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| This huge spodumene was on sale across from the Rocks & Relics booth in which I worked at the TGMS event last week and eventually sold. It comes from Afghanistan, but I wonder if it has been artificially made to be "tri-color" as it's appearance looks fake to me. *UPDATE 4/22/16: Today I spoke with Justin Zzyzx at the Paso Robles Rockhound Roundup Gem, Mineral, & Jewelry about this blog post and this stone. At the time I posted it three years ago he criticized me about it on social media vehemently defending the stones' color as natural and its sellers as above reproach. Over the course of our discussion about this today, I realized that although my paranoia about color manipulation in stones is generally justified, in this particular case it was not. True, the stone was irradiated giving it that beautiful but surreal coloration, but that irradiation occurred naturally in the ground as occurs with other stones such as smokey quartz. I do hereby rescind my skepticism and beg the original sellers' pardon. However, I am leaving the original part of this post for future reference so others may see how this matter unfolded and was resolved. Photo by Kim Patrick Noyes (all rights reserved). |
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The owner of the firm which sold the specimen discussed above sent me a message on 2/25/15 to which I only just tonight responded. Both his original message and my response tonight can be found below:
ReplyDeleteDear Aisha,
I beg your pardon for not getting back to you sooner. I have been immersed in university classes and incredibly busy the past few years.
I'm sorry you took umbrage at my blog post three years ago although I did not name you nor did I name your business.
I did not block your posting a comment on my blog as all comments; even critical ones are always welcome.
I did not ask you about the specimen at the show at that time because I hate listening to people lie to me and give me the runaround and that is what I thought I might get had I talked to you directly.
In hindsight I realize I should have simply talked to you regardless of how I felt it would turn out. As it turns out I am familiar with fine minerals and even used to sell them but not on your level.
However, the specimen in question was so odd and unusual (albeit beautiful) that my mind red-flagged it and I did not trust it to be wholly natural.
This past day I met your friend Justin Zzyzx (who for the record, did spiritedly defend you on social media at the time, criticizing my blog post). We had a cordial and insightful (to me) conversation about the whole matter and he explained the matter to me in sufficient depth that I now recognize your specimen was all-natural and that, in an ironic twist, you are a recognized and respected figure in regards to identifying and outing fake and altered stones.
Therefore, I both beg your pardon and have since posted an update to the blog post leaving the original part for posterity but now including a thorough and lengthy retraction and clarification.
Now people can trace the arc of the evolution and resolution of the matter. Review here:
Perhaps I shall see you at Tucson and until then I wish you well in your endeavors.
Kim Patrick Noyes
Paso Robles, CA
Member:
Santa Lucia Rockhounds
San Luis Obispo Gem & Mineral Club
Orcutt Mineral Society.
On Wed, Feb 25, 2015 at 11:44 AM, Aisha Jan wrote:
Mr Noyes,
NO, the TRI-Color Spodumene in your post of 2013 has not been altered nor is it a fake. Apparently you have no experience with fine minerals Had you asked us, we would have been happy to enlighten you.
It is unfair of you to attempt to discredit our company which is highly respected and trusted by museums & collectors of fine minerals from around the world.
It is advised that you either retract your statement which is only fair because it is based on no proof and only on your observations from a booth across from ours at the TGMS 2013 show or you allow us to be able to post our response on the same site where you have posted this false information. ( We have tried to post our response but have been unable to do so, yet your incorrect post still comes up when tri-colored Spodumene is searched on the Internet.)
Furthermore for your information, Pakistan does not produce Spodumene.
Our company specializes ONLY in 100% natural fine gem crystals & minerals from Pakistan, Afghanistan & Beyond.
Sincerely.
Aisha & Arif Jan.
Rocksaholics LLC
Texas. USA.