Here are a couple of pictures, the fruits and purpose of the trip that got the Crater Lake pictures below. In my opinion Oregon Sunstone is one of the most gorgeous gems around, especially in the lighter yellow and almost clear colors that give it’s nick-name of Oregon Diamond. Note that Oregon Diamond is actually a real diamond found closer to the gold mines in Cave Junction and Junction City. The green and incredibly rare blue and purple colors are the most highly sought after, especially if they have either dichroic color change (where the color changes by moving it,) or color change under different lighting conditions. Color change is usually Green to Red or Green to Yellow.
This specimen is known as schiller due to the small pieces of copper flakes visible. In other gems this could be considered a flaw, but is sought after in Sunstone as it helps give off extra flash. In this particular gem they’re still visible to the eye, but they’re highly exaggerated this close-up. We got this at the Spectrum Sunstone Mine near Plush Oregon.
These are also the first pictures I’ve taken with my new Macro lens, and with the light box. They turned out pretty good, but I think I can do better on the next set. I have issues with the Macro lens casting a shadow since I get so close, so I added the mirror to help bounce light back. I feel it also lends a certain bit of classiness to the photo itself, which will be good as I am planning on selling this gem.
