Gem Crystal

[colin_12]

Out near Glen Davis a couple of weeks ago.
Look what can turn up in your pan.
It is about 2.5mm accross and not a flash colour, but I was tickled all the same.
Anyone like to have a guess as to what it might be?



I think I need a better shot of this.
Regards Colin

[Biggzie]

Well it looks like its been rolling through a creek for a while, but it could be a quartz, maybe a slight smokey colour, but the way it comes to a point with 4 sides makes me lean towards a clear spinel or maybe a clear ziron.
It may be corundum, but I would expect it to be more elongated and maybe even have flatish ends.
Topaz it a remote possibility too, but I doubt it.

I have no idea where Glen Davis is, so I cant narrow it down to what you would most likely find there.

Is there any colouring when you shine a light through it? and is there any regularity to any of its sides?

eg if its shape looks like 2 pyramids placed back to back, it might be Spinel, maybe Zircon. If it has 6 sides its probably quartz, maybe corundum.

Might I suggest you place it on a dark non reflective cloth and try aiming a light on and through it at different angles to try and bring out some more life in the stone. They can be a S$%* of a thing to photogragh, but you've brought up a resonable amount of detail for a little stone.

Hope that helps some

[colin_12]

Hey Biggzie,
Well at least someone had a go.
You seem to be into this stuff also.
Glen davis is just north of Lithgow on the South Western edge of the Wollemi national park.
I have a swag of very small saphire, garnet and other minerals from this area but this is my first diamond.
It is not as brown in natural light. More a silvery grey with reasonable clarity. No where near first water though.
Now to try and get a better pic with natural light........
Regards Colin

[!~DeViNe~DaRkNeSs~!]

wow a diamond? really? well keep the pics coming

[Biggzie]

Well at least someone had a go.]

Well I did think of diamond, but then thought it would be pretty remote unless it was a known area. When you look into it, it is quite surprising where diamonds have turned up down the Eastern side, but usually not high quality or quantity.
There is a creek not far from here where they have turned up, near Balmoral. Ive been to the creek, but not searched for them. They arent high quality, and realy there is much more interesting stuff to find in that area.

You seem to be into this stuff also

Only if you count being Secretary of the local Gem Club

Now to try and get a better pic with natural light........

Ive got some good photos of quartz etc from sitting the crystal on a bright light source, dark background, macro extension & lense on max F stop.
I picked up a Surefire torch which I clamp with the crystal sitting on it, & adjust white ballance to Tungsten. Sometimes look good, sometimes looks crap. Being diamond, it may fall into the later.