Labor Day Trip to the Spectrum Sunstone Mine

About a year ago (August 2008) my boyfriend (Bobby) and I were fortunate to be invited by our friend Shep Koss (CFMS FieldTrip Chair - SoCal) to join him for his annual trip to Oregon (Sunstone Mines) and Nevada (Virgin Valley Opal Region).

So you might ask - what took so long to post the trip? Well - we just got the stones back from the faceter and WOW! These need to be seen!!!

I am always up for a mine trip but to do it with someone who is experienced is priceless...there is no learning curve...he knows what to look for and how to get to it!

Shep works the graveyard shift so he really needed to catch a nap - so I drove - wasn't a bad drive. Just under 12 hours and since we chose to drive overnight the traffic was wonderful (Driving from the Los Angeles Area this was a great change of pace!).

Going over Donner Pass was a little trippy - especially in complete darkness! We were on a constant lookout (Bobby stayed awake to help) for critters and had to stop for a deer once. The road is wonderful almost all the way to the Sunstone mines - when you start to get close you end up on quite a long, rough dirt road.

We arrived early enough to drop a couple large items at our chosen campsite (see helpful hints) - not necessarily by choice - we had to to get to our digging equipment - and the mine hadn't opened yet.

1st Helpful Hint - OK - this is where Shep's experience and frugality really helps you make this trip happen! There is no need to pay for an expensive hotel room and drive 1/2 hour to an hour to the mine...BLM SunStone Park! This is a dry camping area next to the mines...there are covered tables and a toilet! really what more do you need?

BTW - just a side note - I was worried about the heat being close to Labor Day but the weather wasn't to bad...I couldn't have done any HARD rock mining but for our purposes it was lovely. This is important because as you can see from the photos (provided by my friend Paul over on the Cash and Treasures Wiki - if you haven't joined you should!)

We were the first guests to get to the mine and they were just setting up - Jessica came out to meet us and offer us coffee - Shep followed her to get a little coffee jolt to replace the sleep he missed and we waited at the Office door.

We were soon joined by a lovely couple that were staying in the TeePee that the mine rents out for overnights. Wouldn't that be a romantic Rock Hound Honeymoon? Out on the high desert in a teepee with a fire roaring sounds great to me!

When Jessica and Shep return we get the legalities out of the way (everyone starts at the office - you must sign a waiver to dig on the mine property). After about an hour of digging in the open pit I was starting to feel the heat (I am a big wimp when it comes to heat) - so with a little push from me - we all decided it was time to give the belt a try!

2nd Helpful Hint - Do the Conveyor Belt run! From the Spectrum website: High-Grade Conveyor Belt Run...For the ultimate mining experience, pick off our commercial screen plant conveyor belt and our crew will help you pick the gems and payer gets to keep everything that shows up in one hour of running the plant, $200 per hour, nearly 6 tons of ore is processed during the hour and many stones are found. Water is used to wash the dirt from the ore processed on the conveyor belt.

The addition of water from the belt run was a lifesaver for me - we cooled right down and got down to business - this is a BLAST! High Grade Ore is carried by Front Loader bucketfuls to a shaker machine (I know probably not the technical term) and then it is shaken in a steady stream onto a table with a small water feed - the tabletop is a belt that moves continually - are you getting flashbacks to the I Love Lucy episode with Lucy & Ethel in the Candy Factory? you should be!!!! In the interest of fairness we stopped halfway through and switched positions on the belt - the first person on the belt is at a definite advantage!

Around 3pm we were BEAT!!! we said our goodbyes - the staff at the Spectrum couldn't be nicer folks! Back at the campsite we pitched tents, setup the stove for supper and got a few minutes of discovery in.

3rd Helpful Hint: Take a walk around the BLM Grounds around Sunset or Sunrise - there is lots of Sunstone sprinkled through the grounds...you aren't going to find anything with color but the sun just sparkles off it and you can pick up several decent sized pieces.

OK - so now you know how I got the Sunstone and where I got the Sunstone...the question now is what do you do with close to 7 lbs. of Sunstone? This is where having a network of rockhounds is so important - I wanted to get some of our better pieces faceted but I couldn't afford to break the bank doing it! so the last helpful hint comes in the form of a referral.

4th Helpful Hint: Shep's favorite gem-cutter is Victor Albert of NorthWest Jewelers in Clackamas, OR - complete contact info at the end of post.

I only wish that my photography skills could do his cutting skills justice!

Contact Info:

Spectrum Mine: http://www.highdesertgemsandminerals.com

Faceter:

Victor Albert

NorthWest Jewelers, LLC.

PO Box 1866

Clackamas, OR 97015

503-722-5190

FAX: 503-210-7144

info@nwjewelers.com

http://nwjewelers.com

Within The Stone by Bill Atkinson

Within The Stone

by Bill Atkinson

Rocks as ART!, December 26, 2009 If you are, like me, a rockhound or a gem and mineral lover you will love this book. Atkinson is one of the foremost artists in the genre of Rocks as Art. More on Bill Atkinson - from the Product Description: BILL ATKINSON completes his transition from whiz kid of Silicon Valley to high priest of Silica. After helping to usher in the age of personal computing by designing the graphical user interface of the Macintosh computer, Atkinson turned his visual and technical talents to nature photography. While shooting in the Painted Desert, Atkinson became intrigued with the brilliant colors in the petrified wood littering the ground. He brought home some polished rock slabs, photographed them in natural color and without magnification, and was enthralled. The photographs looked more like paintings of forgotten dreams than either rocks or photographs. Atkinson went on to borrow and photograph thousands of art-quality stones at gem shows. From these thousands of stones, Atkinson has picked for WITHIN THE STONE those seventy-two that yielded the most striking, the most poetic, and the most ineffable images. Many of the photographs suggest the styles of particular masters of modern painting: Klee, Klimt, Turner, O'Keefe. -------------------------- This book is page after page of gorgeous abstract artworks that just happen to be a polished surface of Mother Nature's design. Within the Stone will make a gorgeous coffee table book for gem and mineral lovers as well as abstract art followers. To Order the Book or for more of Atkinson's photography... http://www.billatkinson.com

Ron Ringsrud and the Emeralds of Colombia...

Last night I attended the "Meet The Author" event at Nevada Mineral and Book. This is the most recent installment in a series that has included some of the finest and most well known authors in the Gem and Mineral Fields...Renee Newman, Fred Ward and now Ron Ringsrud.

Nevada Mineral & Book was a buzz of energy - it was a packed house and everyone was there to learn about the finest emeralds in the market the rare Colombian! Ron brought with him a case that was packed with some great mineral specimens from small to large cabinet size, a selection of lively gemstones and a glorious belt that was studded with emeralds that would rival some of the finest emerald pieces in the Smithsonian.

People milled through the shop having sampling yummy treats and sipping coffee and soda as the crowd swelled, we were ushered into the back room for a presentation.

To say that Ron is passionate about emerald would be an understatement - Ron is passionate about everything Colombian....

It is obvious that he has fallen hard for this beautiful country that has become a second home for him. He talked about the country, the geology that creates emerald, the miners that dig the emerald and the system that exists from the owners to the dealers in the marketplace.

Of course all of this was interspersed with stories about the people and Ron's personal experiences. His personal and easy going style made this an enjoyable evening for everyone in attendance.

The presentation ended with a drawing for a half-kilo of Colombian Coffeebeans.

Ron stayed, conversed and signed his beautiful book Emerald, A Passionate Guide until the wee hours....a great time was had by all.

You still have a chance to meet Ron Ringsrud and catch the "Colombian Fever"

Nevada Mineral & Book Company

342 S. Tustin Street, Orange, CA 92866.

Saturday, December 19: Book signing 10 a.m.–12 noon with a one-hour lecture at 11 a.m.

Keep your eyes open for more in the "Meet The Author" series and lots more activities from Nevada Mineral and Book...and you aren't limited by geographic location - Walt & Sandy are more than happy to take phone orders for this event.

Gem Reports From The Source...

I am starting to get ready for my trip to Tucson and in doing so I am researching gem reports - I like to get my information from the horse's mouth...

One source I was recently directed to by Richard Wise* was his friend David Epstein. David operates Precious Resources - the company functions as a "buying agent" for professional buyers of gems in Brazil's trading center - procuring single stones, discount lots and making special cuts for you.

Go to his site and sign up - you will get a monthly Gem Marketing Report - he has given me permission to reprint the December 2009 Report.

GEM MARKETING REPORT December 04, 2009

In the Nov. report we talked about face to face selling retail/wholesale and the 5 steps a sale usually takes. The first three, Attention, Interest and Conviction were covered. At this point some people think, well that should rap it up. They not only gave the feature of the product, the advantage of the feature but they gave the benefit also i.e. This Chrysoberyl is 8.5 on the Mohs hardness scale- Feature, which means it won't scratch easily- Advantage; and you can use it in a man's or women's ring without worry of abrasion-Benefit. You've done the whole thing... and they are still not buying. Hmm?

If they haven't yet yanked their wallet out, and perhaps are looking at you with a vague indifferent gaze, as if to say "does this have something to do with me", then you may have to instill some desire in them. How does one instill desire? By painting pictures. With what? The tip of your tongue. First you will paint a picture with using grey and black. You will show a lack, needless pain and suffering and then making the customer the hero you will paint a picture of happy pastel colors which leads into happy broad sunlit uplands. Their good taste and decisiveness created this happiness. If you can't create desire strong enough for them to purchase, you are probably lost. They must want the product, service, or desire to please another, show off or something so strongly that they are willing to consider the buy. "But how do I know what they are physically or psychologically lacking? A key question. If they haven't already told you or you haven't observed it then you have to ask. "When you enter you husband's company's Christmas Party do you have some jewel,

stone, ring, cuff, necklace etc; that sets sirens screaming?"

OK you got them cranked up. Their interested, convinced, they have some desire. And you are both standing there... What do you do? You could ask a yes or no question - do you want to buy it. THE CLOSE: Let's pause a moment to emphasize here - the worst request for the order (above) is better than none. If you can't think of anything else, just ask. Let us also say here that you don't have to wait till this point to try to close. If the prospect indicates with words or gestures that they want or intend to have possession you can try to close with a trail close. It might be something as simple as "Let's wrap it up?", "How would you set it up", "Will you want a gift box?", but more often one will try an alternate close, "Would you prefer white or yellow gold?", "do you prefer the oval or the round?" In all cases the question suggests ownership in the mind of the prospect. If they answer "I think I would prefer..." you may have moved them closer to ownership. If they say "I'm going to..." take out the order form.

Well you're in the home stretch. You've done it all except close (that is to say you haven't done anything). They are primed, but they haven't bit. Now What?

You become a counselor and help them make a decision. For anyone to make an objective balanced decision it is best for us to weight the pros and cons. The best way to do this is on paper, don't try and do this in your head or let them do it in their head. To seriously help or even if you want to influence, take out a piece of paper and draw a line down the middle. Then write Pro on the left side and Con on the right. Start by writing the Pro for them enumerating carefully each point. Then write the Con. Get them to agree on each point. If you want to influence you may use more positive adjectives with the Pro and group some of the negative points together. Then you can ask what do you think?

But what if they give me objections? They probably will. Hopefully you have rehearsed answering them so many times by yourself or with colleges that they just become part of the process. How do I handle them? You can turn them into an advantage, "The 3 phase inclusion in this emerald is your guarantee that it is natural" Diminish them, "Though we can not engrave on the front of this ring, who would be able to see your initials anyway and of course we will put them inside where only you two can share the secret". If they are not valid, you can laugh them off. "Yes Mrs. Dupont an extra $35 for the texturing makes this too much for your budget, ha ha. How did you want me to wrap it again?" If they are provably wrong, refute them. Eliminate them very politely when possible. "I believe that you will find there is the carat stamp, that says 22 carat gold".

We hope here that we have helped you make some extra and perhaps larger Xmas sales.

A prosperous holiday season and happy selling,

David Epstein.

Precious Resources.

PRECIOUS RESOURCES

Rua Epaminondas Otoni, 891-sl/107 - Centro

Teofilo Otoni - MG - BRAZIL - CEP 39800-013

Phone: 55 33 3522-4724

Fax: 55 33 3521 5098

Website: www.gembuying.com

Email: davidse123@gmail.com

BTW - You may remember David Epstein's name as the author of "The Gem Merchant"

* Richard Wise is a Jeweler (R.W. Wise Goldsmiths), Gemologist and the author of "Secrets of the Gem Trade" and more recently "The French Blue"

My Christmas Present To Me! Emeralds: A Passionate Guide by Ron Ringsrud

This book has been compared to Richard Hughes' book "Ruby & Sapphire" and has garnered praise from leaders in the fields of Gemology, Mining and Jewelry Design.

So imagine my sheer JOY when I found (through a conversation with Walt) that Ron Ringsrud would be making a personal appearance in Southern California!!!!

My favorite place to shop for the holidays Nevada Minerals and Books will be hosting a book signing for this esteemed expert in the field.

Excerpt from the Dec-Jan Mineral News from Pala International

Southern Californians will have two chances this month to see Ronald Ringsrud, author of Emerald, A Passionate Guide, at:

Nevada Mineral & Book Company

342 S. Tustin Street, Orange, CA 92866.

Friday, December 18: Book signing 5–9 p.m., with a one-hour lecture and slideshow at 7:30

Saturday, December 19: Book signing 10 a.m.–12 noon with a one-hour lecture at 11 a.m.

In the spirit of the season, a raffle will be held each day for a half-kilo of Colombian coffee beans that Ringsrud will bring back from his December trip to the Bogotá emerald market and Colombian emerald mines. Mineral specimens of emerald will be on display and for sale. Colombian coffee will be served.

Stocking stuffer. Ringsrud will have emerald mineral specimens on hand for display and sale at his Southern California appearances this month. (Photo courtesy Ronald Ringsrud)

____________________________

From The Publisher:

Read about the people, the miners, the personalities and adventurers – each caught in the allure of this exotic green stone! Rather than a mere introduction to emeralds, this book is a grand introduction to the royal view that a connoisseur takes on the subjects of color, gem appreciation and rarity.

There is information here for a gemologist to rise to the level of connoisseurship in emeralds. But beginners will find this book an expansive and informative read – one that celebrates as well as explains The final chapters carry the mind and heart to territory that is both thought-provoking and passionate – unusual for a gemological book, but timely and fitting.

Review Comments:

“This book is a true adventure, a work of imagination and creativity, and in that respect it is much like Richard Hughes’ classic work,Ruby & Sapphire. It is also a complement to John Sinkankas’ Emeralds and Other Beryls, and importantly, a book that is fun to read.”

— From the foreword by John Koivula, Chief Gemologist, GIA and co-author
of the Photoatlas of Inclusions
in Gemstones series

“Ron masterfully conveys his intimate knowledge of the gem trade through his passion for emeralds, in all their aspects.”

— Edward Boehm, gemologist
and connoisseur

“In this fascinating book, Ron Ringsrud details the history, gemology and allure of this most precious of stones.”

— Richard Hughes, author of
Ruby & Sapphire

Richard Wise, Author of "Secrets Of The Gem Trade" and "The French Blue", Jeweler and Gemologist recently posted a review of Emeralds on his blog.

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Nevada Mineral & Book Company

342 S. Tustin St., Orange, CA, 92866

(714) 633-1549

Nevada Mineral & Book Company is an earth science bookstore/natural history gallery. We have over 100,000 earth-science related publications (new, used and rare), as well as minerals, fossils, meteorites, decorator items and unique colored stone jewelry.

Hours: 10:30AM - 6:00PM Monday - Saturday

Bonham's Los Angeles Natural History Auction Dec. 6th!

...and the star of the show.... a five-pound blister pearl found off the coast of the Philippines that has been dubbed the "Palawan Princess."

The natural non-nacreous pearl was found in saltwater near the Philippines' Palawan island and "bears an uncanny resemblance to a human brain," the auction house said. Both rare and immense, the gem is thought to be surpassed in size only by the 14-pound "Pearl of Allah," an approximately 14-pound, 31,893.5-carat pearl that, like the Palawan Princess, was the product of the giant clam shell Tridacna gigas and was also found off the coastal waters of the Philippines.

The approximately 11,339-carat Palawan Princess is a blister pearl measuring six inches in diameter and accompanied by the lower half of its original giant clam shell, which shows the point of attachment where the pearl formed.

The pearl, which will be on the auction block at Bonhams and Butterfields' Dec. 6 holiday auction of Natural History in Los Angeles, is valued at $300,000 and $400,000.

Check out the entire catalog for this event. On December 6th in Los Angeles, the gavel will drop on an array of natural wonders!

Thanks go to Author and Appraiser Diana Jarrett, GG, RMV for the photo of her in Bonham's backroom - it really puts the size of this piece into perspective.