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Post by HankRocks on Feb 18, 2021 19:36:43 GMT -5
Would love to go but if I am reading the schedule correctly it is not very collecting friendly with just 2 days during any one week. It's a 1000 miles of driving for 2 days of collecting. Still temped to go. Really thought that when I retired more collecting trips would be on the agenda, unfortunately that has not been the case. Even despite no trips, my chore list around the house is only getting longer. The freak weather this week and AT&T trenching 120 feet across my backyard and thru my garden and rock storage area two weeks ago has set me back even further.
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Post by HankRocks on Feb 15, 2021 2:46:17 GMT -5
I have a couple of Choyas that display that effect, like the surface is shimmering or moving. I assume that is related to the Iris affect in certain agates.
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Post by HankRocks on Feb 13, 2021 10:18:45 GMT -5
miket - Back in the early '80s, we had a German Shepard and Lab mix named Toby. He was ornery. My sister and I tried to get him to pull us on a sled just like your amazing pup did. Like I said, he was ornery so he didn't like that idea. Well, somewhere I have a picture of that dang dog sitting all high and mighty on the sled with my sister and I trying to pull HIM! LOL Sounds like a smart dog!!!
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Post by HankRocks on Feb 9, 2021 18:51:25 GMT -5
So far, the highest bid on the 75 lots is for lot 73...sitting at a bid of $180,000 on the first day of the auction! Wonder if my bid will hold up?
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Post by HankRocks on Feb 8, 2021 21:50:28 GMT -5
Very nice, Henry! Love that phantom. If it would have been an un-damaged clear Phantom it would have avoided the tumble process and found itself on the top shelf of my cabinet. It's difficult to photograph a clear piece like this one, if I used a dark background the shale disappears, a white background makes the clear quartz sort of disappear.
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Post by HankRocks on Feb 8, 2021 21:04:50 GMT -5
Pulled these out a few days ago, mixed batch of Arkansas Quartz and Mule Creek Apache Tears. Mostly clear Quartz; IMG_2502 by Findrocks, on Flickr Partly clear to cloudy Quartz; IMG_2505 by Findrocks, on Flickr Apache Tears, Mule Creek, New Mexico; IMG_2509 by Findrocks, on Flickr There was one large clear but broken Arkansas Quartz, 1/2 pound polished with the Manganese rich Shale inclusion better know as a Phantom Quartz crystal. This was tumbled with everything through the Rotary stages, moved it by itself into the Mini-sonic with 3 pounds of previously polished smalls. This one would not have played nice with the smaller Quartz and Apache Tears. IMG_2510 by Findrocks, on Flickr Henry
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Post by HankRocks on Feb 8, 2021 11:15:49 GMT -5
woodman How have you been polishing this one? Unless I am mis-judging the size it does not seem that it would fit on a flat lap. Henry I used my flat lap without the sweep to lap the saw marks off using 120 grit, one heck of a lot of lapping. then I used a hand held variable speed polisher to sand and then polish. It is 30 inches across the widest part. That begs the question, "did you cut it?" Maybe I am remembering wrong but do you have one of the reciprocating saws for cutting really big stuff?. Saw a picture out here from someone, don't remember who. Thanks Henry
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Post by HankRocks on Feb 8, 2021 8:40:27 GMT -5
woodman How have you been polishing this one? Unless I am mis-judging the size it does not seem that it would fit on a flat lap. Henry
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Post by HankRocks on Feb 7, 2021 8:59:12 GMT -5
Have a great day Jim, look on the bright side, at least you're not getting older!!
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Post by HankRocks on Feb 6, 2021 13:45:13 GMT -5
Peruano I tumble Pre-forms and larger slabs. Everything is in the Rotary(Model B) until the Polish Stage, then UV-18 Vibratory. My Coarse stage consists of 60-70% slabs and 30-40% small trim scraps and pebbles. I also add maybe 2 or 3 cups of used slurry." They are there for cushioning and for as an aide for grinding. At cleanout I do notice a few of the slabs "stuck" together and decided it's impossible to prevent and probably does not affect the outcome significantly. My theory is that as long as there is unbroken down grit available, it will be between slabs and will be grinding as the slabs move, even if slightly. In polish and pre-polish stages any grit between the flat surfaces are doing their job. Even "stuck" flat surfaces are moving with all the grit in between doing it's work. One other thing I do that as the load decreases as it progresses from stage to stage, I backfill with previously polished smalls. Henry
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Post by HankRocks on Feb 6, 2021 11:29:49 GMT -5
Nice specimens and I really like the bouquet agate. Tell me about your light board please. The Lightboard is an older model my wife bought several years ago at one of the Craft Stores, on sale I am sure. This one is an Autograph LightTracer. Looked it up and they are now made with LED's and some had light level controls, etc. My wife used it off and on over the last few years. I knew she had it but I had to have one of those Homer Simpson "Doh"!! moments and realize it would be great for slabs. jasoninsd I think that freeforms could be used more, especially when preserving as much of a nice pattern as possible. Technically I cut the Bouquet incorrectly, conventional wisdom says to cut along the bottom or in this case the flat side. Oh well on the other hand I collected it, I can cut it whichever way I choose!! Henry
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Post by HankRocks on Feb 6, 2021 7:05:22 GMT -5
Been trying to keep the saws running, here's a small sample; Dug this one out of the Rock Garden, Needle Peak Moss. The Moss in the rock is very fine, like thread or spiderweb; IMG_2497 by Findrocks, on Flickr Here's the same piece on the Lightboard showing the thread-like moss; IMG_2500 by Findrocks, on Flickr Another one from the Rock Garden. This one was collected summer of 1979 north of Napa Valley on the side of one the highways south of Clear Lake, maybe 175? I was on assignment in our San Francisco office for 3 months, penthouse apartment on the edge of North Beach/Fisherman's Wharf overlooking the bay. It was a "tough" assignment! Carried about 30 pounds of this stuff back in my suitcase. This Obsidian is interesting with the gray streaking and it has small inclusions scattered through it. IMG_2494 by Findrocks, on Flickr A piece of Obsidian from one of the acquired collections. Should make interesting pieces with the two different color zones; IMG_2493 by Findrocks, on Flickr Lajitas Mesa - East. Collected in the 90's. None of this material looks very attractive on the surface, but can yield surprises. I left the rest of the rock un-sliced and will polish as a geode. Would like to make one large pendant out of this piece. It does have a bit of the Iris effect going on; IMG_2489 by Findrocks, on Flickr Bouquet Agate, probably from the ME Ranch south of Marfa Tex. Will go free-form with these to preserve as much of the pattern as I can. IMG_2488 by Findrocks, on Flickr Thanks for looking Henry
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Post by HankRocks on Feb 3, 2021 7:45:17 GMT -5
I really don't see anything bad with the results. It appears that most of the material took a very high polish. Pits here and there, no big deal for me and as you say the more you remove the smaller the rock gets. That and some rocks as noted, are just prone to having pits. In my case the only rocks I take to perfect roundness are river-tumbled where the pre-grinding has already been done by nature, or it's a really nice specimen that might end up in "The Cabinet".
If you want to remove some of the white residue, you might try pre-soaking them for a few hours and then do another soap run. I do my soap runs(UV-18) with the water just covering the rocks.
Good Job, let's get some more rolling!!
Henry
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Post by HankRocks on Feb 2, 2021 14:46:00 GMT -5
Peruano Do you have any idea what the t-bracket is called? ....never mind, I just went and asked Google and several options came up. I did buy 3 different night-lights to play around with, unfortunately attaching the slab was going to be the problem. It appears that the t-bracket may be the way to go. One thing about using polished slabs, they would show off nicely in non-light conditions. Fortunately I have been building a decent supply of them. Thanks Henry
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Post by HankRocks on Feb 1, 2021 7:36:39 GMT -5
stephan Technically, a decent amount of the material is from places that are on the "Old Stock" list. That would include material from Woodward/Walker ranches, East and West Lajitas Mesa complex, most all was donated to the Big Bend Ranch State Park, at least 3 different ranches south of Marfa - Singleton and ME and ?. Epidote from Calumet mine area, heard it's been closed off. Not sure of the Lake Emma area above Animas Forks - very nice Rhodonite. etc, etc. The closing of most of the Lajitas Mesa complex was a real bummer. There's a hill right off the river road with several large exposed veins of agate 3 to 5 inches wide, mostly moss. The slab of Lajitas Mesa Jasper I posted, gone. On my last Spring hike before the transfer found a nice small vein of black plume set in light blue agate. Did not have the tools to properly work it more. was going to come back in the Fall with better tools but as it turned out we were too late. Henry
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Post by HankRocks on Jan 31, 2021 21:40:09 GMT -5
Some of the pieces have been in there for 30 years and have been covered by newer material. Finding one of those covered pieces is kind of like finding it for the 2nd time!!
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Post by HankRocks on Jan 31, 2021 19:50:07 GMT -5
After being in this hobby for 13 years or so, I finally sold my first cabochon. I've always considered this a hobby, just for fun, and to make some shiny things for my daughters. I have to thank my beautiful Miss Ali for the inspiration to make the leap. Without her inspiration I wouldn't have thought to do it. MsAli So my first ever sale is a Bat Cave Jasper cab. I Also cut 2 more. This one I decided to cut the opposite of a "normal" bat cave cab. (please excuse the lint on the cab) And lastly this funky teardrop. At first I didn't care for this because of the matrix on it, but Ali liked it. After looking at it again I decided to finish it and I'm glad I did, as it's pretty dramatic. Thanks for looking! Very nice! You do realize that you have lost your amateur status?
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Post by HankRocks on Jan 31, 2021 9:01:34 GMT -5
Cut this one a couple days ago. Anyone care to name the material? It's not at all what I would have expected; IMG_2484 by Findrocks, on Flickr It's Petrified Wood. Not sure of the origin. Don't believe I have ever seen any this colorful and this agatized. Except for the bark on some of the outside the inside grain has been completely replaced with agate. I think I am going to have to dig around in the Rock Garden a bit more! Henry
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Post by HankRocks on Jan 30, 2021 18:32:47 GMT -5
Love that last Woodward agate but got to say I'm a bit pissed that I visited the ranch a number of times and Frank Jr never sent me over to that side of the road for some of that material....Mel I was hoping you might be one of the folks who had seen it before. Can't remember the exact circumstance as to why he sent us over there. We took a right out of the gate onto 118, drove maybe a 1/2 mile or so and turned left. I remember the material being on the east slope of a north/south running hill. There were several pieces laying around. It might be that may not have even know it was there or if he did find it maybe he never cut it. Just not sure. One has to wonder how much material is laying around on various ranches in the Big Bend area that have never been collected. Has to be some amazing material. Henry
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Post by HankRocks on Jan 30, 2021 8:47:31 GMT -5
Sweet! I love that you know where stuff comes from. The last one is amazing! I have never seen anything like it. Since it came from a seldom collected place it may be an original. As best I can remember the pieces were concentrated on the one slope. Since we were concentrating on finding biscuits with Red Plume we really did not give this one much thought. Maybe some of the old-time West Texas collectors might be familiar with this material.
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