elementary
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since February 2006
Posts: 1,077
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Post by elementary on Sept 21, 2010 22:09:16 GMT -5
I had a few moments yesterday to fiddle with some of the mexican rough I picked up this weekend (see thread in members section.) I face polished a broken piece and took another and worked along its side to open up the bright purple these nodules possess. I think they are Agua Nueva from their colors, but would like the opinion of anybody who is in the know. (By the way, when are they reprinting _The Agates of Northern Mexico_ ?) Here are the two I worked and one broken nodule showing pattern and color. Sorry for the cruddy lighting. Thanks for looking, Lowell
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Post by Toad on Sept 21, 2010 22:12:19 GMT -5
The pattern on the last pic is awesome.
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Post by jakesrocks on Sept 21, 2010 22:20:36 GMT -5
Nice material. That last one is worthy of specimen status, just as is. Don
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SteveHolmes
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2009
Posts: 1,900
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Post by SteveHolmes on Sept 21, 2010 23:41:29 GMT -5
Lowell, Is the Agate in the last pic the same as the agate in the 1st pic (left side)? If it isn't..I'd call the one on the left in the 1st pic a Laguna. I have been noticing some agates on e-bay called Purple Passion Agates...and that's one you have looks similar. Those are tough to call...I'm sure Mel will lend his knowledge in on this one. I am also curious when the reprint will come out. Another Book I need! Beautiful Agates Lowell! Steve
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,466
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Post by Sabre52 on Sept 23, 2010 15:23:42 GMT -5
Lowell, I concur with Steve, look more like Laguna to me. Most Agua Nueva nodules have rough skins with some green on the outside ( celadonite) Cross mentions this too. He also mentions most have a little golden moss around the outside and this has also been true with most I've cut. Your colors are right as most ANs have pink, purple or gold fortifications. Cross also says the issue is further complicated because lots of nodular AN was sold as " New Laguna". I used to buy rough from a dentist who did dental care in trade for agate down there and he said in the old days ( before Gem Shop) the Mexican cowboys simply gathered surface material from all over and brought it home to their yard rock pile. No location info and all mixed together with lots of it probably small accumulations from unknown sites. Then the buyers brought it into the US through El Paso and labeled it as to what they thought it was or what brought the best prices for the quality. All guesswork except for when the finder knew it came from a particular spot and passed the info along. About 55 years ago my pop took me to a huge rock yard in New Mexico that had honest labeling. His big drums brought in from El Paso simply said " Mexican Agate Nodules $1 per pound".....Mel
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elementary
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since February 2006
Posts: 1,077
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Post by elementary on Sept 24, 2010 9:15:49 GMT -5
Thanks Steve and Mel,
It's always great to have your knowledge around!
Somebody else who saw the pieces said the same things as you two.
As I cut more, I'll post the pictures.
Oh - and Mexican nodules $1 a pound?!?!?! Be still my beating heart!!! Whether or not if that rock shop is still there, can you dig where the rocks used to be??? You know how rocks like squirming into the earth if you let them sit long enough. I'm imagining a bedrock of fortification agates underlaying some poor ignorant fool's home in NM who just bought into a new subdivision...
Thanks all who responded,
Lowell
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,466
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Post by Sabre52 on Sept 24, 2010 15:33:17 GMT -5
Lowell, I think that old shop was called Krogers, or Krohs or something of that sort and I think it was somewhere around Deming. I know last time I was there it was on my first Deming/Lake Valley, NM, Woodward Rch trip and heck that was a long long time ago ( probably the late 70's). I actually didn't even buy rocks there that time as I was temporarily into antique bottles at the time and Sher was collecting insulators. He had tons of both and that's where our money went.....Mel
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dbrealityrocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since February 2010
Posts: 1,084
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Post by dbrealityrocks on Sept 24, 2010 22:26:07 GMT -5
oh man Mel and to think I just paid $20 lb for 25 lbs of agua nueva
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