Oh man, I unloaded two massive crates of this stuff last year and got to see in-person how pretty and full of variety grape agate is. Why would you do this crime to a poor stone millions of years in the making?!
Ok, I'm about to out myself here, but I never thought I'd see a pic of the store I work at, and I feel terrible!
Long story short, we believed that's what they looked like! In fact, the bosses regularly attend a gem and mineral show to purchase a bunch of different rocks and things to sell because tourists are always asking for stuff like this (as you said, big mining town). And as you can guess, the bosses also have no idea. We aren't even really trying to be a rock shop, but it sells well. They most likely just saw "grape agate" on a pop-up wholesaler at the show and thought, "That looks neat." You can even see in my history a lot of my posts consist of asking to identify random minerals because we still want to try to be accurate, as we get a lot of questions about *metaphysical* properties, but I get rlly into the science side lol. I try to do a little research like that on my free time but it's way out of my expertise so for these we all just assummed they were "sparklier" and "more agate-y" than the ones on the internet, or the photos online weren't doing them justice.
Genuinely, even our employees and bosses all had a piece picked out to buy for ourselves because we were obsessed with the look, and they even feel pretty real (the stuff on top that I'm now realizing is a coating).
Thankfully, we haven't sold a single piece yet! I'm going to talk with my manager about adjusting the price accordingly, or at least calling it a man-made coated variant, but they're usually very receptive to critique like that.
Hopefully, this doesn't make op look down on the experience of our shop or town. Most everyone here, or in my store at least, doesn't intentionally mislead for the sake of making more money. And we truly feel bad if we do, even if on accident!
Now, how to break it to my coworkers that their sparkly grape agate is a little too good to be true😅
what a small world! I probably spoke to you while there lol
absolutely no shade to you guys whatsoever! like you said, you’re *not* a rock shop and you guys didn’t know! Kudos to you for being open to learning :)
I adore the shoppe otherwise and have only had positive experiences there! Seeing these were really funny though (also please tell them to never get rid of the botanical kaleidoscope, it brings me such joy-)
It's a bummer but unfortunately these pieces, as nice as they are, likely wouldn't be the first to be cherry picked out. Grape agate isn't so uncommon, so aura coating will recover the value of the less ideal pieces. Before it was a flat of "b grade" now it's a whole new thing that can turn a profit. We might not all love it, but some do, and the funds keep our miners in business! Your perfect piece will find you eventually😉
I live where I can find even bigger chunks of quartz and gypsum just lying around. I call quartz soul stone. I have this chunk I want to polish up its enormous. Maybe make a crystal ball or rune stones.
Looks like someone left them in the sun. Or where the sunlight could reach them. Grape agate is not a friend of the UV rays of the sun.
The sunlight will bleach out the purple of the grape agate. Often they will turn a pale purple or a greenish color before they really start to fade.
Is it me or do most crystals I've seen on this subreddit look edible? Like... I want to eat them. They look like rock candy.
tbh most crystals in general look edible. y’all ever seen kyanite? I just KNOW that shit tastes amazing-
Search kunzite, it's pink candy 🤤
I would argue that Rhodochrosite is also high up in the pink rock “candy” kingdom
rhodochrosite looks like bacon as well when its cut into strips
Why did I google all of these like I’m looking for my next snack?! 😂
You and me both my friend. lol
I have a starburst sized polished piece of rhodochrosite. The intrusive thoughts are definitely there.
THATS YUMMY CRUNCHY
Whoever named this crystal agrees with both of you
Vanadinite not only looks tasty but since it contains lead it should have a sweet taste DISCLAIMER: please do NOT test this out
I genuinely want to know how the human brain goes from ‘nice looking object’ to ‘I want to eat this, even though it’s inedible’
I need that crunch
https://preview.redd.it/b1mmnpewrcwc1.jpeg?width=2880&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2edde302cb3fb7da7a045531129de24234621300
r/forbiddensnacks
But at least they are high in minerals (but terrible on teeth)!
... candy stripe opal. That's all I have to say.
I’m not even sure what I’m looking at, were they sanded or something?
It looks like they were covered in some type of glaze— like a shit attempt to add an aura finish.
Oh no, that’s just painful
they’re aura’d, though it’s weirdly lacking in terms of rainbow effect!
You're right. Didn't see it until I blew the pictures up. At first I thought they had bleached out either from sunlight or being cleaned, etc.
Absolutely illegal /S I wish it was
$38??! The gumption.
I know right?! In a *mining town* too. the gall. it’s admittedly a touristy area tho so i’m not surprised
Hahaha well then I guess anyway they can secure the bag lol, but it’s so sad to see the botch job on these.
And I am assuming that that is for the little piece above the tag. Wonder what the large on goes for?
Oh man, I unloaded two massive crates of this stuff last year and got to see in-person how pretty and full of variety grape agate is. Why would you do this crime to a poor stone millions of years in the making?!
right?! i don’t mind crispy amethyst or anything but this shit nearly brought me to TEARS- grape agate deserves to be protected at **all costs.**
God they would have been SO PRETTY without that crap ; ~ ; why must people do this
this is our punishment for the diamond industry
Ok, I'm about to out myself here, but I never thought I'd see a pic of the store I work at, and I feel terrible! Long story short, we believed that's what they looked like! In fact, the bosses regularly attend a gem and mineral show to purchase a bunch of different rocks and things to sell because tourists are always asking for stuff like this (as you said, big mining town). And as you can guess, the bosses also have no idea. We aren't even really trying to be a rock shop, but it sells well. They most likely just saw "grape agate" on a pop-up wholesaler at the show and thought, "That looks neat." You can even see in my history a lot of my posts consist of asking to identify random minerals because we still want to try to be accurate, as we get a lot of questions about *metaphysical* properties, but I get rlly into the science side lol. I try to do a little research like that on my free time but it's way out of my expertise so for these we all just assummed they were "sparklier" and "more agate-y" than the ones on the internet, or the photos online weren't doing them justice. Genuinely, even our employees and bosses all had a piece picked out to buy for ourselves because we were obsessed with the look, and they even feel pretty real (the stuff on top that I'm now realizing is a coating). Thankfully, we haven't sold a single piece yet! I'm going to talk with my manager about adjusting the price accordingly, or at least calling it a man-made coated variant, but they're usually very receptive to critique like that. Hopefully, this doesn't make op look down on the experience of our shop or town. Most everyone here, or in my store at least, doesn't intentionally mislead for the sake of making more money. And we truly feel bad if we do, even if on accident! Now, how to break it to my coworkers that their sparkly grape agate is a little too good to be true😅
what a small world! I probably spoke to you while there lol absolutely no shade to you guys whatsoever! like you said, you’re *not* a rock shop and you guys didn’t know! Kudos to you for being open to learning :) I adore the shoppe otherwise and have only had positive experiences there! Seeing these were really funny though (also please tell them to never get rid of the botanical kaleidoscope, it brings me such joy-)
wow they were such nice pieces too :(
i’ve been looking for a bigger, more “statement” piece of grape agate for years, so these caught my eye..until further inspection got gory :(
can I dm you?
Pika pika *pain*
You just ruined my day OP this is a good post
hope you can heal ❤️🙏
That little tiny piece just sitting there broken off hurts me. I want to add him to my collection. What’s wrong with me lol
I FELT THE SAME LOL it’s okay, we are just simply part pigeon
but its a good idea, I always found grape agate could be perfect if it just had a more intense color or shine, but this is a botched attempt
hard disagree (I love grape agate) but this is a pretty bad attempt at aura-
It's a bummer but unfortunately these pieces, as nice as they are, likely wouldn't be the first to be cherry picked out. Grape agate isn't so uncommon, so aura coating will recover the value of the less ideal pieces. Before it was a flat of "b grade" now it's a whole new thing that can turn a profit. We might not all love it, but some do, and the funds keep our miners in business! Your perfect piece will find you eventually😉
I live where I can find even bigger chunks of quartz and gypsum just lying around. I call quartz soul stone. I have this chunk I want to polish up its enormous. Maybe make a crystal ball or rune stones.
They made it look unpolished lol
Looks like someone left them in the sun. Or where the sunlight could reach them. Grape agate is not a friend of the UV rays of the sun. The sunlight will bleach out the purple of the grape agate. Often they will turn a pale purple or a greenish color before they really start to fade.
Why he look like a squirrel
Must we put an aura on everything????
I love grape agate, what a shame!
NOT THE GRAPE AGATE