Paydirt.co.nz

New Zealand Gold Prospecting & Metal Detecting Forums Archive

 

The forum has moved to community.paydirt.co.nz, see you there!

This forum is now an archive to preserve the knowledge and finds posted here.

New Zealand gems - "Ruby Rock"
1864hatter  
Posted : Monday, 28 March 2016 10:24:10 AM(UTC)
1864hatter

Rank: Gold Ingot

Groups: Registered
Joined: 4/08/2010(UTC)
Posts: 1,007
Man
New Zealand
Location: Auckland....

Thanks: 49 times
Was thanked: 566 time(s) in 269 post(s)
Gidday chaps, Here are some photos of something truly special- New Zealand's' very own gemstone / rock. Its known as goodletite by the Geologists and Ruby Rock by most other folk. It is comprised of ruby, sapphire, a green mica along with minor tourmaline and chromite. Goodletite is found only in New Zealand in a small area near Hokitika. The photos are of what are known as doublets made from a thin slice of ruby rock with a glass cover glued on. The slices are thin to allow light to pass through the rock and reveal the colours of the minerals. The glass provides strength and allows you to see the stone better. Doublets are commonly also made from opal. And yes I do have some for sale if anyone is interested.
1864hatter attached the following image(s):
IMGA0985 - Copy.JPG
IMGA0986 - Copy.JPG
IMGA0988 - Copy.JPG
IMGA0991 - Copy.JPG
IMGA0992 - Copy.JPG
IMGA0993 - Copy.JPG
IMGA0994 - Copy.JPG
IMGA0995 - Copy.JPG
And now....On sandy beaches and muddy soil, rings and coins await my coil!
Back to top
Metal Kiwi  
Posted : Monday, 28 March 2016 10:42:44 AM(UTC)
Metal Kiwi

Rank: Gold Ingot

Groups: Registered
Joined: 19/06/2011(UTC)
Posts: 1,210
Man
Location: Auckland

Thanks: 498 times
Was thanked: 484 time(s) in 322 post(s)
Often wondered how they can cut the stone like this so thin. Is it just a circular blade?

MK
Back to top
WWW BLOG
1864hatter  
Posted : Monday, 28 March 2016 10:48:26 AM(UTC)
1864hatter

Rank: Gold Ingot

Groups: Registered
Joined: 4/08/2010(UTC)
Posts: 1,007
Man
New Zealand
Location: Auckland....

Thanks: 49 times
Was thanked: 566 time(s) in 269 post(s)
Yes it is, have to fix the stone firmly into a stone cutting saw and it has an auto feed that feeds it though at a slow rate. It has a blade less than 1mm thick. If you don't cut the slices thin enough you cant see the colour in the stone well. If need be we polish the slices thinner as required.
And now....On sandy beaches and muddy soil, rings and coins await my coil!
Back to top
Mudwiggle  
Posted : Monday, 28 March 2016 10:51:10 AM(UTC)
Mudwiggle

Rank: Gold Ingot

Groups: Registered, Moderators
Joined: 22/10/2013(UTC)
Posts: 742
New Zealand

Thanks: 182 times
Was thanked: 683 time(s) in 317 post(s)
Nice.
What's an indicative pricing on the larger pieces?
Back to top
Metal Kiwi  
Posted : Monday, 28 March 2016 10:57:06 AM(UTC)
Metal Kiwi

Rank: Gold Ingot

Groups: Registered
Joined: 19/06/2011(UTC)
Posts: 1,210
Man
Location: Auckland

Thanks: 498 times
Was thanked: 484 time(s) in 322 post(s)
Originally Posted by: 1864hatter Go to Quoted Post
Yes it is, have to fix the stone firmly into a stone cutting saw and it has an auto feed that feeds it though at a slow rate. It has a blade less than 1mm thick. If you don't cut the slices thin enough you cant see the colour in the stone well. If need be we polish the slices thinner as required.


Thanks for the insight.
Sounds like your right in to it. Hobby or profession?

MK
Back to top
WWW BLOG
1864hatter  
Posted : Monday, 28 March 2016 11:14:26 AM(UTC)
1864hatter

Rank: Gold Ingot

Groups: Registered
Joined: 4/08/2010(UTC)
Posts: 1,007
Man
New Zealand
Location: Auckland....

Thanks: 49 times
Was thanked: 566 time(s) in 269 post(s)
Originally Posted by: Metal Kiwi Go to Quoted Post
Originally Posted by: 1864hatter Go to Quoted Post
Yes it is, have to fix the stone firmly into a stone cutting saw and it has an auto feed that feeds it though at a slow rate. It has a blade less than 1mm thick. If you don't cut the slices thin enough you cant see the colour in the stone well. If need be we polish the slices thinner as required.


Thanks for the insight.
Sounds like your right in to it. Hobby or profession?

MK



I had noting to do with it until recently. Now I have got somewhat tangled up with it. Shall we say semi-professional?
And now....On sandy beaches and muddy soil, rings and coins await my coil!
Back to top
GoldPandemic  
Posted : Tuesday, 29 March 2016 1:01:26 PM(UTC)
GoldPandemic

Rank: Gold Ingot

Medals: Donation: Made a donation helping cover the running costs of the site - thank you :)

Groups: Registered
Joined: 27/10/2014(UTC)
Posts: 350
Man
New Zealand
Location: Auckland

Thanks: 266 times
Was thanked: 141 time(s) in 102 post(s)
Apparently the Boulder of Goodelite rolled down from somewhere in the Alps.
And there might be larger Rubies & Sapphires at the source.

Rubies and Sapphires are essentially the same compound Corundum aka Aluminium Oxide (who ever thought Aluminium would be so strong) the colour differences come from impurities.
On the Mohs scale of hardness they are 9 (diamond is 10)

Edited by user Tuesday, 29 March 2016 1:05:23 PM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Treasure/coins: $1
Other artifacts: 1888 button
Lead: 914g
Copper: 46
Back to top
1864hatter  
Posted : Tuesday, 12 April 2016 8:12:37 AM(UTC)
1864hatter

Rank: Gold Ingot

Groups: Registered
Joined: 4/08/2010(UTC)
Posts: 1,007
Man
New Zealand
Location: Auckland....

Thanks: 49 times
Was thanked: 566 time(s) in 269 post(s)
OK so I have quite a few of these doublets and also some sterling silver jewellery set with the stone. Does anyone have a clever idea as to where I could sell a steady stream of these? I already have some listed on trademe. Cheers in advance for your suggestions.
And now....On sandy beaches and muddy soil, rings and coins await my coil!
Back to top
Metal Kiwi  
Posted : Tuesday, 12 April 2016 8:46:39 AM(UTC)
Metal Kiwi

Rank: Gold Ingot

Groups: Registered
Joined: 19/06/2011(UTC)
Posts: 1,210
Man
Location: Auckland

Thanks: 498 times
Was thanked: 484 time(s) in 322 post(s)
Originally Posted by: 1864hatter Go to Quoted Post
OK so I have quite a few of these doublets and also some sterling silver jewellery set with the stone. Does anyone have a clever idea as to where I could sell a steady stream of these? I already have some listed on trademe. Cheers in advance for your suggestions.


Get a website.
Titirangi market
Your local jeweler
Queens wharf when a ships in


MK

Edited by user Tuesday, 12 April 2016 8:47:54 AM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified
Back to top
WWW BLOG
1864hatter  
Posted : Tuesday, 12 April 2016 12:48:41 PM(UTC)
1864hatter

Rank: Gold Ingot

Groups: Registered
Joined: 4/08/2010(UTC)
Posts: 1,007
Man
New Zealand
Location: Auckland....

Thanks: 49 times
Was thanked: 566 time(s) in 269 post(s)
Hmm yes the tourists might have some spare change to spend on unique nz stones
And now....On sandy beaches and muddy soil, rings and coins await my coil!
Back to top
Metal Kiwi  
Posted : Tuesday, 12 April 2016 4:40:43 PM(UTC)
Metal Kiwi

Rank: Gold Ingot

Groups: Registered
Joined: 19/06/2011(UTC)
Posts: 1,210
Man
Location: Auckland

Thanks: 498 times
Was thanked: 484 time(s) in 322 post(s)
Originally Posted by: 1864hatter Go to Quoted Post
Hmm yes the tourists might have some spare change to spend on unique nz stones


Do you have the TM link?

MK
Back to top
WWW BLOG
kiwikeith  
Posted : Tuesday, 12 April 2016 6:29:58 PM(UTC)
kiwikeith

Rank: Gold Ingot

Medals: Outstanding Contribution: Helped organise get together for Paydirt members and volunteered gold claim for the event (Oct 2013)

Groups: Registered
Joined: 28/06/2011(UTC)
Posts: 648
Location: hector

Thanks: 359 times
Was thanked: 230 time(s) in 154 post(s)
GOODLETITE
sometimes called treasure rock because of the rubies and tourmaline crystals found in it. it is not good lapidary rock because of the variable hardness of its composition , but its extreme rarity makes it a highly desired mineral specimen.
sapphires have been found with rubies in goodletite, the matrix of which is probably the chrome mica fuchsite. as yet it has not been found in situ, but is known from fragments in gold sluicings at rimu flat, also in the mountain country east of there and in the whitcombe pass area.
goodlite is so rare that it is not sold by any dealers, but is sometimes traded by fortunate owners. when found it is a dirty dull green rock studded with small dark knobs. a light tap with a hammer and use a lens may disclose the desired small rubies, which are not to be confused with garnets.

reference : mrs a. niethe
book : Australia and nz gemstones

this is the only reference I can find on this rock
Back to top
1864hatter  
Posted : Tuesday, 12 April 2016 10:20:01 PM(UTC)
1864hatter

Rank: Gold Ingot

Groups: Registered
Joined: 4/08/2010(UTC)
Posts: 1,007
Man
New Zealand
Location: Auckland....

Thanks: 49 times
Was thanked: 566 time(s) in 269 post(s)
There is a bit of info about if you do a Google search. Trade me listing http://www.trademe.co.nz...sting.aspx?id=1067280853
And now....On sandy beaches and muddy soil, rings and coins await my coil!
Back to top
GoldPandemic  
Posted : Sunday, 17 April 2016 8:52:05 PM(UTC)
GoldPandemic

Rank: Gold Ingot

Medals: Donation: Made a donation helping cover the running costs of the site - thank you :)

Groups: Registered
Joined: 27/10/2014(UTC)
Posts: 350
Man
New Zealand
Location: Auckland

Thanks: 266 times
Was thanked: 141 time(s) in 102 post(s)
It’s the only precious stone we have in New Zealand, but a strange and unique one, and exclusively found here. The gemological association in Great Britain has said it’s the most unique gemstone material they have ever seen. This Pallasite Meteorite is the only similar gem:
UserPostedImage
Perhaps it came from a meteor! That would be even more awesome.

The ruby rock available was believed to have come from a single boulder weighing about 18 kilograms that was discovered during goldmining at Back Creek, Rimu, just south of Hokitika, in 1891.

"The place the ruby boulder originally came from has still not been discovered, but is believed to be at least 30 kilometres below the Southern Alps," he said.
Treasure/coins: $1
Other artifacts: 1888 button
Lead: 914g
Copper: 46
Back to top