“A thing of beauty is a joy for ever,
Its loveliness increases; it will never
Pass into nothingness, but still will keep
A bower quiet for us, and a sleep
Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing.”
John Keats
These are additional photographs of my work, or pieces of Blue Lace Agate, or other special blue chalcedony, owned, lent, or sent to me by friends:
Here, in the Contortionist, one can see all the different levels of layers of chalcedony that have been laid down.
Another view of the Contortionist. This is the side I polished to show all the directions in which the silica rich fluid has flowed.
An older piece showing what I call the “flame-like” shape. It also has a semi-etched side showing residual calcite, with another thin layer of blue chalcedony on top.
Here are my three “flame-like” pieces. Possibly this was a characteristic of the formation of the chalcedony at that particular level or area of the mine.
These old and discoloured pieces probably came from the original surface layers of the deposit and have been worn smooth by weathering.
Two exceptional specimens of chalcedony after fluorite, with fine additional layers of pink and white chalcedony on top. Gift from MC
‘Big Blue’, chalcedony from somewhere in Namibia (not Ysterputs), oblate spheroid 43 × 40 × 26 mm, 336 carats – designed and cut by Duncan Miller
Two older pieces of chalcedony, naturally etched of any calcite, showing a very fine sphere-like formation in places.
A particularly fascinating specimen from the 1980’s showing blue chalcedony after fluorite, as well as a strange worm-like overgrowth of white chalcedony.
Another old 1980’s piece showing a white chalcedony “worm” with unbroken point, on blue lace. This is not fluorescent.
An old specimen from Maurice, now owned by Duncan. This shows a growth of fine pointed yellow calcite on druzy quartz on blue chalcedony
An older piece showing multiple layers of chalcedony, with drusy quartz and overlaid by siderite and dog tooth calcite. Width of view 12cm. Gift from S&M R.
New in 2018. Good enough to eat. Large blades of white calcite, tipped with brown, and sprinkled with small quartz crystals
More whirls and swirls of chalcedony, coloured by different shades of brown, and covered with a fine sparkles.
This is a specimen I once saw but sadly never acquired. Rows of white chalcedony worms lying on a thick layer of Blue Lace.
Blue chalcedony and quartz found at Pypklip West near Kakamas, S. Africa. This was primarily a small fluorite deposit.
An extremely unusual specimen from Ysterputs of three thin layers of blue chalcedony on green calcite. FOV 100mm
Blades of green calcite overgrown with blue botryoidal chalcedony and tipped with dolomite, on blue lace agate, on green calcite..