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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Mar 11, 2011 13:52:45 GMT -5
Wow, so instead of having a rational discussion of issues we're launching ad hominem attacks? I must say, I'm disappointed at the level of discourse by a few members here.
Chuck
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GPS
Mar 11, 2011 13:37:46 GMT -5
Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Mar 11, 2011 13:37:46 GMT -5
Yes, Charlie, you definitely need a hiking GPS for off road use, and an auto GPS for on road, unless you have a smart phone. We have one of each, both Garmins.
Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Mar 10, 2011 17:35:18 GMT -5
Charlie: that's the very struggle I have with Feed My Starving Children. It is truly a dilemma. I hate the thought of children suffering from malnutrition and I like the idea of direct aid of food because it's less likely to end up as cash in a corrupt person's pocket. However, I also believe we are just delaying the problem by creating a population of impoverished adults, who then reproduce at a high rate and create more starving children. And I can't really fault them for having sex---it's free and it provides a moment's happiness in an otherwise dismal situation! So maybe we need to provide education and condoms along with the food...
Maybe we should start a new non-profit: Prevent More Starving Children.
Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Mar 10, 2011 13:34:43 GMT -5
Rich! How could you!?! You forgot Halliburton and Kellogg, Brown, & Root!
Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Mar 9, 2011 13:31:04 GMT -5
Ken: I'm really bummed out that I'm not going. I'm working Tuesday through Friday in Dallas. But...Galena is not that far from Minneapolis. Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Mar 9, 2011 12:22:26 GMT -5
Thanks for posting Ken! This will come in handy next time I talk to my wife about how many rocks I have. It's a good thing you're retired---I can't guess how much time you'll need to work through them all. And yes, I'm a little envious. ;D Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Mar 7, 2011 13:27:07 GMT -5
That's too bad, snuffy. The rocks in the last photo really looked promising!
Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Mar 7, 2011 13:13:51 GMT -5
Hey Rich, I think I see a giant Fairburn in the last pic. Thanks for sharing! I particularly liked the photos of the miners. Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Mar 7, 2011 11:58:34 GMT -5
Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. He was a heck of a nice guy. I was hoping to see him again. It sounds like Jan has been preparing for this. My thoughts are with both of them. Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Mar 7, 2011 11:51:03 GMT -5
It would probably work fine dry tumbling jewelry. The slurry would make it opaque in a hurry if tumbling rocks.
Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Mar 7, 2011 11:48:20 GMT -5
Here's why it doesn't work in a tumbler, from wikipedia: "Calcite can be either dissolved by groundwater or precipitated by groundwater, depending on several factors including the water temperature, pH, and dissolved ion concentrations. Although calcite is fairly insoluble in cold water, acidity can cause dissolution of calcite and release of carbon dioxide gas. Calcite exhibits an unusual characteristic called retrograde solubility in which it becomes less soluble in water as the temperature increases. When conditions are right for precipitation, calcite forms mineral coatings that cement the existing rock grains together or it can fill fractures."
Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Mar 7, 2011 11:45:57 GMT -5
Yep, looks like a fine trim saw.
Tigger: coolant can be water, water soluble oil, or mineral oil. If it were me, I would use either water or water soluble oil so that I didn't have to be worried about oil mist. I do use oil in my bigger saws.
Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Mar 2, 2011 13:26:10 GMT -5
The weight, color, and rusty veins are consistent with hematite, but hematite normally turns oil red, not black, and it's usually not gritty. It's too fine grained to be basalt.
Maybe it's hematite with enough impurities to color the oil black? Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Mar 1, 2011 17:37:10 GMT -5
Thank you Jason!
I was advised to pack crystals in a container of laundry soap (inside another box) so that the crystals are supported on all sides. But then you have to clean out the soap!
Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Mar 1, 2011 12:09:58 GMT -5
Welcome Damon!
It'll be a bit of a drive for you, but there are a lot of good sites in the Michigan Upper Peninsula.
Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Mar 1, 2011 11:22:27 GMT -5
Beautiful specimen!
So how DID you package it? I have a number of selenite specimens that I would like to sell.
Thanks! Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Feb 28, 2011 17:55:38 GMT -5
Tie a yellow ribbon round the old willow tree... Interesting stuff! Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Feb 28, 2011 17:53:41 GMT -5
Welcome Steve!
You can buy a WorkForce tile saw from Home Depot. It has a heavy blade, so I wouldn't use it for cutting opal, but that blade also allows you to do "grinding". It's a much cheaper solution than the saws you mentioned. You can also use it as a trim saw in the future, but by then you'll probably want something quieter and less messy.
If you get the tile saw, stand behind it and pull the rock toward you. Otherwise you'll get wet.
Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Feb 28, 2011 10:33:59 GMT -5
Damon: I agree with Daniel, but also think you should look at used saws.
The BD saws are professional quality, as are used Highland Park saws. A 10" saw will allow you to do rocks nearly fist sized. I have an 18" saw and it handles all of my larger rough; I haven't felt the desire for a larger saw.
I think making money on rough is pretty tough unless you can get it really cheap. People who slab for a fee charge $1/square inch to make up for wear and tear on the blade and saw.
Chuck
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Feb 28, 2011 9:43:14 GMT -5
It all depends how big they are, Ken!
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