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Post by Jugglerguy on Feb 27, 2014 18:51:48 GMT -5
I just got done with yet another batch of unakite. I'm out of rough now until Lake Superior thaws out and I get a chance to go get some more. I do still have some in the rotaries though. I haven't done too much cabbing except for circular inserts for magnetic necklaces. My wife drew some sketches of shapes she thought she'd like and I cut cabs in those shapes. I haven't really figured out how to polish cabs yet. I'm not sure if it's a lack of knowledge or equipment, but I think it's some of each. I can tumble though, so I threw them in the Lot-O. I really thought the sharp corners would either break off or wear down, but they came through surprisingly well. This one's chert: This one's a little undercut, but kind of cool: I feel guilty not showing some of the less impressive stones. Some unakite undercuts pretty bad. The cabs: This is the only bad one. It developed a big gouge between the holes on the top, and some undercutting too. I don't know exactly what this material is, but I find a fair amount around here and also up in Lake Superior. I have a batch of it tumbling in my rotary now too. Is it quartzite? This one had more angular bevels before the Lot-O. I didn't round the angles at all, but the Lot-O did. This one surprised me the most by keeping its acute angles so well. I rounded the corners on this one thinking that if I left it like the previous rock, they would break off. This whole cab thing was an experiment.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,562
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Post by jamesp on Feb 27, 2014 19:04:30 GMT -5
You have unakite that rivals great agates Rob. Those cabs are spectacular. I bet the gravels are beautiful in those lakes.
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Post by Jugglerguy on Feb 27, 2014 19:47:46 GMT -5
The stones in Superior are beautiful. Lake Michigan and Lake Huron have a lot of algae, so it's hard to tell what the rocks look like. Lake Superior: Lake Michigan. This probably isn't a fair picture, we were in Petoskey, looking for Petoskey stones, so this is probably mostly limestone, so it wouldn't have color even if there wasn't algae on it.
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Post by pghram on Feb 27, 2014 23:12:21 GMT -5
Nice batch, the cabs came out great.
Rich
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junglejim
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2014
Posts: 344
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Post by junglejim on Feb 27, 2014 23:34:33 GMT -5
Awesome variety of colors and some killer cabs. I wouldn't know what to pick up first from that Superior pic, almost everything looks like it could tumble.
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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 28, 2014 4:15:54 GMT -5
Awesome variety of colors and some killer cabs. I wouldn't know what to pick up first from that Superior pic, almost everything looks like it could tumble. Me and you are in the same boat. That is a poster. A smorgasbord. Lucky Rob.
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herchenx
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Member since January 2012
Posts: 3,360
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Post by herchenx on Feb 28, 2014 4:56:32 GMT -5
Those cabs came out nice, I think that is quartzite (that you asked about) - and I like those 2 a lot. Nice job!
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Post by iant on Feb 28, 2014 9:49:27 GMT -5
I really like the shape of those cabs, and the finish of course. Glad it's not just me that gets undercut stuff. Like that chert too!
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timloco
has rocks in the head
Member since April 2012
Posts: 545
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Post by timloco on Feb 28, 2014 10:06:28 GMT -5
Really nice stuff there, *that* is how I want my unakite to turn out next time I tumble that stuff. Those cabs are nice too.
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jollyrockhound
spending too much on rocks
Member since March 2013
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Post by jollyrockhound on Feb 28, 2014 11:52:41 GMT -5
Those cabs held up well in the tumbler. Wow what a contrast between the two lakes!
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grayfingers
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Member since November 2007
Posts: 4,575
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Post by grayfingers on Feb 28, 2014 12:26:57 GMT -5
Nice shine on those, I have not dealt with Unakite, is it a bit softer than most agates?
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Post by Jugglerguy on Feb 28, 2014 12:35:25 GMT -5
I think it's considered a type of granite. It's softer than agate.
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grayfingers
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Member since November 2007
Posts: 4,575
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Post by grayfingers on Feb 28, 2014 12:42:38 GMT -5
Good to know, Thanks! I have some granite river finds I have been tempted to try to run in a seperate batch, maybe I will give it a go.
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Post by Jugglerguy on Feb 28, 2014 13:00:26 GMT -5
Actually, I try not to pick up granite anymore. It always undercuts. The unakite that has a speckled granite look to it undercuts. The unakite that is more streaky and doesn't look like granite is the good stuff.
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riverrock
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since April 2010
Posts: 1,395
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Post by riverrock on Feb 28, 2014 13:15:34 GMT -5
A very nice batch. And you should see lake Ontario in the summer. Green algae and Canada goose poop. I only go in with full hip waiters , and use a grabber to pick up the stones.
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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 28, 2014 20:27:20 GMT -5
I like that batch and I like that Unakite. It has a nice look to it.
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panamark
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2012
Posts: 1,343
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Post by panamark on Feb 28, 2014 20:54:03 GMT -5
Nice batch Rob and it simply amazes me how well that one held it's sharp points. They look great.
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snuffy
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Member since May 2009
Posts: 4,319
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Post by snuffy on Feb 28, 2014 21:00:19 GMT -5
Good looking batch! May be a while before the thaw!
snuffy
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Feb 28, 2014 21:26:57 GMT -5
nice looking unakite and the peachy quartzites are cool too. I picked up some of that on the beaches last summer too.
chuck
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tkvancil
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2011
Posts: 1,547
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Post by tkvancil on Mar 1, 2014 1:21:43 GMT -5
Unakite is one of my favorite rocks, never get bored of it. I'd say that the cab experiment was a complete success, they turned out beautifully.
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