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Post by Peruano on Jan 28, 2013 15:24:48 GMT -5
I started my latest interest in rocks after picking up a variety of beach stones and shells on the beaches of Guymas, Sonora, Mexico. One variety appear to be chalky white stones, but with some orbicular tendancies evident in the unpolished form. Here are some examples But some of them turn into eye poppers when tumbled or polished. Here is one that I recently sawed down the middle. Extra points if you can see the big horned sheep in the lower middle. Even this fresh slice does not reflect how pearlescent and complicated the polished stones can be. I'll try to add another shot of a stone that was treated in a vibrating tumbler. Lower right hand corner of photo. Or here The white material does not react to acid, is extra hard and I'm tempted to want to call these white agates of marine origin. Thoughts? Another set of slab were what I thought was petrified wood (local New Mexico), but surprisingly I could conjure up some scenes which added to my interest in the slabs (not all angles show the light figures equally well). I'm wondering if the sugar/acid technique would be likely to enhance this ornamentation. Thanks for any consideration given. Tom
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Post by phil on Jan 28, 2013 15:41:46 GMT -5
I see the sheep. But in the NM material I also see a pitbull head, airplane, and 2 seals touching noses. Cool.
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carloscinco
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2008
Posts: 1,639
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Post by carloscinco on Jan 28, 2013 19:23:09 GMT -5
The first two pictures certainly look like agate. I don't know about the marine origin part. The may have washed to the sea shore from the land. Nice looking specimens.
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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 Jan 28, 2013 20:21:05 GMT -5
I'm with Carlos. those first specimens look very much like some of the agate nodules found in the Rio Grande gravels....Mel
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Post by Peruano on Jan 29, 2013 10:55:47 GMT -5
Mel and Carlos, I too think they are agates, but wanted a bit of encouragement from others. They are exceptionally hard and perhaps because of the beach wear, less than attractive on the outside. I realize I'm mixing motifs with tumbled and slabbed rocks in the same thread, but having only cut one and having the tumbled versions to illustrate what they will look like when polished was useful. I frequently tumble stuff just to see what it will look like if I spend some grinding time or saw enhancement on it. Having a bigger saw changes my perspective completely as to what is a desirable rock and which will be useful for future projects. Go figure, huh? I have a friend bringing home a bunch more from Guymas soon so can't wait to see them worked up. With the saw some of those that were too big or rough to tumble are now candidate for meeting the diamond blade. Thanks for the input. Tom
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jan 29, 2013 13:11:35 GMT -5
uncut they look sorta like potatoes. Inside, nice indeed!
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