cosmo
off to a rocking start
Member since September 2008
Posts: 2
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Post by cosmo on Sept 26, 2008 13:32:23 GMT -5
So what do you do during a 12 month deployment in Iraq?Tumble some stink'n rock of course...!!I'm an Army eye doctor and thankfully very bored here in northern Iraq. The bases we're on over here are covered with a tremendous amount of gravel. Given that I walk everywhere I see a lot of rocks! I began picking up the ones I thought looked interesting. I find a lot of rocks with quartz (I guess) veins running through them. Now, I have never tumbled, collected, or really done anything with rocks except throw or kick them, but in an attempt to pass the time I decided to get a rock tumbler. I went on ebay and bought two tumblers (chicago electric rotary drum 3lb), replacement belts, assorted grits, polish, and plastic beads. I'm all set! However, I have a few questions for the pros out there: 1. What kind of rocks do I have here (picture)? 2. Are they worth tumbling? 3. Notice the quartz veins...any special consideration...(i.e. will the quartz wear down before the stone or vice versa)? 4. Most of the rocks I find are already relatively smooth and nicely shaped. Do I go straight to a fine grit polish? What kind? Thanks for your help. Sorry about the photo size. -Drew
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Post by akansan on Sept 26, 2008 15:34:26 GMT -5
Welcome, Drew! Gotta say - I'm glad you're bored over there. One of our members many moons ago posted some Iraqi tumbles: forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=Pictures&thread=9556Best guess on the quartz veins is the stone around them will undercut rather than the other way around...if there's any undercutting at all. As the pebbles are already smooth, I'd probably throw them in coarse for a week or two only and then move on to the fine grit. That way, you can be sure they are all ground to the same roughness before moving on. Now - Thanks for what you are doing, and stay safe!
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Post by rockrookie on Sept 26, 2008 19:04:10 GMT -5
i can't help you on ID . but , welcome to the board & thank you so much for your service . please pass on my thanks to others . God bless !!-----------------paul
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MidNight~Rocksi3
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2008
Posts: 1,716
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Post by MidNight~Rocksi3 on Sept 26, 2008 22:52:18 GMT -5
Umm.. I'd say just keep em for the sake of keeping them.. not sure what the ID of them would be either.. But the idea of you being waaaaay over there.. is what made me want to say Hello and Thanks for doing what you do..
Oh and Welcome to the board.!
*smiles*
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Post by sitnwrap on Sept 27, 2008 20:01:57 GMT -5
Drew, a huge thank you to you and the rest who are over there. I don't know the stones but welcome to RTH.
God bless you for your unsefish service.
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cosmo
off to a rocking start
Member since September 2008
Posts: 2
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Post by cosmo on Sept 28, 2008 6:57:26 GMT -5
Thanks everyone. Colton, thanks a lot..! Great page. I am in Mosul and you're right I'm not finding anything like the stuff on your page from Tikrit. I have some Soldiers at FOB Speicher though...I might have to make a trip down there to check on them (hunt some rocks). When you were in Mosul where would you look for rocks? I find really rough small peices of what I guess are like ...I dunno...red chalcedony/agate....nothing nice and round like your stuff. I've just been looking in the gravel along the way to the chow hall. Any better locations around here to find big stuff..? Thanks a lot. -drew
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Post by frane on Sept 28, 2008 8:56:08 GMT -5
Hi Drew,
Welcome aboard! This is a great site to learn and just enjoy hearing what fellow rockhounds have to say. It will help you pass your free time while your over there, and hopefully, make your time pass faster! I once had a topographical map of that region that listed known mines...this was when I was a kid and didn't know what value that would have now. Since then, it has been lost or destroyed. It was pretty old and I do remember it listing the lapis mines in Afganistan and silicates in Iraq. Current research shows limestone in Iraq as well as salt minerals.Currently, I can't find anything like the old map I had as a kid (made me think of the Arabian knights stories). I have read that there are some nice rocks to be had from the Tigris, closer to the "great Zab". The little Zab has too many dams that block the natural flow so the rocks are kept from drifting down. I don't know what kind of rocks you have there but they are fantastic looking! I would suggest that you keep half of what you find to bring home as is and tumble the rest as an experiment. Check your barrel often so you can see how they are doing and make sure they don't turn to mud on you. Check to see if they scrape with a knife. That will at least tell you if it is harder or softer than a MOH 5 (if they don't scrape, tumble away, if they do, be gentle with them). Over 90% of that region has not been explored for mineral deposits, other than oils so happy hunting and keep safe! Fran
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Post by cpdad on Sept 28, 2008 15:21:58 GMT -5
welcome to the site drew....colton is actually my 14 year old son....i told him an army doctor just signed up to the site and was looking for some info from iraq and asked him if he had any info to help....he told me to hop up out of my chair he would make a post....i aint sure if he knew of the link...or searched it up for you ;D his grandad retired from the army.....and colton has studied military stuff since he was old enough to read....and before that his grandad taught him the army ways...grandad was hardcore military ;D...and colton was his student. the boy can fly planes and hold conversations with military folks that are way above my head....but yet has no desire to learn to drive a car....go figure ;D. he isnt into rocks at all anymore....he just made a post because you were an army guy ;D.....he is a high school freshman this year and has joined the navy jrotc.....thats what his school offered. here is colton...you can click the pic be safe drew...post more pics....and thanks for the job you are doing....kev.
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Post by stonesthatrock on Sept 29, 2008 19:44:34 GMT -5
welcome to the board, enjoy yourself
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