Post subject: Re: Help with identifying these scarab stones please
Posted: Thu Jan 02, 2020 10:36 pm
Site Admin
Joined: Sun Oct 16, 2005 12:22 pm Posts: 21602 Location: San Francisco
It is impossible to positively identify from your photos. Could be lots of things. There appears to be some banding on the sides of the carvings reminiscent of banded calcite or travertine, aka Mexican onyx.
Post subject: Re: Help with identifying these scarab stones please
Posted: Fri Jan 03, 2020 7:59 pm
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Joined: Wed Jul 25, 2018 12:06 am Posts: 2
Hi Stephen & Barbara, thanks for your responses:) I don't think Mexican, set in high grade silver but no marks at all, I've never come across a piece of Mexican jewelry that was completely unmarked. Although I know most people who know gemstones (and I am clearly not one of them) hold Presidium gem testers in low regard when I test the scarab stones with the one I own they register in the 7 range, the stones you mention, banded calcite or travertine, according to what I found online, test in the 3-4 range. The only other characteristics I can identify are stones are granular & have a waxy appearance, at least to my eye. So another mystery Thanks again, Nancy
Post subject: Re: Help with identifying these scarab stones please
Posted: Sat Jan 04, 2020 11:33 pm
Site Admin
Joined: Sun Oct 16, 2005 12:22 pm Posts: 21602 Location: San Francisco
we are not suggesting the piece is from Mexico, but that this variety of calcite is often referred to by the misnomer Mexican onyx. It is found world-wide.
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