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Post by rockpickerforever on Mar 28, 2014 14:56:53 GMT -5
I haven't worked any rocks in a coons age now, so thought I could at least get some pics of rocks that have been collected.
These are some random/assorted agates found out in the desert over the years. All but one came from the Ocotillo Wells area. Haven't done anything with them, just put them in a bowl to collect dust, lol! Actually, I take them out and look at them every now and again.
Every so often, I'll look through the bins of desert rocks back behind the shed, pick out more agates that I missed, and add them to the bowl. With a few exceptions, most of these are walnut-sized, or smaller. 
Sorry about the dust - should have dumped them all out to take photo, but I was lazy. 
This is the one NOT from Ocotillo Wells. This one is from the Yuha Basin, near where the petrified oyster beds are. South side of I-8, east of the town of Ocotillo. It was face polished only.
And one last one. This one gets to stay in the house. 
Brandon vugs, time to get out to OW for some goodies. Will be getting hot by the end of April or so, what are you waiting for?
Thanks or looking!
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gemfeller
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Post by gemfeller on Mar 28, 2014 15:13:05 GMT -5
You've got some very choice stuff there Jean! I'm fascinated by the shapes. Do you know if they're water-worn? Some look to me as if they've been sandblasted by wind erosion, similar to some of the agates and nephrite jade fragments I used to find on the desert pavements in Wyoming.
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Post by iant on Mar 28, 2014 15:25:51 GMT -5
Lovely collection of rocks you have there. I would be itching to get them cut open!
Thanks for letting us have a look!
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adrian65
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Arch to golden memories and to great friends.
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Post by adrian65 on Mar 28, 2014 15:37:41 GMT -5
Those candies are gorgeous!
Adrian
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panamark
fully equipped rock polisher
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Post by panamark on Mar 28, 2014 15:47:02 GMT -5
Really fascinating stuff Jean. Some of those look a lot like the asian rocks called Bonsai Suiseki-Natural Gobi Agates. They get crazy high prices for them. Maybe time to travel to China to sell some rocks, haha.
BTW: I like your new avatar. You haven't changed a bit - still that wonderful, slightly mischievous(??), fun-loving smile!!
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herchenx
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Post by herchenx on Mar 28, 2014 15:48:55 GMT -5
That is a pretty batch of agate nodules.
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Post by rockpickerforever on Mar 28, 2014 16:53:08 GMT -5
You've got some very choice stuff there Jean! I'm fascinated by the shapes. Do you know if they're water-worn? Some look to me as if they've been sandblasted by wind erosion, similar to some of the agates and nephrite jade fragments I used to find on the desert pavements in Wyoming. Thanks, Rick. It's my understanding that many of the rocks found out in Ocotillo Wells (and anywhere else in the general vicinity) have been transported down the ancient Colorado River. I've got a fossilized coral (IDed for me on The Fossil Forum as a colonial coral) found out there that did not live there - an erratic. It had previously gone extinct and predates the sediments found there. It came from upstream somewhere. Nevada, Northern AZ, Utah, up that way. Have also found some nice colored wood that was washed downstream, possibly from the Chinle Formation in AZ.
There is a lot of wind happening out there, and it gives many of the rocks a tumbled/polished appearance. I'd say some of them were transported by water, and then eroded/polished by windblown sand. A lot of differential erosion on those agates, due to the differing hardnesses.
Really fascinating stuff Jean. Some of those look a lot like the asian rocks called Bonsai Suiseki-Natural Gobi Agates. They get crazy high prices for them. Maybe time to travel to China to sell some rocks, haha. BTW: I like your new avatar. You haven't changed a bit - still that wonderful, slightly mischievous(??), fun-loving smile!! Thanks, Mark. Hmm, China, you say? They'd have to fetch some pretty high prices to pay for airfare, lol!
R.E., the new avatar - only slightly mischievous? Just kidding. Fun-loving? Okay. I've also been told it's infectious (antibiotics would clear that up).
Thanks for the comments Ian, Adrian and John. They are pretty cool to look at, and wonder about. Think I'll be leaving them uncut, I've got plenty of rough and slabs to cut first.
I need to get back out there, too. Haven't been since Thanksgiving 2012 - too long ago... But those rocks will be waiting for me.
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panamark
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Post by panamark on Mar 28, 2014 17:37:04 GMT -5
They'd have to fetch some pretty high prices to pay for airfare, lol! Some are several thousand dollars, and most are way over $500 Apparently these neat stones take up prized places alongside fabulously old, expensive, and wonderful bonsai. You should google them. |
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Post by drocknut on Mar 28, 2014 18:25:18 GMT -5
Great bunch of agates Jean. Looks like a bowl full of lovelies.
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vugs
starting to spend too much on rocks
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Post by vugs on Mar 28, 2014 21:03:19 GMT -5
Brandon vugs, time to get out to OW for some goodies. Will be getting hot by the end of April or so, what are you waiting for?
Jean those are great. i like that second pic. i'll be on the look out for those. theres probably no better motivation to get me out there either. funny you mention it too because a buddy and i were just talking about how we should try to get out there before it gets hot. hopefully i'll come home with a bowl full of beauties like those.
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quartz
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breakin' rocks in the hot sun
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Post by quartz on Mar 28, 2014 22:45:29 GMT -5
That is one fine bowl full of color and pattern, especially the last one, thanks for the show.
I've always figured a person should never really grow up, tend to get too serious. From the looks of that avatar, you are about the perfect age, halfway.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Mar 29, 2014 6:30:18 GMT -5
I would guess they were sand blasted Jean. They are so smooth. Or run thru an alien decronometer. I like the multi personality avatar.
Perhaps they were alien sling shot ammo. They look hard as a brick bat. And so similar in size.
Killer photos, can really see the detail.
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Post by gingerkid on Mar 29, 2014 8:57:00 GMT -5
Beautiful desert agates, Jean, and really like the one that is allowed to stay indoors. Nice avatar, too!  |
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tkvancil
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Post by tkvancil on Mar 29, 2014 10:02:38 GMT -5
What a lovely bunch of agate! I'm with some of the others and would be itching to cut / tumble / polish those beauties. Here in the Land of Lincoln agates are rare finds. It's so cool you got to discover those.
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Post by mohs on Mar 29, 2014 11:21:59 GMT -5
bowls of beauts !
rocKarma
they luvya for picking them up
out of the dessert bake
hot rocks & rollsssss
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Post by rockpickerforever on Mar 29, 2014 17:42:02 GMT -5
I would guess they were sand blasted Jean. They are so smooth. Or run thru an alien decronometer. I like the multi personality avatar. Perhaps they were alien sling shot ammo. They look hard as a brick bat. And so similar in size. Killer photos, can really see the detail. James, I think they are sandblasted as well. The wind out there can really pick up some sand! You should see all the small pits in the windshield on my truck. You really notice them when driving into the sun. I remember one time, we were out at OW and the wind came up big time. The dust/dirt/sand/boulders in the air created almost whiteout conditions. You could easily get lost when it gets like that. Probably not so good for you to be breathing, either.
Decronometer? You made that up, lol! I think the word you were looking for is "decorticator." They love stripping skin off rocks... Typical agates, they are pretty hard - well, parts of them are. Obviously, the interiors are softer, or they wouldn't have eroded like that.
Thanks for the compliment on the photos. All my photos are taken with an old (13 - 14 years) Sony PC100 digital video/camera. Haven't yet broken down and bought one of the newer multi-mega pixel cameras yet, lol.
bowls of beauts ! rocKarma they luvya for picking them up out of the dessert bake hot rocks & rollsssss Thanks, Ed. That's cool to think, that I did them a favor by getting them out of the sun and taking them home. Even allowing that last one to stay in the house, lol! HEY, when did you change your avatar? I like it! Looks like we're all ready for a change. How about you, Thunder69? You had threatened...
Thanks also, to Jan, Ken and anybody else I missed. I am so fortunate to have cool rocks so close to home.
Glad you are all liking the new avatar (that herchenx put together for me. Thanks, John!). Fifty-three years between those two photos, hard to believe.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Mar 29, 2014 18:22:14 GMT -5
alien sling shot  |
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grayfingers
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Post by grayfingers on Mar 29, 2014 19:02:32 GMT -5
Wowsers! I am liking those a lot! Did not know there was eye agates there, and those banded forts are way nice.
Love the Avatar too.
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Post by mohs on Mar 29, 2014 19:53:24 GMT -5
Thanks Jean I made that self-portrait in mspaint years ago. Its not even abstract more like realism w/ a touch of vanGogh  |
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Thunder69
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Post by Thunder69 on Mar 29, 2014 22:38:09 GMT -5
Jean those are some nice alien eggs...Agates are my favorite...John
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