timthehandyman
Handyman
Reged: 12/13/08
Posts: 847
Loc: Mooresville, North Carolina
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My family and I have been going to a gem mine and have collected a good many stones. Most of the best of the stones are in the fish tank. Except for my sons. He will not share  . I have tumbled a few and they turn out OK. I have also used my wet saw that I cut tile with to cut a few and then tumbled them. I see a little potential but it is hard to get small details. I need some ideas first on what to do with the stones and second how to get it done.
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All things can be accomplished with a little imagination and effort
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morrisdancer
"Lunatic"
Reged: 10/27/05
Posts: 7617
Loc: Michigan
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First thing that comes to mind is a Jewelry Maker. Dunno if you have them in your area, but we have 3 big Art/Craft Fairs in my immediate area and there are a few jewelers that sell their goods. Perhaps if you can see if they are looking for suppliers, you could find an outlet.
And if you have some gems that you would be willing to donate, check with your local schools. Years ago, I donated a shell collection and a rock collection to my local elementary school and they were thrilled!
Liz
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Thanks, Chris and Ernie!
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timthehandyman
Handyman
Reged: 12/13/08
Posts: 847
Loc: Mooresville, North Carolina
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I do not care to sell them. I would just like to be more productive with the gems
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All things can be accomplished with a little imagination and effort
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Ernie
Shaman Emeritus
Reged: 08/01/01
Posts: 35566
Loc: Southern CALIFORNIA
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Now this topic could make me go OFF`` 
on a wild ramble  ..being
I found an old 1955 claim deed
under a pile of rocks in 1970... 
I met an old woman connected to the areas mining
operations and she had known the people who had staked
the claim I found. She was amazed I made the trek on foot
`up the hard way` above the reservation.
She said the persons who made the claim had
used pack mules and even at that
``` it was a rough trip up``
The stories of little indian boys trading ``colored``
rocks for candy is said to be true and before
the Pala Indian's Chief Uncle Henry passed over , he
told me the stories and introduced me to one of the
surviving "children" who had traded ``colored rocks``
for candy..
Like I said I could very easily GO OFF..rambling
and scrambling```all the beautiful thoughts```
and ``over cook`` my words
I spent years above the Pala Rez in CA and found
a couple pretty ``little`` colored rocks myself... 
I gave them away years ago
``` to small back yard jewler```
It's amazing what a polish or CUT can do to
something rather plain looking.....
Explore this link a little and
I hope you ```enjoy the trip``` 
http://www.palagems.com/gem_cutting.htm
Want some Candy !!!
http://www.palagems.com/featured_stones_v2.htm
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````` Amazing Grace ``````
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bozodog
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/19/07
Posts: 9938
Loc: SW Michigan
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Emeralds are extremely hard. Tumbling to a fine polish will take many progressively finer grits down to and beyond 10,000 grit. The same with polishing or cutting facets. A http://www.faceters.com/askjeff/answer46.shtml Faceting Machine will make them shine, but remember, the harder the gemstone, the finer the grit needed for a perfect shine.
When hunting, keep your eye out for nice, natural crystals... they are beautiful in homemade settings.
I have an Amethyst rock with one end full crystals in our birdbath. I also have a wonderful Emerald crystal mounted in gold on a necklace. My walking stick has a Quartz crystal mounted as a wizards hat, on top of a carving I did. I'll post a few pics later.
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Governments don’t bear the cost of anything; their citizens do.
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