[Jewelry making - Article 00510] - Re: [Orchid] Drusy (Drusy stones)

[Pam Chott]

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Hi Joe,

>        Would someone please enlighten this ignoramus (me) what
>     drusy is and what drusy stones are? . . . . I always thought
>     drusy was tiny crystal coatings on a host matrix. 

    You're right about this.  What we are referring to as a drusy
    "stone" is a section of drusy on its matrix -- the base and sides
    of the matrix have been shaped and polished somewhat as a
    cabochon except that the surface druse is left intact. 

>    How can they be dyed?

    I believe that some druses on agate or chalcedony may have been
    dyed in the usual manner, taking care not to damage the crystal
    surface.  Most of the man-made "colors" I have seen were druses
    coated with a titanium (?) film which imparts an aurora or
    iridescent look to the surface.  There may be several metals used
    to fume the surface -- gold is another, I believe. Additionally,
    some dealers have offered jet black pieces with the crystal
    surface electroplated with high carat gold (22K ?) 

    There are some beautiful natural colors such as druzy
    chrysocolla (matrix showing color of chrysocolla through its
    druzy quartz coating) 

Pam Chott
jrchott AT primenet.com
www.silverhawk.com/ex99/chott





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