970 Carats -- Same specimen from three different angles ______________ There are many sham diamonds in this life which pass for real, and vice versa. – William Makepeace Thackeray __________________________________________ This rough gem sits on my bed stand, next to my Kindle, along with other rock and specimens I have picked up over the years. It was acquired five years ago from a small rock shop in Sedona, Arizona, for $8.00. I don’t remember the name of the shop, and even if I did, I wouldn’t name it anyway. I wouldn’t want the owner to feel lousy for selling such a valuable piece for so little... Relax. This is my fantasy, and I’m pulling your leg; while quite lovely, this 970-carat beaut is just a piece of quartz, so $8.00 was about right, maybe even too much for such a rough piece of this size. I own quite a few quartz specimens, most of them polished points, spheres, generators, and odd shapes. This is the only piece in my possession that looks a