[Rockhounds] Fordite

[Andrew Turner]

I first saw fordite at the rock shops and jewelry stores when I was drilling core in the UP.  I've had several discussions with the owners about it.  Apparently the old paint from the 60s and 70s were, by far, the most colorful and interesting, and the paint was much thicker and higher quality.  Someone decided to start marketing it.  As the price went up, the workers tried to recreate fordite using new paints on cars recently made, but they are not nearly the quality (and it is obvious).

Fordite can actually be really expensive depending on the quality and size, especially the older stuff.  I didn't see anyone trying to pass it off as a mineral or agate specimen, they even included a card explaining what it is.  I never bought any in MI, mostly because you could get copper nugget necklaces and earrings for much cheaper (and they are natural).

Andrew Turner
Salt Lake City, UT

________________________________
From: Rockhounds <rockhounds-bounces at rockhounds.drizzle.com> on behalf of Alan Goldstein <deepskyspy at outlook.com>
Sent: Monday, December 14, 2020 6:40 PM
To: Rockhounds at drizzle.com: A mailing list for rock and gem collectors <rockhounds at rockhounds.drizzle.com>
Subject: Re: [Rockhounds] Fordite

I’ve seen Fordite in collections over the years – probably as long ago as the early 1970s. I thought it was clever that someone would use an otherwise waste material for lapidary / decorative purposes. We have a word for that -- recycling.

Alan G.

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From: Larry Rush<mailto:larryrush at att.net>
Sent: Monday, December 14, 2020 9:30 PM
To: rockhounds at rockhounds.drizzle.com<mailto:rockhounds at rockhounds.drizzle.com>
Subject: [Rockhounds] Fordite

Recently, as a birthday gift, I received a "specimen" in a mineral box, labeled "Fordite- Detroit Agate".
Thinking I had now in my sweaty, little palm, a NEW mineral species,  I took a closer look.If you have not heard of this kind of "specimen", I'll save you the time...it is broken polished fragments of solidified paint and enamel from the obsolete car-painting booths in the Ford motor plants.
It does come in finely banded layers and swirls of color, similar to agate in looks.
But, there the similarity to minerals ends!!
There is no science involved, no mining from ores deep in Mother Earth, no crystallization, no eye-catching Geometry.......You won't find this one in Dana!In short, it is just a cheap way to merchandize and take name advantage of our esteemed love of mineralogy.
If you haven't heard of this scam, look it up on the Web, and be disappointed for yourself.
For me, I have too much respect, not to mention a lifetime fascination for mineralogy, to allow a cheap "look-alike" substitute to occupy my attention for very long.I wonder how the mineral-naming committee, the IMA, feels about this?
And, lastly, my gift-giver meant it only as a joke, one which did not make me smile!
Let the buyer beware!
Larry

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