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Man Mines Diamonds in Midtown Sidewalks
NBCNewYork.com ^ | 06/20/2011

Posted on 06/20/2011 11:09:16 AM PDT by Puppage

An entrepreneurial Queens man makes his living off New York City streets, but in a manner far different from that which city residents have witnessed before.

Raffi Stepanian, 43, earns his cash scouring the sidewalks in Midtown’s Diamond District for hidden treasure – chips of rubies, diamonds, platinum and gold that somehow fell off their owners’ jewelry and became lodged in the cracks between cement slabs or hopelessly stuck in a piece of gum some passerby flippantly spit out onto the street, according to a report.

In less than a week, Stepanian told The New York Post he amassed enough gold for two sales worth nearly $850 on 47th Street.

“The percentage of gold out here on the street is greater than the amount of gold you would find in a mine,” the Whitestone man told the Post. “It comes close to a mother lode because in the street, you’re picking up gold left by the industry.”

The valuable gem chips are already cut and processed, which makes them even more marketable than the unrefined ore one would find in a mine. And the precious stones are out on the street for anyone willing to get down on his or her knees and look for them, Stepanian says.

“It’s the same principle as collecting cans on the street and redeeming them for nickles,” he told the Post. “It’s redemption of usable gold.”


TOPICS: Culture/Society; US: New York
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To: Puppage
Man Mines Diamonds

Wow, the guy's finding precious gems in the street!

In less than a week, Stepanian told The New York Post he amassed enough gold for two sales worth nearly $850 on 47th Street.

Okay, not gems...he's finding gold...

“The percentage of gold out here on the street is greater than the amount of gold you would find in a mine,” the Whitestone man told the Post. “It comes close to a mother lode because in the street, you’re picking up gold left by the industry.”

Yep...gold...

The valuable gem chips are already cut and processed,

Wait...now he's finding gems...?

which makes them even more marketable than the unrefined ore one would find in a mine.

Nope...wait a minute...it's gold again...

And the precious stones are out on the street for anyone willing to get down on his or her knees and look for them, Stepanian says.

Wait...it's gemstones again...?

“It’s the same principle as collecting cans on the street and redeeming them for nickles,” he told the Post. “It’s redemption of usable gold.”

No, no. For sure this time, it's gold. Glad he cleared that up, I was getting sooo confused.

Oh, and I call bullshite on ol' Stepanian's story, including his name.

21 posted on 06/20/2011 12:02:06 PM PDT by lonevoice (Where the Welfare State is on the march, the Police State is not far behind)
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To: theDentist

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzVM6Q4YwAA
“Gold Fever - Clint Eastwood”


22 posted on 06/20/2011 12:04:09 PM PDT by iowamark
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To: Puppage

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DyRdsDg_mjI
“Paint Your Wagon - The Best Things in Life are Dirty”


23 posted on 06/20/2011 12:07:23 PM PDT by iowamark
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To: iowamark

And to finish, Harve Presnell:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCgLNuXSaSc
“”Maria
Maria
They call the wind Maria

Away out here they got a name
For rain and wind and fire
The rain is Tess, the fire Joe,
And they call the wind Maria

Maria blows the stars around
And sends the clouds a’flyin’
Maria makes the mountains sound
Like folks were up there dying

Maria
Maria
They call the wind Maria

Before I knew Maria’s name
And heard her wail and whinin’
I had a girl and she had me
And the sun was always shinin’

But then one day I left my girl
I left her far behind me
And now I’m lost, so gone and lost
Not even God can find me

Maria
Maria
They call the wind Maria

Out here they got a name for rain
For wind and fire only
But when you’re lost and all alone
There ain’t no word but lonely

And I’m a lost and lonely man
Without a star to guide me
Maria blow my love to me
I need my girl beside me

Maria
Maria
They call the wind Maria

Maria
Maria!
Blow my love to me””


24 posted on 06/20/2011 12:15:02 PM PDT by iowamark
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To: Puppage

Sounds like a Seinfeld episode. Substitute Kramer for Stepanian and by the end of the show, everyone in NY is crawling on the sidewalk getting in his way.


25 posted on 06/20/2011 12:17:21 PM PDT by al_c (http://www.blowoutcongress.com)
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To: livius

” I have a beautiful large diamond earring that I found in the crack in a subway door “

Hey, that’s mine!


26 posted on 06/20/2011 12:22:39 PM PDT by Humble Servant
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To: theDentist

” Some years ago in Mass. I was jogging thru a H.S. parking lot and saw a brilliant reflection of sunshine. Turned out it was a small diamond earring. “

Hey, that was mine!


27 posted on 06/20/2011 12:24:13 PM PDT by Humble Servant
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To: Puppage

Don’t worry, the city and state will get their due when they inform this guy he violated the “found property” laws.


28 posted on 06/20/2011 12:25:02 PM PDT by NonValueAdded (From her lips to the voters' ears: Debbie Wasserman Schultz: ‘We own the economy’ June 15, 2011)
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To: Humble Servant

Oh? Well I put it to good use. I had it put into the ear of my folks little weiner dog.


29 posted on 06/20/2011 12:26:38 PM PDT by theDentist (fybo; qwerty ergo typo : i type, therefore i misspelll)
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To: theDentist

Yes, and he was good. He has a very nice voice. The song he sang was Eliza. Lee Marvin also sang - A Wandering Star. It was ok, Clint was much better.


30 posted on 06/20/2011 12:32:50 PM PDT by jackibutterfly (The American Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people.)
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To: iowamark; Puppage; theDentist

The best song in the movie, the theme is you can plan till hell freezes but serendipity rules

Where am I goin’?
I don’t know
Where am I headin’?
I ain’t certain
All I know
Is I am on my way

When will I be there?
I don’t know
When will I get there?
I ain’t certain
All that I know
Is I am on my way


31 posted on 06/20/2011 12:45:38 PM PDT by bert (K.E. N.P. N.C. D.E. +12 ....( History is a process, not an event ))
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To: jackibutterfly

Sorry his voice is barely passable. They tried with John Wayne and that was a disaster. I grew up post singing cowboy and I’m glad I did.

Gold fever: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzVM6Q4YwAA&feature=related


32 posted on 06/20/2011 12:53:09 PM PDT by traderrob6
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To: jackibutterfly

Lee Marvin however stays within his range (2 octaves) and the song is especially moving:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CxRc6W2kwk&feature=related


33 posted on 06/20/2011 1:04:44 PM PDT by traderrob6
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To: Humble Servant

Kinda careless with your stuff aren’t you....


34 posted on 06/20/2011 1:10:12 PM PDT by mad_as_he$$ (Demons run when a good man goes to war.)
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To: Puppage

The guy’s a fool for running his mouth about it.


35 posted on 06/20/2011 1:13:06 PM PDT by Scotsman will be Free (11C - Indirect fire, infantry - High angle hell - We will bring you, FIRE)
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To: theDentist

Isn’t that the movie where Clint Eastwood tried singing?


YES - And so did Lee Marvin.


36 posted on 06/20/2011 1:44:57 PM PDT by maine yankee
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To: livius
my son mines for gold at garage sales. Check out old jewelry in a box for a dollar and sometimes you'll find 14K gold broken bracelets, earring etc. When he gets enough he sells it on ebay. Once found a old broken bracelet for 5 bucks, it was 14K and the small stones were real diamonds...I once picked up a gold retirement watch at goodwill for 5 bucks and sold it for 100...that was before gold went sky high. It was a retirement watch from Park Davis and dated 1969.

Some old family member dies and those that are taking care of the estate don't know what is real or fake. That also goes for figurines and dinnerware, they just pack up the whole thing and send it to Goodwill or hold a huge garage sale..

37 posted on 06/20/2011 2:43:13 PM PDT by goat granny
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To: iowamark

love that song and Paint your Wagon was the movie...funny one....


38 posted on 06/20/2011 2:47:55 PM PDT by goat granny
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To: lonevoice

Yep.

And no one is paying for small gemstones like those that fall out of most settings. Those little chips have zero resale value.


39 posted on 06/20/2011 4:10:06 PM PDT by Atlas Sneezed (End the "Fiscal Fiasco" in 2012!)
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To: goat granny

IIRC, that was the movie about the gold dust that fell through the cracks in the floors — and a “timeshare wife”... Fun movie!


40 posted on 06/20/2011 8:29:37 PM PDT by TXnMA (There is no Constitutional right to NOT be offended.)
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