Tag Archives: lapidary

Collecting Ribbon Barite around Quartzsite Arizona

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cut ribbon barite from arizona

A favorite place of mine to visit has been the barite deposits West of Bouse Arizona, referred to as the Burro Barite Deposits.
This network of shafts and inclines can be 100% avoided, but the colorful chunks of Barite, Quartz, Hematite and Fluorite sure can hop into your bag!

We will show you a map to a great big deposit of ribbon barite you can collect, if you are in the Quartzsite, Parker, Bouse or Wickenburg Arizona area, but first, lets learn a little bit about Barite.

cut ribbon barite from arizona

This is a sample of the typical barite found at the Plomosa Road Barite Ridge deposit.

Barite, also known as baryte (for those of the English persuasion), is a mineral composed of barium sulfate (BaSO4). It is a dense, white or colorless mineral with a Mohs hardness of 3-3.5, which means it is relatively soft. Barite occurs in a variety of forms, including tabular, prismatic, and fibrous, and it may have a wide range of colors depending on impurities present in the mineral, such as blue, brown, gray, or red.

Barite is found in a variety of geological environments, including sedimentary rocks, hydrothermal veins, and as gangue mineral in metallic ores. The largest deposits of barite are found in China, India, and the United States. Other significant deposits can be found in countries such as Morocco, Turkey, Canada, and Mexico.

Barite has many uses, primarily in the oil and gas industry as a weighting agent in drilling muds. It is also used as a filler in the manufacture of paints, rubber, and plastics, as well as a component in the production of paper and ceramics. Barite is also used as a flux in glassmaking and as a radiation shielding material in medical and scientific applications.

Barite is generally considered to be non-toxic, but it can be harmful if ingested or inhaled in large quantities. Therefore, proper handling and disposal procedures should be followed when working with this mineral.

Barite is an interesting and versatile mineral that has many characteristics that make it a great addition to any mineral collection. Here are some reasons why barite is a good mineral to collect:

Firstly, barite crystals have a unique and striking appearance. They can come in a variety of colors, including clear, white, yellow, blue, and pink, and can have a variety of crystal habits, including tabular, prismatic, and fibrous. This means that barite crystals can be both beautiful and diverse in appearance, making them an excellent mineral to collect for aesthetic purposes.

Secondly, barite is a widespread mineral found in many geological environments, which means it can be relatively easy to acquire specimens for your collection. The largest deposits of barite are found in China, India, and the United States, and there are many other significant deposits around the world. This means that collectors have the opportunity to obtain specimens from a variety of locations, adding to the diversity of their collection.

Thirdly, barite has many uses in industry and science, which means it can be an interesting and informative mineral to collect. Barite is used in the oil and gas industry as a weighting agent in drilling muds, and as a flux in glassmaking. It is also used as a radiation shielding material in medical and scientific applications. Knowing about these applications and the properties of barite can add to the educational value of a mineral collection.

Overall, barite’s unique appearance, widespread distribution, and versatile uses make it a great mineral to collect.


Minerals, Fossils, and Fluorescents of Arizona Book Cover		 Minerals, Fossils, and Fluorescents of Arizona
by Neil R. Bearce

This book sets the standard for field guides everywhere. Amazing, full of great locations! A MUST own for Arizona field collectors, or those living in nearby states!
EBAY
  AMAZON


Minerals of Arizona: A Field Guide for Collectors Book Cover		 Minerals of Arizona: A Field Guide for Collectors
by Neil R. Bearce

This is the first guide, of the two shown here. good idea to grab both
EBAY
  AMAZON

Now, you can find your very own Barite from lots of places in the world, but for this fun banded material, you’ll be going to hop onto Plomosa Road just north of Quartzsite and drive 12.2 miles to reach the gravel road to the northwest. Hop off the paved road and turn onto it, then turn left into the wash. You can explore all around that ridge that protrudes out of the wash. It runs for just about 2000 feet.

Years ago a video was made of this location, showing you the area. The audio was done by Rick Kennedy of Earth’s Treasures, in case you were wondering who’s sexy vocals those were.

GemShades Collection Debut at The Crystalarium – The Ocular Artistry of Naomi Hinds

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Business Cards fo the Wire Wrap Artist Naomi Hinds

November 16th, 2019 The Crystalarium, a Los Angeles Institution in Fine Minerals, served as a fitting host to a viewing of the unique GemShades, custom woven wire frames incorporating fine gem slices of Tourmaline, Aquamarine and Amber.

View of two sunglasses made with gem tourmaline slice lens and a custom wire base for a green tourmaline crystal

These fine custom sunglasses were a centerpiece of the showcase, featuring bold red tourmaline slices and accessory crystals in the arms.

Fine Jewelry artist Naomi Hinds assembled a dozen unique wire framed gemstone glasses for the showing. Naomi was on hand, along with the fun loving staff of the Crystalarium, to show off these pieces of functional, wearable, art.

Wire Artist Naomi Hinds with amber lens sunglasses with custom woven wire frames

Wire Artist Naomi Hinds was on hand to show a close up view of her functional artwork.

Crystalarium, located on beautiful La Cienga Blvd, in West Hollywood, was truly a perfect setting for this exhibit. The staff certainly coordinated a fine affair, with a live guitarist, fruits and cookies, wine and hors d’oeuvres served through the night, while visitors were able to visit with the artist and get the chance to try on selected pieces.

Advertisement featuring the information for the limited weekend event to promote the GemShades Sunglass Collection

Hosted by the Crystalarium, located on La Cienega, in West Hollywod, the GemShades Collection Debut took place on Saturday, November 16th, 2019.

Follow CrystalariumLA on Instagram to find out about upcoming events and general crystal shenangans going on in West Hollywood!

Two pair of GemShade Custom Gemstone Sunglasses

Two Wire Wrap Frame Sunglasses featuring Red Tourmaline Lenses, Created by Naomi Hinds

These bold Gold and Red Tourmaline Sunglasses were a hit, with visitors flocking to them all night.

Glass replicas of tourmaline slices set into custom wire frames

Wild custom framed glasses featuring a collaboration with the glass artist “DiggerGlass”

Blue Tourmaline Sunglasses

These would certainly set any room ablaze. Gem blue tourmaline slices set into a custom frame created by wire artist Naomi Hinds

These Unique Lenses are the gem Aquamarine, the Blue Beryl.

Sunglasses made with Amber Lenses and Wire Wrap Arms

Polished Lenses of Amber give a truly unique look on life!

In addition to the fine works on display, the artist treated the visitors to some behind the scenes looks into how the frames and other works, are designed and made.

Tourmaline Slices in Acrylic Mounts shown

Behind the Scenes of How it is Made – Naomi first matches the slices up and plans on HOW to give life to these unique products of mother nature.

Wire Wrap Arms for Sunglasses in Unfinished State

Hours of delicate work are required for each piece, these showcased the left arm in unfinished process, showing a glimpse of how the artist works.

Tourmaline Slice with Wire Wrapping in Progress

Behind the Scenes look at How it is Made – The Artist showcases a work in progress as this tourmaline slice is custom fit into precious wire.

One case full of stunners included two custom accessory arm features and a fantastic custom woven metal base for a bold green tourmaline, making it look like it was ready to blast into space!

View of two sunglasses made with gem tourmaline slice lens and a custom wire base for a green tourmaline crystal

These fine custom sunglasses were a centerpiece of the showcase, featuring bold red tourmaline slices and accessory crystals in the arms.

Tourmaline Scepter in Green and Pink in the side of a wire wrapped sunglass arm

This bold tourmaline scepter accessory crystal is a bold addition to the arms of these GemShades

Custom Wire Sculpted Base for this Bold Green Tourmaline.

This Crystal looks ready for takeoff!

View of the Side Arms of a pair of custom wire wrapped sunglasses with red tourmaline lenses

View of the Side Arm to this breathtaking gold wire and tourmaline eyeglasses

Examples of Wire Artwork of Naomi Hinds

Examples of the artistry of Naomi Hinds, creator of GemShades.

About the Artist - Naomi Hinds - Sign

If you would like to contact the artist for information on these or other works, you can find Naomi via this business card, and view her works on instagram @NaomiHindsDesigns

Business Card of Naomi Hinds Designs

Business Card for Naomi Hinds Designs – contact her for inquires.

I was all too happy to run into Barbie Petrosky, the_miniralogist – creator of HIGH quality mineral memes on Instagram. Be still, my heart!

Barbie Figure with Wire Wrap Eye Glasses Made by Naomi Hinds

Barbie Petrosky, known as ig: the_miniralogist, was looking fly with these custom made tourmaline glasses and accented side armature, made by the artist Naomi Hinds.

Justin Zzyzx looking at Barbie Petrosky, the_miniralogist on IG

One of Barbie’s MANY admirers!

Collecting Howlite an hour North of Los Angeles

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Mineral Club collecting at Tick Canyon in 1957
VGMS collecting at Tick Canyon back in 1957
For decades rockhounds have collected tons of howlite from the dumps of Tick Canyon.

To this day, tons of howlite still overflow at the mine dumps, dormant for over 100 years.


View Tick Canyon Howlite Collecting in a larger map

This location, clearly seen on the map above, is amazingly easy to find, park, and collect. The borate mine in Tick Canyon is called the Stearling Borax mine, which had its own mini railroad, a “dinky” sized rail, hauling borates out of the canyon to the station in Lang. The by product of colemanite mining at this location was an odd soft white material, with thin black spiderweb like inclusions running throughout. This material, Howlite, has no economic worth, as it is not an ore of borax, it is found littering the mine dumps.

Brandy Zzyzx collecting Howlite in Tick Canyon
The old mining area is now fenced off with no trespassing signs. Years ago, this main area was a common field trip location for clubs from all over Southern California. Uncommon minerals like Priceite and Veatchite could be found on the dumps, along with softball sized cauliflower shaped howlite nodules. You would think that with the original mine dump off limits, collecting would be impossible.
Howlite cut in half
This howlite nodule was cut in half, then mounted in a block of plaster. Photo by MiddleEarthMinerals.com
Something wonderful for mineral collectors, a large amount of the dump was pushed to the other side of Davenport Road, into the canyon below. This huge dump pile is full of howlite, as we found out visiting this location on December 23rd, 2012.
Howlite found in the dump material of the Stearling Borax Mine
Chunks of white Howlite can be seen in the dark gray dump
Forty pounds of howlite was gathered in what seemed like no time, with no digging required. The howlite was everywhere, even down the wash dozens of feet from the main dump pile.

Howlite is soft enough to carve easily, yet hard enough to be a popular lapidary item for cabbing, tumbling, and polishing.
Howlite chunk in Concrete block
You can see that the material was so unwanted, they would use it as a filler rock in concrete.

This location is a perfect place for anyone, it is easy, interesting and filled with desirable minerals!
Article from The-Vug.com Fakes Issue about Howlite
The article above is an excerpt from The-Vug.com Quarterly Magazine Fakes Issue, which was reprinted in the compilation book, available for sale directly from the publisher!