|
Post by Tonyterner on Jul 17, 2007 13:08:45 GMT -5
Unlike most of you who live in parts of the county where beautiful rocks grow on trees, I live in an area almost completly devoid of interesting rocks. That said, I stumbled across these in a stoned parking lot the other day. I love green so I picked them up. I am looking to get some idea of what they might be. It seems that they were adjacent to the typical grey stone we use in parking lots. I have no idea what the grey stone is either. Any help would be appreciated.
|
|
|
Post by hopelessbohemian on Jul 19, 2007 8:03:48 GMT -5
Hey there, I live in an area with very little interesting rocks as well so i feel your pain. Im still very new at this but since nobody else has said anything I'll give it a shot. I have a feeling it might be the plain driveway stone with something deposited on the outside. i find lots of rocks like that, where the outside decives me into thinking the rock is more interesting thn it really is. But then again I could be totally wrong. anyway good luck finding some cool rocks!
|
|
|
Post by Lady B on Jul 19, 2007 9:53:37 GMT -5
Mornin' Tony, At first I thought you were just kidding about not having much in the way of rocks near where you live but now I'm starting to think you might be serious. I grew up in Philly and except for myself and two cousins all the rest of my family still live in and around the Philly area. There are all kinds of sites in SE PA and over in Jersey that you could explore with your little one. I am patching in some links that might help to get you started. www.rockhounds.com/rockshop/clubs/pennsylvania.shtmlwww.dcnr.state.pa.us/topogeo/education/rocksminerals/es1.pdfwww.pennminerals.com/One is for Rock CLubs throughout Pennsy--a great resource for identifying local rocks. One is a pdf File that identifies PA rocks and minerals. The third is a good resource for rock and mineral info in PA. My sister lives in Aston, very near the Blue Route. There are several garnet mines near her. And over in Jersey there is a neat fluorescent minerals mine you could visit. (Here's a link about that from the Travel Channel Show: Cash and Treasures: travel.discovery.com/tv/cash-treasures/toolkit/fluorescent.html). If you get a chance to travel down to south Jersey you can look for Cape May diamonds along one of the most beautiful beaches on the Jersey shore. Pennsy is nothing but rock and so is half of Jersey so get out there and start hounding. ;D Lady B
|
|
|
Post by Tonyterner on Jul 19, 2007 11:16:37 GMT -5
Thanks Ladybeabea. I was born in Philly, work 45 minutes north of there and live about 1 1/4 hours north of the city. I had been to all of the links you posted with the exception of dcnr link. I saved the pdf for reading later. I've done quite a bit of research on line and in the library.
I found a geologic survey of the Lehigh Valley on line but haven't had time to read it yet. We do have two streams that have jasper in the valley. Collection is not allowed in one of them. We have been to the other and found some interesting rocks, mostly flint I think (I wouldn't know a piece of jasper if it came up and nibbled my tushy). Unfortunately, Only a small portion of that creek is accessible by the public, most is on a private golf course.
The local rock club's meetings conflict with my wood turning meetings and evening college but I do want to try to make it to one sooner or later.
I know about the garnets in the Philly area. Supposedly you can find them in some schist along the Wissahickon Creek in Fairmont Park. I have to find out where it is and if collecting is allowed there. We have a great quarry in Easton which has over 40 minerals. Problem is its private and the people who have access aren't willing to take visitors with them (they make money selling what they collect). Most of the fossil sites here in eastern PA have closed in the last 10 years due to liability issues (darn liberal courts).
When I say we don't have rock here what I mean is interesting tumblable cabable rock. Lots of bland grey brown stuff that is as boring as watching the washing machine, nothing like most of the people here have access to. I guess that explains why there are so few rockhounds around here.
OK, enough of my rant, thanks again.
|
|
|
Post by Lady B on Jul 19, 2007 11:34:04 GMT -5
Check out Ridley Creek Park and some of the areas in Delaware County just to the SW of Philly. RCP has a beautiful creek running through it and is open to the public by order of the Ridley and Bailey/Banks/Biddle families' Last Wills and Testaments.
Lady B
|
|
|
Post by Tonyterner on Jul 19, 2007 13:27:30 GMT -5
A little far from where I live but if there is something worth going for I will make the trip. I'll do a little research. Thanks.
|
|
karenfh
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2006
Posts: 1,495
|
Post by karenfh on Jul 20, 2007 0:24:42 GMT -5
Smash those rocks with a hammer, and tumble them. You never know! I've picked up some rocks in the parking lot, too. Some have tumbled very well! No good rocks in SW Nebraska, either. I actually took a few ice cream buckets to the place here in town that provides driveway and parking lot rocks. They usually sell it by the ton, they just laughed when I asked them how much they wanted for my 2 buckets. Also, landscaping places and garden centers sell rocks of many types. I've found some great pieces in the 'river rocks' piles. I would bet that when you do make it to a rock club meeting, you will make some friends and get some good ideas. Have fun!
|
|
desertdweller
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since August 2006
Posts: 1,803
|
Post by desertdweller on Jul 20, 2007 18:16:53 GMT -5
the rocks you have in the picture are epidot? not sure of the spelling but they are definitely epidot.
|
|
|
Post by Tonyterner on Jul 23, 2007 10:32:46 GMT -5
Thanks desertdweller I searched the web and I believe you are spot on. I just cut one up for a cab yesterday. Seems like its mine is fibrous, but then again I don't know squat about rocks.
|
|
desertdweller
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since August 2006
Posts: 1,803
|
Post by desertdweller on Jul 25, 2007 8:46:37 GMT -5
We have some much of that stuff around here, its usually found around the stuff we mine also. Sometimes you can find garnets in the epidot though, not too often but we ran onto some a few times. I will see if I can get a picture for you so you know what they look like.
|
|
|
Post by Tonyterner on Jul 26, 2007 13:33:57 GMT -5
Cool
|
|
snowdog
fully equipped rock polisher
RIP David Fildes, aka: snowdog
Member since January 2005
Posts: 1,527
|
Post by snowdog on Jul 31, 2007 15:05:09 GMT -5
another place you may want to check is the local pet stores --- seen where several people have found some nice chunks of different materials in the rocks for "fish tanks" section
|
|
|
Post by Tonyterner on Aug 1, 2007 11:05:40 GMT -5
Thanks David. I actually have a really nice piece of rose quartz in my daughter's fish tank that I got at an aqaurium store. Good idea.
|
|