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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Mar 18, 2013 19:34:20 GMT -5
a few weeks ago I got a nice large chuck of "leland blue" slag glass (from ebay) which comes from the north shore of lake Michigan. From what I read this was a bi-product of the iron ore smelting trade in the 1800's . In the slab photo you can see the iron/ore pellets that were cut right in the slabs. Its a very pitted and fractured material but still desirable locally. this is a quote from the Lake Michigan rock pickers guide:"Leland Blue" is an unusual specimen because it was not formed by nature. It is "slag," blue glass mixed with borox and other chemicals that was waste product from iron foundries in the 1800s. The iron was being smelted for the railroads, and the waste product ended up in the Lake as blue, pourous rock. Gauthier said the interesting thing about Leland Blue is that there's a relatively small amount of it left The "Fordite" or "Detroit agate" was a show purchase this weekend and the first time I ever worked with it. There was a girl there with a tray of it and she had about 20 cabs she had made from it so I left 20 dollars with her and told her when she had time to pick out some pieces she liked. Worked out good and when I came back she explained why she picked those pieces and where to start with it. Leland Blue slag Fordite thanks for checking these out Chuck
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Post by orrum on Mar 18, 2013 19:49:45 GMT -5
Hey Chuck I wonder if the iron in the Leland blue will rust and make a mess? The fordite is awesome!!!!!
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Mar 18, 2013 19:55:14 GMT -5
This stuff has all been underwater or on the shore near water for over 100 years and there was not any rust on the chunk when I got it and there were exposed pellets showing.
Chuck
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Post by Bikerrandy on Mar 18, 2013 19:58:31 GMT -5
Beautiful Fordite!!
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Tom
fully equipped rock polisher
My dad Tom suddenly passed away yesterday, Just wanted his "rock" family to know.
Member since January 2013
Posts: 1,557
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Post by Tom on Mar 18, 2013 20:57:38 GMT -5
Got to love Detroit agate
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rockingthenorth
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2012
Posts: 1,637
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Post by rockingthenorth on Mar 18, 2013 21:31:16 GMT -5
the fordite is Awesome
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NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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Post by NDK on Mar 19, 2013 21:21:31 GMT -5
That fordite cab is awesome. Gosh I love that stuff!
The slag is pretty soft, isn't it? I like yours better than the stuff my buddy collected up there. It's a crappy grayish color. I'll still cut a cab from it someday though.
Nate
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Post by frane on Mar 21, 2013 18:05:45 GMT -5
Of course the fordite is amazing with a beautiful pattern to it but the gray one has a subtle beauty to it. Great job! Fran
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