#Omigod II
Ben – after viewing the GIF, I had to use a 2-ton floor jack, a
come-along and 3 qts of superglue to get my tongue back in my mouth
and keep it there. that is one awesome dude you got there! From my
visit to Tucson, I would estimate that is is worth over 7,500 $US. As
you and I well know, worth is a subjective thing, for you and Anne,
it is probably priceless.
On lighting it, I suggest that you use a floodlamp of less than 150
watts, set about 1 foot below the crystal, with adequate venting to
dissipate heat out the sides of the stand. One unfortunate feature
of quartz is poor strength along the c-axis if unevenly heated, with
*possible* (not probable) fracturing.
A possible alternative to the wood/plexiglas stand, or the
wrought-iron, would be having a marble or granite base crafted by a
monument (headstone) company. The base could be hollowed for the
lamp etc. Just a thought. If it was in our house, it would probably
just set on the rug.
If you plan another collecting trip to that site, I *really, really*
would be interested in joining you, just to help load another one in
your rig dontcha know. Wink, wink, nudge, nudge. know what I mean.
Butt is just a loonngg day's drive for us.
Sounds like you are having fantastic success in your collecting
endeavours. Congratulations! Amigo.
Last summer, Jan and I (and three testosterone laden teenagers)
traveled to Moab, UT, through western MT, and Wyoming. We stopped
near Kemmerer, WY to quarry fossil fish and came back with about 300
lbs of slabs. Most are the common Knightia that one sees for sale in
rock shops and shows, but we did get a nice display of gar scales (no
gar darn it), and a palm frond. I am preparing some of the fish
now. Would you be interested in one? (John,if you're reading this,
the offer's good for you too). I traded one for a bobcat skull
recently.
I am nearing completion of a 10 by 16 studio for all our geological
stuff, but as fate would have it, it must become a bedroom for Lars
for two years or so. All the kids have moved back here, so we are
overflowing available space. The studio looks out over our 13 by 15
foot Koi pond, with one Koi now about 4 lbs and 20 inches long.