What Is This?

[writerman2255]

Hey. This material is black, looks like tourmaline, but has no striations, is not opaque but translucent when light is shined on it. It's gemmy. You can see through it. The surface is really smooth, unlike any tourmaline I've ever seen. Any ideas? I can't remember if I found it at the Ray or The Tree. Thanks!

Love and Light, Tom.

[amythestguy]

still looks like tourmaline to me, Tom..tourmaline can be smooth..can look exactly like beryl with six sided hex smooth sides or just a blob..tourmaline can look like lots of things,..deep green?

[writerman2255]

So black tourmaline can get gemmy and translucent? I mean, it's black, but it's gemmy. If only I could find a huge hunk of this, what a pendant jewel it would make!
Love and Light, Tom.

[bammer]

Tom,

I definitely have some gemmy :black, green & dark brown Tourmaline from the Tree.

See these old posts.
dirtyrockhounds.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=Finds&action=display&thread=2513&page=1#16392

dirtyrockhounds.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=Finds&action=display&thread=2513&page=1#16383

I save all the intact Tourmaline crystals I find and look at them with a strong light.

The marquee cuts are simple and are thin and allow alot of light to pass thru and seem to work the best for the stuff.

keep on diggin

[lauriesrocks]

Bammer, it could be Olenite, a kinda rare tourmaline that is known from the Ray Mine, though it usually is found in mica there. It has that same brown color, but Olenite really can't be identified without chemical analysis.

[writerman2255]

I bet it's that green tourmaline that gets greener the thinner it is. It's so gemmy.

Love and Light, Tom.