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Post by cabby on Jun 27, 2024 12:18:12 GMT -5
I didn’t consider documenting things until I had already brushed off 1/3 of the box, but I will make an effort to take plenty of pics in the future! I started on the box labeled “Botswana agate” today. The before picture (minus 1/3 of them): ![](https://res.cloudinary.com/forum-rocktumblinghobby-com/image/upload/v1719507839/phcdi1uz4gfsr9mfgvqa.jpg) My process so far has been grab a box, dust with a dry brush, wipe with dry rag, toss a manageable amount into soapy water and scrub with toothbrush, finish with clean water rinse and set out to air dry. ![](https://res.cloudinary.com/forum-rocktumblinghobby-com/image/upload/v1719507973/a6zygxkmtfp3jyj1zl4z.jpg) I washed these agates in 3 batches (scrubby muscles need breaks!) ![](https://res.cloudinary.com/forum-rocktumblinghobby-com/image/upload/v1719508059/bpd6eccgnanqklblcddh.jpg) ![](https://res.cloudinary.com/forum-rocktumblinghobby-com/image/upload/v1719508057/gdmfk2ryprogwxtsxant.jpg) ![](https://res.cloudinary.com/forum-rocktumblinghobby-com/image/upload/v1719508058/t072eitan9g0e2kwcmlt.jpg) I don’t know much about agates in general, much less Botswana agates. I know that nodules are rare these days due to export ban on unprocessed materials, but nothing else. Below are the ones that caught my attention the most. ![](https://res.cloudinary.com/forum-rocktumblinghobby-com/image/upload/v1719508208/hffh0kvevzwmgcdhmaxj.jpg) biggest one ![](https://res.cloudinary.com/forum-rocktumblinghobby-com/image/upload/v1719508236/oowgnvvf1bkt2pg4vh32.jpg) skin and shape are very different from the rest ![](https://res.cloudinary.com/forum-rocktumblinghobby-com/image/upload/v1719508288/riv4ogeuiheiib3orhrg.jpg) ![](https://res.cloudinary.com/forum-rocktumblinghobby-com/image/upload/v1719508288/qmw6yoyqlgdshddueagk.jpg) heavily weathered! Thought it was chert at first but could see light light through the more chipped areas ![](https://res.cloudinary.com/forum-rocktumblinghobby-com/image/upload/v1719508387/epbqkrdwhtrgoithffv4.jpg) opaque green “footing” of some sort ![](https://res.cloudinary.com/forum-rocktumblinghobby-com/image/upload/v1719508448/g1zb69ybck9ufjae7z16.jpg) ![](https://res.cloudinary.com/forum-rocktumblinghobby-com/image/upload/v1719508449/v6uara2dvt8oxjvyaade.jpg) tiny eyes, I’m guessing? ![](https://res.cloudinary.com/forum-rocktumblinghobby-com/image/upload/v1719508488/jrfbbfwt5udfxyfwzgiz.jpg) ![](https://res.cloudinary.com/forum-rocktumblinghobby-com/image/upload/v1719508488/s4mtdsdw9ctoy9tz1kv0.jpg) reminds me of crazy lace! and my favorite one, which I may never be brave enough to work myself…. ![](https://res.cloudinary.com/forum-rocktumblinghobby-com/image/upload/v1719508668/sxas1jc25bwla4gj0753.jpg)
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Post by rockjunquie on Jun 27, 2024 12:50:00 GMT -5
Gonna need a bigger brush... ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/smiley.png)
Great start! You sure got your work cut out for you. It ought ta be fun, though. Sorry I can't help with agates- though I love them, I'm no good at IDing most of them.
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Post by cabby on Jun 27, 2024 12:52:14 GMT -5
forgot to mention the total! 35 agates of various sizes (mostly 1.5x2” or larger) for a total of 8#. Think I will start weighing things before cleaning as well! ![](https://res.cloudinary.com/forum-rocktumblinghobby-com/image/upload/v1719510613/ohqnimgxhbkv3hckfjfj.jpg)
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Post by cabby on Jun 27, 2024 12:55:56 GMT -5
There’s waaaaaay to many rocks in total or else I would try before and after of individual pieces. I’m starting with the small boxes inside of larger bins (most likely to be labeled) and working my way up lol
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Post by cabby on Jun 27, 2024 14:18:27 GMT -5
I had originally assumed that either the largest chunk or the nice eye one would be the “most valuable”… but with the ban against exporting unprocessed materials would that make the heavily weathered one the most impressive? I like how unique it is but thought it might be boring to others, but maybe not!
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Post by cabby on Jun 27, 2024 15:18:50 GMT -5
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Post by cabby on Jun 27, 2024 15:20:01 GMT -5
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Post by cabby on Jun 27, 2024 15:20:54 GMT -5
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Post by cabby on Jun 27, 2024 15:21:47 GMT -5
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Post by cabby on Jun 27, 2024 15:22:37 GMT -5
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Post by cabby on Jun 27, 2024 15:23:25 GMT -5
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Post by cabby on Jun 27, 2024 15:24:15 GMT -5
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Post by cabby on Jun 27, 2024 15:25:07 GMT -5
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Post by cabby on Jun 27, 2024 15:27:14 GMT -5
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Jun 27, 2024 15:35:40 GMT -5
Beautiful Bots you got! Bots are a banded agate that will sometimes show parallax banding. They can also have speckles or "eyes" in them sometimes. Really nice chunks of Crazy Lace, too.
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Mark K
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2012
Posts: 2,733
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Post by Mark K on Jun 27, 2024 15:47:44 GMT -5
I generally just hit everything with the garden hose.
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chris1956
fully equipped rock polisher
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Member since July 2022
Posts: 1,962
Member is Online
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Post by chris1956 on Jun 27, 2024 16:37:23 GMT -5
If I have something dirty, I sometimes let them soak overnight in a bucket. Makes the dirt come off easier.
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Post by cabby on Jun 27, 2024 17:08:29 GMT -5
All of the “collection” was stored in open bins in the basement with no ventilation. So definitely had a layer of dust+oil mist to start with… then sat around for 40+ years… then stayed exposed for the two year process of gutting the house to the foundation and rebuilding it. Then still sitting around when more slabs are cut (still no ventilation) plus basement turned into a woodworking shop to give them a new oily dust layer… every little nook and cranny is packed with grime! I do what I can with the bigger brushes first but there’s always tons of crevices to scrub with a toothbrush. Trying to get things cleaned, identified, and organized so they are ready to cut whenever.
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Post by oregon on Jun 27, 2024 22:56:47 GMT -5
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Post by cabby on Jun 28, 2024 7:33:25 GMT -5
Trent agate is a very good suggestion! Everything from when it was mined to where it’s from matches what I would expect from this “collection”, and even in the same box as materials he would have ordered at the same time (the sunset jasper). I tried slicing a sample last night and my saw was definitely acting very different from my typical agate cuts… will check it out under magnification later and see if I can identify the minerals! Thank youuu! No way I can even guess at things I don’t know exist!
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