San Gorgonio Mineral & Gem Society

Obsidian collection season will run this year from July 1 through Labor Day Weekend. Adults 18 years or older will be issued one-day permits authorizing collect...ion of two five-gallon buckets of obsidian using hand tools only. A maximum of three permits per person per year can be issued up to three days in advance. Permits are only available at the Modoc National Forest Headquarters at 225 W. 8th St. in Alturas, Calif. Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-12 p.m. and 1 p.m.-4:30 p.m. Valid picture identification and vehicle information are required for each individual seeking permits. Permits for weekends and holidays must be obtained on days Forest Headquarters is open. https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/modoc/news-events/ See more

We are grateful to have learned from Al and for the field trips he led us on over the years.

Looking forward to our upcoming Rock Sale.

Blue-Purple transparent fluorite crystals from quanzhou, Fujian Credit: Wangjinfan2010\ebay #minerals #crystals

Plume agate, Cady mountains, California

Fascinating Polished Labradorite from Madagascar Photo Copyright Embodied Gems/etsy

It'scoming up soon...

Soooo... this time around I'm doing some opal inlay. Gonna let it cure overnight before grisning back - and that's the hard part... the waiting.

So I decided I wanted to experiment with a little inlay in ammonites and I had an interesting experience. First, this is my first try at this so I am well awa...re there is room for improvement (in fact I haven't even fully polished this piece yet). I was just eager to see how well the turquoise inlay took in the cells I ground out. When I went to mix the inlay stone I initially wanted to use paleobond because I love how it polishes up. Weird thing happened: The turquoise powder would not mix with the paleobond. Instead it hardened instantly upon contact. I tried it twice. Same result. Then I thought I would experiment with some starbond. Same result. I was totally frustrated and about to give up when I decided I would try some 2 part epoxy. It mixed into the two part epoxy just fine. That was an interesting lesson, though I only learned the 'no' of it and not really the 'know' of it. Does anyone know the science behind this reaction? Super curious. Another thing I learned from this piece. I shouldn't have been too lazy to put it in the vacuum chamber for a few minutes to suck all the little air bubbles out. This resulted in a few minor pits in the turquoise. That's okay because I can go back and at least fill the pits in. Next time I will be sure not to skip the vacuum.

Natural rainbow Iris agate Credit: Chille Maulidhaa... #minerals #crystals