NorthShore-Rocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since December 2008
Posts: 1,004
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Post by NorthShore-Rocks on Jan 2, 2010 12:25:52 GMT -5
I was shooting some of the large rough agates that went into my collection for the 2009 hounding season. I had one rock in there that kept nagging at me. It's a nearly intact nodule, about the size of a baseball or so. It weighs just a touch over a pound. That's about where the prices start to climb dramatically, so I supposed it could have some value intact as is. But, it's not showing much now and isn't much to look at. There's a couple chips for windows and a couple of clues. What do you think? Should I cut it? Here's a small peeled window. Another little chip with forts on top. Close-up of the fortifications showing on top. Steve
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wyobrian
fully equipped rock polisher
GO VIKINGS
Member since February 2009
Posts: 1,739
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Post by wyobrian on Jan 2, 2010 12:32:35 GMT -5
Beautiful agate i think i would try too tumble it and see what happens if nothing then cut it but thats me Brian
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Post by superioragates on Jan 2, 2010 12:44:15 GMT -5
Ummmm......NO WAY! over a lb. and yer thinkin of cutting it? R - U - crazy!! It's a Laker!!! Seriously tho, if ya want a really good opinion on the matter, go visit the minnesotalapidary website, send that guy these pics, he does appraisals of Lakers, and he will tell you what he thinks. It sometimes takes him a day or 2 to get back to you, but he will. But...that's just what I would do.......and I am little crazy about lakers!!! LOL Marie
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damammy
has rocks in the head
Member since January 2009
Posts: 697
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Post by damammy on Jan 2, 2010 12:46:44 GMT -5
I think the tumbling thing might be the way to go, it looks like there is a lot going on in that rock, otherwise how would you know which way to cut. The waiting would be the hard part. Donna
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,484
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Post by Sabre52 on Jan 2, 2010 13:35:09 GMT -5
I'd vote not to cut. Big lakers are pretty scarce and that looks like a goody. If I did anything, I'd just grind and polish a window where the fortification is to show the potential of the piece or tumble the whole darn thing as is...Mel
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NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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Post by NDK on Jan 2, 2010 17:22:36 GMT -5
That shows what I know... I was gonna say chop that sucka up!!! LOL
Nate
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Post by deb193redux on Jan 2, 2010 17:27:43 GMT -5
cut it
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Post by NatureNut on Jan 2, 2010 17:52:16 GMT -5
LOL, this is funny!
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agatemaggot
Cave Dweller
Member since August 2006
Posts: 2,195
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Post by agatemaggot on Jan 2, 2010 17:53:24 GMT -5
Anything you do to a Laker other than pick it up and clean it up, WILL, lower the VALUE ! Giving it a coat of oil to bring out the colors and patterns is the ONLY thing you can do without losing some of the VALUE, or a lot of it ! Before I would start sawing or tumbling I would take a trip to Moose Lake Agate Days and check with the vendors in the High School parking lot. Have a look at the rough agates on sale and the prices they get for them. You can also get an idea by doing a search on you-tube for agate sales moose lake. If you had a small specimen, jelly-bean to ping pong ball size, yeah go ahead and have at it ! The size you have is rare and VERY MUCH in demand AS IS. It isn't costing anything to let it set , SOOOOO-
Ya better check BEFORE you start choppin on it !
Check the Moose Lake videos, you will see what I am getting at !
Harley
P.S. I have a Laker in my collection that I paid $5.00 for in a Cedar Rapids rock shop. It weighs close to 3 lbs. and is the size of a large baked potato. SOMEONE spent a LOT of time tumbling the darn thing. If they had left it as-is, it would probably go for at least $2000.00 in the tail gate sales area in Moose Lake.
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Post by Toad on Jan 2, 2010 18:03:22 GMT -5
Shows what I know too, I would have thrown it in a tumbler and left it in there until it was half size to get rid of imperfections...
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Post by beefjello on Jan 2, 2010 19:10:58 GMT -5
That baby sure shows some potential with the fortifications! I'd cut it, but then again that's just my sickness. I just gotta know what's inside!!
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carloscinco
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2008
Posts: 1,639
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Post by carloscinco on Jan 2, 2010 19:29:18 GMT -5
The "what ifs" would get me. What if it's really fractured inside? Quartzball? Vugs and pits? Would you rather take the money and buy some material with known properties and let some one else take the risk? Tough decision. I think the other folks are right. Touch it with a blade or wheel and it's like burning money.
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Post by roswelljero on Jan 2, 2010 19:41:20 GMT -5
OMG! You must have rocks in your head if you're even considering doing anything to that beauty! Seriously, please don't cut it. Later, jeri
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chromenut
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since December 2009
Posts: 1,971
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Post by chromenut on Jan 2, 2010 20:01:59 GMT -5
What good is it sitting there gathering dust. I say cut it right in half...but what do I know???
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geodes4u
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since October 2009
Posts: 144
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Post by geodes4u on Jan 2, 2010 21:29:35 GMT -5
I wouldn't. Just polish the face. That one is worth a few bucks. Timothy
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Post by Donnie's Rocky Treasures on Jan 2, 2010 22:10:08 GMT -5
What's a laker? It is a beautiful rock, but I'd be curious to see what it looks like inside too. I'd probably cut it. But then again - what do I know if I am even asking what a laker is?!
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Post by rockmanken on Jan 2, 2010 22:41:06 GMT -5
Me personally, if you can't cut it and use it, what good is it. I am not a specimen collector. I really don't like lakers because all you can do is look at it. I cut up a lot of laguna agates and they are also very valuable. Got a knife with laguna going on ebay soon. Also cut up Tampa Bay coral. TO EACH THEIR OWN. This is my opinion. Ken
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NorthShore-Rocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since December 2008
Posts: 1,004
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Post by NorthShore-Rocks on Jan 3, 2010 6:16:26 GMT -5
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Post by Tonyterner on Jan 3, 2010 8:35:18 GMT -5
Well if it was mine I wouldn't cut it, at least not for a while. I get attached to some rocks. Of course its not mine so I say cut that sucker open. lol
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Post by Bejewelme on Jan 3, 2010 9:04:24 GMT -5
Steve! Dude look at those prices! You have such fabulous finds already, I say you keep it as is, and then sell it and take a trip out East to visit your RTH friends in Philadelphia this summer, LOL,
Amber
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