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Post by gaetzchamp on Jan 20, 2005 21:01:02 GMT -5
Well, just got done w/ my first ever batch.....not too happy, but I'll get there.
I wanted to start up a batch of some of my local rock, nothing specific, just some I picked up in the mountains and in some river beds.
My question is, is there an easy way to determine if "this" rock or "that" will be worth tumbling? I found a really cool rock w/ striping on the outside, but after I busted it up it lost all it's striping on the inside. I'm gonna go for it and see how it tumbles out, but thought I'd get some of your ideas on what you look for?
thanks, Gaetz
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Post by connrock on Jan 20, 2005 21:14:03 GMT -5
Sometimes you get a good surprise with self collected rocks and sometimes you get that nasty old bad surprise. Some agates are notorious for only having their patern on the "outside".When you grind or rough them in a tumbler too much you can loose their patern. I'd say if it's big enough do just as you did,,,,Break it to see whats inside. If it's small enough to throw in the tumbler throw it in and see what happens. One thing about self collecting your rocks. If you carry a small piece of quartz while you're collecting you can try to scratch your new find with it.If it scratches toos it back. If it doesn't scratch,,,,,,,,,It's a keeper. Hope this helps a little,,,,,,,,, Tom
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Post by puppie96 on Jan 21, 2005 2:56:07 GMT -5
1. glittery, glassy, or crystalline looking 2. pretty color 3. pretty banding 4. you read that there might be something or other there, and this thing looks remotely like it might be the right color to be one. Otherwise it could be petrified wood. 5. it looks something like one of the photos you saw on this board 6. with very little effort, it's possible to convince yourself that almost any rock is a Lake Superior agate
I hope that this is helpful. Follow these tips and you can hardly go wrong.
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Jan 23, 2005 16:07:22 GMT -5
I like to use the wet test- Wet it and see what happens- If the rock dries very quickly- it probably is not worth it- If it stays wet for a while then it might have potential- the wet test also gives you a slight idea what it will look like tumbled- Around my area we don;t have a lot to work with but as it is glacial till we do get a few winners once in a while
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Post by creativeminded on Jan 24, 2005 10:22:54 GMT -5
To go along with the post that Stefan put up, I watch the rock and if it looks like the water is being soaked up by the rock it is too porus and won't tumble well. Has too much of a sand content. Tami
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