETA: I see it is a sphene, oops.

It looks exactly like a sphalerite I have.

 

[T L]

Date: 9/26/2008 1:23:16 AM
Author:Proteus
Here''s my group of stones for you all to guess at!

Number 1: A fun stone, complete with rotini noodle inclusion. It''s not a terribly unusual gem, but not as common in this color. It weighs 15.07 carats. It was cut by myself. I dropped it while photographing it, and was scared for a moment. But, it was undamaged.

yellow zoisite?

 

[coatimundi_org]

1. Spodumene
2. Sphene
3. Calcite??
4. sphalerite?? If it is--amazing job cutting that thing!

ooo this was too quick--I had to guess in 2 seconds, because I''m running late for school!

Tricky stones!

 

[Proteus]

Tourmaline_lover: Sphalerite was a good guess! Sphene and sphalerite do look very similar, especially this sphene. The double refraction didn''t show up too much in the photo (sphalerite is singly refractive.)

Coati: You got the first 2 correct. #1 is a yellow-green spodumene, or triphane.

#3 is not calcite, it is harder than that, and no cleavage issues.
#4 isn''t sphalerite... I actually find sphalerite easier to cut. This stone is both physically and optically wimpy.

 

[zeolite]

#3 Andasine Labradorite
#4 sunstone

??

 

[Proteus]

Zeolite:

#3 is not Andesine/Labradorite. The RI is similar, though.
#4 is not Labradorite, either. This is more pathetic than that

 

[coatimundi_org]

3. More hints please?
4. Scheelite?

 

[Proteus]

Hints on 3: this is NOT a typical color. I''ve actually never seen one like this before. Usually it is known for mimicking two colors of a different gem... with very close physical characteristics.

4: not scheelite. It has a very low RI. It comes in many colors. It is quite soft. It is not commonly faceted, though.

 

[coatimundi_org]

4. Opal?

still working on #3...whew!

 

[Proteus]

Nope, #4 isn''t opal. Go even lower!

 

[coatimundi_org]

#4 Fluorite!

 

[Proteus]

Now you''re talking! Good job. It''s a yellow fluorite.

 

[coatimundi_org]

Thanks!

Now #3...hmmmm

 

[Harriet]

Darn it. How did I miss #2?

 

[Proteus]

Still having trouble with #3? Well, it *is* evil...

I can give another hint, if you want.