Rat tail corrundum

[geodepat]

I bought a slice of this stone at the gem show in Franklin just before the round up and finally got around to polishing it up. It is very strange it has a blue green outer ring and a pinkish to red center. I had never seen anything like this before. The outer layer on the rim was a soft mica like rocks that came off very quickly but ya knew when ya hit that corundum layer. ;D The picture is taken through my magnifying lense lamp in the little circle. Kindof cool.

[arappaho]

I'm not familiar with the name"Rat tail" either, Pat, but you did a great job cutting it!
Very pretty! I wouldn't mind seeing a pic with out the magnifier.
And I'm just asking, but you wouldn't call that ruby in zoisite or fuschite?
Joe

[geodepat]

It seems to me to not be a fushite or however you spell it outer ring. It is much harder like the center and this guy had several slices of the same tail. I have never seen anything like it before. I do have a couple of pieces of NC rat tail I got from Rick and it kind of resembles it. I guess I really won't know for sure what it is until the next roundup and Rick gets a chance to look at it.

[arappaho]

Thanks for the explanation and the pic, Pat!
Man that's pretty. You did a great job on the wrap!
Joe

[damammy]

Pat that is a cool looking stone, and a nice wrap to set it off.
Donna

[writerman2255]

Nice job wrapping that stone!

Love and Light, Tom.

[scott]

They talk about this exact stuff at the Corunduminium : www.corunduminium.com/index1.html

He's got corundum from Wyoming he calls "Owl eye" and says the green stuff is chromium rich mica "probably fuchsite". Click on the following link to see:

www.corunduminium.com/Wyoming.htm

[indyme2]

Looks like common rattail corundum and margarite. The corundum has "altered". Probably came from the Rutherfordton, NC area. SC has some of the same material in the upstate. Corundum in the middle with margarite making the outside ring. The surface usually has mica.

[geodepat]

Thanks for that link Scott. That is the exact stone I wish I had bought more of it but he was asking a pretty price.