@caraphernelia collects crystals and I had mentioned on one of her blogs that I had some raw red emeralds. I found them. So here are the photos.
Also, the clear singular crystal is topaz, and the clear crystal in the small brownish rock is a very flawed and fractured quartz crystal. There are a lot of tiny quartz crystals in the rock too. Cannot remember where I found the topaz and quartz crystals.
The first two photos are the business card of the place where I found the red emeralds. During one of our side trips during my 6-week summer field course for my BS Geology degree, we stopped at this red emerald claim where we were allowed to pick through talus piles.
All of the the close up photos were taken with my iPhone 6 Plus using an Olloclip 10x Macro lens and illuminated with a small LED flashlight.
I have no idea if any of the red emeralds are gem quality, though I doubt it. From the naked eye they seem pretty flawed, though an experienced gem cutter might be able get a couple of small pieces that could be set in jewelry.
I also have a small geode full of amethyst and quartz crystals that I bought at a rock and gem show in the mid 1980s, but it's packed away in a box in the garage.
Stay Tuned...
DeadGuitarist
