johnsmith
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Post by johnsmith on Jan 17, 2007 1:33:41 GMT -5
hello everyone,
My name is john smith. This is my first post. I live here in Ohio and i was thinking about taking up rock tumbling as a hobby. I am a scuba diver and thought it might be fun to polish rocks that i find while scuba diving. I just did not know if Ohio was a place where there were hard enough stones to polish. I saw some pictures of polished limestone that had fossils inside of it. I know that Ohio's bed rock is limestone. Any info would be very helpful!
greetings and thanks!
John Smith
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Sabre52
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Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
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Post by Sabre52 on Jan 17, 2007 13:01:09 GMT -5
Howdy John, Most of what I've read about Ohio collecting concerns fossils but I do buy a lot of beautiful Ohio flint for cutting and tumbling. It all comes from the Flint Ridge region around Newark, Ohio. What I get comes from a private landowner but there may be areas in the region where you can gain access or fee dig if you look around. It's very pretty material and well worth collecting......mel
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johnsmith
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Post by johnsmith on Jan 17, 2007 14:13:42 GMT -5
thats awesome! i have no idea what flint looks like though. i live about 40 minutes away from Newark.
for a rock to be polished, it has to be a hard stone right?
is there an easy way to distinguish what will polish and what wont?
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Post by sandsman1 on Jan 17, 2007 14:20:25 GMT -5
i think flint ridge has the nicest flint anywhere so if your close to flint ridge you got gold close to home haha -- neathers and Nelli blue are a few of the names there called ---- i know i spelled them wrong but you get the idea heres a pic of some neathers i picked up awile back my fav  |
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johnsmith
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Member since January 2007
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Post by johnsmith on Jan 17, 2007 15:11:31 GMT -5
sweet. then this might be a good place to take up this hobby. i read throughout the site and read on what kinds of stones can be polished but not really about identifying them.
are the stones that people polish ones that already have a glassy look to them? like the neathers sandman posted?
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,494
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Post by Sabre52 on Jan 17, 2007 16:56:12 GMT -5
John: Yes the flint has a nice shiney , sharp, glassy break to it. Usually any hard fine grained stone that is prety homogeneous in texture will take a good polish. Flint Ridge Flint is famous all over for being some of the finest material around to work with and to make it even better, it varies so much in pattern and color as to mimic other fine quartz gems from all over the US. Some pieces look like picture jasper, others have bands or fortifications or even nice crystal pockets. I love the stuff!...mel
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Post by beefjello on Jan 17, 2007 19:41:30 GMT -5
Hi John... Dave (dtcmor) lives out that a way and finds some real nice material (the flint and chert) that tumbles really well. Perhaps he'll be along and share some spots with you  By the way, welcome and Happy Birthday! |
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Post by beefjello on Jan 17, 2007 19:42:38 GMT -5
Wow.. those neathers are nice!
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dtcmor
freely admits to licking rocks
Back to lickin' rocks again!
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Post by dtcmor on Jan 18, 2007 1:32:31 GMT -5
Hi John, and welcome! I am an Ohioan (N.W - near Toledo) also and am really taking an interest in Flint as of late. Although I do not have much access to the Flint Ridge Flint that is common in your area (and one of the most sought after), our state produces many types of more general Flint and Chert too that is very workable. I have a bunch of local varieties that have produced some very good results for me. If you are interested, and since you are from the Newark area, I would suggest checking out the Flint Ridge Park there near you. The Park itself is off limits to collecting as it is protected as an ancient archaeological site of the native Indian cultures that once inhabited the region, but there is still alot that can be learned from the site and about the surrounding area. From what I have heard, there are a few private properties that border the Park that might sell pieces or even allow access to gather your own - I have yet to find any contacts for any information. Here are a couple of links that have some of the information that I have found so far that might get you started in the right direction. If you happen on anything useful yourself, make sure to post it here as there are many on the board (including myself) that would be interested. www.placesohio.com/ohio-historic-sites/flintridgestatememorial/index.htmlwww.ohiohistory.org/places/flint/Here are also a couple pics of rough and tumbled flint... Rough  Tumbled  Hope this helps! Dave |
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johnsmith
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Member since January 2007
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Post by johnsmith on Jan 18, 2007 2:25:44 GMT -5
thanks beef i turned 21 today.
wow. i thank you all for the responses! with no delay as well.
Newark is kind of north east of me. I could probably find some way of getting some stones for me to polish.
I don't have a tumbler or anything quite yet. I was really just wondering what was involved with this hobby. WOW! There is way more to this than i would have ever imagined!
I am going to do some research on places where i might be able to get some rocks!
i saw a picture on the picture portion of the website. it had a biiiiig chunk of tigers eye, and some kind of mining pick next to it! do people actually get their rocks like this? I kinda half guessed that you just walked around finding them?
I'm sure there is still tons i dont know!
i was just looking at a website a little bit ago. I know someone who has 75 acres of land in hocking county. its all like wooded, creeks, cliffs, and mountains type land. I searched the minerals for this county.
The Underlying rock layers of Hocking County date back to the Paleozoic era, being pretty evenly divided between the Pennsylvanian period on the east and the Mississippian period on the west. The Pennsylvanian period extends from 310 to 345 million years ago, while the Mississippian period extends from 3445 to 405 million years ago. This wide span of years helps to explain the wide variety of mineral deposits found within Hocking County.
Mineral Types
Sand
Sandstone
Saltpeter
Clay
Coal
Gravel
Flint
Limestone
Petroleum
Top Soil
Forests
Iron Ore
do you think id be able to find some stones here?
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dtcmor
freely admits to licking rocks
Back to lickin' rocks again!
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Post by dtcmor on Jan 18, 2007 13:34:51 GMT -5
Out of your list of minerals in Hocking Co., the Flint would be the one best suitable for tumbling or polishing. With the Limestone and Gravel (not good tumbling materials) you might be able to find some Quartz( the white/clear and glassy looking material) that would also be a good candidate, as long as there are not too many fractures in it. There are also many other variations of Quartz and similar materials that weren't listed, but also great to use. Try this web-sight link and scroll down to the Ohio listing - it will give you some more interesting facts for our state. geology.about.com/od/stategeologicmaps/Geologic_Maps_of_the_US_States.htmIf you are looking for some Flint to try, let me know and I can send you a box. I have some extra I will part with to help you starting out - just send me a PM from the top of the page with your information. |
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turnedstone
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Post by turnedstone on Jan 18, 2007 20:55:58 GMT -5
Hi John flint ridge is about a 6 miles long ridge that is exposed in different areas along this ridge. Do a search on Ohio geology and i think you should come up with the areas around you that have flint . The area that has the most flint extends south west from flint ridge toward Circleville. The ridges come and go all the way down into Kentucky. Check the creeks in your area I'm sure you will find some.Sounds like we need to have a Ohio flint ridge rock trip this year some time. We are building up a nice little Ohio group. Hope this helps you out. I am in cincy Btw.
George
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johnsmith
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Post by johnsmith on Jan 18, 2007 23:04:36 GMT -5
you guys are like the most helpful people ever! i dont know why i am taking such an interest too it! but i went to the book store today to look for a book on identifying rocks and rock polishing books. no rock polishing books at the discount books store though  , there were some rock and mineral books but it was nothing that i could use to identify a rock; say if i found one out in woods. are there any books that i could use to find out what type of rock something is? say start with color, then go more in depth with each step. just so i can identify them when i am out. i am going to buy a mining pick next wednesday, and go up to flint ridge next weekend. I think i might have to be kinda sneaky though if i want some flint! ;D you guys rock and i am glad i'm not bothering you guys. mostly because i will have a lot more questions as i progress in this! |
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dtcmor
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Post by dtcmor on Jan 19, 2007 0:59:09 GMT -5
John - I would check e-bay for the books - also there might be some links in the Venders section here that could lead you to the reading material. The Rock Shed has a few you might be interested in - here is the link. www.therockshed.com/I would be careful if you plan on going to the Flint Ridge area as it is a protected State Memorial Park and concidered an archeological site. Your best bet would probably be the private properties located near and around the borders - stop and ask the owners for any information they might be able to pass on. If you find something interesting - make sure you pass it on to the rest of us here as Turnedstone mentioned about a trip sometime - we need some info also (see below). Hey Turnedstone - Jerryb and I had been trying to put together a trip with a few members last fall to see about getting to the Flint Ridge area sometime this spring or summer, but we never really came up with any good contacts to get any information on places open to the public. If you know of anything interesting give us a shout - a trip would be great! |
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johnsmith
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Post by johnsmith on Jan 19, 2007 1:34:01 GMT -5
yes, ill definately try to get access to somewhere i can do it without any trouble.
if i go to flint ridge. how do you recognize a good spot to look?
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dtcmor
freely admits to licking rocks
Back to lickin' rocks again!
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Post by dtcmor on Jan 20, 2007 0:59:06 GMT -5
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turnedstone
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Post by turnedstone on Jan 20, 2007 18:40:32 GMT -5
I have never looked for rocks when I have been there. I go up for the knapping fest. they hold on the grounds each year.I have been looking for a rock hounding trip report that I read about 2 years ago. It said something about a creek on the highway that after about a mile up the creek they found a ridge that went trough the creek bed. He did say it was not as nice as the Nelly(sp) blue flint but nice none the less.I will look some more and post on here if i find it. YES YES on a trip to rock hound we will work on that lol. I think they have a spring knapping fest that they do not tell the public about open to the public but mostly used for the knappers to get together think it is in may that maybe a good time to plan a trip up as we can get info from them as most are from there. BTW the fall knapping Fest. is the largest in the U.S.
George
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johnsmith
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Post by johnsmith on Jan 21, 2007 15:35:24 GMT -5
what is knapping? thanks again dtcmor that will be a great help when i actually get to go look! i was supposed to go scuba diving yesterday at New Springs Resort in New Paris, Ohio. i was planning on nabbing a few rocks and take some pictures to show you guys. Although.... as we geared up and i waded into the 30 degree water. my regulator froze and would not stop spitting air out of it. but while i was waiting for my brother and our friend to end the dive. i looked in the shallows for some rocks. not necessarily to polish but maybe get some info on. the picture quality is horrid. the flash would just shine off the rock and would make it look like i was holding a fireball. so i got a flashlight and took pictures without flast. that instead made it look like i lived in a cave. but its the best i got. how do you all normally take pictures of your rocks? i looked in the field guide to rocks and minerals book i bought, and this i think is limestone? it looks hard and has a glassy look to it. <img src="http://www.linkleaf.com/ferociousxferret/rock/rock2.JPG" align=center width=500 height=400 alt="text"> this one carries kind of a greenish color. i couldn't find anything like it in the book. <img src="http://www.linkleaf.com/ferociousxferret/rock/rock4.JPG" align=center width=500 height=400 alt="text"> there was a picture in my book that kind of looked like this rock. it was called hornblende biotite granite. although it sorta looks like asphalt :\ <img src="http://www.linkleaf.com/ferociousxferret/rock/rock3.JPG" align=center width=500 height=400 alt="text"> this small one looks similar to the first one i showed. limestone? <img src="http://www.linkleaf.com/ferociousxferret/rock/rock1.JPG" align=center width=500 height=400 alt="text"> once again i apologize for the low quality of pictures. sorry if these are worthless! |
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turnedstone
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Post by turnedstone on Jan 21, 2007 19:41:38 GMT -5
Knapping the art of making arrow heads or knapping rock(chipping off the rock to make tools).Flint ridge state park is an old Indian mine. They have a Museum built right over top of one of their old pits,you can walk trails that go past a few of them also. The park is about 525 acres. The Flint ridge it self is about 6 square miles it starts in Eastern Licking county going east into Muskingum county.The deposit ranges in thickness from 1 foot to 12 feet. The Indians dug hundreds of pits all along the ridge to mine the flint from under ground because they found its was less brittle when it had not been exposed to the elements. Tools from flint ridge have been found all over the U.S. as far west as Kansas City,as far South as Louisiana, and all the way to the East coast. Them Indians knew a pretty rock when they seen it lol. It was loved for its array of colors and durability. This part of Ohio is like no other place for Indian related historical sites. Has anyone ever seen Serpent Mound wow if you make it to Ohio and do not see that shame on you.
George
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dtcmor
freely admits to licking rocks
Back to lickin' rocks again!
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Post by dtcmor on Jan 22, 2007 0:04:43 GMT -5
Turnedstone - I have been to Serpent Mound while on a camping trip to Cowan Lake. It was years ago and I do not remember much of it clearly other than it is an Indian burial site. I have also seen many of the other mounds that are scattered across the state - most in S.E. Ohio. You are right about the Indian historical sites - We have 2 old Forts - Defiance & Meigs that are within 30 miles of us. Part of the old Erie canal system runs right out in front of the house on the Maumee River also. Many exciting Indian related things of intrest in my neck of the woods!
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, there were some rock and mineral books but it was nothing that i could use to identify a rock; say if i found one out in woods. 
