Diamond help

[therobertsmith]

So we have a few stones in question. The one I am posting I have done everything I could research on about testing them. I just tried a grease test with a board coated in axle grease and a handful of quartz and other items. I set it at an angle and used a hose to let water stream down. All the stones rolled down except for one. Under a 10x mag it looks really nice and all edges are smooth and not rough. When doing a water test it wicks water away like it is coated with rainx. I am trying to figure it out before going to a geologist. The weight was .8 grams. Fingers crossed. Also, if this would be real do diamonds tend to be in pockets or close together? I just can't imagine this would be the lone stone.

RS

 

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[Jim in Idaho]

Does the value of a diamond stay the same no matter where they are found? I know Africa is diamond rich but NC diamonds are supposed to be rare. Just curious if the location affects the value.

No.....some of the most valuable come from Australia. It's all about size, color, and clarity.
Jim

 

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[therobertsmith]

So, I got to looking at raw diamonds last night. A majority of the ones I looked at looked as if they are pitted and not smooth. They have nice shapes but the surfaces sure aren't smooth.
I also played some with the tester and it seemed the cooler the stone the tester would peg quicker. I tried several options from cooling them to just keeping them in my pocket. Most came back checking good.
I may just take them and pay to have them looked at. Hopefully it doesn't break the bank. The wife already is mad because I have crap all over her kitchen. Way to hot to work outside or in the garage.

 

[Jim in Idaho]

The Specific Gravity test is important. If they pass that, showing 3.5-3.55, than hardness is next. Hold one up against an aluminum oxide grinding wheel. If it cuts the wheel, it's probably diamond. The wheel shouldn't cut the stone. Those are two good tests. After that, if they pas both tests, you can spend a few bucks and have them professionally tested.
Jim

 

[therobertsmith]

I have tried the specific gravity test and man I tell you as simple as it seems I screw it up. I have googled and YouTube the directions.
If I have a 4 carat stone dry when I weigh it in the water does the water have to be weighted at 4ct in volume? I take my scale and weigh the stone in carat then I put my container on and zero it out and I add 4 carat of water by volume. I then suspend the stone in the middle of the water and get my specific gravity weight and then do the math.
I took the dremel and tried to cut it. It sparked like crazy and ate up the blade. The only thing it did was smooth it a little. Not sure what is going on. All I know is I was covered in dremel dust.

 

[Jim in Idaho]

The volume of water doesn't mean anything. You put the water on the scale and zero the scale with the water on it. Then you suspend the stone in the water. The reading of the scale will be the volume of water displaced by the stone. You should weigh the stone dry in grams. If you weigh the water displaced in grams, you just divide the dry weight by the weight of the displaced water and you will have the specific gravity. So, if the stone weighs 18 grams dry, and the displaced water weighs 5 grams, the SG would be 18 divided by 5 or 3.6. Or, you can weigh the stone dry in ounces, and the displaced water in ounces...they just have to be weighed in the same units.
Jim

 

[therobertsmith]

Well I tried a few last night and got variable results. I need a better scale. My issue was with the small stones. They would not read the water weight. I tried various settings but five stones all read zero. Maybe I am over analyzing it but should you not have the same same weight of water to dry weight of stone. I know water volume doesn't matter but if I take a 10 gram stone and put it in a measuring cup that holds 4 cups the water displacement would be so slight wouldn't it? I just cant see how I come up with zeroes.

 

[stdenis_jd]

You're zeroing the scale WITH the water in it, THEN putting the stones in, and getting all zeroes? If that's the case, you need to use a much smaller/more sensitive measurement like carats or MGs

 

[therobertsmith]

I am putting the water in and zeroing it then I place the stone in suspended with a alligator clamp thingy for soldering. I tried it in carats and a few other settings and still zeroes. I think the scale maybe junk.

 

[stdenis_jd]

sounds like you're doing it right...scale must be bad like you said.
Quick Test Method for Determining Specific Gravity of Mineral Specimens
this link looks like the exact thing you are doing, so if it isn't working you'll need a different scale unfortunately

 

[therobertsmith]

It finally started working for me. Tested a few out. Mostly citrine, onyx, quartz, and another gem. The scale is really cheap and it had to tare out a lot for me to get it right and then I had to be quick about getting the stones in.

 

[therobertsmith]

I also read that if a stone weighs in at 1 gram that it is the same sg of water since water is 1. This is why I guess I came up with zeroes on a few. I tried all the settings from gram, oz, ct, and the rest and they still came up zero.
I tell ya I stayed up running numbers and weights until 2am. Found some interesting stuff for sure.

 

[therobertsmith]

One more I found. This thing is almost squared on one side and pyramid shape on the other. SG is around 3.5ish the diamond tester pings quickly to diamond all bars if you put it on a polished section. I wonder if it is a false positive for white sapphire, or another gem if not diamond. This is the first one I have found that is this shape and follows the rules.

 

[Eu_citzen]

That last one does absolutely not follow the rules, diamonds usually don't get such a worn surface.
Diamonds, even rough ones, tend to be shinier.

 

[Hitndahed]

I have handled a couple rough diamonds and they all had a "greasy" feel to them. Also water will not stick to them.
Least what I have seen and noticed.

Just my .01
Hit

 

[slikriktn1]

Here is a story on North Carolina diamonds
https://naturalsciencesresearch.wordpress.com/2014/12/04/ten-new-north-carolina-diamonds/

 

[therobertsmith]

It definitely has some wear to it. I read that article and most seemed to be found in the Charlotte area not far from me. I am reading old geological reports and locations of minerals. If anything it is good exercise and some knowledge of the surrounding counties.
Thanks for the responses.

 

[Nappy701]

Rough diamond? It does test on a diamond tester I know it looks like quartz

 

[Mackaydon]

I believe GIA authenticate stones.
If so, why not just send the stone to them (insured) and let them tell you if it's real or not; and its grade, if a diamond.
Don......

 

[Backwoodsbob]

How high does it read? Dia. Normally have a unique shape

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[Backwoodsbob]

Can you see light thru. It

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