Off to O'Briens Creek Today

[Taz]

Northern Gem Show run finished for another year, and what a great year it was.  Great job club members, it's always great to catch up with everyone.  Anyway, my Daughter Tress and I are on the way to O'Briens Creek this morning for the first time so if you see a red Surf and blue Patrol towing trailers say hello.

[Wwoofa]

Good luck Taz & Tress .... Have a great time
Regards, Paul

[Jimnyjerry]

Have fun Taz.     
I was there in June 

[MakkyBrown]

Hope you find lots Taz 
Jj, did you find many? How was the camp ground, I was hearing over at Gemtree from other campers they'd put the prices up yet again.

Cheers
Andrew

[Jimnyjerry]

Hi MackkyBrown price went up by a $1 , I think. Need to locate my trip notes.
 
As to topaz look half way down the following page http://aussielapidaryforum.com/forum/index.php?topic=4791.15
 
 

[Rusted]

I just finished a couple of O'Briens Creek Topaz today, just colourless ones but they came out really nice. Still looking at the couple of blues I got, working up courage to do them, they are quite largish and will probably require an oval cut to get the best out of them but I don't really like doing ovals, too many angle and index changes.

Paul

[Wwoofa]

Hi Paul,
I guess you already know this but I believe the best way to get the most color is to figure out where the "blue" is in the stone and make sure that ends up at the culet.  The color is often only in a part of the stone eg. a band running thru the stone.
Regards, Paul

[MakkyBrown]

Hi Paul,
I guess you already know this but I believe the best way to get the most color is to figure out where the "blue" is in the stone and make sure that ends up at the culet.  The color is often only in a part of the stone eg. a band running thru the stone.
Regards, Paul

I think I need to pay more attention to this, I just did a good sized killicrankie topaz and I get more blue side on. When the blue is subtle it's hard to pickup in the water warn rough.
Cheers
Andrew

[MALACHI]

Hi Andrew. I'm not sure if you know this as well, but the best thing to do with any potential cutable water worn gemstones is to polish a small window into the side of the stone, to reveal a better view of its internal condition and colour. Which will help with determining what you may choose to do next. 

Malachi