unclestu
Cave Dweller 
WINNER OF THE FIRST RTH KILLER CAB CONTEST UNCLESTU'S AGUA NUEVA AGATE
Member since April 2011
Posts: 2,298
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Post by unclestu on Jun 11, 2012 17:58:43 GMT -5
Don thanks for all the info on the difference between the Fairburn and Hills agate. Fairburn is truly a specialty in and of itself. A definite must have to round out a collection.
Good luck on your latest acquisitions.
Stu
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Post by jakesrocks on Jun 11, 2012 18:06:15 GMT -5
Hey Stu, I've won 6 on ebay in the last 2 days, and am in some heavy bidding on a real beauty. Also have a friend in Rapid City who has been collecting them for around 20 years. He wants to thin out his collection, and I have first pick on 40 or 50 of them.
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Post by jakesrocks on Jun 11, 2012 18:53:58 GMT -5
He does beautiful work!!! Pricewise tho, I'm not seeing a big difference between his teepee and fairburn agates anyway... both are rare right? I need to google more pix of fairburns, teepee, lake superior, and the different types of small agates, I haven't looked at them enough:). Helen, not all Fairburns are small. The largest ever found is up for bid if you're interested. www.bonhams.com/auctions/19429/lot/1243/ |
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Post by parfive on Jun 11, 2012 20:25:33 GMT -5
Still waitin’ to see a pic from the last scope, never mind this one. ;D
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Post by jakesrocks on Jun 11, 2012 20:54:28 GMT -5
You mean the little toy ? Couldn't get the pic program to load on my computer, so I got the proper gem microscope with camera. No problem loading the program for that one.
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Post by helens on Jun 11, 2012 21:04:52 GMT -5
Gaaahhh.... $35,000!!! LOL! Tho if you think about it... that's a 20.5 lb rock, which is $1700 per lb, so bit more than $100 per oz... and a quarter sized perfect fairburn can cost $100?
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Post by jakesrocks on Jun 11, 2012 21:11:12 GMT -5
Helen, a couple years ago I held one that fit easily into the palm of my hand. When I asked the price, I was told $1,000.00. Didn't think my wife would understand, so I put it back on the shelf.
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Post by jakesrocks on Jun 13, 2012 16:29:38 GMT -5
Not a good pic, but here are my latest acquisitions. I'll get better pics of each Fairburn later, and bore Y'all with dozens of pics.  I won 5 of them on ebay. The lady I won them from added another Fairburn and 6 tumbled Fairburn chips. |
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peachfront
fully equipped rock polisher
Stones have begun to speak, because an ear is there to hear them.
Member since August 2010
Posts: 1,745
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Post by peachfront on Jun 16, 2012 10:17:52 GMT -5
Awesome and inspirational. Nice rocks nicely displayed here. I appreciate the background story of the Fairburns also. I have a bit of Teepee Canyon that is impressive to me, but the world-famous Fairburns rule!
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Post by jakesrocks on Jun 16, 2012 11:31:41 GMT -5
I'm quickly running out of room in my new display cabinet. I've ordered 3 step shelves to put on the shelves in my cabinet. They should double the amount that I can neatly display. The first step shelf may be here this afternoon. If so, I'll post a pic tomorrow.
Peach, there's nothing wrong with Teepee and other hills agates. They can rank as some of the most beautiful agates to be found. The only differences between them and Fairburns are the fortifications, the tight even banding of the Fairburns, and the locations where they are found. The hills agates and Fairburns all formed in the same type of limestone matrix.
South Dakota has truly been blessed with some of the most beautiful agates in the world. Along with world class fossils, gold, gemstones and some beautiful mineral specimens.
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Post by jakesrocks on Jun 18, 2012 18:52:58 GMT -5
Got the first of my 3 step shelf inserts today. Gonna work out good. It'll double the storage capacity.  Had to stay back a ways to get the whole shelf in the pic. Can't see details of the Fairburns. 3 more step shelves coming tomorrow. |
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snuffy
Cave Dweller
Member since May 2009
Posts: 4,319
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Post by snuffy on Jun 18, 2012 19:31:35 GMT -5
Looking good Don! I've got my eye on an antique china cabinet my sister-in-law is going to get rid of.Might make a nice home for my palmwood.  snuffy |
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Post by NatureNut on Jun 18, 2012 19:38:33 GMT -5
I'll bet it's fun to look at with all the lights out. Oh boy, more shelves to fill! ;D
Jo
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Post by jakesrocks on Jun 18, 2012 19:48:23 GMT -5
Won't take long to fill them Jo. I have a box of stuff that wouldn't fit without looking like a jumbled mess.
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Post by jakesrocks on Jun 22, 2012 23:05:13 GMT -5
Yeeee Haaaa, Scoooore. A friend in Rapid City was just fixin to list a bunch of his stuff for sale. I bought the whole load and got a good deal. 18 beautiful Fairburns. One over a pound, and a couple just under. Plus 12 Teepee canyon agates and 12 slabs of Teepee. He'll send them tomorrow. I'll post pics when I get them.
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Post by jakesrocks on Jun 25, 2012 15:39:57 GMT -5
Latest additions. These haven't been cleaned and oiled yet. The colors and bands will pop when I get them oiled.  And the Teepees.  |
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,723 
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Post by Fossilman on Jun 25, 2012 20:02:49 GMT -5
Freakin' Awesome Don!!!!
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cardiobill
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2012
Posts: 881
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Post by cardiobill on Jun 25, 2012 21:23:17 GMT -5
Agree- Awesome!
bill
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Post by helens on Jun 25, 2012 23:50:49 GMT -5
That's great Don! So you just cover them with baby oil to get the 'wet look' without polishing? How long does that last?
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Post by jakesrocks on Jun 26, 2012 6:42:37 GMT -5
Actually Helen, they have to be scrubbed first, then warmed in the oven to around 130 degrees and while warm plunged into baby oil. After oiling I put them on an oven rack to cool. After they reach room temp I wipe off excess oil and buff them with a clean cloth.
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