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Post by tntmom on Aug 2, 2009 19:05:25 GMT -5
Ok, so I've been lurking here as a guest since April. My daughter got a toy tumbler for her birthday on 4/12. She was interested for a whole week and then went sour...totally walked away from her present. Me......like always, I got hooked! One more hobby to throw in the mix! I already do coral reef tanks, freshwater planted tanks, and now rocks. Guess I can't get enough of Mother Nature, love it! I have done three batches so far. I currently have two toy NSI 1/2lb tumblers that I am using for the stuff that didn't work. I also have a RT-5 Vibe that I have been using for beach collected rocks on our private beach in San Juans, Puget Sound, WA. I'm pretty happy with the results so far. I will post those pics soon. This place has taught me everything!!! Love it and will continue to read daily. I'm not much of a poster but I will post pics of my current batch in the next couple of days. I can't believe how much I have learned in 3 months from this site.....can't wait to progress! This site rocks!!! All of you have helped me so much. Thanks!
~Krystee
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Post by Bikerrandy on Aug 2, 2009 20:13:24 GMT -5
Great to have ya here, looking forward to many pics!
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Aug 2, 2009 20:27:42 GMT -5
Welcome Krystee!!! We are in St. Helens, Oregon. I was up in the San Juans last year and brought back some beach rock........Agate Beach specifically.
Looking forward to your posts.
Shannon
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Post by tntmom on Aug 3, 2009 0:08:02 GMT -5
Thanks guys!, Randy and Shannon,...I've read so many of your posts, can't wait to read more!
I will try to post my pics tomorrow in the pictures thread. I'm not a great photographer but I did get some shiny photos of some of my beachies! For some reason, most of the beautiful green ones didn't take a great shine, they went back into the small 1/2 lb rotary in 1000 grit for a week and are now in day 4 polish, hopefully they will shine up since those ones were my faves... I'm keeping my fingers crossed., ~K
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Post by Woodyrock on Aug 3, 2009 1:45:30 GMT -5
Krystee:
The beautiful green ones that did not polish well could well be jade. A lot of jade pebbles are found in the San Juans.......most of the beach material is black, not green, but all the same jade does not polish well in a tumbler, and is a bear to polish on the wheels. If you have enough of the green material, you might try tumbling just it with no other material.
Now, that you are 'hooked' it would be worthwhile picking up a copy of the Washington Gem Trails book. This small book give good directions to rockhounding sites all over the state. Woody
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Post by tntmom on Aug 3, 2009 15:35:42 GMT -5
Woody,
I'll pick that book up. Thanks for the recommendation!
Krystee
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Post by johnjsgems on Aug 4, 2009 22:29:00 GMT -5
Welcome aboard. I don't know the WA beaches but visited Oregon one Summer. I was disappointed to find the beaches sanded over. I was told best collecting is in the Winter after a storm. I guess I should have known. Our Central CA beaches are the same story.
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Post by tntmom on Aug 6, 2009 21:41:45 GMT -5
Woody, I ordered the book last night! I'm impatiently waiting ~Krystee
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Post by tntmom on Aug 6, 2009 22:14:35 GMT -5
Woody, One more question... I took a picture of one of the green rocks (both sides). It would be so awesome if it was jade but I don't have high hopes. Could you please look at this stone and tell me what it is? It does have a beautiful matte finish but I just can't get it to shine like the other rocks. I have a lot of these pretty green stones, as well as some black stones and red ones. They actually look a lot prettier in person (I am not a good photographer). Thanks for looking! ~Krystee
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Post by stonesthatrock on Aug 7, 2009 9:56:07 GMT -5
welcome to the board..... you will love it here everyone is so helpful.
mary ann
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rockinpackgoat
having dreams about rocks
One of our hiking buddies
Member since July 2009
Posts: 59
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Post by rockinpackgoat on Aug 8, 2009 10:19:18 GMT -5
Welcome-- great to see another newbie mom out there! My kids did the same thing-- got vibes for their bday and left me to do the tumbling & rockwashing when they didn't come out shiny right away! They do like cabbing though-- it may be something you want to try with your dd... Carrie
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Post by NatureNut on Aug 8, 2009 10:51:15 GMT -5
Those are some beautiful stones, Krystee. Welcome! Jo
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Post by frane on Aug 15, 2009 6:21:18 GMT -5
Welcome to the board Krystee! This board is a great place to meet up with others that share our love of rock! Looks like you are off to a great start! That last green one may be jade or it could be one in the sandstone family. You might want to place a picture in the rock ID section and maybe get someone to ID it. Fran
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Post by Woodyrock on Aug 18, 2009 0:39:01 GMT -5
Krystee:
Sorry about not responding sooner. I hurt my back a month ago, was feeling better, so went off rock hounding the week end brfore last. I made the mistake of using a shovel, and have been paying for since. I spent most of last week not walking, or sitting, and on morphine.
About the pretty green rock. I do not think it is jade, but that is something very hard to tell from a phtograph. The best way to tell if it nephrite jade, is to break one. Pick a small one. If the broken surface looks fibrous it is jade. Sorry I could not be of more help. Woody
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Post by johnjsgems on Aug 22, 2009 22:49:53 GMT -5
I don't think they are jade. They look exactly like the stubborn green rocks I couldn't polish from many trips to Central CA beaches. They appear to be a jasper or jasp agate. Mel should know what they are. He is a walking encyclopedia of rocks.
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Post by Noosh9057 on Aug 30, 2009 7:38:56 GMT -5
Welcome from TX. I lived most of my life in Tacoma WA.
Roger
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