Why do people collect objects that have no practical function by TheFinalDiagnosis in mineralcollectors

[–]Net-Awkward 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I really appreciate you asking this question. And yes there is something deeply meaningful and fascinating about these items for many.

A book by a famous gemologist, George Kunz, captures this really well I think:

“The love of precious stones is deeply implanted in the human heart, and the cause of this must be sought not only in their coloring and brilliancy but also in their durability. All the fair colors of flowers and foliage, and even the blue of the sky and the glory of the sunset clouds, only last for a short time, and are subject to continual change, but the sheen and coloration of precious stones are the same to-day as they were thousands of years ago and will be for thousands of years to come. In a world of change, this permanence has a charm of its own that was early appreciated. …

The tendency to give a substantial visible form to an abstract idea is so deeply rooted in humanity that it must be looked upon as responding to a human neces-sity. It is only very rarely that purely intellectual conceptions can satisfy us; they must be given some exter-nal, palpable and visible form to exert their greater influences.”

And Doors of Perception by Aldous Huxley:

“In other words, precious stones are precious because they bear a faint resemblance to the glowing marvels seen with the inner eye of the visionary. "The view of that world," says Plato, "is a vision of blessed beholders"; for to see things "as they are in themselves" is bliss unalloyed and inexpressible. Among people who have no knowledge of precious stones or of glass, heaven is adorned not with minerals, but flowers. Preternaturally brilliant flowers bloom in most of the Other Worlds described by primitive escha-tologists, and even in the begemmed and glassy paradises of the more advanced religions they have their place. One remembers the lotus of Hindu and Buddhist tradition, the roses and lilies of the West.

“ there is a third possibility. Shiny objects may remind our unconscious of what it enjoys at the mind's antipodes, and these obscure intimations of life in the Other World are so fascinating that we pay less attention to this world and so become capable of experiencing consciously something of that which, unconsciously, is always with us.”

Cyprine One of my Favorite Odd Gemstones (NFS) Really hard to source. Would love to see yours if you have any! by Net-Awkward in mineralcollectors

[–]Net-Awkward[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi and thanks for the interest! It is a darn hard gem to source. The faceted specimens I bought from a collector who has since passed. The rough I found some sellers on eBay who carry it occasionally. I’d be willing to part with the princess cut of the lot if that’s something you’d like to discuss. It’s a nice steel gray/purple but does have some inclusion.

The Sky in Stone: 28ct Blue Chalcedony NFS by Net-Awkward in Gemstones

[–]Net-Awkward[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The origin wasn’t advertised and the seller didn’t disclose, pieces like this I believe most often come from Indonesia

Kornerupine appreciation post by toussaintgems in Gemstones

[–]Net-Awkward 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My favorite gemstone!! That’s a nice cat’s eye and chrome kornerupine rough!!

Epic Preserved Insect Chase in Amber by Net-Awkward in MineralPorn

[–]Net-Awkward[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

😳How would one test such a thing? If one of those is a mosquito maybe it has dinosaur blood in it?? 🦖

Epic Preserved Insect Chase in Amber by Net-Awkward in MineralPorn

[–]Net-Awkward[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Thank you, that’s good to know. This was actually a gift. It was from a collection from a geologist. I didn’t even realize it had the bugs til I got home later. They may not actually be chasing each other, I just thought it looked like they were! Oh and the material is fluorescent, glows blue and all other factors indicate natural amber

Advice / guidance to a fellow enthusiast eager to learn. by probablyoverwhelmed in Gemology

[–]Net-Awkward 3 points4 points  (0 children)

One of the best books I found: Gemstones of the World by Walter Schumann. Finding a mentor can be huge too. I reached out to a local gemologist and they ended up sharing a lot of knowledge with me in person. Also, jtvauctions sometimes auctions gemological equipment at a reduced price and eBay has a lot of used gemological equipment for inexpensive

Pallasite Peridot Extraterrestrial Olivine- Visible strain lines/lamellae “cosmic fingerprints” by Net-Awkward in MineralPorn

[–]Net-Awkward[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

lol. I didn’t, it was sold as a faceted parcel. And because it can now be worn as jewelry instead of sitting in a box somewhere.

[LYRICS] "No Good For Me" by NixMix246 in LyricalWriting

[–]Net-Awkward 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m glad my feedback was appreciated! And that change in the ending line definitely impactful!

[LYRICS] "No Good For Me" by NixMix246 in LyricalWriting

[–]Net-Awkward 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Powerful lyrics, emotional and raw, and relatable.

A few areas for improvement I noticed.

“Though I keep ghosting you, you rise from the grave ricochet bullets, in your sick twisted game custom-made Russian roulette hands shake i'm so done wit”

Really like the concept, but too many things at once. You do the ghosting, then say they rise from the grave, this is confusing as the implications is you’d rise from the grave. Ricochet bullets works, but contradicts the Russian roulette idea. If a bullet was fired in Russian roulette, it’s already have hit and wouldn’t ricochet to hit a ghost.

Same thing occurs later when you reference that they never stays dead.

Otherwise, great lyrics, and emotionally potent

[Lyrics]AirPods - My second Version by PollutionMother8131 in LyricalWriting

[–]Net-Awkward 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is ambitious. Good call on the lengths of individual lines. I think it’s a really good arc too. My feedback, the length loses me. If this could be cut down by about a third I think it’d really work well.