First good batch - South Dakota agates

I'm learning the value of patience.  My son and I just started doing this in June, and for the first couple of batches to go through all the tumbling stages, we weren't thrilled with the results. We've learned South Dakota agates are HARD!! One week per stage, ala the instructions with our Lortone tumblers, definitely isn't enough. So now it's been a 3+ month process, and we've gotten the first batch we've been happy with. 

Also have learned not to be disappointed on trips when we don't find Fairburns, as the "common" agates that are so bountiful in South Dakota are just gorgeous, particularly when you zoom in and take close photos such as these:

We call this first one "Crystal Dragon". Druzy neck, pink tongue, and eye.  Yeah...yeah...we name our finished agates. :-)



This is a bubblegum agate that was a dull grayish black on the outside, until we started tumbling. This one has been going most of the summer. Not thrilled with the cracks, but once the black outside was worn away, it has a beautiful pattern underneath.


A typical prairie agate, something we definitely don't have a shortage of out on the Buffalo Gap National Grasslands. 


I love the detail when you zoom in on a finished piece...


We certainly have more than our fair share of bubblegum agates, but who can resist them when they tumble so beautifully? Love those eyes...


A big prairie agate showing some of the typical patterns we get.  Do love the colors on this one as well.

Not sure what you call this one. Help!! Given the "grain" pattern my neophyte self might call it petrified wood, but we have plenty of petrified wood from the Grasslands, and it doesn't look like this. 

Love the contrasting rusty band shooting through the deep red on this one.

Another typical bubblegum...

Misc. agate...