!SORTING EMERALDS!

1. DISPLAY SPECIMENS, Set aside any clusters, or very large crystals.
2. CARVING ROUGH, large pieces of solid material, some matrix is ok.
3. WORRY STONES, look for large chunks of matrix with emeralds, or opaque green pieces.
   These should be large enough to fit in the palm of the hand nicely,
   to massage the nerve ends in the hand.

   Next is housekeeping pick off any pieces of matrix, these go in the "terrarium" bag.

   look carefully to see if there is hidden emeralds.

   "TUMBLING ROUGH these are thumb size emeralds with matrix.

   Set aside any with signs of clarity.

   CRYSTALS, Nice shaped with good stucture, translucent to opaque, for

   Wire wrap, Healing, and smaller ones for Waitress Tips.

   "BEADS" set aside any that are shaped nicely for beads or pendants, translucent to opaque.

   they should have no fractures, or matrix, relatively equal in all three dimensions.

   Rio Grand reference price, retail =3mm/saucer beads/10 =$48.11", 4mm/2ea,=$24.06

   You should be down to smaller stuff. Do another housecleaning for anything that isn't emerald.

   Now comes the fun part. Don't stare into the light, look from an angle.

   What you are doing is training your mind to "see" the value.

   Set up three more bags. #1 facet(gold) #2facet and Cabochon (gold), #3 Cabochon (silver) The trick is to find one facet no matter how small for a reference, start a pile, and a second pile for #2 facet, then "twist a few with your fingers, work around the plate. put individual stones in the two piles or appropriate bags as they show themselves. Twist around the plate, for each bag, focusing for that parameter, After you think you've found every possible one, go around it again. When your totally satisfied you found everything of value, Put the rest in the terrarium bag.
   

   Or they can be drilled and strung as chips after tumbling. Rio Grand reference price, retail =$32.94/36" strand

   #1 FACET, what your looking for is transparancy only. Don't worry about size or color at this point..

   Rio Grand reference price, retail =3mm round,AAA grade $152.69 faceted,

   5mm round, AAA grade $833.63 faceted

   Anything larger than 5mm you are looking at $/carat and the sky is the limit.

   #2 FACET, If you had to look twice to make up your mind if it was transparant it goes here.

   Also excellent color even if its translucent.

   Rio Grand reference price, retail = 1.75mm/2 A grade $13.95,

   5mm round A grade =$318.15 ea. faceted, light to medium green

   Cabochons don't have to be as thick as faceted.

   Rio Grand reference price, retail = 2mm/3 round cabochon = $34.98

   3mm round cabochon = $33.19 ea.

   4mm round cabochon = $72.41 ea.

   7mm x 5mm oval cabochon = $344.27

   NOTE: Prices go up logarithmically in relation to size.

   #3 Cabochon, translucent, nice size. 3mm +

   TERRARIUM, All the chips that are left.

   Each bag now contains a saleable product as it sits!

   Facet grade rough goes for $4.00/carat up!
   To continue multiplying its value, sort each bag to final cutting use.
   Click on the heading links.