Extremely Rare top gem HOWARDITE Rough, 4 lbs! w/ Rattlesnake pattern

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Here's a nice chunk of very rare HOWARDITE (aka "Rattlesnake Jasper") from a lot of rough rock we purchased in Las Vegas NV recently. The material is said to be an agatized/silicified/opalized Tuff which is apparently lost or mined out, nobody seems to know exactly, but has been rumored to come from northern Nevada. John Sinkankas mentioned in "Gemstones of North America" (1959) that this material was more like chert and that it came from California (in a photo with other California agates). Regardless of locality it is some of the rarest agate/jasper lapidary material available. This piece is rough and it is very good highly silicified top grade GEM material that you can leave as a specimen or cut up for stones. It has the classic rattlesnake pattern. You don't normally see this stuff much let alone in the quality of this piece!!It weighs about 4 lbs (FOUR) POUNDS (!!!)and measures about 6 x 5 x 4 Inches maximum.You should get many nice slabs out of it if you slice it up and you won't find any of this super rare material for less which normally sells for between $60- to $150- a pound depending on quality, pattern, etc . You could possibly make your money back by slicing and selling some slabs off it and keeping 3/4 for yourself! Photos showing both wet, dry, weight and measured. If you need more pics just let me know.My pricing here on ebay is better than on our Dominion Exploration Gems & Minerals website so you are getting a good deal here! The "rattlesnake" pattern is the most sought after and this piece has it. Lapidary rough might have natural cracks, flaws, or imperfections, so see photos for best description/depiction of material, but it will cut some nice cabs regardless! This is classic, old stock material, the quality of which you just don't see that much of anymore today. This piece is shown Partially wet and also dry in the photos. See the photos, they are the best evidence of quality!PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN BY Apple Iphone 5s. Weight photos are taken DRY; other photos of item may be dry and/or WET (Patterns and quality best show up when material is wet). Every effort has been made to accurately depict the item, but slight differences in color, etc., may occur due to your computer monitor settings. Items may appear larger in the photos, so before you bid or buy please sketch out the item according to the measurements given on a piece of paper to see if it is the size you want to purchase. VIDEOS (if any) taken by an Apple Iphone 5s.MEASURED/WEIGHED DRY using a DYMO S400 Digital Shipping Scale, which is subject to a slight field of error or inaccuracy. Measurements taken by use of a metal flexible stainless steel ruler made in the USA, with measurements given in either mm, cm or inches, and/or as described, and/or as shown in the photos.SHIPPING: I ship all items individually via USPS Priority Flat Rate w/ Tracking, ONLY WITHIN THE USA. I do not ship outside of the USA. If you are bidding or buying, please note this. Items will normally ship within 3 days of receiving cleared payment or sooner. If you win or buy multiple items, I will combine shipping into one package only if all items can be packaged together safely, and PLEASE NOTE THAT individual items with a value of $250.- or more will be shipped separately with tracking and requiring signature confirmation on delivery.PAYMENT: For an easy, safe and pleasant buying/selling experience, PAYPAL or credit cards through PAYPAL ONLY, please. Please pay within 72 hours of auction closing, thank you. Buy it now option requires immediate payment by Ebay or item remains open for others to purchase last time checked ebay rules for this.QUESTIONS?... Just send me a message and ask first before bidding or buying please! I will try to answer any questions quickly and accurately.THANK YOU FOR BROWSING, have fun, and please stop by often every now and again for new items. read more

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