SKU: 53399741398

Stalactitic chalcedony geode piece (repaired)

Sale price$40.50 Regular price$45.00
Save 10%

Shipping Estimate
USA
  • USA
  • CAN

Ships within 48 hours · Estimated delivery Jul 10 - Jul 15

Promo Codes Available:

For Your Every Summer RSVP, with Code: SUMMER15

Description

Stalactitic chalcedony geode piece (repaired)Locale: Atlas Mountains, Morocco Approx dimensions: 3 x 2. 5 x 1. 5" Approx weight: 178g **Repaired specimen These unusual geodes from Morocco are like small caves lined with stalactites, botryoidal forms, and swirling agate patterns. While commonly called red chalcedony, I find the color is more orange to red orange. Hematite causes this coloration, but later phases of growth (second generation) dont contain hematite inclusions. This creates a

Locale: Atlas Mountains, Morocco

Approx dimensions: 3 x 2.5 x 1.5"

Approx weight: 178g

**Repaired specimen

 

These unusual geodes from Morocco are like small caves lined with stalactites, botryoidal forms, and swirling agate patterns. While commonly called red chalcedony, I find the color is more orange to red-orange. Hematite causes this coloration, but later phases of growth (“second generation”) don’t contain hematite inclusions. This creates a colorless-to-white growth over the orange chalcedony, which can produce a soft orange-cream druzy coating, or bold Halloween patterns of orange and white stripey stalactites.

This piece of a geode has fat, rounded stalactites with sugary fibrous parallel-growth quartz coating the surface. Spheres of white quartz sprinkle the surface, and there is a large amorphous blob of white radial-growth quartz in the upper right corner. Since chalcedony and quartz are closely related you often see them grow together. They have the same chemical composition (silica) but different crystal structure (cryptocrystalline vs. crystalline).

Where stalactites have broken you can see a pinpoint of a dark, metallic, mineral at the core, surrounded by orange chalcedony, then translucent white chalcedony. The broken ends of stalactites reveal a curiosity: some are hollow, apparently dissolved away. Another is tipped with metallic radial growth.

This specimen has been inexpertly repaired from at least three pieces. The pieces were not reset evenly so cracks may be offset or have wide gaps in places. Dirt was used to "hide" visible glue in the crack near the center of the specimen (you can see the impressions where bubbles have burst from the glue in picture 8). 

 

Repaired: This specimen has been repaired, meaning it broke but someone recompiled and glued it back together. These Moroccan geodes are frequently recompiled and glued together—but this is infrequently disclosed :( Read more about how to detect repairs.

I don't know how often breaks occur due to rough techniques in mining or cracking the geodes open, but I suspect many of the breaks are natural based on how few intact pieces I have ever seen. I have observed many of these geodes have a fairly thin, brittle crust which may make them susceptible to fracturing as part of normal geological processes. I have also seen examples where it appeared iron staining had leaked through the breaks, indicating the cracks occurred well before the specimen was mined.

Shipping Notes
  • Free Standard Shipping on $100+ Orders to the USA.
  • Except Preorder products are shipped in 48 hours.
  • Delivery to the USA:
  1. Standard Shipping : 3-10 business days
  • If time is of the essence, please consider selecting expedited delivery for faster service.
Exchange/Return Notes
  • We offer a 30-day return/exchange service after receiving.
  • Final sale items are not eligible for returns or exchanges.
  • To process your return/exchange, please contact us at [email protected]
  • Please click here for more details>>> Return & Exchange Policy
SKU: 53399741398

Discover Niche Categories That Outsell

Top-Converting Item to Boost Your Average Order

4.6 ★★★★★
Based on 1852 reviews
Sort
Highest Rating
Newest First
Oldest First
Product Reviews
R
Verified Purchase
Raquel Wilbon
San Leandro, US
★★★★★ 2
Imagery and diction
Format: Paperback
This book was very challenging to read because everything was written in quotations however, it was intriguing as a different way of writing poetry.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on August 11, 2020
A
Verified Purchase
amber a
Alexandria, US
★★★★★ 5
I tend to leave most books in this genre disappointed. I miss the classics
Format: Hardcover
I bought this book after hearing Stacey Lee speak about narrative tension at a lecture for YA writers - the talk was specifically entitled, "How to keep them up all night." The lecture (alongside Anna Shinoda) bit off a rather large amount of material. Neither woman mentioned vampires. The methods they discussed were smart, creative, and delivered with just enough humor to leave me wondering whether I'd be able to put their debut novels down. I devoured GONE WITH THE WIND at least six times cover to cover between my sophomore and senior year. While I am more susceptible to the Historical Fiction page turner than the average girl, I tend to leave most books in this genre disappointed. I miss the classics. I opened this book determined to not judge it by its gorgeous pastel cover. I started slowly. I enjoyed the first four or five chapters - leaving each fully appreciative of Lee's craft. I particularly enjoyed her ability to pepper humor though tragedy. I often complain about writers who miss the mark here. Stacey Lee nailed that important believable balance for me. I liked her characters quickly. I left each chapter satisfied, but thoroughly able to get up and go on with my life. Like a jaded Thumper in Walt Disney's BAMBI, this book was more than nice, but I wasn't susceptible to any kind of teen-aged Twitterpation over it. After the sixth or seventh chapter - four or five days after I first picked it up, I quietly closed my copy, placed it on my nightstand, switched off my lamp, fluffed my pillow and turned over. I turned over again. I flipped on the light - OK, just one more chapter... I zombie sleepwalked to work the next day. That night I retired early, making some completely convincing excuse about being exhausted. I was certainly too tired to read. Flash forward to 6AM when I woke up with this novel on my face. I turned it's last page this afternoon, fully satisfied. I am truly sad it's over. This book transported me. It's one I'll want to have in my collection forever, alongside the beautiful books that mattered to me as a teen; JANE EYRE, TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, UNDER A PAINTED SKY. Classic in feel, subject matter, and voice - but modern in approach, I'd be as comfortable recommending it to my book club as I would handing it to any teen. Readers of all ages and walks of life will surely find something that resonates with their own stories too. As for me, I am sure I'll be back on the trail with these girls-- I mean boys, before long. Now I'm off to try my hand at Anna Shinoda's LEARNING NOT TO DROWN. Well, maybe tomorrow. I need a good night's sleep and it's clear these authors know how to keep those pages turning.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on August 24, 2015
R
Verified Purchase
Ruth Franklin
Natrona Heights, US
★★★★★ 4
Good, Fun, Important Topics
Format: Paperback
Good, solid, read for ages 12+. Somewhat unrealistic and yet believable story of two strong young female characters traveling west disguised as boys. Couldn't stop reading it until I was finished with the book, and now my granddaughter is doing the same. This book has many relevant themes about race, gender, class, religion, and other stereotypes and is an excellent choice for a classroom or family read aloud. Get it.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on February 26, 2017
K
Verified Purchase
K. Hamil
Massapequa, US
★★★★★ 5
Wonderful story, great for book club though written by a young adult author.
Format: Kindle
Such a “cliffhanger” for me, a just could not put it down. I read this Wild West historical novel three times, that is how good it was. Such great fun for me, while got the ladies in our book club talking about growing up, being brave.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on November 18, 2024
M
Verified Purchase
Mainer
Charlottesville, US
★★★★★ 5
My pick for Best YA from 2015
Format: Kindle
I don't usually like Westerns, but this historical novel reads like a racially diverse Little House on the Prairie. There's a touch of romance, but the most important relationship is the friendship between these two resourceful girls. The writing is superb with well developed characters, a fast pace and a fine sense of place and period (1849). Despite dealing with tough issues like murder, slavery and racism, it still manages to be a feel good story, appropriate for tweens as well as teens. The girl protagonists are 15 and 16 and the boys are a bit older. This debut tops my list of best YA from 2015 that I've read to date: http://blog.sarahlaurence.com/2015/12/best-ya-books-of-2015.html
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on December 18, 2015

recommand products