Silly socketing question.

[Striker]

I always thought that the staff (and it's pieces) disappear once someone activates the orifice.

Just tested this earlier on the Realms. I left the pieces in town and another person opeded the tomb using a completed staff. We killed Duriel and when we came back, my pieces were still on the ground. So I suppose if you wanted to keep the staff, you can just leave it on the ground and come back and get it later after you defeated Duriel.