Unidentified gem, advice please

[Gemlayman]

I've had this Stone in my collection since at least 2005. I have quite a bit of worthless stones so it was just mixed in with them, in a couple of months ago I decided to try to find out what it is... I'm in Tucson, and we have a gem show here every year, and we have a few businesses that stay open year round. I first went to see a few about identification. Short story, no one wanted to even look at it
, much less than to venture a.guess. except for a gentleman customer at one of the wearhouses, who said it could be topaze, after I showed him it scratched a rose quartz of mine.

So, that's why I decided to come to a forum, and yours was the first one I found that looked like it might welcome a ignorant stanger's query. If nothing else, there are some nice pictures.

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

I've had this Stone in my collection since at least 2005. I have quite a bit of worthless stones so it was just mixed in with them, in a couple of months ago I decided to try to find out what it is... I'm in Tucson, and we have a gem show here every year, and we have a few businesses that stay open year round. I first went to see a few about identification. Short story, no one wanted to even look at it
, much less than to venture a.guess. except for a gentleman customer at one of the wearhouses, who said it could be topaze, after I showed him it scratched a rose quartz of mine.

So, that's why I decided to come to a forum, and yours was the first one I found that looked like it might welcome a ignorant stanger's query. If nothing else, there are some nice pictures.

You could try uploading some photos - but its a bit a hit and miss doing ID this way.

 

[Gemlayman]

I think they're still uploading I took over a hundred I uploaded 96.. there's probably some bad ones in there

 

[Gemlayman]

Well, did not see my attachment, so I tried again to upload images

 

[Gemlayman]

View attachment 869367

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

Well, did not see my attachment, so I tried again to upload images

You will be treated as a spammer. upload 3 or 4.

 

[Gemlayman]

Ok

 

[Gemlayman]

I am not trying to get banned for spam, I am not sure how to correct attachments, and I want have at least a few different pics

 

[VividRed]

I don’t think anyone can credibly identify these stone with the pictures alone

 

[marymm]

I suggest you contact the Tucson Gem & Mineral Society -- https://www.tgms.org/ -- which should be local to you -- it is a nonprofit organization and should be able to provide more direct assistance in either (perhaps) identifying the stone or referring you appropriately for answers. Good luck!

 

[blingmeupscotty]

It looks like citrine.

 

[theredspinel]

It literally could be any rock or mineral in the entire world. Don’t think this is the right forum for this, google rock/mineral forums and you would be better off asking there.

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

Yes - needs gemologist to test it. There is no easily discernible crystal habit

 

[Gemlayman]

I don’t think anyone can credibly identify these stone with the pictures alone

I am ignorant, but not enough to expect anyone to testify to a authority or sighn an aviedavid as to the rightful identication of a stone in a picture. I didn't even want to give the impression that I expected anything more than guesses on id. I kinda wanted to show it off, and hoped for advice for getting it properly looked at... I know from my research that no matter the type, the clarity multi-directoonal desperation, and size, it is exquisite. Thanks for your input

 

[Gemlayman]

Thank you very much @marymm

 

[Obscura]

I am ignorant, but not enough to expect anyone to testify to a authority or sighn an aviedavid as to the rightful identication of a stone in a picture. I didn't even want to give the impression that I expected anything more than guesses on id. I kinda wanted to show it off, and hoped for advice for getting it properly looked at... I know from my research that no matter the type, the clarity multi-directoonal desperation, and size, it is exquisite. Thanks for your input

That is the thing though. They aren't not wanting to say what it is because they don't want to be wrong, but that it isn't really possible.

Citrine, topaz, quartz (I think?), tourmaline, sapphire, and others all can be that color. Without testing, there isn't a way to know enough even to guess.

Best bet would be to do what marymm suggested and go to the gem and mineral society. It's a great resource that is luckily close to you.

 

[VividRed]

That is the thing though. They aren't not wanting to say what it is because they don't want to be wrong, but that it isn't really possible.

Citrine, topaz, quartz (I think?), tourmaline, sapphire, and others all can be that color. Without testing, there isn't a way to know enough even to guess.

Best bet would be to do what marymm suggested and go to the gem and mineral society. It's a great resource that is luckily close to you.

Thank you, that was exactly my point

 

[VividRed]

I am ignorant, but not enough to expect anyone to testify to a authority or sighn an aviedavid as to the rightful identication of a stone in a picture. I didn't even want to give the impression that I expected anything more than guesses on id. I kinda wanted to show it off, and hoped for advice for getting it properly looked at... I know from my research that no matter the type, the clarity multi-directoonal desperation, and size, it is exquisite. Thanks for your input

Noone said you are ignorant in their posts, but your last statement indicates that you did not read the first thing about rocks or this forum.

We get this type of question 10 times per week and the answer is always the same, i.e. what I wrote. Some people might use more words and its their choice.

Indeed, it could be a lot of things. I can certainly tell you a few things it is not but that won’t help in any meaningful way.

 

[Gemlayman]

Noone said you are ignorant in their posts, but your last statement indicates that you did not read the first thing about rocks or this forum.

We get this type of question 10 times per week and the answer is always the same, i.e. what I wrote. Some people might use more words and its their choice.

Indeed, it could be a lot of things. I can certainly tell you a few things it is not but that won’t help in any meaningful way.

"your last statement indicates that you did not read " ironic...when op says nothing to indicate that I had an expectation of identification. Do you know why? The reason is, I have done enough research prior to know definitive ID is not possible via appearance alone, much less than through an amateur's photos.

This is not my first time in a forum, and from my experience, there are a veriety of users, from know it alls, who don't say anything productive, all the way to nice people who enjoy engagement of almost any type. I was looking for the latter, the other is toxic that makes forums ghost towns

 

[Gemlayman]

I did some calling around. A lapidary outfit that advertises for semi-precious gem and mineral identification, said I needed to contact someone who has an "machine" to test the stone. Who said a jewler would be the best to bet to be able to ID. Also, contacted a specialist, who said she only IDs cut stones. The international gem and mineral show is in couple of weeks, if worst comes to worst.

 

[Gemlayman]

I suggest you contact the Tucson Gem & Mineral Society -- https://www.tgms.org/ -- which should be local to you -- it is a nonprofit organization and should be able to provide more direct assistance in either (perhaps) identifying the stone or referring you appropriately for answers. Good luck!

They are club, with two staff who are not specialists in the field, but the receptionist said to email pics, and she would forward to some who are, to see if they have advice.

Thanks again

 

[VividRed]

"your last statement indicates that you did not read " ironic...when op says nothing to indicate that I had an expectation of identification. Do you know why? The reason is, I have done enough research prior to know definitive ID is not possible via appearance alone, much less than through an amateur's photos.

This is not my first time in a forum, and from my experience, there are a veriety of users, from know it alls, who don't say anything productive, all the way to nice people who enjoy engagement of almost any type. I was looking for the latter, the other is toxic that makes forums ghost towns

Pardon me, what is toxic about saying that with pictures alone it’s impossible to determine what mineral it is? Your response to my message was passive aggressive and my reply was too. I did assume you didn’t do your homework, and for that I apologize.

Go through my history of posts and decide for yourself if they are toxic and not productive. You may find otherwise.

To my point, as I said, we get this sort of question every week and guess what happens: some people give out random guesses, others say it’s not possible to ID stones based on pictures alone. In all cases, the OP never comes back with findings. So…nothing really.

 

[LilAlex]

I've had this Stone in my collection since at least 2005

That age should help us narrow it down -- not likely to be any of the newer gems.

I don't think anyone can say with enough certainty to be helpful or meaningful to you. It's a good launchpad for learning, imo, and for a great adventure.

Unrelated: Older brother and I dug some unbelievable crystals out of the ground one winter and spread them out on a newspaper inside to dry. They all melted... I don't know what perfect conditions aligned for this to have happened but we were floored; we weren't like three and five years old, either.

 

[seaurchin]

I have no idea but maybe one way to start is to narrow it down to the area you found it at and see what tends to be in that area, then look up pics of those. Who knows, maybe something that looks just like it will jump out at you. If so, from there you could see if there are any ways to test for that type of rock without damaging it.

Arizona Rockhounding Location Guide & Map

Arizona is one of the most prolific and exciting states in the country for rock and mineral collectors. Famous for its turquoise and copper deposits, Arizona is one of the first destinations everyone thinks of when it comes to rockhounding. Thousands of old mining dumps, productive stream beds...

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Did you find it in the Tucson area?

Also, I just found a shop "Tucson Mineral and Gem World" that looks like it sells rough gems and such from the area. It looks like there are others in the area. Maybe you'd find something similar there or find a local rockhound to ask.

Now I want to know what it is too.

 

[Garry H (Cut Nut)]

Gemlayman people here have tried to help but as many experts have mentioned we can not help you. If there were some evidence of a crystal habit in your images then we may have been able to give you an ID.
But we can not see any such evidence.
If you do not like this forum you are free to leave.
No one has been rude to you.

 

[Gemlayman]

I have no idea but maybe one way to start is to narrow it down to the area you found it at and see what tends to be in that area, then look up pics of those. Who knows, maybe something that looks just like it will jump out at you. If so, from there you could see if there are any ways to test for that type of rock without damaging it.

Arizona Rockhounding Location Guide & Map

Arizona is one of the most prolific and exciting states in the country for rock and mineral collectors. Famous for its turquoise and copper deposits, Arizona is one of the first destinations everyone thinks of when it comes to rockhounding. Thousands of old mining dumps, productive stream beds...

rockhoundresource.com

Did you find it in the Tucson area?

Also, I just found a shop "Tucson Mineral and Gem World" that looks like it sells rough gems and such from the area. It looks like there are others in the area. Maybe you'd find something similar there or find a local rockhound to ask.

Now I want to know what it is too.

To be honest, I can not remember where or how I got it. When I worked at a bar, I got some cool stuff I rember, as tips during the expos, but for the longest time it did not stand out much more than cool worthless rocks I have always collected.

I will keep updating about it, unless I get banned first for losing it on an as hat

An example I found in my stuff today
:

 

[Gemlayman]

Gemlayman people here have tried to help but as many experts have mentioned we can not help you. If there were some evidence of a crystal habit in your images then we may have been able to give you an ID.
But we can not see any such evidence.
If you do not like this forum you are free to leave.
No one has been rude to you.

Again, I have or had no expectation of definitive id, nor have I even asked for it. I only mentioned I don't know what it is... What is with these people
..they are multiplying

 

[Bron357]

Most pawnshops and many jewellers have what is called a Presidum gem tester. This uses thermal conductivity to help identify gemstones. It is of use to distinguish between say glass and quartz and other precious gems. It cannot however distinguish between natural and lab created materials, nor identify treatments.
It is helpful mostly to ID Cubic Zirconia vs anything else or coloured gems ie Garnet from Ruby, also Citrine from yellow sapphire or CZ , Amethyst from purple sapphire or CZ.
A gem tester is not a piece of equipment that a gemologist or a gem lab uses. They rely on more detailed and accurate testing to identify gemstones. Tests such as Specific gravity, Refractive Index and microscopic viewing are used.
Testing with a gem tester would give you an idea if it was worth sending the crystal away for further identification / certification.

 

[seaurchin]

I could be way off here but I did a quick search of the MOHS scale and only found seven listed that are harder than quartz that fit the description otherwise: beryl, topaz, chrysoberyl, zircon, spinel, corundum (sapphire) and diamond, if that helps.

 

[Karl_K]

No idea what it is although it is ringing bells but I cant pull the memory up.
However the image of the crying lady in this stone is kinda freaking me out.