New Paraiba Rough

[RevolutionGems]

The other thread was getting a bit long so I thought I would start a new one.

These are pictures of some of the material that is coming out of the new paraiba find in Nigeria. All of these stones are copper bearing and they are, as promised, quite saturated. For my taste, the tone is a bit dark. I was hoping to see some glow. Perhaps the paraiba blue would glow once cut. Hard to tell. I may try to get one good piece and cut it just to see how nice it is once cut.

Enough blather! Here are the pics!

 

[RevolutionGems]

Pic 2 - Copper bearing indicolite

 

[RevolutionGems]

Pic 3 - Green copper bearing tourmaline

 

[chrono]

How large are those pieces?

 

[RevolutionGems]

I''m not sure. I would guess they are around a gram each. These particular pieces belong to a friend of my contact so he sent these along simply as a show-and-tell.

I am really thinking about having him track down one really nice piece for me...

 

[simplysplendid]

The first one looks like it has a pretty bluish green colour, though not the neony type..

 

[RevolutionGems]

That is pretty much what I thought as well. I was hoping maybe it would gain a little light when it was cut.

In any case, go back and check the original thread. We''ve been had.

 

[simplysplendid]

Date: 4/2/2008 4:16:45 PM
Author: Revolution
That is pretty much what I thought as well. I was hoping maybe it would gain a little light when it was cut.

In any case, go back and check the original thread. We''ve been had.

oh yes! and a darn good one I must say!

 

[chrono]

Jeff,
The colours look attractive but they don''t look neon to my eyes enough to be called paraiba.

 

[RevolutionGems]

Chrono,
I tend to agree though the first one has some potential. I suspect that it probably would look about the same when cut though.

Interestingly enough, I was able to obtain some small pieces of rough from the original Paraiba pegmatites that were collected as samples by a geologist. Out of all the pieces I have, there are only 2 or 3 that show that incredible neon color. All the others are quite a bit darker than you would expect. However, I have heard that much of the darker material lightens and brightens significantly with heating. In fact, I believe that the "natural" paraiba color is an exception. Most must be heated to bring out the full glory.

Anyway, the Paraiba saga will continue.

By the way, I am pretty sure you need a new hairstyle. Your horns are showing...

 

[simplysplendid]

Date: 4/2/2008 4:58:24 PM
Author: Chrono
Jeff,
The colours look attractive but they don''t look neon to my eyes enough to be called paraiba.

Even though it is unlikely to be neony, but I think it will be glowy, know what I mean?

 

[chrono]

Jeff,

According to the reaseach paper by Wendell Wilson, only the pink and purple material will heat to the blue. It is the oxidation of the Mangenese in the material from Mn+3 to Mn+2 that causes the pinks and purplish colours to be removed, leaving the famed turquoise blue behind. The green, magenta and other coloured material will end up loosing their saturation. I've seen a very dark fushia paraiba turn into an extremely pale pink stone when heated. There was no glow left. I have also seen many unheated gorgeous paraibas in a full spectrum of colours - check out www.atggems.com for many fine examples.

As for my hair, that's what hats are for.