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I was wondering if anyone would want to share pictures of there display cases, not so much shadow boxes but anyone with larger display cases. I love old and nice ones so thought it would be cool to see some...ive got one i pulled out of a general store that opened in the 1930s and been working on it for awhile getting it cleaned up, also have a smaller one that i literally seen in a junk pile on the side of the road that ive been working on replacing rotten wood and for sum reason they lined the inside with wallpaper so been cleaning that up to.. i found the smaller one and amazingly the old glass didnt even have a crack in it..

Something just popped into my mind and I thought I'd ask everyone...has anyone ever taken a found ring to a jeweler and had them re-finish it and shine it up so that they could then sell it for significantly more than they would've gotten for it at melt? I was wondering if doing this would be (more) profitable...found ring is worth $x in melt value + $y to make it sparkle. Could the value of a nice shiny new ring be greater than $x+$y. I know things are only worth what someone would pay for it but maybe just maybe...

Hi All I’m in an area that’s got some pretty sandy ground and some of the coins especially the copper coins are pretty much unrecognisable and even the slivers are very badly stained with a blackish look to them. So I’m just wondering what seems to work the best to bring them back to life so they resemble what they should look like?, I don’t expect them to look fantastic due to how bad there condition is in now but it’d be great to at least be able to recognise what they are. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Cheers

Credit for this info goes to johndoe here. This is the app I use.. https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/coinflation-gold-silver/id535653219?mt=8 Here is there website.... http://www.coinflation.com The phone app has melt values for junk gold and silver.

Steve i don't know if this is the proper place for this ,but here goes . A friend wanted me to knapp an arrowhead for his grand daughter and mount one of the gold nuggets i found this winter into it so i got a piece of mexican velvet obsidian and one of my nuggets and made it up,just thought it was an interesting use for some of my gold.

Thanks to those who keyed me in to using CLR for removong rust from rocks/specimens. This rock wasn't found with my detector. Got it quite a few years ago from the Mactung tungstein exploration camp on the Yukon/North West Territories border near the portal. It's heft made me interested and thankfully the chief geo at site let me keep it. Years it sat in my collection, but once I got my GM1000 I tested the more interesting rocks in my collection. This rock detected constantly in the non ferrous and strong. It sure cleaned up well, and the blue dotted pic is the Scheelite fluoresceing under short wave UV light (Calcium Tungstate, CaWO4) Cheers! Bryce

Hey everyone, I have always wanted to get a metal detector and spend a couple hours every week walking around the fields and beaches to see what I find, so I have been finding this place to be a great source of information. Something I have been wondering lately is what kind of rocks/gems people will commonly find? And do you take what you do find and put it in a rock tumbler to see how it really looks. I am sure that some of you must use a tumbler as you would inevitably get something out of it after cleaning all your finds. To any of you that do use rock tumblers, what ones do you use? I remember having a really cheap one years ago that I would use on the gravel in front of our house and it did not last very long so I assume I need to spend more than $30 if I want a good one! I might not be getting one right away but I do find a lot of cool rocks around so it is something I have been considering. Thanks in advance for all the tips! I took a look at both Lortone and Harbor Freight and I found some great rock tumblers but being the frugal guy I am I went looking for some deals. I did find some used rock tumblers on http://www.used.forsale/rock-tumbler and found the same tumbler for a lot cheaper and it was barely used. I figured I would pull the trigger on this one, then if I end up using it a lot I could spend more money next time. Thanks for the suggestions guys, happy hunting :)

The Alaska Mint is a buyer of gold nuggets and specimens in Anchorage, Alaska. If you read the profile of their family business you may think about a local company that may buy your gold. http://www.anchoragepress.com/news/adp-profile-the-alaska-mint/article_3fee9336-e6b5-11e7-a10a-37fb59ea2d4f.html Mitchel

Decided to offload all my gold. I've never sold gold before and not sure if you just approach a gold buyer and sell it for whatever they're prepared to pay. Obviously, it will be less than the gold price and also less to account for impurities. Now I don't have any wopper nuggets to sell but just curious if my two 16gram bits would be worth more if I sold them privately, say on eBay or on a gold prospecting facebook page? If so how do price them?

Some nuggets are worth more than the gold content. http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-42081538 Would you take $200 for a 3 grammer? Mitchel

AAA Gold for Sale Gold from Alaska, Arizona and Australia! https://fineart.ha.com/c/ecatalog.zx?saleNo=5324&ic5=CatalogHome-AucType-PrintedCatalogViewer-071515 Just a note: I can't get this site to work on Chrome but it did work on Edge. Good luck.

I am down in the valley of AZ rite now for a family emergency what I need suggestions on is I have several 2.5 dollar gold pieces from the 1800s that I found while detecting a property I owned in Ohio I need to sell these gold coins so I can help my family out with this emergency can someone please tell me where to take these in AZ to sell them so I don't get ripped off as I do not know much about coins Thanks in advance for any and all suggestion

Read the full article by Dr. Tones at Treasure Talk Here is the accompanying video...

I am looking for some advice, brands, ideas, etc on some equipment for cleaning some of the stuff I find. I am looking for a decent large magnifying glass on a stand that will let me use both hands to see items close up while cleaning them. Preferably with it's own lighting. I am looking for what folks use for quality picks with extremely fine points. I know (never clean your coins) is the mantra, but I am putting together a type set of the coins I have dug, and also albums of Indian head and newer cents, and since most are relatively worthless, I just want to purge them of all dirt and clean them up as best as possible for in the albums. any info is appreciated. Thanks, Rod

Gold and mineral auction with lots of pretty nugs, could even be some from someone we know? I get catalogs from this auction company all the time and I thought this one would be of interest here, hope this link works its worth looking at; http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/24041/?utm_source=bonhams&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=STS_Gold_24041&utm_content=link3

That speci I posted the other day, I finally took it out of the acid and the good thing about the acid clean is the before photos were taken with a 150 power usb microscope and that`s the only reason you could see the gold. When you were holding that speci in your hand it was so hard to see the gold, but now that it`s cleaned you can see the gold no worries at all.. The SG says this piece has 2.254 grams gold. The after photos were taken with a unwanted camera a forum member gave me. Thanks very much Steve it`s a terrific camera. ◕‿◕ And goldEn, this is how your speci came out as well. Dave

Hi all Couple found with gpx5000. Couple grams of gold and came nice after the acid bath. GoldEN

Ok. I got the individual tables posted so with all this information you should be able to identify both the type and weight of any rock you might find in a jewelry item. I got all this information from a gentleman who went by the name, 'Pawnbroker _Bob' on Tom Dankowski's site. Its been a long time, several years, since Pawnbroker _Bob has posted and I haven't been able to get a hold of him for permission to repost on this forum so I am going to link his Forum post here, along with all the table posts I've made so you can find this stuff in one place when you need it. I'll just tell you that its pretty cool to id and calculate your own gem stones, and speak with a little bit of knowledge when you are showing them or trying to sell them. Start with Pawnbroker _Bobs post and then reflect on the tables. I would encourage you to save this info into your own personal libraries. http://www.dankowskidetectors.com/discussions/read.php?2,24105,24105#msg-24105 Genstone Weight Conversion Chart Gemstone Identification Gemstone Weight Calculation Formulas Gemstone and Other Compounds Specific Gravity List and lastly, some more of Pawnbroker _Bob's posts around selling gems. The thread is not long and he is the expert. http://www.dankowskidetectors.com/discussions/read.php?2,23695,23791#msg-23791 There you go. All I know on the subject I got from someone in the know. All in one place. HH Mike

Specific gravity list. Compound..............Avg sg. Copal...............1.06 Amber...............1.08 Bakelite............1.26 Jet.................1.30 -1.35 Tortoiseshell.......1.30 Erinoid.............1.33 Celluloid...........1.38 Vegetable Ivory.....1.40 Ivory...............1.80 Kurnakovite.........1.86 Gaylussite..........1.99 Ulexite.............1.95 Meerscham...........2.00 Bone................2.00 Fire Opal...........2.00 Opal................2.10 Chrysocolla.........2.20 Stichtite...........2.2 Silica Glass........2.21 Natrolite...........2.225 Sodalite............2.13 -2.29 Alabaster...........2.3 -2.33 Obsidian............2.3 -2.6 Apophyllite.........2.3 -2.5 Thomsonite..........2.35 Hambergite..........2.35 Petalite............2.39 Mouldavite..........2.35 Obsidian............2.35 Tugtupite...........2.37 -2.57 Hauynite............2.4 Cancrinite..........2.45 Colemanite..........2.42 Leucite.............2.47 Pseudophite.........2.55 Howlite.............2.53 -2.59 Veriscite...........2.55 Elaeolite...........2.55 -2.65 Amazonite...........2.56 -2.58 Orthoclase..........2.56 Moonstone...........2.57 Sanidine............2.57 Moss Agate..........2.58 -2.62 Chrysoprase.........2.58 -2.64 Iolite..............2.59 Bowenite............2.60 Agate...............2.60 -2.65 Chalcedony..........2.60 Vivianite...........2.65 Peristerite.........2.61 -2.63 Aventurine..(fsp)...2.62 -2.65 Scapolite..(pink)...2.63 Sunstone............2.64 Quartz..............2.65 Amethyst............2.63 -2.65 Prasiolite..........2.65 Citrine.............2.65 Synth. Emerald......2.65 Coral...............2.68 Aquamarine..........2.69 Beryl (yellow)......2.69 Labradorite.........2.69 Pseudophite.........2.70 Onyx................2.70 Augelite............2.70 Tiger eye...........2.64 -2.71 Emerald.............2.71 Labradorite.........2.70 Aquamarine..........2.67 -2.71 Scapolite...........2.70 Calcite.............2.71 Pearl (natural).....2.71 Pearl (cultured)....2.75 Talc................2.75 Turquoise...........2.80 Serpentine..........2.4 -2.8 Steatite............2.7 -2.8 Lapis Lazuli........2.80 Beryllonite.........2.82 Jasper..............2.58 -2.91 Conch Pearl.........2.85 Prehnite............2.87 Verdite.............2.90 Pollucite...........2.92 Argonite............2.94 Dolomite............2.85 -2.95 Anhydrite...........2.90 -2.99 Datolite............2.95 Phenakite...........2.96 Nephrite............2.96 Brazilianite........2.99 Nephrite............2.90 -3.04 Danburite...........3.00 -3.07 Tremolite...........2.90 -3.1 Magnesite...........3.00 -3.12 Andalusite..........3.12 -3.18 Amblygonite.........3.03 Tourmaline..........3.02 -3.26 Lazulite............3.09 Euclase.............3.10 Zoisite.............3.10 Andalusite..........3.15 Kunzite.............3.16 -3.2 Hiddenite...........3.16 -3.2 Carborundum.........3.17 Fluorite............3.18 Spodumene...........3.18 Apatite.............3.21 Fibrolite...........3.25 Smaragdite..........3.25 Sillimanite.........3.25 Enstatite...........3.27 Axinite.............3.28 Ekanite.............3.28 Tanzanite...........3.28 -3.35 Diopside............3.29 Dioptase............3.30 Kornerupine.........3.32 Jadeite.............3.34 Peridot.............3.34 Purpurite...........3.35 Zoisite (blue)......3.34 Idocrase............3.38 Rhodizite...........3.40 Epidote.............3.45 Dumortierite........3.26 -3.41 Sinhalite...........3.48 Hypersthene.........3.45 Hemimorphite........3.45 Grossular (massive).3.50 Diamond.............3.52 Sphene..............3.53 Topaz (yellow)......3.53 Topaz (white).......3.56 Periclase (synth)...3.59 Gahnite.............3.58 -3.98 Rhodonite...........3.60 Rhodochrosite.......3.60 Spinel..............3.60 Grossular...........3.64 Benitoite...........3.67 Taaffeite...........3.61 Spinel (synth)......3.63 Hessonite...........3.65 Barytocalcite.......3.66 Benitoite...........3.67 Kyanite.............3.68 Staurolite..........3.70 Azurite.............3.80 Pyrope..............3.70 Chrysoberyl.........3.71 Alexandrite.........3.70 -3.73 Staurolite..........3.75 Uvarovite...........3.77 Malachite...........3.80 Pleonaste...........3.80 Demantoid...........3.82 -3.85 Chalybite...........3.85 Periclass...........3.80 Anatase.............3.88 Gahnospinel.........3.97 Celestite...........3.97 -4.00 Corundum............3.96 -4.01 Sapphire............3.99 -4.00 Ruby................3.97 -4.08 Painite.............4.01 Willemite...........4.03 Sphalerite (blend)..4.09 Glass...............3.15 -4.20 Zircon (green)......4.50 Almandine...........4.97 Spessartine.........4.16 Chalcopyrite........4.20 Rutile (synth)......4.25 Witherite...........4.27 -4.35 Smithsonite.........4.35 Barite..............4.50 YAG.................4.60 Zircon (blue,white).4.69 Chromite............4.1 -4.9 Pyrite..............5.10 Hematite............5.05 Strontium Titanate..5.13 Proustite...........5.57 -5.64 Cubic Zirconia......5.6-5.9 Zincite.............5.66 Crocoite............5.90 -6.1

Hereunder the standard formula Round faceted stones: Diameter squared x depth x S.G. x .0018 = ct Oval faceted stones: Length x width x depth x S.G. x .0020 = ct Emerald cut faceted stones: Length x width x depth x S.G. x .0025 = ct Rectangular faceted stones: Length x width x depth x S.G. x .0026 = ct Square cut faceted stones: Length x width x depth x S.G. x .0023 = ct Marquise cut stones, (navette): Length x width x depth x S.G. x .0016 = ct Pear cut stones: Length x width x depth x S.G. x .0018 = ct Square cushions: Diameter squared x depth x S.G. x .0018 = ct Rectangular Cushions: Diameter squared x depth x S.G. x .0022 = ct Square step cut stones: Diameter squared x depth x S.G. x .0023 = ct Rectangular step cut stones: Length x width x depth x S.G. x .0025 = ct Cabochon cut stones: Length x width x depth x S.G. x .0027 = ct Average corner meas & belly meas for cushions, L&W for rectangles, etc..

Hi all, This info was shared with me by Pawnbroker_Bob from the Tom Dankowski site in PM's back in 2012. Gemstone Characteristics Table We have compiled a listing of the scientific characteristics of many different gemstones. This is a chart that displays at a glance the important information about each classification of gemstone and it's members. Enjoy! Gemstones This is a fairly comprehensive listing of gemstones with their specific gravity, Mohs hardness, index of refraction and gemstone family classification in alphabetical order. We color coded them to help differentiate between them (these are approximations and subject to error). Specific Gravity: Specific gravity is the number of times heavier a gemstone of any volume is than an equal volume of water; in other words, it is the ratio of the density of the gemstone to the density of water. For all gemstones listed in this table there is a scientifically determined specific gravity. You can use the specific gravity and a couple simple measurements to estimate the carat weight of a stone. Mohs Hardness: Hardness can be tested through scratching. A mineral can only be scratched by a harder substance. Therefore, a relative scale can be established to account for the differences in hardness simply by seeing which mineral scratches another. That is exactly what French mineralogist Friedrich Mohs proposed almost one hundred and seventy years ago. The Mohs Hardness Scale starting with talc at 1 being the softest and ending with diamond at 10 hardest, is universally used around the world as a way of distinguishing minerals. Simply put - the higher the number, the harder the mineral. Index of Refraction: All materials refract light, ie alter its angle. The amount by which light is refracted is an important feature of every gemstone. The measure of a material's refractivity is known as its index of refracton (R.I.). Without going too deeply into physics, light travels at different speeds through different media. When light passes from one medium to another, its path is altered (bent) and it is said to be diffracted. Gemstone Family Classification: The gemstones listed here show every color in the rainbow. Even with such variety of colors, patterns and shapes - they can be broken down into 16 different families based on their chemical composition.

If you are going to hunt jewelry you need to know how to size your stones. Gemstones Weight Conversion charts All Weights Are Approximate 1 MM = .03937 inch

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/1Location-GPS-coordinates-29-GOLD-NUGGETS-fossicking-Georgetown-QLD-Minelab-RFDS-/222335915222?hash=item33c440d4d6:g:VTwAAOSwMVdYIwYS Enterprising fellow, wonder how many times he`ll sell the coords.

Something that have noticed and has bothered me is how the resale price of the currently available ML PI's generally sits around the 70 - 80% of there retail price. The White's PI's that I have recently seen sold on another forum are selling for 40 - 46% of the current retail price. The question is does this represent a great secondhand deal on the White's PI's or an expensive retail price in relation to the value they retain. Something to consider is an unfavorable Aussie Dollar for the White's machines has driven prices up. I love my GMT and will eventually get a PI and resale is something i always look at. TDI Pro Oz $3300 AUD @ 45% is $1485 or a GPX4500 $3750 AUD@ 75% $2812.50. I would assume the ATX would be somewhere around the White's resale. Why don't they retain value?

This is from the real experts in the UK for cleaning items hundreds or even thousands of years old. http://www.colchestertreasurehunting.co.uk/C/cleaning.htm plus previous thread on cleaning silver....