Do gemstones come from Lava? Yes, many of them do! Discover the world of Lava born gemstones

Рет қаралды 27,471

Chris Ralph, Professional Prospector

Жыл бұрын

Can gems be born of the fiery lava of a volcano? Can gems be formed or carried upward in the molten magma that comes up out of the earth? Can we mine them once it has cooled down into solid volcanic rock? While the vast majority of all volcanic rock contains no gemstones, some unusual types of volcanic rocks do. In this video I am are going to talk about those rare and valuable rocks that do produce gems and where you can find them.
My video on alluvial diamonds is here: • Alluvial Diamond Recov...
My video on crystal growth is here: • Secrets of Crystals: d...
My video on how to Identify diamonds is here: • Have you found a diamo...
My full diamond video playlist can be found at: • Diamonds
For those who want to learn more about Prospecting and finding gold check out my book, Fists full of Gold. It’s an encyclopedia of everything on the topic of prospecting. It’s available on Amazon. You can find it at (affiliate):
www.amazon.com/gp/product/098...
For even more information on prospecting, minerals, gems and other related information you can also check out my website at:
nevada-outback-gems.com/prospe...

Пікірлер: 121

@peterrigo6377 Жыл бұрын

Hi Chris I’m new to the game I first got interested in gold prospecting and purchased your book “Fist Full of Gold” and it is an invaluable source of knowledge that has helped me immensely. Now I am branching out into gemstones as well, I find your videos are extremely informative and second to none with a wealth of information that are clear and concise. Keep up the great work it is much appreciated cheers from Australia 🇦🇺

@ChrisRalph Жыл бұрын

Thanks much for the kind words. I enjoyed my visit to Western Australia, and hope to go back one of these days.

@mattcorbitt252 2 ай бұрын

Thank you so much for this video.. it’s exactly what I was wanting to learn.. I could listen to you lecture all day long!

@ChrisRalph 2 ай бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

@dorothycooley1085 Жыл бұрын

Awesome geology lesson. Easy for me to understand. Thank you!!

@ChrisRalph Жыл бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

@tradermunky1998 Жыл бұрын

If I was born of lava, I'm pretty sure I'd be a superhero.

@ChrisRalph Жыл бұрын

Very true.

@angelgodzin6350 6 ай бұрын

If you dont think you’re a superhero you’re missing out. I think you are a super hero

@tradermunky1998 6 ай бұрын

@@angelgodzin6350 Who says I wasn't born of lava... 🤫

@TexasBurningFlower Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for this video! I have been researching/ out in the field, for a couple of years now and with the help of your video…..I think I finally made a breakthrough. Thank you so much!

@ChrisRalph Жыл бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

@toddeftsadams5909 Жыл бұрын

Great video Chris, You're the geology teacher!! Thank you, I enjoy these videos.

@ChrisRalph Жыл бұрын

Glad you like them!

@glentomkins8044 Жыл бұрын

Fascinating information Chris, thanks again.

@ChrisRalph Жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it.

@hosgs14 Жыл бұрын

Great lesson Chris. Enjoyed the vid.

@ChrisRalph Жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it

@ironhorse7588 Жыл бұрын

Great video. I love your book. It is very well written and easy to understand. I have used it extensively and it has improved my prospecting endeavors. Thank You for sharing your wealth of knowledge with anyone interested in gold and gem hunting hobbyists.

@ChrisRalph Жыл бұрын

My pleasure and glad to hear you enjoyed the book.

@jeffkeller9009 Жыл бұрын

Great content, Thanks for the educational knowledge.

@ChrisRalph Жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching!

@rguack 7 ай бұрын

Great job! Thank you.

@ChrisRalph 7 ай бұрын

Our pleasure! I'm glad you enjoyed it.

@mikeconnery4652 11 ай бұрын

Excellent video

@ChrisRalph 11 ай бұрын

Glad you liked it

@robdoggerful Жыл бұрын

Hey Chris! You should make an publish a specimen picture book for fists full of gold. I would buy it if it was meant specifically for the first book.

@ChrisRalph Жыл бұрын

Lots of good mineral specimen books out there already on the market. Check out Amazon for mineral identification books.

@simondennison8499 5 ай бұрын

another excellent video

@ChrisRalph 5 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it

@Greenandgold888 7 ай бұрын

Thank you!

@ChrisRalph 7 ай бұрын

You're welcome!

@raulgonzalez3766 Жыл бұрын

Great ,i really apreciate your info ,your experiance . Buenisimo dia hermano !!!

@ChrisRalph Жыл бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

@mariaaldrete1347 Жыл бұрын

I love your channel!!!! My boyfriend somehow finds all sorts of cool rocks 😇. We live in Klamath Falls OR so i know where Plush is .... I visited that area in 2011 and i had so much fun mining sunstones!! I have a clear stone with that oily film all around it.... It does have triangular shapes. I also have some really cool stones that look like broken glass...sort of like that CZ you pictured.... But if it comes from a lab then its probably just glass.... It has a purple tint to it and i really love looking at all my stone collection. I love my tiny agates from Àgate Beach in Bandon on the Oregon Coast. Also i visited Glass Mountain here and that was an amazing place to see.... Thank you so much for all the information you give us in your videos!!!! Im going to use this to go and find more cool stones!!!! I definitely have to go to Davis Creek and find some Sheen Obsidian 😇 Peace, Love & Light to All ❣️

@ChrisRalph Жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it.

@AntiQris Жыл бұрын

Love this!

@ChrisRalph Жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it.

@mahammudahmed Жыл бұрын

The best video I love 💕 it Thanks 👍

@ChrisRalph Жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it.

@fibromyalgiaawareness193 Жыл бұрын

Very nice info to know.

@ChrisRalph Жыл бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

@RezeemRong27 Жыл бұрын

Love your videos love from Kalimpong Himalayas.

@ChrisRalph Жыл бұрын

Glad that you found them helpful.

@RezeemRong27 Жыл бұрын

@@ChrisRalph can we try for semiprecious and precious stones in a small river in himalayas.

@budmanzoom4441 Жыл бұрын

Fascinating! Thank you

@ChrisRalph Жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it, but how did you find it? Its supposed to be unlisted and then released next Saturday.

@budmanzoom4441 Жыл бұрын

@@ChrisRalph Just went to the playlist you recommended in another video. It was great

@dickrichard626 Жыл бұрын

@@ChrisRalph It was listed for a little bit right after you uploaded it. Just a guess.

@user-ke8st8jc1v 4 ай бұрын

I love your videos

@ChrisRalph 4 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoy them.

@tee3273 Жыл бұрын

Riveting, thank you! It’s really helpful that you give such clear explanations; for example “…kimberlite is volcanic breccia”. I have (autodidacticly) 😊 researched kimberlite, yet none of the vids or articles/journals framed it that simply. I had an ‘ a-ha’ moment 😮(not the 1980’s pop group type) 😂 Keep it up champ. Would love more info re: Australia/Oceania if possible 🎉 🙋‍♀️🧠

@ChrisRalph Жыл бұрын

I'm glad to hear it was helpful.

@shadowcrusader2283 Жыл бұрын

Are hot springs good places to look for Gem stones? Ordered your book looking forward to reading it, Thanks for doing what you do

@ChrisRalph Жыл бұрын

I think you will like the book, but generally hot springs are not good for gems other than agate / chalcedony.

@SuperMasterTurtle Жыл бұрын

May I suggest print a color and black and white version, that is only printed as ordered. Will of course cost more for color but for me that would be worth it. Just a suggestion.

@ChrisRalph Жыл бұрын

First, about half the book's illustrations are historic B&W photos, drawings and charts that are originally in B&W, so they would still be B&W even if the book were printed in color. The cost of an 8.5 x 11inch book, 286 pages long in all color is more pricey than you would expect and would be close to $100. Long ago, I figured very few would pay the extra cost for an all color version. Of the folks who actually buy and read the book, very few are disappointed - it has a review of 4.7 out of 5 on Amazon - 92% rate it at a 4 or a 5. Note that the 4.7 is the rating of the folks who have the book and have read it - showing that most are very happy with it.

@SuperMasterTurtle Жыл бұрын

@@ChrisRalph ok that makes sense I was just thinking of the pictures to help identify the difference between various types of stones. I found a few stones I thought were valuable possibly while out hiking, but then found out they were not. Still a very inexperienced rock hound myself.

@Smithsgold Жыл бұрын

I good to go see the driveway in Hawaii !!!!!!! Good video

@ChrisRalph Жыл бұрын

It wasn't like there were zillions of peridot crystals - you had to look hard for them.

@Smithsgold Жыл бұрын

@@ChrisRalph I’m just wanting to go back to Hawaii

@ChrisRalph Жыл бұрын

An excellent choice - my wife and I hare hoping to go sometime in the fall.

@Smithsgold Жыл бұрын

@@ChrisRalph nice what island ?

@ChrisRalph Жыл бұрын

The big Island of Hawaii was where the driveway was. This fall we will either go to the big Island or to Maui or both.

@thecrimer 4 ай бұрын

hi ,what you think about recent volcano explosion in iceland what can be fount there?thanks for material!!

@ChrisRalph 4 ай бұрын

The Iceland eruptions are like those of Hawaii in that they cool too fast to allow for the formation of mineral deposits.

@isaacgriffin9184 Жыл бұрын

Thanks for your information. Does the Grande Canyon in Az contain any gems? With your experience and the types of rocks found there, what types of gems would one expect to search for there?

@ChrisRalph Жыл бұрын

The grand canyon is built of sandstone and limestone and is not known for gems - besides, as a national park, picking up rocks is forbidden.

@rodhelms-yt2pk Жыл бұрын

You are like the guy from Canada find everything me I am lucky to find my way out of a Walmart parking lot

@ChrisRalph Жыл бұрын

maybe so....

@ROXXZART 3 ай бұрын

I'm interested in Rock hounding in Veracruz State Mexico near the volcanos La Sierra de Los Tuxtlas, Santa Marta and San Martin can you recommend sites in the area or is there any books or resources I can look up to help me find locations.

@ChrisRalph 3 ай бұрын

Although I have been to Mexico, it was on the west coast not the east. A quick check on Google did not show any gem resources in Veracruz State, but maybe check with some locals when you get there.

@ROXXZART 3 ай бұрын

@@ChrisRalph Thank you! I live here in Mexico now. I just have an itch I needed to scratch as a rockhound so yesterday after seeing your video that helped me identify what I can find near volcanos I went to our local river and I found a basalt with olivine!!! Woo hoo!! Any more information about my find I would gladly appreciate. Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge!

@dsc7772 Жыл бұрын

some lava rocks ive collected are magnetic can or is perdot magnetic too?

@ChrisRalph Жыл бұрын

Volcanic rocks are normally magnetic because of minerals like magnetite,, which ins not a gem. Peridot is very slightly magnetic.

@AdamHarrisonEros 10 ай бұрын

What are the limiting factors in the sizes the gems can grow to? If a gem is more than a couple inches across it is generally considered huge, and it makes me wonder, in theory, how large could a lava born gem get?

@ChrisRalph 10 ай бұрын

It just depends on the gem and the conditions of formation. There are feldspar phenocrysts that are several inches long, though the gemmy parts are much smaller.

@marcielynn4886 Жыл бұрын

Found many on the big island with green gems.

@ChrisRalph Жыл бұрын

Peridot is a pretty gem.

@toufikhamani7941 Жыл бұрын

Can you find a Diamonds in North Africa thank you

@ChrisRalph Жыл бұрын

some places.

@allenhammer7923 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for this film really neat stuff but you did not cover Eclogite? Can you do a show on it? I find rocks Rock hounds don't recognise? I know I was daunted by all the names so I sought to learn them by CHemistry. I seen they are like a face you know from an area. I realize from nature we have deep skills of recognizing whatever helps survive, but modern man is losing that. Diamond come from it. Some lovely stones of colors. Ones I have when broken is blue and deep red of type of Garnet. Very hard, one chunk I tried to break with a full sledge hit is 40 times before I broke it. I tried to smelt it 2600 F got goopy but kept shape 3 hours it was hurt. I might have been able to piers it with an iron rod, I gave up on melting it and dumped it. The XRF gave chemistry by weight, of one of the two types of it. Has iron in it Carbon.

@ChrisRalph Жыл бұрын

Eclogite is a metamorposed volcanic rock - normally basalt. Heat and pressure long AFTER the lava has soilified brings out garnet and other minerals. These are formed out of the elements in the basalt. The gems are not formed in lava, but later. Although there are gem minerals in it, they are not generally gem quality.

@allenhammer7923 Жыл бұрын

@@ChrisRalph I saw an example of an Xray used to find crystals in the rock that are worth extracting. I don't know of production that way. They do have a deep blue crystal matrix going to the deep red of Garnet then white lines of compression in it. I think some jewelry maybe made out of it.

@maichelle123 Жыл бұрын

Do you live in winimucca I used to help a girl clean houses in the outer side of winemucca I met you couple times if it’s you. . Any how if not thank you so much for your creative wonderful insight on prospecting I now live in Idaho I go hounding any chance I get . It’s my passion and I have stones or rocks are not Evan found in the gem society . Thank you have an awsume day

@ChrisRalph Жыл бұрын

Nope. Northern Nevada but not Winnemucca.

@tamilarasip8545 3 ай бұрын

In India in my place I found some white clear crystala near a kimberlite eruption. When polished, it almostvresembled a Moissanite giving a double refraction. What it might be? I am going to submit to a lab in India for testing. Any idea chris?

@ChrisRalph 3 ай бұрын

My first guess would be calcite, but there is no way for me to do anything other than guess.

@ChrisRalph 3 ай бұрын

My first guess would be calcite, but I really have no idea - just guessing.

@tamilarasip8545 3 ай бұрын

@@ChrisRalph crystal is very transparent. It gives lot of fire which is just amazing. So i want to know whether calcite would emit such dazzling colors. Calcite ruled out. This is what I think.

@ChrisRalph 3 ай бұрын

I get quite a few people every day who want me to ID their rock and mineral photos. I do not offer a mineral ID service, mostly because it’s not as easy as you think. Usually, minerals cannot be identified from just a picture. Please watch my videos on how to Identify minerals for yourself. Part 1 can be found here: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/g9abiphpv8u1nJc.html and Part 2 can be found here: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/sLWHopdqvZ-Ul3U.html and Part 3 can be found here: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/lceSaLGfzLjQhqs.html - Those videos should answer a lot of your questions.

@tamilarasip8545 3 ай бұрын

@@ChrisRalph ok. Thank you

@argonaught5666 Жыл бұрын

Garnet forms in igneous dikes, correct? I went looking for the source of the very nice garnets I found in matrix in AZ. Unfortunately, the (kinda) basin where I found them is completely overlaid by a light tan cement gravel/conglomerate containing large granitic boulders and multiple other rock types. This abuts a red conglomerate to the west that is common over a large area and that in turn is overlaid by a basalt flow to the west. Also some volcanic ash deposits mixed in. Wierd thing is the matrix that the garnets were in is very light colored and looks grainy like the cement gavel base or the ash. The crystals were very sharp so I don't think they could've moved far. Thinking maybe torn loose from dike that was in turn reburied by the cement gravel. Frustrating! I want that source!!! Very deep red and up to half inches crystals!

@ChrisRalph Жыл бұрын

A lot of garnet forms by metamorphic forces - either high heat (contact metamorphic) or high pressure (regional metamorphic).

@haseo8244 Жыл бұрын

Quartz is weird enough - can make in volcanic, metamorphosis, and in sedimentary process.

@MiningAmerica Жыл бұрын

Ok. Now that you mentioned my stone. Fire Agate. I would love to have a private conversation with you about it.

@johnramirez5032 Жыл бұрын

Hi Criss! There are very few people like you. You touch on so many different things that really enrich others lives. Im facinated with geology and history and the womder of creation. A simple hike is so much rewarding when know stuff about geological processes. Most people just want to get close to nature and clear there thoughts and get exercise. Thats fine but the world can really open up to those who spent the time to learn about what you talk about. I want to thank you for making these videos and sharing your knowlege. I think its not all about making money to you. Again thankyou for making these videos.

@ChrisRalph Жыл бұрын

Osteel - I'm sorry but I just dont have time to offer private consulting and assistance.

@ChrisRalph Жыл бұрын

Hi John - I have fun making the videos and I'm glad you enjoy them.

@MiningAmerica Жыл бұрын

@@ChrisRalph OK then. I’m writing a book. Literally. I’ll find other Geologist that would like to work with me. Good luck with your KZfaq channel. You’re doing great.

@user-ke8st8jc1v 4 ай бұрын

I would like to know what stones I can buy for making jewelry that I can be absolutely sure that are not treated in anyway shape or form ( basically CANNOT be treated ) I know that this is acceptable in the industry but I wouldn’t want any stone treated ,heated ,oiled ,irradiated,etc,etc. Can you recommend some beautiful stones like that that don’t brake the bank ?

@ChrisRalph 4 ай бұрын

I hope you understand that your request is a really difficult order. Can't be treated, beautiful, readily made into profitable Jewelry and cheap. My one suggestion that meets all your qualifications is fire agate. If you've never heard of it, do a google search for images of it.

@user-ke8st8jc1v 4 ай бұрын

@@ChrisRalph Thank you ! They say peridots and garnets are not treated,is that entirely true?

@ChrisRalph 4 ай бұрын

There are no treatments for peridot or garnet that I know of.

@user-ke8st8jc1v 4 ай бұрын

@@ChrisRalph Many thanks !

@wipadakarndee6828 Жыл бұрын

I found it near my home in Phuket Thailand.But I can’t tell anyone.because it’s dangerous for me I keep it for study at my home.I don’t know what to do with them.How do I find away out.?😢😢😢

@ChrisRalph Жыл бұрын

Thailand has many gem buyers, find one that you can trust.

@wipadakarndee6828 Жыл бұрын

@@ChrisRalph❤

@ThirteenPercentHxC Жыл бұрын

At 25 minutes there's no dots in California. How come?

@ChrisRalph Жыл бұрын

There are no known kimberlite pipes in CA.

@2flight 6 ай бұрын

This world has been picked over pretty carefully.

@ChrisRalph 6 ай бұрын

Good stuff is still found from time to time.

@2flight 6 ай бұрын

@@ChrisRalph Most of the gems now are found not by techniques, but by chance, or they are mined in countries where people are willing to dig for 50 cents a day.

@boriskross7706 27 күн бұрын

should be easier for you to explain igneous rocks by basic (darker color -Qz +FeMg; gabro, basalt) and acid igneous (lighter color +Qz -FeMg; granite, rhyolite) now intermediate rocks are the link between them and can be dikes (cut through beddings) and sills (cut through plains of beddings)

@ChrisRalph 27 күн бұрын

All three types of igneous rocks can form dikes and sills.

@coreymerrill3257 Жыл бұрын

It's wild that feldspar is the second most common mineral on earth, behind quartz, but with certain situations ,it makes one of the most rare gems known:: grandidierite, as well as many popular gems like sunstone, moonstone and labridorite. I know a sapphire miner in Australia , he finds a ton of black spinel and amber to yellow colored zircon while mining too.

@ChrisRalph Жыл бұрын

Very true. Too bad the Aussie miner's spinel isn't gem quality.

@coreymerrill3257 Жыл бұрын

@@ChrisRalph yeah it definitely isn't gem grade. It's opaque. It does still polish beautifully and is a decent and affordable option for accent stones ,but it is more useful to study with.

@tanksouth Жыл бұрын

That’s why the USA government owns all the land around the volcanos. AKA parks.

@ChrisRalph Жыл бұрын

Well, like I say in the video, that vast majority of volcanic rocks (like 99.99%) have no gems.

@argonaught5666 Жыл бұрын

Not necessarily true. There are vast volcanic deposits. Many of them on land that is open for mineral location as well as on private land with the possibility to lease.