dakotabirder
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since July 2017
Posts: 77
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Post by dakotabirder on Oct 17, 2017 18:18:26 GMT -5
I absolutely love doing the first clean out after tumbling a batch of rough agates and jaspers for the first time! It's like Christmas! Nearly all of these were collected in the same 1-square mile spot on the Buffalo Gap National Grasslands. Many of them have been exposed at the surface, and are dirty, lichen covered, or very often, covered with a black or grayish layer (manganese oxide?). Many times it's not until you get them out of the tumbler for the first time that you see what they look like. Couple of photos of part of a batch that just came out of the first rough tumble (couple weeks with 40-ish grit). Some wonderful surprises! Some beautiful patterns that were hidden until tumbled! Like I said...Christmas in October! First photo (just iPhone photos...to lazy to get out the DSLR) shows what they look like wet (just water spritzed), second is dry.
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Post by MrMike on Oct 17, 2017 18:23:32 GMT -5
Nice, gonna be a great batch.
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Luminin
spending too much on rocks
Member since August 2017
Posts: 400
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Post by Luminin on Oct 17, 2017 19:46:15 GMT -5
Those look fantastic! That's going to be a awesome batch finished. I like all the banding!
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loot
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since October 2017
Posts: 111
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Post by loot on Oct 17, 2017 19:58:25 GMT -5
Very nice indeed. Can't wait.
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Post by fernwood on Oct 17, 2017 20:12:49 GMT -5
A nice surprise for sure. Merry Christmas!
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Post by Garage Rocker on Oct 17, 2017 20:24:11 GMT -5
Looks like a party goin' on! Love it. Looking forward to seeing how they finish.
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fishnpinball
Cave Dweller
So much to learn, so little time
Member since March 2017
Posts: 1,491
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Post by fishnpinball on Oct 17, 2017 20:40:53 GMT -5
How many trips did it take to get a tumbler full? Rocks that you find like that increase the pleasure of the process.
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dakotabirder
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since July 2017
Posts: 77
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Post by dakotabirder on Oct 17, 2017 20:54:06 GMT -5
How many trips did it take to get a tumbler full? Rocks that you find like that increase the pleasure of the process. I've just started doing this, just have a 6- and a 3-lb Lortone, but I don't need multiple trips to have material to fill them. It's. 3 1/2 drive to get there, so I definitely make a day of it, but on a day trip I can find enough material to do multiple batches. All kinds of bubblegum agates, prairie agates, jasper, and all the petrified wood and rose quartz you'd want.
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Post by Garage Rocker on Oct 17, 2017 21:01:35 GMT -5
How many trips did it take to get a tumbler full? Rocks that you find like that increase the pleasure of the process. I've just started doing this, just have a 6- and a 3-lb Lortone, but I don't need multiple trips to have material to fill them. It's. 3 1/2 drive to get there, so I definitely make a day of it, but on a day trip I can find enough material to do multiple batches. All kinds of bubblegum agates, prairie agates, jasper, and all the petrified wood and rose quartz you'd want. You have some great trading material there. Gather as much as you can!
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,154
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Post by jamesp on Oct 17, 2017 23:55:49 GMT -5
Another fine group on the way.
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,456
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Post by Sabre52 on Oct 18, 2017 6:48:10 GMT -5
Those South Dakota mixes are so fun. The Prairies are especially nice.....Mel
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Post by MsAli on Nov 6, 2017 13:55:19 GMT -5
Curious to see what they look like now
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zekester55
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2017
Posts: 111
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Post by zekester55 on Nov 6, 2017 19:11:56 GMT -5
Sweet, they are a fine looking batch! How have they progressed?
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