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passifloracaerulea



Registered: 11/13/10
Posts: 10,485
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Colorado Aquamarine (with daily update pics)
#22060516 - 08/07/15 08:41 PM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
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I'm finding 'em!
Edited by passifloracaerulea (08/08/15 06:09 PM)
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rackem



Registered: 11/27/09
Posts: 14,024
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nice find
just outta curiosity, are those worth your while to mine?
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passifloracaerulea



Registered: 11/13/10
Posts: 10,485
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Re: Colorado Aquamarine [Re: rackem]
#22061403 - 08/08/15 02:15 AM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
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Yes they're worth $5-$200 per carat depending on color, clarity, and shape. There's about 500 carats in my hand and for 3 days digging that's not a bad score, plus the nicer ones that aren't in the pic. Most in the pic are in the $10-$50 per carat range.
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passifloracaerulea



Registered: 11/13/10
Posts: 10,485
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Here's the same pile with the junk removed.
 Here are some real beauties, and I've only been digging 3 days!
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cApTaInCrAp
Delightfullyexcellent



Registered: 03/19/04
Posts: 2,613
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Man that seems pretty fun, makes me want to look into my area to see if there's any plots/items worth while. How'd you get into this hobby?
-------------------- "...Terrific, im glad we've had this time to discuss..im outro, call me if you wanna blaze one up.."
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rackem



Registered: 11/27/09
Posts: 14,024
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Dude that's awesome What's the next step for those gems? Jewelry?? If so I may be interested
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passifloracaerulea



Registered: 11/13/10
Posts: 10,485
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Re: Colorado Aquamarine [Re: rackem]
#22073722 - 08/10/15 08:52 PM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
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I got into obsidian mining years ago and had a really good year last year that I could never beat. I almost went into aquamarine mining 7 years ago when I started obsidian but it seemed far away and really hard to do. There isn't much else I want to mine and I have a lifetime supply of good obsidian. I'm digging in southern California this winter too for tourmalines, aquamarine, morganite, kunzite, and whatever else grew in those pegs.
Yes i'm making jewelry with these stones, but handmade Colorado aqua jewelry don't come cheap.
No more pics yet, my arctic cat has been in the shop. Got her back today and we should be back on the mountain early in the morning.
Edited by passifloracaerulea (08/10/15 08:54 PM)
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rackem



Registered: 11/27/09
Posts: 14,024
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That's awesome man. How would you say you make your living? With the jewelry or with mining?
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passifloracaerulea



Registered: 11/13/10
Posts: 10,485
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Re: Colorado Aquamarine [Re: rackem]
#22092765 - 08/14/15 09:13 PM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
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Both. I sell rough rock and finished pieces. I'm only specializing in rare varieties and very sought after american gems.
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SoulButter
Joint Chief of Soul


Registered: 06/23/15
Posts: 312
Last seen: 3 years, 3 days
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This is awesome! ive tried my hand at some gem mining.. it was always a struggle to free the crystals from the rocks. how do you get yours out so cleanly?
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rackem



Registered: 11/27/09
Posts: 14,024
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I have always pictured you having to move a bunch of dirt to get where you are funding these gems. Is that true or have I been watching too much discovery channel?
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passifloracaerulea



Registered: 11/13/10
Posts: 10,485
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Re: Colorado Aquamarine [Re: rackem]
#22096430 - 08/15/15 08:46 PM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
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We're finding the aquamarine at 8' depth in a white granite scree slope on Mt White. We have to shovel a few cubic yards per day to get into the depth and keep it open. We're always fighting an overhanging bank above us. No matter how much we take it back, it's always dangerous. You learn to feel when it's all about to cave in and get the fuck out! We have some massive boulders in the pit right now that we need to drill and blast in order to remove, which I'll do in the next week. I took my screen up today and we screened all of our previous tailings. I walked away with a good handful.
Oh yeah, lightning and hail have chased us off of the mountain every day for the last week. It's pretty fucking scary seeing a pinpoint bright flash hit the top of the slope you're working on followed by the loudest crack you'll ever hear.
Edited by passifloracaerulea (08/15/15 08:52 PM)
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rackem



Registered: 11/27/09
Posts: 14,024
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It sounds like you have a cool ocupation. What's the certification process like to play with the explosivee?
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passifloracaerulea



Registered: 11/13/10
Posts: 10,485
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Re: Colorado Aquamarine [Re: rackem]
#22100643 - 08/16/15 10:13 PM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
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I just have a microblaster unit which uses firecracker sized charges and compressed co2 gas to split large boulders. Most of what we do is pick, shovel, screen, and pry bar work.
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rackem



Registered: 11/27/09
Posts: 14,024
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Good ole manual work..
I remember you starting a thread a while back looking for some help.. How many guys you typically have to a team? Or does it really not matter much?
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passifloracaerulea



Registered: 11/13/10
Posts: 10,485
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Re: Colorado Aquamarine [Re: rackem]
#22101558 - 08/17/15 05:49 AM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
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Now I'm working with one friend and we're prospecting my claims. We have access to another miner's claim who is literally on the aquamarine. Amanda (from the prospectors show) dug a 55 ct aqua 2 days ago from the claim we're working above us somewhere. We didn't even know she was up there that day because the film crew wasn't there.
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rackem



Registered: 11/27/09
Posts: 14,024
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Sounds like the damned film crewngot caught slipping..
May have to check that show out.. Gem mining seems pretty damned interesting
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passifloracaerulea



Registered: 11/13/10
Posts: 10,485
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Re: Colorado Aquamarine [Re: rackem]
#22104080 - 08/17/15 07:10 PM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
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The girls(Jessica is the new addition to the show) apparently found something big today. They were all screaming and the film crew was there to get it all. We didn't go down to the camp and find out what was found because the lightning ran us off again. We'll hear about it tomorrow. We did find a few 100 ct range sky blue aquas today that aren't absolutely perfect, but will cut some beautiful cabochons in the $400-$500 range. I also dug a small inch long pencil. Damn good day and I know we're on to a really sexy find.
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rackem



Registered: 11/27/09
Posts: 14,024
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Right on man.. How the hell this Amanda chick find a show what makes her special?
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Middleman

Registered: 07/11/99
Posts: 8,399
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Not many chicks can handle mining at 13K. I was there in June, it is hard core. Glad your doing well, passiflora. Please post more pics!
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