gemfeller
Cave Dweller 
Member since June 2011
Posts: 4,059 
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Post by gemfeller on Apr 10, 2024 12:56:23 GMT -5
I confess to cutting a crappy cab now and then, but this time I did it on purpose. These are 60-million-plus -year-old dinosaur coprolites, otherwise known as agatized dino dung. They were collected in Wyoming by Randy RWA3006 who kindly sent me some of his material to cut. Little known fact: despite their great age, coprolites still make great fertilizer. They are rich in phosphate, which can be released by a simple acid chemical treatment. During World War I they were mined commercially in England during a fertilizer shortage. They also make interesting and attractive jewelry. And they’re always a great conversation-starter!  |
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Post by rockjunquie on Apr 10, 2024 13:01:38 GMT -5
I confess to cutting a crappy cab now and then, but this time I did it on purpose. These are 60-million-plus -year-old dinosaur coprolites, otherwise known as agatized dino dung. They were collected in Wyoming by Randy RWA3006 who kindly sent me some of his material to cut. Little known fact: despite their great age, coprolites still make great fertilizer. They are rich in phosphate, which can be released by a simple acid chemical treatment. During World War I they were mined commercially in England during a fertilizer shortage. They also make interesting and attractive jewelry. And they’re always a great conversation-starter! Too funny AND interesting.
I can fix your link if you want.
ETA I see you did it.  |
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gemfeller
Cave Dweller
Member since June 2011
Posts: 4,059
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Post by gemfeller on Apr 10, 2024 13:03:27 GMT -5
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Post by rockjunquie on Apr 10, 2024 13:04:27 GMT -5
You did. |
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Post by rockjunquie on Apr 10, 2024 13:15:26 GMT -5
Nice cabs, BTW! Very nice!
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Post by Pat on Apr 10, 2024 14:21:30 GMT -5
Interesting. So I can’t bury a coprolite next to an ailing plant and expect the plant to improve? Does the simple chemical treatment use what I might have at home? Thanks.
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gemfeller
Cave Dweller
Member since June 2011
Posts: 4,059
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Post by gemfeller on Apr 10, 2024 15:08:09 GMT -5
Interesting. So I can’t bury a coprolite next to an ailing plant and expect the plant to improve? Does the simple chemical treatment use what I might have at home? Thanks. Don't know. I researched a little and came across that bit of trivia but it didn't explain the acid treatment process. It just said it was done commercially in England during a fertilizer shortage. |
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Post by drocknut on Apr 10, 2024 15:54:55 GMT -5
Nice crap
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Post by jasoninsd on Apr 10, 2024 19:09:54 GMT -5
Rick, those look fantastic! They're going to make great bolo ties! I saw your comment in the coprolite thread about the undercutting. I've experienced the same with the ones I've worked. If you do come across a better way to work these, I'll be watching for more info! |
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RWA3006
Cave Dweller
Member since March 2009
Posts: 4,626
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Post by RWA3006 on Apr 10, 2024 19:19:38 GMT -5
[quote author=" jasoninsd" source="/post/1317027/thread" timestamp="1712794194" If you do come across a better way to work these, I'll be watching for more info! [/quote] Me too. |
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Post by chris1956 on Apr 10, 2024 19:22:14 GMT -5
Nice stuff! I have one coprolite (I am going to have to get more) and was trying to figure out if I should just cut it in half or make some slabs. Think I will make some slabs and cabs now. Thanks for the post on these.
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iamchris
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2023
Posts: 722
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Post by iamchris on Apr 10, 2024 23:54:43 GMT -5
Interesting. So I can’t bury a coprolite next to an ailing plant and expect the plant to improve? Does the simple chemical treatment use what I might have at home? Thanks. I'm no poopologist, but I believe the prevailing theory is that it takes advantage of the weak plant, sucks up its nutrients, and grows into a poop tree. How else would they reproduce? That has to be how Randy got so many. |
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Post by liveoak on Apr 11, 2024 6:18:55 GMT -5
They all look great ! Not possible to choose one, they all have a fabulous polish ! Patty
PS- I just saw your other post about undercutting on the flats.
Thanks for the warning - any tips on what polish you used.
Cab fronts look terrific & I'm just preforming some shit myself.
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gemfeller
Cave Dweller
Member since June 2011
Posts: 4,059
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Post by gemfeller on Apr 11, 2024 11:01:05 GMT -5
They all look great ! Not possible to choose one, they all have a fabulous polish ! Patty PS- I just saw your other post about undercutting on the flats.
Thanks for the warning - any tips on what polish you used.
Cab fronts look terrific & I'm just preforming some shit myself.
Thanks for the good words. Undercutting was really a slight problem on the ones I've cut so far. I'm not really aggressive on the grinding wheels, preferring to let the diamond do the work. I do push fairly hard on the 60 grit sintered wheel during major stock removal though. The only one that gave me some problems was the dark shield shape. I used a 100 grit silicon carbide belt on an expando to flatten the back and it seemed to remove material unevenly. Nothing major. |
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Post by liveoak on Apr 11, 2024 11:27:09 GMT -5
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realrockhound
Cave Dweller
Chucking leaverite at tweekers
Member since June 2020
Posts: 4,490
Member is Online
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Post by realrockhound on Apr 11, 2024 11:41:13 GMT -5
Very nice. Kinda look like fine jasper.,
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gemfeller
Cave Dweller
Member since June 2011
Posts: 4,059
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Post by gemfeller on Apr 11, 2024 11:44:20 GMT -5
Very nice. Kinda look like fine jasper., Yeah, that's what it reminds me of but it's softer. |
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dshanpnw
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since December 2020
Posts: 1,158
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Post by dshanpnw on Apr 11, 2024 20:56:14 GMT -5
Those are the best Dino dung cabs I've ever seen. Great job. Thanks for sharing.
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Post by RickB on Apr 12, 2024 19:55:50 GMT -5
Very nice. Kinda look like fine jasper., Let's call it jaspoo. Edit: Or maybe dungforest jasper. |
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