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Post by txrockhunter on Feb 23, 2016 12:12:15 GMT -5
I took some photos while cleaning out a batch of San Jacintos, coming off the 1st week of rough grind (36 grit). Batch consists of rocks primarily 2-1/2" or less, running through 12lb rotary. Most of these are cut & pre-formed, removing cracks and speeding up the process. I kept the slurry and what ever grit was left and will keep running the batch with the addition of 80 grit. Lots of mossy agates, a few pet wood, and little jasper. 1. 2. Very colorful moss 3. Clear agate with "moss floaters" 4. Picture above in the light. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. The ghostly appearance in the photo has more depth in person. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. My personal favorite. 20. Orbicular Jasper 21. This is petrified wood, but I'm not sure what created the odd pattern. 22. Pet wood 23. Agatized pet wood. Not sure how this formed?? Thanks for looking! Jeremy
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Fossilman
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Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,687
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Post by Fossilman on Feb 23, 2016 12:34:47 GMT -5
WOW! Can't beat Texas for great rocks.......Nice selection! Beautiful colors....
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meviva
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Member since July 2013
Posts: 1,474
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Post by meviva on Feb 23, 2016 13:02:56 GMT -5
Looking good! Love #10 and 23. I have some that I got from you running now but I didn't cut mine, just tumbling them whole.
Andrea
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indiana
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2015
Posts: 285
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Post by indiana on Feb 23, 2016 16:12:22 GMT -5
Those are very nice rocks.
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Intheswamp
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Member since September 2015
Posts: 1,910
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Post by Intheswamp on Feb 23, 2016 17:14:29 GMT -5
I agree with Andrea, I really like that #10...to me it has an "other worldly look" to it.
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Intheswamp
Cave Dweller
Member since September 2015
Posts: 1,910
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Post by Intheswamp on Feb 23, 2016 17:16:06 GMT -5
I gotta say that #12 is fascinating, too. Makes me imagine back in the beginning of time... A river of lava snaking its way along, dark mountains in the background, and a volcano obscured by smoke in the far distant background but with a tinge of red of an eruption happening in the smoke.
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Post by adam on Feb 23, 2016 18:07:51 GMT -5
EPIC tumbles. And for only one week in the tumbler.
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Post by txrockhunter on Feb 23, 2016 19:03:04 GMT -5
Looking good! Love #10 and 23. I have some that I got from you running now but I didn't cut mine, just tumbling them whole. Andrea Hopefully I sent you some good material! I cut a lot of these just to see what's inside and try to find patterns of which rocks to pick up next time. Post pictures when they're done. Thanks for looking! Jeremy
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Post by txrockhunter on Feb 23, 2016 19:05:41 GMT -5
Those are very nice rocks. Thank you, Indiana!
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Post by txrockhunter on Feb 23, 2016 19:15:48 GMT -5
I gotta say that #12 is fascinating, too. Makes me imagine back in the beginning of time... A river of lava snaking its way along, dark mountains in the background, and a volcano obscured by smoke in the far distant background but with a tinge of red of an eruption happening in the smoke. Man, you've got great vision Ed! Hopefully it will clear up a little as it goes through the finer grits. I am following your Lot-O thread closely. I am in the market for a vibe and thinking seriously about the double Lot-O. Thanks for looking, Ed!
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Shannon
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2015
Posts: 145
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Post by Shannon on Feb 23, 2016 19:32:28 GMT -5
Stunning! I especially love that orbicular looking pet wood.
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Post by toiv0 on Feb 23, 2016 19:33:32 GMT -5
very cool material, still on my schedule to be working in Willis soon.
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Intheswamp
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Member since September 2015
Posts: 1,910
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Post by Intheswamp on Feb 23, 2016 22:09:39 GMT -5
I gotta say that #12 is fascinating, too. Makes me imagine back in the beginning of time... A river of lava snaking its way along, dark mountains in the background, and a volcano obscured by smoke in the far distant background but with a tinge of red of an eruption happening in the smoke. Man, you've got great vision Ed! Hopefully it will clear up a little as it goes through the finer grits. I am following your Lot-O thread closely. I am in the market for a vibe and thinking seriously about the double Lot-O. Thanks for looking, Ed! Jeremy, I figure with the rocks you have available that you can do a double Lot-O justice. But, it seems I've read that you need to have both barrels loaded for each run. In other words, you can't just tumble one barrel. I may be wrong, though, so double check me. You've got plenty of rocks to keep two barrels running all the time, though!!! Probably enough rocks to keep a warehouse of the two-barrel Lot-O's going.
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
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Post by jamesp on Feb 24, 2016 4:53:58 GMT -5
Bring em on Jeremy. I would stick to the 36 grit for the first 6-7 weeks to grind them fastest. I added SiC 30 grit 7 times every week when I did yours. When the slurry got to thick I poured some off and added water to thin it out at the end of the week as needed when adding fresh grit. Never did a complete clean out except at week 3-4 when I had to inspect their beauty.
Do you have a 12 pound Lortone barrel ? If so, they are bulletproof and can easily handle 36 grit.
Orbicular 20 and 21 stunning. All beauties. That last wood looks like opal fill.
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Post by txrockhunter on Feb 24, 2016 8:27:38 GMT -5
Bring em on Jeremy. I would stick to the 36 grit for the first 6-7 weeks to grind them fastest. I added SiC 30 grit 7 times every week when I did yours. When the slurry got to thick I poured some off and added water to thin it out at the end of the week as needed when adding fresh grit. Never did a complete clean out except at week 3-4 when I had to inspect their beauty. Do you have a 12 pound Lortone barrel ? If so, they are bulletproof and can easily handle 36 grit. Orbicular 20 and 21 stunning. All beauties. That last wood looks like opal fill. After seeing the tumbles that you did for me, I am a believer in the course grit long term plan! But, I ran out of 36 grit on the first run, so I had to resort to plan B. I cut and pre-formed most of the rocks to eliminate as many visible pits and fractures as possible. It took a lot more time and wasted material that probably wouldn't have come off in the tumbler, but I think they will turn out pretty good. I will let the 80 grit run out until it's effectively 220+ (again picked up from you) and I should be able to start a few of them in the vibe at that point. I do have the Lortone 12 pound barrel and you are they are bulletproof! I always love the orbiculars, too. Last one is either opal or agate. It is pretty small, but it's cool how some of those pet woods form! Thanks for all the support! Jeremy
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,179
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Post by jamesp on Feb 24, 2016 8:46:21 GMT -5
They are great rocks to tumble. Beautiful and gently shaped by nature. Variety galore. Perfect set up there for the tumbling man.
More tumblers would get more photos up Jeremy(hint)
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Post by txrockhunter on Feb 24, 2016 10:51:53 GMT -5
very cool material, still on my schedule to be working in Willis soon. Thanks Billy! Just let me know your schedule and we'll try to get together.
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Post by txrockhunter on Feb 24, 2016 11:00:05 GMT -5
They are great rocks to tumble. Beautiful and gently shaped by nature. Variety galore. Perfect set up there for the tumbling man. More tumblers would get more photos up Jeremy(hint) Kinda excited that our 2" rain yesterday is gently shaping rocks and replacing the gravel bar inventories ! Your hint was accepted and will be graciously executed.
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,179
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Post by jamesp on Feb 24, 2016 17:47:09 GMT -5
After rains on rivers are the time to go. Must be rain that came from Mississippi that hit here and flooded us. Think about building an extra one; they are easy to build. Big ones cost a good bit. Three 12 pound Lortone's about right.
You may find that the gravel companies along that river are gold mines for agate. Stop in and ask them where they sell 1-2 inch pebbles and visit those outlets if they are retail. If you are lucky they will let you in where they mine. If it is a sand company they often set the gravel aside in piles.
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