Agates and Geodes

[joshuaream]

I recently got back from a long trip to Sao Paulo Brazil, and I passed warehouse in a taxi one day that looked like it sold interesting stuff. I ended up going back on the weekend, and it was an agate/geode/rockshop wholesaler. On the weekend it was only open to wholesale buyers, and the minimum was $1,000 so I resigned myself to not buying anything but told them I was a wholesale buyer so I could go in anyway.

All the buyers were Chinese and all the sellers were Brazilian or Uruguayan. If you like rocks, crystals, agates, etc. it was a paradise.

These are amethyst geodes, they had several that were larger than a fridge. Some sellers didn't like pictures, this guy didn't mind. Notice the motorcycle for reference.







I wondered around for a while and chatted with a couple of the sellers (to see if they'd let me buy a couple of things.) A group of Chinese buyers came up to haggle on some Geodes with one of the friendlier guys. After a while, the Chinese pulled back and started working on their bids. Chinese are never used to anyone else understanding them, so they talk pretty openly. I worked in Beijing for a while and learned how bargain at the flea markets and can pick up numbers and a couple of words. After having been hosed over many times by the Chinese while buying stuff there, I figured a little payback was in order and told the guy what little I understood of their bids (no more than 100, offer 30, etc.) The guy didn't make a killing but did manage to squeeze a little more out of them on a big geode that he sold for around $3,000 US. He gave me three chunks of amethyst as thanks, and let me buy some agate slices.

All told, this is what the kids ended up with as souvenirs from this visit, and it cost me about $15 total. There is a quarter on the big slab in the middle for size reference.









I might have to buy some more when I am there next month. Half amethyst geodes worked out to be around $35 to $50 for regular purple ones (dark, dark purple gemstone quality ones got into the thousands.) The thin agate slabs polished on both sides were a buck or two each, thick large agate slabs polished on one side were $3-$10 each depending on color and size. Unpolished big slabs were around $.30 a pound, sold in 100kg (220lbs) crates.

[jhaberer]

Neat stuff Joshua, especially the large geodes.

jh

[Scotto]

Holy cow, that top pic is amazing. Didn't know they got that big.

[rokdok]

I have 40 or 50 tools made on botryoidal agatized coral i am sure just because of the different colors and textures of the stone. I would not be surprised if early native cultures there would have done the same. Couldn't hurt for you to ask. I believe it was Fewkes back in the late 1800's who described "Idols" made by natives of Puerto rico out of botryoidal coral.

[Buckeye]

wow those geodes are like giant purple crystal cocoons, very cool, Thanks for sharing.