Henry
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2013
Posts: 452
|
Post by Henry on Feb 4, 2013 22:15:51 GMT -5
Okay. After a third attempt, I managed to find this nice sized agate at "Agate Beach" Bolinas, Marin County, California. Mostly this beach is "picked-out" and what's left are small sized oil agates. The polish came out rather nice despite the poor lighting and reflection errors. Attachments:
|
|
keystonecops
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2010
Posts: 957
|
Post by keystonecops on Feb 5, 2013 12:32:34 GMT -5
Not bad. Here in Oregon, the best time to hit the beach is after a storm, or wear rain gear and hit during heavy rain. Later Clyde
|
|
riverrock
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since April 2010
Posts: 1,395
|
Post by riverrock on Feb 7, 2013 10:54:36 GMT -5
I like it it looks milky white.
|
|
|
Post by drocknut on Feb 7, 2013 11:01:43 GMT -5
At least you found one, could have been skunked. Nice shine on it.
|
|
zarguy
fully equipped rock polisher
Cedar City, Utah - rockhound heaven!
Member since December 2005
Posts: 1,791
|
Post by zarguy on Feb 12, 2013 19:36:19 GMT -5
Henry, All found at Agate Beach in Bolinas was the smoky oil agates. Lynn
|
|
Henry
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2013
Posts: 452
|
Post by Henry on Feb 12, 2013 21:30:49 GMT -5
Lynn I found this at a negative low tide, far north side. It was at the water line wedged in a sandy nook.
|
|
Tommy
Administrator
Member since January 2013
Posts: 12,680
|
Post by Tommy on Feb 14, 2013 0:50:36 GMT -5
Beautiful stone Henry! I agree with the context of what Lynn said - Agate beach in Bolinas is primarily known for oil agates alone - the fact that you found a nice larger stone of that coloration is pure bonus. You're probably going to hate me for this but it's a chance I have to take ... after the storms that ripped through here in December my girl and I spent about five hours there on a receding to negative tide and the amount of oils we found was amazing and ranged anywhere from tiny to jumbo for the species. Anyway, by pure coincidence I was moving them into a final burnish with soap tonight so I snapped a few pictures - they don't photograph well with this cell-phone camera but I'm excited about them and I think they have a huge amount of personality. If this bugs you that I posted pictures in your thread please private message me separately and I'll take them down - I'm just excited about how they are turning out :-)
|
|
Henry
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2013
Posts: 452
|
Post by Henry on Feb 14, 2013 3:04:20 GMT -5
Tommy, post away. The more pictures the better. This is the only other piece that I collected in Bolinas. It took an okay polish but there is a big pock mark in it. Any idea what this? Areas of translucency..but an underlying grainy look. The white inclusions are bizarre. Attachments:
|
|
Tommy
Administrator
Member since January 2013
Posts: 12,680
|
Post by Tommy on Feb 14, 2013 9:23:30 GMT -5
That's a really interesting pattern...with its size I would be tempted to cut it and see if that pattern runs through or if its a surface calcification. Seems like most of the oils are heavily pock-marked. After looking closer at the batch I have I'm ready to pick out a few of the best and throw the rest back in a 60/90 and start over. I skipped that step the first time because the beach has tumbled them pretty smooth already, but I'm regretting that decision.
|
|
Henry
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2013
Posts: 452
|
Post by Henry on Feb 14, 2013 9:57:15 GMT -5
Hello Tommy. I posted the piece in the "I.D." portion of the board. Unfortunately, I don't have a lap. saw. I know how you feel about throwing rocks back into "coarse grind". My larger San Simeon Beach jaspers are colorful but notoriously pitted. It may take two months just to get them down to a decent point.
|
|
zarguy
fully equipped rock polisher
Cedar City, Utah - rockhound heaven!
Member since December 2005
Posts: 1,791
|
Post by zarguy on Feb 14, 2013 21:35:44 GMT -5
Tommy, Your oil agates look just like the ones I found in Bolinas. Wow, that was about 8 years ago. Lynn
|
|