[Rockhounds] Chinese Crystals on E-Bay

[Charles Baran]

I really thank ALL you kids for the help, advice and tips.  That's the 
really great thing about this board;  there is SO much knowledge and 
willing people on it.  Thanks again!

Chuck Baran

Al Balmer wrote:

>On Tue, 29 Apr 2008 16:25:29 -0400, "Lawrence Rush"
><larryrush at worldnet.att.net> wrote:
>
>  
>
>>If the crystal looks absolutely clear, with no imperfections, and is 
>>perfectly terminated, it may be one of the "manufactured" ones. Some are 
>>colored red, and are very even in color appearance. Some are perfectly 
>>doubly terminated. I have heard that they are made by melting and casting 
>>silica, but I have no first-hand experience. Unfortunately, these days, much 
>>    
>>
>>from China must be viewed with skepticism.
>  
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>>Also, watch out for "Zircon" from China in large, well formed transparent 
>>crystals. These are also reputed to be manufactured. Rock Currier may have 
>>more first-hand experience than do I (?).
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>
>I saw "synthetic zircon" for sale by an oriental couple at Quartzsite
>last year. It was actually CZ, though the seller argued about it,
>finally saying "It doesn't matter, because they're both corundum."
>True story! The price was 0.10/carat, high but not outrageous.
>  
>
>>Larry Rush
>>
>>
>>
>>----- Original Message ----- 
>>From: "Charles Baran" <kcbaran at arczip.com>
>>To: "Rockhounds at drizzle.com: A mailing list for rock and gem collectors" 
>><rockhounds at lists.drizzle.com>
>>Sent: Tuesday, April 29, 2008 3:38 PM
>>Subject: [Rockhounds] Chinese Crystals on E-Bay
>>
>>
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>>>Friends:  If you get on E-bay,  input  quartz crystals  in the search 
>>>feature you will come up with a whole BUNCH of hits.  Many of them are 
>>>big, very nice and very cheap. You can tell the Chinese crystals because 
>>>most are being held in a person's hand with an outdoors background.   Has 
>>>anyone ever bought these or have any ideas or feed back as far as quality, 
>>>buying safety, etc? Thanks?
>>>Chuck Baran
>>>      
>>>
>
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