88pathoffroad
spending too much on rocks
Oregon ROCKS!
Member since August 2008
Posts: 305
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Post by 88pathoffroad on Nov 20, 2008 0:15:51 GMT -5
This slab is from the Calapooya River area of Oregon. I found the vein of agate high above a logging road. Since I've never seen it's like and nobody else in my rock club had either, I named it "Calapooya microplume agate". I would say that it's rare because I'm pretty much the only person to haul enough of the material out to slab up and be able to use in lapidary work. When I found the vein it had been dug up by SOMEONE, but only small pieces had been removed as far as I could see, and I've never seen anything like this material. This is pictured wet. If one were to cut horizontally through the plume layers at the top of the slab, one would get something a little like this: See how the plumes are multi-layered in different colors as it progresses through the agate? It takes an uber-glossy shine, too. I like this stuff. I'd place a claim on it if I could afford to. I'm sure there are many pounds of agate to be extracted from the vein, it ran from 3-8 inches thick for at least 2 feet in the hole I found it in. I have several multi-pound blocks of broken rough in my garage still.
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Post by parfive on Nov 20, 2008 0:37:17 GMT -5
Wow, what a find! Great lookin' agate.
Now keep slabbin' and postin' pics!!! ;D Oh, and some cabs too . . . quick, quick ;D ;D
Rich
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Post by Woodyrock on Nov 20, 2008 1:16:50 GMT -5
That is one truely beautiful agate, it is just amazing what does come out of the Calapooia river. I have seen some really nice jaspers, of course carnelian, then there is wee bits of Holley blue, and even gold. So just when one says what more can be found you find a vein of this beautiful plume, or is it a flower agate. Me, I would call it Calapooia Flower agate. Woody
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deedolce
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2006
Posts: 1,828
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Post by deedolce on Nov 20, 2008 2:04:15 GMT -5
Wow, that's just beaUtiful!! Yes, please do cab some and let us take a look!
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SteveHolmes
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2009
Posts: 1,900
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Post by SteveHolmes on Nov 20, 2008 7:54:26 GMT -5
That is some really nice material. Congratz on your find. I'll bet it's very exciting and fun when you stumble across a vein of spectacular plume agate like that. I'm sure there's lots of hidden veins of agate hidden in those thick wooded areas. I'll bet the loggers find plenty of neat stuff too. Steve
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,456
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Post by Sabre52 on Nov 20, 2008 9:11:32 GMT -5
Nice plume and a new one for me so I added it to my notebook....Mel
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Post by Tonyterner on Nov 20, 2008 12:12:35 GMT -5
Making Mel's notebook is pretty impressive but that stone deserves. So beautiful and unique. Makes me want to move to Oregon.
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88pathoffroad
spending too much on rocks
Oregon ROCKS!
Member since August 2008
Posts: 305
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Post by 88pathoffroad on Nov 20, 2008 16:41:39 GMT -5
Thanks, everybody. In the Calapooya river valley alone I've found red jasper with dots of green all over it(reverse bloodstone!), quartz flowers of differing sizes, red quartz crystal (in very small quantities), zeolites, gold, silver and here's another first: I found the largest pockets of chabazite anyone has ever found in Oregon to date. I did a lot of searching, and I have never seen anyone present a piece of chabazite this big, always small thumbnail-sized pieces... This last picture is of chabazite with associated gmelinite on top, another fairly rare zeolite. One of the original pockets these pieces came from was roughly the size of a watermelon. O.O I tried to save it but the host rock just chipped and shattered off when I tried to chisel it. I have a larger piece with more crystals on it but it's lost in my garage, so no pic right now. Several of the biggest chunks of chabazite I have are going to the Rice NW Mineral Museum for a one-year display loan. Imagine that, a museum displaying a mineral I found! *is proud*
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Post by Bejewelme on Nov 20, 2008 19:11:55 GMT -5
Wow, you got some really neat material there. I would think you are proud of having your specimens in a museum, it is nice to want to share with others. I always enjoy your posts. Amber
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Post by krazydiamond on Nov 20, 2008 19:18:40 GMT -5
that is truly drool worthy agate, i'd love to see some cabs (get workin'!)
KD
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Post by catmandewe on Nov 20, 2008 19:58:06 GMT -5
Thats some very fine agate there, and to have one of your finds in a museum is truly something to be proud of. Thanks for showin us...................Tony
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Post by Bikerrandy on Nov 20, 2008 20:00:54 GMT -5
Awesome pieces, I love that last pic
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darrad
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2006
Posts: 1,636
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Post by darrad on Nov 20, 2008 20:11:15 GMT -5
That is beautiful Agate and if Mel had not heard of it it's got to be rare. I do not know anything about Chabazite but if your find is going to be in a museum that is two fine feathers in your cap to be sure.
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88pathoffroad
spending too much on rocks
Oregon ROCKS!
Member since August 2008
Posts: 305
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Post by 88pathoffroad on Nov 20, 2008 20:42:44 GMT -5
Thanks! I made one cab out of the agate already, gave it to my mom in a cinch-mount setting. There's a bit of lint on the surface in the pic, along with a few tiny pits.
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Post by stonesthatrock on Nov 20, 2008 21:02:18 GMT -5
omg thats some beautiful agate. What was the location? lol I may take a ride to oregon.... when its warm of course. heheheheh
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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 Nov 20, 2008 23:34:19 GMT -5
Oh Hell yeah! You got Braggin rights no doubt about it! OMG! those Rock! and the cab came out looking just as bytchin as I thought it would looking at that slab! whew! I'm jealous! I didn't know Oregon had so much stuff to play with .. and to think our back yard was the best! ( still do a little) lol but still.. excellent finds.. bravo to your coolest find on the mega monster .. ya know is that all the way through the rock? or just on the surface.. or do you think you will ever cut into that sucker to see what's inside.. Omg can you imagine ? whoa. . i'm just making myself jealous thinking about it.. lol..
good post! *smiles*
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Post by frane on Nov 21, 2008 22:04:04 GMT -5
WOW!!! that is really pretty and all are to be proud of. Thank you so much for sharing these finds and this beautiful cab with us! Fran
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DeanW
has rocks in the head
Member since December 2007
Posts: 721
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Post by DeanW on Nov 21, 2008 23:35:10 GMT -5
Very pretty agate finds and congrats on the museum showing!
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Post by sitnwrap on Nov 22, 2008 1:14:38 GMT -5
Your finds are amazing. and the cab breathtaking. Just curious but when you were hunting and found that vein, was it a complete stumble-upon or did something in the land cause you to search there? not that there is a whole lot in my state but when I'm in the woods and see huge boulders, I think "ok what should I be looking for"
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88pathoffroad
spending too much on rocks
Oregon ROCKS!
Member since August 2008
Posts: 305
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Post by 88pathoffroad on Nov 22, 2008 15:49:52 GMT -5
I found little brightly-colored chips of agate strewn down the hill I was standing on. Looked up, went up, found it. Originally, I stopped on that road because there was a little broken-rock quarry right there. The quarry had chunks of light grey-to-clear agate all over in in fist-sized pieces, along with quartz flowers and little quartz crystal clusters. I decided to go uphill and found the seam. 'Twasn't easy, I had to climb a hill strewn with rock up quite a ways.
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