one80mike
freely admits to licking rocks
@(-_-)@ Princess Leia!
Member since February 2007
Posts: 908
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Post by one80mike on Feb 1, 2007 0:29:53 GMT -5
Well, after checking this site out for a few months and reading and learning, I thought I'd stop watching and jump on board for the ride. My name is Mike, I'm 30 years old and I live in sunny Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. (That's about half-way up the east coast). After waiting and waiting for my Christmas present to reach the country, my first load of rocks are starting their 3rd week in 80 grit in my brand new Lortone 33B. (I used to think I was a patient person but I find myself wanting to look in that barrel everyday to see how those rocks are going). I have no idea what sort of rocks they are. Some of it is quartz but after that...I dunno. Maybe I 'll post some pics for the gurus out there to look at so that they can pass on some of their wisdom and learning. This Saturday I'm going agate hunting in Windera, about 3 hours drive NW of here. I have basically been guarenteed to find some good stuff on the property I'm visiting. I hope so. What I've seen of them, they look pretty sweet. We'll see.
Anyway, enough said. Have a top day folks. Keep looking up. Mike.
p.s. Any other Aussies out there in rock tumbling world?
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181lizard
Cave Dweller
Still lurking :)
Member since December 2005
Posts: 2,171
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Post by 181lizard on Feb 1, 2007 12:32:13 GMT -5
LOL - I've heard that things are waaaayyyyy different "down under" but, never thought the expressions would be so different.
In the states & Canada, we keep looking down cause THAT'S where we find most of our rocks! (giggling uncontrollably!)
Welcome Mike!
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spacegold
has rocks in the head
Member since September 2006
Posts: 732
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Post by spacegold on Feb 1, 2007 13:39:40 GMT -5
G'day, mate!
Nah, I'm not an Aussie, but I saw Crocodile Dundee and Quigley Down Under, so I know all about you croc poachers. ;D Just like you know about us from Butch Cassidy and reruns of Gunsmoke. But ya just have to love people that come up with Waltzin' Matilda, Pub with No Beer, and Redback on the Toilet Seat Last Night.
Thanks for joining in. Now we can look forward to a whole new set of adventure tales. Be sure to let us know about your trips, and take your camera along. Everyone loves pics. You'll soon enough have rock piled all around your place.
Oh, yeah, and belay the hammer. There's a cult got started over here that has no qualms about bashing good stone. Wastes close to half the material and damages a lot of what is left. No sense exporting that disease.
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Post by akansan on Feb 1, 2007 14:31:52 GMT -5
Welcome! There are a few around from Australia, but I can't remember their names. DeepSouth is from NZ, I think - which is kind of like saying Tweety's from Canada. Close, but not quite the same country! You sure do have some beautiful rocks over/down there though!
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one80mike
freely admits to licking rocks
@(-_-)@ Princess Leia!
Member since February 2007
Posts: 908
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Post by one80mike on Feb 1, 2007 18:43:14 GMT -5
Thanks for taking the time to say "hi". I'm sure this question has been asked more times than anyone cares to count. But, I may as well cause everyone to roll their eyes and ask anyway, is there a website or two that gives clear descriptions of specific rocks characteristics but using real layman's terms? I've go a whole stack of rocks I collected from the shores of a lake near where my parents live, lots of them have white quartz bands and black bands running through them. Some of them are deep red, others a caramel brown, there's dark grey, orange and some have a mixture of all of them and I have no clue what they are. But they are real hard. I'd love to be able to call them something other than just...rocks.
10 points to you liz. You got me! Yeah, eyes looking on the ground (something I find myself doing a lot these days) but keep your chin up and yopur heart looking up at the same time.
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Post by BAZ on Feb 1, 2007 20:41:47 GMT -5
Greetings Mike from another 30 (ish) Mike! When people say Australia most Americans think of The Great Barrier Reef, The Sydney Opera House and Christmas in the summer, but all I can think of are Lightning Ridge Opals!!! Never been to Australia but I would love to go (and not just for the opal mines of course) As for the websites, not too sure... www.mindat.org/ isn't too layman, I don't think. But I do know that there are tons of folks here that can help out here if you post some pics of your loot. At least tell you that it looks like quartz, agate, jasper, etc. Anyway, glad to see ya on the board!
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RockyBlue
fully equipped rock polisher
Go U.K.
Member since June 2006
Posts: 1,719
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Post by RockyBlue on Feb 1, 2007 21:05:05 GMT -5
Hey Mike! Welcome on board,When i first started i had problems with patience,i wanted patience right now I`m suprised with patience, Knowledge will come................Rocky
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flatumbler
starting to spend too much on rocks
Now totally addicted!!!
Member since January 2007
Posts: 191
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Post by flatumbler on Feb 1, 2007 21:35:43 GMT -5
Glad to have you Mike, the crowd is defenitely friendly here as I am sure you can see. I have personally never seen a A-Z guide on rocks yet with pictures, but I will be glad to see if I can find something for you. Hope your up and coming rock hound trip is prosperous and look forward to hearing from you again.
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one80mike
freely admits to licking rocks
@(-_-)@ Princess Leia!
Member since February 2007
Posts: 908
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Post by one80mike on Feb 1, 2007 21:49:20 GMT -5
Hey Baz, when I was a young teen on a road trip with my dad and little bro we passed through Lightning Ridge...but that's about it. Oh the regrets or lost opportunities. The place I'd love to check out is Agate Creek. No points for guessing what would be found there. From pics I've seen on the net, those rocks are SWEET! However, even though it's in the same state that I live in, it's still around 2000km away from Brisbane and smack in the middle of no where, hundreds of kms from any decent sized town. With a 4-year-old son, a 2-year-old daughter and a wife who thinks I'm going a bit rock crazy...I might not get there in the near future. I have however found an Aussie ebay store that sells Agate Creek agate pieces and nodules suitable for tumbling and my birthday is only a couple of months away. You never know what might happen. Mike
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dtcmor
freely admits to licking rocks
Back to lickin' rocks again!
Member since May 2006
Posts: 898
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Post by dtcmor on Feb 2, 2007 0:26:55 GMT -5
Welcome Mike! I know what you mean about the wife that thinks you are crazy! I've been here about a year now and mine is starting to see that there is no pulling me back from the bottomless rock pit! Once you get hooked, she'll have to let you run free ... as you will probably do anyway. ;D The people here are super friendly and can steer you in any direction you need with rocks and such. The one thing I have learned is that there are no stupid questions - so ask away and thou shalt receive! Keep rockin' and post many pictures! Dave
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blarneystone
spending too much on rocks
Rocks in my head
Member since March 2010
Posts: 307
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Post by blarneystone on Feb 2, 2007 9:03:49 GMT -5
Welcome to the board Mike!
Dan
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erbojones
has rocks in the head
Member since October 2006
Posts: 659
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Post by erbojones on Feb 2, 2007 13:21:32 GMT -5
G'Day Mike - not from Oz but a daily dose of Neighbours and Home and Away in the UK makes me feel like I'm there (not!!). My sister lived in Oz and travelled around for a year - bloody poms eh!?!
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MichiganRocks
starting to spend too much on rocks
"I wasn't born to follow."
Member since April 2007
Posts: 154
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Post by MichiganRocks on Feb 2, 2007 15:07:03 GMT -5
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Post by BAZ on Feb 2, 2007 19:21:39 GMT -5
"bloody poms eh!?!" After meeting 2 ladies visiting AZ last summer I found out what that meant! Nice girls, very flirtatious but I am married and my single friend was too shy to make any advances. He always gripes about not meeting anyone, but when the situation presents itself he bails! Oh well.
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Post by beefjello on Feb 2, 2007 21:07:00 GMT -5
Welcome Mike!
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jjckitti
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since January 2007
Posts: 775
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Post by jjckitti on Feb 5, 2007 19:34:08 GMT -5
So the next forum trip will be to your house?? haha. Always wanted to go to australia. Something about marsupials I just cant resist. Welcome to the site and to the wonderful world of rocks.
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