MrCoffee
has rocks in the head
Member since December 2005
Posts: 634
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Post by MrCoffee on Feb 10, 2014 22:13:02 GMT -5
Sorry if it's not much, but figured I'd add at least one photo. On the top left are Lake Superior agates, small, less than 1". Right to that, some mini slabs of Montana agate. Tampa Bay Coral on the top right. Bottom left, is a bigger piece of Botswana Agate. Dead center, is a florescent lace agate, with what I think are calcium crystals. Not sure. It could be anybody's guess, and I have no idea how it ended up with my other stuff. Lake Superior agates, bubblegum pattern, on the bottom middle. And finally, another piece of Botswana agate on the lower right. I'll upload some closer shots when I get the chance. Thanks for looking!
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Post by pghram on Feb 10, 2014 22:36:36 GMT -5
Nice & shiney, looking forward to the closer shots.
Rich
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MrCoffee
has rocks in the head
Member since December 2005
Posts: 634
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Post by MrCoffee on Feb 10, 2014 22:41:05 GMT -5
I just uploaded a couple more. My white balance is a little off, most likely due to the compact florescent lights (florescent, but similar to incandescent bulbs). On the middle photo of the unknown agate, I had to make adjustments to true up the color on the stone, and I had to balance in some of the blues to get the proper color for the Lakers. Photography hasn't changed much since the film days!
I took these with a Nikon D3100, that I just purchased. MUCH better than the GE X5. Still, I am wondering if I should spend more, and swap it for a D3200. Would the added megapixels (24, as opposed to my paltry 14!) help much?
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,562
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Post by jamesp on Feb 10, 2014 22:49:26 GMT -5
No. I have a 30 M camera and dial it down to 10 M. 10 M is plenty of resolution unless you are really cropping for a normal computer screen. And i do that so the file is easier to load. The human eye can only see so well, super high resolutions are kinda useless. The 2nd shot is real nice, the others are close.
Cool materials.
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MrCoffee
has rocks in the head
Member since December 2005
Posts: 634
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Post by MrCoffee on Feb 10, 2014 23:10:06 GMT -5
The white background tends to help bring out the true colors of the stones. Thanks for the advice, James. I think I'll save my $150.00 and maybe get some more rocks! Or, maybe some lighting, perhaps? A couple more close ups: Tampa Bay Coral: Small Lakers:
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,562
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Post by jamesp on Feb 10, 2014 23:38:59 GMT -5
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MrCoffee
has rocks in the head
Member since December 2005
Posts: 634
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Post by MrCoffee on Feb 11, 2014 1:38:59 GMT -5
Can't say for sure if this will work, but it's the best I can do now. If someone can show me how to create a link directly to Flickr, then you can view the images full screen! Anyway, here's more of the Tampa Bay: Here's a link to the photo streamLet me know if it works. As for the amount of this material, that's about all the owner has. He works almost exclusively with fossils, and sells specimens at mineral shows.
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carloscinco
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2008
Posts: 1,639
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Post by carloscinco on Feb 11, 2014 5:59:34 GMT -5
That Tampa Bay coral is a new one on me. Pretty neat looking. Thanks for posting.
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
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Post by jamesp on Feb 11, 2014 7:38:30 GMT -5
That finger coral is found around the city of Tampa. It is mostly thin walled hollow tubes with crystal linings. A long skinny geode. Prized by jewelry makers. They used to tumble it whole like you did and then saw it into mini slabs and get a 'ring of agate lined w/crystals'. He recently passed away, Bill Burke owned a rock shop in Tampa and finger coral was by far his best seller. He would find it when they did excavations. When they hit a pocket he could about fill a truck. A lot of that is likely hollow. Do you have a tile saw MrCoffee ? See the clearish tube in lower left of photo-a thin walled tube w/botryoids inside. And the caramel colored boat shape above it looks like it has white blotches inside of it. Those are likely white pockets with crystal linings. Many of the others will too. And most will be full of water. And cutting around the water pocket so that the finished jewel has a water pocket was commonly done.
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
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Post by jamesp on Feb 11, 2014 8:49:25 GMT -5
I looked all over for silicified finger coral. This one is large. The sought after ones are small like yours.
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Post by pghram on Feb 11, 2014 10:02:39 GMT -5
Very nice batch, the larger photos are very good too.
Rich
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MrCoffee
has rocks in the head
Member since December 2005
Posts: 634
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Post by MrCoffee on Feb 11, 2014 11:23:43 GMT -5
That finger coral is found around the city of Tampa. It is mostly thin walled hollow tubes with crystal linings. A long skinny geode. Prized by jewelry makers. They used to tumble it whole like you did and then saw it into mini slabs and get a 'ring of agate lined w/crystals'. He recently passed away, Bill Burke owned a rock shop in Tampa and finger coral was by far his best seller. He would find it when they did excavations. When they hit a pocket he could about fill a truck. A lot of that is likely hollow. Do you have a tile saw MrCoffee ? See the clearish tube in lower left of photo-a thin walled tube w/botryoids inside. And the caramel colored boat shape above it looks like it has white blotches inside of it. Those are likely white pockets with crystal linings. Many of the others will too. And most will be full of water. And cutting around the water pocket so that the finished jewel has a water pocket was commonly done. They are definitely hollow, and I am sure some have the water pockets. The owner wanted me to tumble them, but nothing else. I was very cautious to not tumble them too much, because some of them have skin under the agate material. You could have a nice colored rock, run it through the grit for too long, then end up with a white one! When I clarified that with him, he was pretty understanding. Of course, he is a professional mineralogist. Unfortunately, they all have to go back to the owner, who acknowledged that they are uncommon and availability is limited. Otherwise, I would be doing some more experimenting! As for the tile saw: I don't have one, but have thought of it.
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,562
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Post by jamesp on Feb 11, 2014 12:08:49 GMT -5
I looked all over for images on the net. Your photo is the best example on the internet.But missing views of the crystalized insides. It is a coral with a tiny occurance on mother earth, under Tampa . I have heard the water pockets called anhydros(from the word anhydrous). Been watching for that stuff a long time. Thanks for showing it off.
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Fossilman
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Post by Fossilman on Feb 11, 2014 12:12:15 GMT -5
Awesome!
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tkvancil
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2011
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Post by tkvancil on Feb 11, 2014 13:45:59 GMT -5
Glad you posted the coral. I've seen something new and learned something new, thanks. Lakers are one of my favorite rocks, you got some nice ones there.
I feel your frustration on the photography, I'm almost never happy with mine. Don't think you did too bad at all.
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jollyrockhound
spending too much on rocks
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Post by jollyrockhound on Feb 11, 2014 21:06:35 GMT -5
I looked all over for silicified finger coral. This one is large. The sought after ones are small like yours. I have a few of these as well MR. coffee nice tumbles
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MrCoffee
has rocks in the head
Member since December 2005
Posts: 634
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Post by MrCoffee on Feb 11, 2014 21:19:58 GMT -5
Glad you posted the coral. I've seen something new and learned something new, thanks. Lakers are one of my favorite rocks, you got some nice ones there. I feel your frustration on the photography, I'm almost never happy with mine. Don't think you did too bad at all. I appreciate the support. Well, I got a white glass cutting board to photograph my rocks on, and it's not too bad. What I don't like, though, is that it makes my stuff look like everybody Else's. But hey, the color is correct, so I can't complain. As for the coral, I also learned something new from jamesp. I didn't know that most of the ones I see listed are the larger ones, and that the smaller are less common and more desirable. Usually, it's the other way around!
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jamesp
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Posts: 36,562
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Post by jamesp on Feb 11, 2014 23:41:34 GMT -5
Like one to one to one and a half inches for jewelry is perfect.
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MrCoffee
has rocks in the head
Member since December 2005
Posts: 634
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Post by MrCoffee on Nov 25, 2014 1:02:34 GMT -5
An update: The coral went back to its owner, and so did the Lake Superior agates. Unfortunately, the agates didn't sell. He is holding some hope that they could gain some interest this Spring, but I'm not holding my breath. Meanwhile, I'll be setting up for another winter, and hope to get some photos up of other materials.
The close photos of the coral were taken with a Nikon D3100. Shortly after, that camera went back to the store. I just didn't feel I could live with something that would soon be obsolete as far as resolution goes, and decided it would be better for me to wait for a good price on a D3300 instead. It offers more current technology, and will likely stay in service longer. I will keep everybody posted. Thanks for all your encouragement!
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rodeodan
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2010
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Post by rodeodan on Nov 25, 2014 1:23:15 GMT -5
Cool tumbles and very intereting to read about the coral. Thanks for sharing.
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