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Post by Jugglerguy on Aug 7, 2014 22:06:46 GMT -5
My son Bryan and I just got back from Michigan's U.P. on three day a camping/rock collecting trip. We collected from Grand Marais almost to Whitefish Point. My goal was to find some rocks for the tumbler, and my son's goal was to find agates. I came home with a five gallon bucket filled to the top, and Bryan came home with a handful of agates. I found a few agates too, including the biggest one. I didn't take pictures of the agates yet, but I got pictures of the rest of the rocks. I sorted them by size and type. If you've followed my tumbling efforts over the past two and a half years, you'll know that I like to tumble unakite. It's very common and polishes well, so I pick a lot up. Other rocks are sort of a crapshoot as to whether they'll tumble well or not, so I pick up fewer of them until I figure out which ones tumble well. Here's the whole lot. The three piles on the left are unakite or just plain epidote. These are cutting size. I should be able to get at least one cab out of each of these, but some will yield several slabs. Large tumblers: These are about a bit over an inch at the largest Not unakite:
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,159
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Post by jamesp on Aug 7, 2014 22:25:03 GMT -5
Rob, just pick a couple of each variety. Maybe a half a dozen unakite ? No more than that. I just want to see the stuff you guys find. More interest in your local stuff.Have always thought you find killer unakite.
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Post by Jugglerguy on Aug 7, 2014 22:28:00 GMT -5
James, you have a saw, right? Some of the larger stuff is really fun to cut. I don't want to send it if you can't cut it.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,159
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Post by jamesp on Aug 7, 2014 22:34:53 GMT -5
PS Those are fine looking. you are lucky.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,159
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Post by jamesp on Aug 7, 2014 22:36:25 GMT -5
Yes, I have an 18 saw, can cut big ones to 6" X 10". If you have one to big I might be able to cut it.
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Post by Jugglerguy on Aug 7, 2014 22:48:28 GMT -5
Nope, the biggest are about fist sized. I guess won't have any problems with that!
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Post by iant on Aug 8, 2014 2:19:34 GMT -5
Great finds Rob - superb colours and patterns. I can vouch for how very nice these rocks are, thanks again!
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Aug 8, 2014 6:12:13 GMT -5
Very nice haul Rob. If I remember right a five gallon bucket holds about 50 pounds of rock so that should keep your tumbles fed for a little while. I am taking my boys to the U.P. this weekend and if the weather is good might actually get those kayaks out for some rock shoal hounding. I don't think we have much unakite if any on the Island though? Do you get any on the beaches in Alpena?
Chuck
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,685
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Post by Fossilman on Aug 8, 2014 9:06:20 GMT -5
Great haul...Always did like the local finds everybody has in their areas....
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Post by Jugglerguy on Aug 8, 2014 9:36:44 GMT -5
Chuck, I have found a few in Lake Huron, but they're pretty rare. On the best beaches in Lake Superior, there's a piece every couple of steps. I've learned that the stuff that has more granite in it doesn't tumble as well, so I'm more selective in what I haul back with me.
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Post by nowyo on Aug 9, 2014 1:09:13 GMT -5
Nice haul. Interesting to see what you folks have there for rocks.
Russ
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ash
spending too much on rocks
Prairieville, Louisiana
Member since July 2012
Posts: 361
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Post by ash on Aug 9, 2014 15:12:45 GMT -5
those are very cool, lots of color
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Post by snowmom on Aug 10, 2014 17:25:54 GMT -5
great finds... love to see those concentric banded unakite... very interesting. Hope you will be showing the tumbles and cuts that come out of this. (don't forget to show us those agates too!)
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,159
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Post by jamesp on Aug 10, 2014 17:45:52 GMT -5
I'm ready. Got bucket, will travel.
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mibeachrocks
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since September 2013
Posts: 198
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Post by mibeachrocks on Aug 11, 2014 12:59:31 GMT -5
Great finds. Looks like you had a great trip.
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