Tommy
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Post by Tommy on Mar 20, 2018 17:42:48 GMT -5
I know the week is barely started but I actually started on Sunday and I've been busy haha. Regarding Mtorolite - does anyone here have experience with it? Of the more plumey or mossy varieties is the surface always completely crappy and undercut at the features? I bought a bunch of small slabs of this stuff and I am very disappointed with the result so far - unless it turns out to be normal for the material. I always assumed it was gemmy/agate solid. Mtorolite Some other random cabs - I'll be adding labels as we go. Unknown - India tree agate? Burro Creek Mud with shells Fallon wonderstone Josephine's Crown Self collected - brecciated jasper agate from Dead Camel mountains Mexican sagenite crazylace unknown wood - drilled pendant with one natural 'bark' edge gigantic Mortan Hill. I expected it to break and it didn't McDermitt 79 Bed - drilled, double side domed pendant Aqua Nueva agate Thanks fer lookin!
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Mar 20, 2018 17:57:33 GMT -5
You've been productive! Love the cabs. Have never tried Mtorolite, so I can't help you there. I could be wrong, but I don't think the second one is India Tree Agate. Whatever it is, though, is killer!
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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 Mar 20, 2018 18:01:46 GMT -5
Very nice work. I make spheres and I have a quick question about voids. What do you use to fill cracks and voids in stones? I have a few with minor chips and not sure best way to remedy this. Any input would be appreciated.
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Post by MsAli on Mar 20, 2018 18:03:59 GMT -5
Great cabs Tommy. Love that mud
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Post by mohs on Mar 20, 2018 18:10:15 GMT -5
mudshell shined fine that wonderstone went creamy all are fab!
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Tommy
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Post by Tommy on Mar 20, 2018 18:24:29 GMT -5
I could be wrong, but I don't think the second one is India Tree Agate. Whatever it is, though, is killer! Thanks! yeah I'm with you - it was labeled as India when I bought it but I don't believe it. The outer edges are very similar to some Hampton Butte green wood I have - dark green, transparent, and chip-prone.
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Tommy
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Member since January 2013
Posts: 12,683
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Post by Tommy on Mar 20, 2018 18:26:13 GMT -5
Great cabs Tommy. Love that mud That's my favorite one I love that stuff. When I was first starting out I bought a box of thick slabs of it at a garage sale and stuck it in the corner not knowing what to really do with it. It took me a few years to find it again and realize that it makes excellent and popular cabochons.
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Tommy
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Member since January 2013
Posts: 12,683
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Post by Tommy on Mar 20, 2018 18:29:07 GMT -5
Very nice work. I make spheres and I have a quick question about voids. What do you use to fill cracks and voids in stones? I have a few with minor chips and not sure best way to remedy this. Any input would be appreciated. Speaking only for myself - as a general rule I don't fill cracks and voids. I work around them as best I can when laying the cabochon design out on the slab. I'm worried your question might get lost here in this thread. Maybe consider starting a new topic question in it's own thread in this section. A lot of folks do fill cracks and voids so I know there is a lot of good advice to be had.
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Sabre52
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Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,466
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Post by Sabre52 on Mar 20, 2018 18:31:42 GMT -5
Hmmm.I'm wondering if your Mtorolite was misidentified. I've had examples in the past that were just deep dark green chalcedony, hard and like chrysoprase except dark chrome green. Totally unlike what you have pictured, just solid agate with no texturing at all. Is your example soft enough to be verdite because that's more what it looks like to me. The one below it is Green Zebra Agate from the Deccan Plateau in India. Love the Fallon Wonderstone and that humongous Morgan Hill!....Mel
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Post by rockjunquie on Mar 20, 2018 18:32:03 GMT -5
That doesn't look like any Mtorolite I've seen. I always see the chalcedony looking clear green. Could be wrong, though.
Not green tree agate but FABULOUS! Those are my favorites.
Don't you even dare sell that poppy for cheap. That stuff is going for an arm and a leg!
eta- Me and Mel posted at the same time. I'm going along with verdite. I had some and pitched it. It never polished right. That looks like it.
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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 Mar 20, 2018 18:40:16 GMT -5
Very nice work. I make spheres and I have a quick question about voids. What do you use to fill cracks and voids in stones? I have a few with minor chips and not sure best way to remedy this. Any input would be appreciated. Speaking only for myself - as a general rule I don't fill cracks and voids. I work around them as best I can when laying the cabochon design out on the slab. I'm worried your question might get lost here in this thread. Maybe consider starting a new topic question in it's own thread in this section. A lot of folks do fill cracks and voids so I know there is a lot of good advice to be had. Will do. Thanks! And I respect your decision on leaving the imperfections.
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Post by socalagatehound on Mar 20, 2018 18:50:46 GMT -5
Great cabs, Tommy!!! That is Mtorolite. It is very inconsistent as to hardness, color and undercutting. I have some that is brilliant emerald green, but that rarely has plumes in it. And the stuff with plumes can undercut or be soft. Here's one I posted earlier... I didn't need to fill it but the surface is a little less than glassy but better than many chrysochollas and shattuckites, for instance. I'm in on the Morgan Hill as a favorite. It's fantastic.
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minerken
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Member since August 2013
Posts: 466
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Post by minerken on Mar 20, 2018 19:45:26 GMT -5
I have a chunk of Mtorolite I have been hanging onto until my shop is set up. got this one from Jeff @rxscam not a plume type though
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 20, 2018 20:11:07 GMT -5
Very Cool, i like the self collected brecciated !(go figure) where is this dead Camel place?
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Post by socalagatehound on Mar 20, 2018 20:33:45 GMT -5
Very Cool, i like the self collected brecciated !(go figure) where is this dead Camel place? It's errrr, right beyond the dead camel... Seriously, Tommy put a trip together once before, I believe, but it was the same time as my Texas trip so I couldn't go. Still on my bucket list.
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Tommy
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Member since January 2013
Posts: 12,683
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Post by Tommy on Mar 20, 2018 21:10:13 GMT -5
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Tommy
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Member since January 2013
Posts: 12,683
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Post by Tommy on Mar 20, 2018 21:15:25 GMT -5
Very Cool, i like the self collected brecciated !(go figure) where is this dead Camel place? It's in Nevada between Fallon and Lake Lahontan. I "tried" to put together a group trip up there but it fell apart - and luckily it did because unbeknownst to me at the time, last year with all the rain that came, to protect Fallon they dug a large flood-control canal right across our access road. I gave some guys directions how to get there and they got horribly stuck in deep mud. I need to get back up there and see how it looks now.
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,466
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Post by Sabre52 on Mar 20, 2018 21:17:44 GMT -5
Yeah, the rough I once had looked like the material Minerkin posted. Guess your material is just heavily included. I've not seen that type before but the stuff I had was many moons ago. Googled images and some of them do look like your type of material.Mel
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Tommy
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Member since January 2013
Posts: 12,683
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Post by Tommy on Mar 20, 2018 21:18:00 GMT -5
Is your example soft enough to be verdite because that's more what it looks like to me. It's VERY hard - agate hard. Thank you Mel! I do believe you nailed it
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Post by roy on Mar 22, 2018 10:46:33 GMT -5
Hmmm.I'm wondering if your Mtorolite was misidentified. I've had examples in the past that were just deep dark green chalcedony, hard and like chrysoprase except dark chrome green. Totally unlike what you have pictured, just solid agate with no texturing at all. Is your example soft enough to be verdite because that's more what it looks like to me. The one below it is Green Zebra Agate from the Deccan Plateau in India. Love the Fallon Wonderstone and that humongous Morgan Hill!....Mel it is Mtorolite although i have not had a problem with the material as of yet any way! Untitled by Roy Kessell, on Flickr Untitled by Roy Kessell, on Flickr
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