|
Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Apr 8, 2018 18:58:26 GMT -5
Kind of a teaser title. You were probably hoping to see a whole batch of condor's. I had never had any before until toiv0 shared a few with me recently. I was pretty excited to cut them open but the first three were all solid all the way through. The very last one yielded awesome color and banding. These things could be really addicting but not at the $65 per pound I am seeing online. Here it is after a roll in the lot-o. Less then the size of a U.S. quarter. Thanks again toiv0Chuck
|
|
|
Post by MsAli on Apr 8, 2018 20:05:42 GMT -5
That is beautiful Chuck
|
|
|
Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Apr 8, 2018 21:32:32 GMT -5
Thanks MsAli. Sure wish the whole barrel was full of those. Chuck
|
|
|
Post by MsAli on Apr 8, 2018 21:37:14 GMT -5
I have a couple Billy sent me with the box of lakers I bought. Just hope mine come out as good as that one did. There is some on The Gem Shop, but I noticed they are going fast and I am on a no buying till I get my inventory down😕
|
|
|
Post by toiv0 on Apr 8, 2018 23:42:00 GMT -5
I have a couple Billy sent me with the box of lakers I bought. Just hope mine come out as good as that one did. There is some on The Gem Shop, but I noticed they are going fast and I am on a no buying till I get my inventory down😕 Need to get that third job and a bigger place.
|
|
|
Post by toiv0 on Apr 8, 2018 23:43:20 GMT -5
Kind of a teaser title. You were probably hoping to see a whole batch of condor's. I had never had any before until toiv0 shared a few with me recently. I was pretty excited to cut them open but the first three were all solid all the way through. The very last one yielded awesome color and banding. These things could be really addicting but not at the $65 per pound I am seeing online. Here it is after a roll in the lot-o. Less then the size of a U.S. quarter. Thanks again toiv0 Chuck Thats really nice. I have had a few look like duds and they were pretty cool when cut open.
|
|
tkvancil
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2011
Posts: 1,546
|
Post by tkvancil on Apr 9, 2018 15:49:43 GMT -5
Super cool. Wish you had a barrel full too.
|
|
|
Post by Noosh9057 on Apr 9, 2018 17:08:23 GMT -5
Very cool.
|
|
|
Post by nowyo on Apr 9, 2018 22:03:02 GMT -5
Dang, that's pretty. Was eyeballing some at Quartzsite but just to cheap to buy them.
Russ
|
|
|
Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Apr 9, 2018 22:10:25 GMT -5
Dang, that's pretty. Was eyeballing some at Quartzsite but just to cheap to buy them. Russ I would be willing to fork out some cash for some but at those prices I would be cussing if any were duds inside. If they all looked like this one I would pay the $65 per pound. Chuck
|
|
|
Post by aDave on Apr 9, 2018 22:22:18 GMT -5
Dang, that's pretty. Was eyeballing some at Quartzsite but just to cheap to buy them. Russ I would be willing to fork out some cash for some but at those prices I would be cussing if any were duds inside. If they all looked like this one I would pay the $65 per pound. Chuck I didn't really spend alot in Q, so I ended up buying 4 lbs of golf ball sized nodules (maybe a bit smaller) for alot less than what's been mentioned here. I think I have a couple of tests in polish right now. I ended up cutting two in half (lengthwise and crosswise) and rolling one without cutting just to see what would happen. I'll get to rolling this stuff one day, but the one thing I've noted about this stuff is that there are usually fractures in it. Hope I end up with some that are pristine.
|
|
|
Post by nowyo on Apr 9, 2018 22:44:00 GMT -5
I don't remember the price in Quarztsite, seems it was a lot less than $65. I'm just too cheap sometimes, need to step up my game a little. still haven't tumbled any rocks I've paid money for.
Russ
|
|
|
Post by aDave on Apr 9, 2018 23:13:08 GMT -5
I don't remember the price in Quarztsite, seems it was a lot less than $65. I'm just too cheap sometimes, need to step up my game a little. still haven't tumbled any rocks I've paid money for. Russ Russ, it was quite a bit less than $65. I was even able to get a tiny break from the listed price. In all fairness to the vendor, I'm hesitant to mention what I paid, but it was worth it to me to treat myself and take a chance with it. For all intents and purposes, this was really my only purchase in Quartzite (not counting a few items bought by the wife ), so it didn't hurt too bad.
|
|
|
Post by Peruano on Apr 10, 2018 7:10:10 GMT -5
There were Condor agates in Q that were expensive. I'd be surprised if they were as cheap as $65/lb. And then there were Rio Negro agates that look like them but without as much color (reds were lacking; mostly with white and yellow rings). They were cheaper but not as cheap as they were the year before. Duds are almost not found; its just some are less spectacular. They are all mesmerizing. I even get captivated by humble Botswanas.
|
|
doublet83
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2016
Posts: 118
|
Post by doublet83 on Apr 10, 2018 8:24:19 GMT -5
There's a big difference between high grade and low grade condor rough. The high grade stuff is worth 100/pound or more. Most condor nodules have broken parts where you can get a good sense of what's inside. When I checked out Gem Shop's condor rough, I saw only low quality stuff that was worth maybe $10/pound, though they were selling it for $50. It was probably well picked over. I also tested out those ebay vendors selling rough for $65/pound and also got very low quality rough.
As someone who collects agate specimens, I would say its not really about the price you pay, its more about the quality of the rough you get. One nice specimen of condor is worth hundreds or maybe even thousands.
|
|
|
Post by aDave on Apr 10, 2018 9:42:58 GMT -5
The quality of material I saw was quite varied, and the prices were seemingly set accordingly. Better specimens of cut larger nodules were VERY expensive. Lesser quality was priced lower. There's no doubt I probably didn't end up with high grade rough. There was a benefit, however, in being able to look and pick what I wanted. Someday, I'll get to see if I actually did well or not.
|
|
Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,687
|
Post by Fossilman on Apr 10, 2018 13:18:34 GMT -5
Sweet agate.... Great colors!
|
|
|
Post by Peruano on Apr 10, 2018 18:25:50 GMT -5
If you like it, and you can afford it, . . . you did well. If your kids went without shoes, or you had to sell all of the puppies to justify the agate, then you probably messed up. Rocks are like chocolate pudding, nobody needs it, but it sure does give us pleasure under the right conditions.
|
|
|
Post by aDave on Apr 10, 2018 20:45:41 GMT -5
If you like it, and you can afford it, . . . you did well. If your kids went without shoes, or you had to sell all of the puppies to justify the agate, then you probably messed up. Rocks are like chocolate pudding, nobody needs it, but it sure does give us pleasure under the right conditions. No puppies were harmed, and no kids went without shoes. Further, no one went without a meal or anything else with this purchase. Don't know if your comment was directed at me specifically, but I'm definitely in a good place in trying this stuff...all for the price that you can't see as being real.
|
|
|
Post by toiv0 on Apr 11, 2018 5:45:27 GMT -5
If you like it, and you can afford it, . . . you did well. If your kids went without shoes, or you had to sell all of the puppies to justify the agate, then you probably messed up. Rocks are like chocolate pudding, nobody needs it, but it sure does give us pleasure under the right conditions. I bought these from Quarzite, filled a bag with 10 lbs after negotiating I couldn't pick them over and could just fill the bag.
|
|