4th of July Coupon!

Just enter the coupon code:

 happyfourth

 at check out.  

The code has to match exactly.

Geologists Unearth Fully Intact Rock

http://www.theonion.com/articles/geologists-unearth-fully-intact-rock,38364/

Describing the discovery as the most flawless specimen ever unearthed, a team of geologists working in northern Colorado announced Friday they had excavated a fully intact rock

April Coupon!

"Rubies, Blood-Red Beauty" - NY Times Article on Rubies

Eduardo Recife (from article)

Very well written, informative article on rubies in the NY Times .  The author is Victoria Gomelsky, editor-in-chief of JCK :

Rubies, Blood-Red Beauty

Helps explain why we only ruby rough we every find is so  itty bitty and expensive!

20% off Turkey Day Sale

20% off your entire order!

Fall 20% off Sale!

PrettyRock.com 

Fall Sale Starts Tomorrow! 

20% off your entire order. 

Coupon Code: FallSparkle 

Fine Print: Valid 9/22/2014 to 10/05/2014. No Cash Value. Can not be used on UltraTec Machines

20% Off Coupon - Happy Fourth of July!

20% off Your Entire Order  

 

at http://www.PrettyRock.com

 

Just put : F1reW8rks

 

in the discount coupon box at check out.

Valid from July 1 2014 to July 7 2014

 Discounts can not be combined.  

No cash value. Can not be used on Ultra Tec Machines or Parts

20% Off Coupon - Rockin' Summer Kick Off

We are going to have a rockin' summer here at PrettyRock.com.  To get things started off right, here's a 20% off coupon code.  Just put it in the discount box at check out!

20% off Your Entire Order  

Just put :RockinSummer20Off

in the discount coupon box at check out.

Valid from May 22 2014 to May 31 2014

 Discounts can not be combined.  

No cash value. Can not be used on Ultra Tec Machines or Parts

New Facet Rough Up - 5-20-2014

Emerald preforms, sapphire and rubellite!  See them all here.

6ct Rubellite Tourmaline

6.89ct Emerald

Pretty cool! New type purple crystal found!

http://news.yahoo.com/unique-crystals-newfound-purple-pink-mineral-no-other-150542725.html

and

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/science/140424/the-worlds-newest-mineral-unlike-anything-weve-ever-seen

Rock Garden

Best use yet for big quartz points!

Rock Spotlight:78.08ct Rhodolite Garnet

78.08ct Rhodolite Garnet

• Family: Garnet
• Variety: Rhodolite
• Size: 22 x 21 x 14mm
• Treatment: None known
• Origin: Tanzania
• Carats: 78.08
• Clarity: [ 99% ],  [ IF Rating ],  [ A Grade]

Hobbies: windsurfing and shell collecting

Like: old wine, cool autumn nights by the fire and warm socks.

Looking for something smaller?  click here to see our other rhodolites

Big Honking CZ!

If you are looking for a big piece of rough to cut a nice door knob or other large project, check out some of the large CZ we have been posting!   You can find all the select CZ here.

Here are just a few:

3974.5ct Red Synthetic CZ

3789.5ct Yellow Synthetic CZ

2775ct White Synthetic CZ

New Wallpaper & Print - Fluorite

New free wallpaper available here:

http://prettyrock.com/free-wallpaper-minerals.htm

Prints and note cards available here: 

Tuesday Funny - Atlas of a Geologist's Brain

Watercolor: Agates and Jaspers

I really enjoyed painting this one.  Playing with all the textures and patterns was a lot of fun.

16 x 20 watercolor on Arches cold press

Prints and note cards available here:

http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/elizabeth-mcrorie.html

Gem and Mineral News

 

The zircon was found in Jack Hills, Western Australia. Image courtesy of John Valley

Worlds Oldest Gem Discovered

Scientists have confirmed that a tiny zircon gemstone discovered on a remote rock outcrop in Australia is the oldest known material of any kind formed on Earth.  read more here

Dai Sun Jewellery's "The Inheritance" (pictured) is made from 

18K rose gold diamond bangle with ruby, sapphire, garnet and opal. 

It won JMA International Jewelry Design Competition's Best Craftsmanship Award last year.

2014 Hong Kong Gem and Jewelry Show Opens
Two massive international jewelry shows opened in Hong Kong this week The 31st Hong Kong International Jewellery Show opened at the Hong Kong International Convention & Exhibition Centre on Wednesday.  The Hong Kong International Diamond, Gem & Pearl Show opened at AsiaWorld-Expo on Monday.  read more here

Great Story about a Young Rockhound
“I’m hoping the house doesn’t sink,” quipped Tina, pointing toward not only the rocks — which weigh an estimated 10 tons and line baseboards and window sills as well as shelves — but the bulk of trophies Brian, 13, has scored by winning the junior division of the Portland regional rock and gem competition three years in a row.  Read more here

Tuesday Funny: It's time to stop?

He just needs a stronger belt!

©Boulder Press (anyone have more info? ) 

Faceter Spotlight: Mari Phillips

Faceter Spotlight: Mari Phillips

Mari Phillips cut the amazing 2.82ct ( 8mm x 8mm)  feldspar spectrolite!

I just love the way it softly glows and shimmers.

Mari shared her experience cutting the spectrolite:

This spectrolite actually wasn't too bad.  I was worried about the blue schiller orientation and polishing due to all the inclusions.  The spectrolite polished up nicely, thankfully, with cerium oxide on the dark side.  the orientation of the blue flashes worked out well and I am just grateful for that miracle.  I could see the flash did run pretty deep in the rough and not so shallow.  sometimes it is easy to accidentally cut the blue flash out.  Done that before!  

Spectrolite on the dop.

Sneaking this in, she also cut this wonderful sunstone!  

What a great choice for the design. It really shows off the sunstone.

Mari has been faceting about 7 years and really enjoys cutting Mexican fire opal, sunstone, and Montana Sapphire.   She can be contacted by email here: maregg07{at}hotmail.com

Rocks News: Gold in your Backyard, Balancing Act, and more

In recent rock related news...

photo source: Routers

A trove of rare Gold Rush-era coins unearthed in California last year by a couple as they walked their dog may be the greatest buried treasure ever found in the United States, worth more than $10 million, a currency firm representing the pair said on Tuesday.  More here:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/26/us-usa-california-coins-idUSBREA1P03M20140226

Michael Grab has mastered the art of stone balancing. He explains how he does it. “The most fundamental element of balancing in a physical sense is finding some kind of “tripod” for the rock to stand on.  More here:

http://www.lifebuzz.com/rocks/?utm_source=iajsiaspal0019&utm_medium=banner&utm_campaign=rocks-h1-2-25

On Oct. 30, 1964, a policeman dusts for fingerprints on case broken into

 by a cat burglar who made off with some $200,000 in jewels from 

the Museum of Natural History. (© Bettmann/CORBIS)

How Three Amateur Jewel Thieves Made Off With New York’s Most Precious GemsThe fascinating story of the hunt for Murf the Surf, a criminal who wasn’t quite the mastermind he made himself out to be   Read more: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/how-three-amateur-jewel-thieves-made-new-yorks-most-precious-gems-180949885/#ixzz2uRaJYEmV 

'Gemstone' rush brings life to a halt in Madhya Pradesh's Mandla

We don't know what they are but we want some...