driver
off to a rocking start
Member since April 2019
Posts: 17
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Post by driver on Apr 4, 2019 7:34:57 GMT -5
You have agates, jasper, amythest and quartz crystals up there. Should be great rockhounding I printed out a mineral map that shows me what kinda deposits to find where but we are either not patient or not looking properly. This spring we will get out more and try to learn how to stuff.
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Apr 4, 2019 9:19:03 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum, from Northern Arizona!
I don't tumble, so am no help on that end, but looking forward to seeing what you and your kiddo tumble eventually.
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Post by MsAli on Apr 4, 2019 12:09:49 GMT -5
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Post by greig on Apr 4, 2019 13:12:29 GMT -5
I am in Ontario. Shipping rocks and grit cross-border or cross-country in Canada is expensive. I guess it is the price we pay for living in paradise.
One suggestion, if you purchase something from the USA, is ask them to ship USPS (mail). There is less of a change that you have to pay customs and duty. I generally try to find my own rocks as there is something special about the ones you self collect. I belong to a couple of clubs who get access to sites that I would not be able to visit on my own. I also use mindat.org maps. You can also download some older books for free if you google Ann Sabina. They are older references, but she has books for various places in Canada and what you can find there. Lastly, there are people who are interested in trades which sometimes works out pretty good.
When I buy rocks (rocks that are not common in our area), at a rock and mineral shows, so I don't pay shipping. However, I have also gotten some from a few of the local rock shops. Stonebridge Imports in Kitchener, ON has been good to me. There are other suppliers online. For general supplies, the guys who sell metal detectors out of their home sometimes have tumbling supplies but no rocks but their prices can be competitive.
I have not collected in your province, but know a few guys who do and they love it. I won't be out that way this year as I am headed to the other coast. Maybe next summer. My wife has never been there and I think she would enjoy it.
Greig
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driver
off to a rocking start
Member since April 2019
Posts: 17
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Post by driver on Apr 4, 2019 14:10:16 GMT -5
I am in Ontario. Shipping rocks and grit cross-border or cross-country in Canada is expensive. I guess it is the price we pay for living in paradise. One suggestion, if you purchase something from the USA, is ask them to ship USPS (mail). There is less of a change that you have to pay customs and duty. I generally try to find my own rocks as there is something special about the ones you self collect. I belong to a couple of clubs who get access to sites that I would not be able to visit on my own. I also use mindat.org maps. You can also download some older books for free if you google Ann Sabina. They are older references, but she has books for various places in Canada and what you can find there. Lastly, there are people who are interested in trades which sometimes works out pretty good. When I buy rocks (rocks that are not common in our area), at a rock and mineral shows, so I don't pay shipping. However, I have also gotten some from a few of the local rock shops. Stonebridge Imports in Kitchener, ON has been good to me. There are other suppliers online. For general supplies, the guys who sell metal detectors out of their home sometimes have tumbling supplies but no rocks but their prices can be competitive. I have not collected in your province, but know a few guys who do and they love it. I won't be out that way this year as I am headed to the other coast. Maybe next summer. My wife has never been there and I think she would enjoy it. Greig What a coincidence, I metal detect too haha. Well if you guys come out here, get in touch with me. Thanks for the tips. What sort of places to people look for rocks in, beach? trails? Do you go around taking pieces off big rocks with a pickax? I have a lot to learn. I will also start researching what to look for and where. I did a few YouTube videos but I think I need more.
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Post by greig on Apr 4, 2019 14:28:25 GMT -5
The beaches near me are a waste of time for quality rock. They can be excellent places to collect on Lake Superior. I prefer to find crystals and minerals where they have been found before. Anytime I am out and about, I look for calcite and/or vug (holes). It is of course easier to find stuff if you know what has been found there before so you know what to look for.
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driver
off to a rocking start
Member since April 2019
Posts: 17
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Post by driver on Apr 5, 2019 7:49:24 GMT -5
The beaches near me are a waste of time for quality rock. They can be excellent places to collect on Lake Superior. I prefer to find crystals and minerals where they have been found before. Anytime I am out and about, I look for calcite and/or vug (holes). It is of course easier to find stuff if you know what has been found there before so you know what to look for. I was watching videos and it looks like river beds are a good spot. I have a river close by where lots of the bed is exposed till it floods again, right by the mouth where it dumps into the ocean. I will try a quick look there with kiddo. Lots of rivers and streams here, just don't know where they are and how to get to them. I think I will learn to explore at the same time lol.
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Post by 1dave on Apr 5, 2019 10:43:30 GMT -5
The beaches near me are a waste of time for quality rock. They can be excellent places to collect on Lake Superior. I prefer to find crystals and minerals where they have been found before. Anytime I am out and about, I look for calcite and/or vug (holes). It is of course easier to find stuff if you know what has been found there before so you know what to look for. I was watching videos and it looks like river beds are a good spot. I have a river close by where lots of the bed is exposed till it floods again, right by the mouth where it dumps into the ocean. I will try a quick look there with kiddo. Lots of rivers and streams here, just don't know where they are and how to get to them. I think I will learn to explore at the same time lol. I usually start with Google Earth.
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