fossiler
having dreams about rocks
Member since November 2011
Posts: 55
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Post by fossiler on Dec 6, 2013 16:22:38 GMT -5
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Post by Peruano on Dec 6, 2013 17:38:22 GMT -5
You make it tough to answer. Could be agates, but probably not. You should be able to see some spots where the surface is broken enough to see the totally smooth cleavage of the microcrystaline structure of agate. Many times I have to feel the agate to be sure its not just a smaller crystal form of granite and I think thats what you have here. If you can see crystals, you probably don't have agates except in those cases where a seam of quartz crystals transects a crack or crevice in the agate. Bashing it with a hammer would help to show that smooth surface that clearly identifies an agate (short of a sawed surface). You should browze the specimen subsection of this forum and get a feel for what a weathered agate looks like before its cut. The smooth section on the third and fourth photos is something like you are looking for but I can't see enough to be confident that its not just a big crystal. I'll try to add some photos of what the surface structure of an agate looks like. Tom
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quartz
Cave Dweller
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,345
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Post by quartz on Dec 6, 2013 23:30:01 GMT -5
We find rocks on the Oregon coast beaches that look quite similar to yours. Most people walk over them, but we found they tumble up very nicely with a mix of colors brown, green, and some red. Our stuff better defined as jasper. If you have the capability, grind a window on one to get a better idea of what's inside once it's smooth, or tumble one up. To call them "agates", probably questionable, but shined up they might be quite nice.
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Post by apesandmonkeys on Dec 6, 2013 23:50:14 GMT -5
It looks more like a mix of Jasper...We've found a lot of them in Oregon and up here in WA, as well. They are super pretty, especially under water ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/smiley.png)
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fossiler
having dreams about rocks
Member since November 2011
Posts: 55
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Post by fossiler on Dec 8, 2013 9:12:33 GMT -5
ah ok, thanks, I find lots of small bits of agate here but no larger chunks and no stones that i can see any indication of agate within! i'm in north yorkshire
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Dec 8, 2013 9:55:07 GMT -5
Hi Fossiler, where are you located or where did you find these? Location helps in determining likelihood because some areas are known to not produce agates, while others are.
They look like micro-crystalline quartz to me, similar to Montana "Mud" Agates; semi-translucent, but with no well defined features.
Break them open as a learning experience.
Chuck
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SirRoxalot
freely admits to licking rocks
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Member since October 2003
Posts: 790
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Post by SirRoxalot on Dec 9, 2013 8:52:51 GMT -5
No banding, hence probably not agates. Might still be worth tumbling. If you want to get ahead in the rock game, better learn how to break rocks!
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,694
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Post by Fossilman on Dec 9, 2013 11:06:56 GMT -5
I have agates that look like a plain rock,till I had them cut! Give it a try,nobody knows whats inside a rock,try candling them or as said break them, Tumble them if worth the effort...Good luck.
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bsky4463
fully equipped rock polisher
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Member since September 2013
Posts: 1,696
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Post by bsky4463 on Dec 9, 2013 23:50:47 GMT -5
FYI.... Candling is way fun (dark room, wet stone, bright shielded light or projector light against the stone). If it is an agate similar to MT agates you can read the rock, fractures, colors, banding, dendrites, etc... Then cut it and see if you read it right. Good luck. Cheers.
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Jon
starting to shine!
Member since June 2011
Posts: 41
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Post by Jon on Dec 10, 2013 18:44:41 GMT -5
If you found those in Minnesota, I would say there's a good chance that those are agates. I have found many lake superior agates that look like that on the outside. The inside can be a mix, sometimes you get quartz balls, other times you can find some really nice banding, and sometimes just solid dark brown agate.
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Post by pghram on Dec 11, 2013 22:23:53 GMT -5
I cut a "window" in the front of a cardboard box, put a hard stone on the bottom as a base, wear gloves & glasses, & whack the stones with a hammer. Sometimes I use a chisel. The box contains MOST of the flying chips. It doesn't take much room, is very portable, & is a great stress reliever.
Rich
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fossiler
having dreams about rocks
Member since November 2011
Posts: 55
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Post by fossiler on Dec 12, 2013 10:35:19 GMT -5
I cut a "window" in the front of a cardboard box, put a hard stone on the bottom as a base, wear gloves & glasses, & whack the stones with a hammer. Sometimes I use a chisel. The box contains MOST of the flying chips. It doesn't take much room, is very portable, & is a great stress reliever. Rich this is a very good idea ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/smiley.png) i'll have to try and find a place i can go to break my rocks, i'm in an apartment so I don't have a space here.
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fossiler
having dreams about rocks
Member since November 2011
Posts: 55
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Post by fossiler on Dec 12, 2013 10:38:26 GMT -5
I have agates that look like a plain rock,till I had them cut! Give it a try,nobody knows whats inside a rock,try candling them or as said break them, Tumble them if worth the effort...Good luck. Thanks! FYI.... Candling is way fun (dark room, wet stone, bright shielded light or projector light against the stone). If it is an agate similar to MT agates you can read the rock, fractures, colors, banding, dendrites, etc... Then cut it and see if you read it right. Good luck. Cheers. some of the stones here do look like MT agate, i'v tried candling but think I need a brighter torch! will try this again.
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