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Post by gingerkid on Mar 16, 2015 7:52:01 GMT -5
glennz01, isn't it a bit chilly up there to be out looking for rocks?  Will you please post pics of your prehnite when you clean them and your finds that you believe are pet wood?
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Post by glennz01 on Mar 16, 2015 10:38:58 GMT -5
glennz01, isn't it a bit chilly up there to be out looking for rocks? Will you please post pics of your prehnite when you clean them and your finds that you believe are pet wood? Yeah, it will be a while before i'm able to clean them though. It was 0*F with 14-20 mph wind. not too bad considering. |
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Post by jakesrocks on Mar 16, 2015 11:09:48 GMT -5
Spring is on its way Glenn. Sending thousands of geese north right now. Here in N.E. South Dakota we hit 75 Deg. yesterday. Only gonna be in the 40's & 50's for the next week, but after sub zero temps, we'll take it. I'll be able to haul the big saw out of the garage soon.
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Post by jakesrocks on Mar 16, 2015 14:22:44 GMT -5
My bad Jan. I'll delete that & move it. So many threads. Hard to keep up with all of them.
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Post by gingerkid on Apr 25, 2015 8:12:06 GMT -5
Where's the TN's, jakesrocks?  I purchased a hyalite opal TN from Tennessee and a Japanese andradite (rainbow flavor/iridescent andradite garnet). The seller stated the hyalite is glued to the styrofoam-like stuff in the perky box. How do I safely remove the specimen from the glue without ruining it? Will acetone discolor the hyalite? |
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Post by jakesrocks on Apr 27, 2015 21:32:40 GMT -5
Got some new minerals today. Seller sent a freebie bag of Quartz crystals from the Miller Mtn. Mine, Jessieville, Garland Co., Arkansas. This was one of them. A Quartz crystal totally inside of a larger Quartz crystal.  Just wanted to share this. I'll take pics of the other minerals tomorrow & post them. |
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Post by gingerkid on Apr 27, 2015 23:29:48 GMT -5
That's a kick arse Arkansas quartz specimen, jakesrocks!  Hope we'll see your latest family additions tomorrow. |
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Post by jakesrocks on Apr 28, 2015 12:03:47 GMT -5
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Post by gingerkid on Apr 29, 2015 19:09:33 GMT -5
Those are super nice, jakesrocks!  I bet that cassiterite is a dazzler in sunlight. The azurite is beautiful. Do you take your specimens outside in the sunlight to check them out? I usually take the ones I have outside to see them show off and sparkle. |
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Post by jakesrocks on Apr 29, 2015 19:29:42 GMT -5
Depends on the wind Jan. I don't want them to blow off the porch railing & fall 5' to the ground.
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,723 
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Post by Fossilman on Apr 29, 2015 20:22:56 GMT -5
Very nice Don!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thumbs up
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Post by jakesrocks on Apr 30, 2015 17:15:17 GMT -5
This isn't a mineral, but it will be added to my Boron Dry Lake mineral collection. Pet wood from the Boron area can be every bit as colorful as Arizona rainbow wood, and the Boron wood is solid and for the most part fracture free.  |
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Post by gingerkid on May 3, 2015 13:18:51 GMT -5
Your boron pet wood is really pretty, jakesrocks! I like the xtal vug in it, too. |
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Post by jakesrocks on May 3, 2015 14:37:21 GMT -5
Your boron pet wood is really pretty, jakesrocks! I like the xtal vug in it, too. If that vug wasn't right next to the edge, I'd be forced to cut a slab to cab. I love cutting cabs with a vug right in the middle. |
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,723
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Post by Fossilman on May 3, 2015 15:37:03 GMT -5
Great looking petwood Don!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Post by gingerkid on May 3, 2015 18:13:28 GMT -5
While we wait on Don's next round of gorgeous TN specimens, here's a hyalite TN that I recently purchased that might hold y'all for a day or two.  Hyalite opal
Mitchell County, North CarolinaIs there a safe way to remove the hyalite from the styrofoam-like stuff without ruining the specimen? I also have an iridescent (rainbow garnet) andradite specimen that I'll post in the garnet mineral specimens thread if you would like to see it. I'm glad you are not planning on cutting your boron pet wood, jakesrocks. It's too pretty to be sliced and diced. |
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Post by jakesrocks on May 3, 2015 18:47:50 GMT -5
Jan, the hyalite should be hard enough to carefully peel the hot glue away from it. I use a modeling knife with a pointed blade to clean that stuff off of mine. I recently bought a couple of stainless steel surgical blade handles and an assortment of surgical blades to do the job, but haven't tried them yet.
Don't you just love it when they hot glue the specimens ? Also, some use putty that isn't mineral tac. Makes a real mess, and doesn't look good at all.
Please do post that garnet. I, and I'm sure others would love to see it.
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Post by gingerkid on May 3, 2015 18:55:26 GMT -5
Thank you, Don, for your tip!!! I have an X-acto knife and kept an old dissecting kit that has a scalpel in it. Will try to use one of those. Many Thanks!! I tried to use a thumbtack to display the andradite like @rocks2dust uses to display smaller/micro specimens. But I must have a 'defective' thumbtack since it leans, lol. What the heck? I'll post a couple of pics of the andradite in a few, jakesrocks. |
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Post by jakesrocks on May 3, 2015 19:37:36 GMT -5
Jan, I bought some plexiglass rods in 1/16", 1/8" & 3/16" diameters, and some plexiglass discs in 1/4" & 3/8" OD. I'm gonna try to glue up some photo stands out of those & some square plexiglass display stands.
Be extra careful using those scalpel blades. They'll open up your fingers in a heartbeat.
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gemfeller
Cave Dweller
Member since June 2011
Posts: 4,064
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Post by gemfeller on May 3, 2015 20:20:45 GMT -5
Jan, nearly any oil-based solvent will dissolve the Styrofoam -- rubbing alcohol, acetone, gasoline, kerosene, lacquer thinner, mineral spirits, etc. It may be easier to remove the glue, whatever type was used, with it gone.
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Will you please post pics of your prehnite when you clean them and your finds that you believe are pet wood?
I bet that cassiterite is a dazzler in sunlight. The azurite is beautiful. 
