jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,562
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Post by jamesp on Mar 30, 2014 9:32:26 GMT -5
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Post by Jugglerguy on Mar 30, 2014 9:36:39 GMT -5
Just think what would have happened if the exciting clams would have gotten ahold of it.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,562
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Post by jamesp on Mar 30, 2014 9:56:46 GMT -5
Just think what would have happened if the exciting clams would have gotten ahold of it. This is a piece of silicified limestone? that the silicified coral was sitting on. This layer is common under undisturbed fossilized corals that are still connected in reef formation. You can see where the various boring clams terminated their trip through the coral and got a mouth full of bedrock-haha I would like to see those clams bore through it after it was silicified !!
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grayfingers
Cave Dweller
Member since November 2007
Posts: 4,575
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Post by grayfingers on Mar 30, 2014 10:11:21 GMT -5
That is a nice clean piece of coral! The coralites sure stand out on that one. I like the muted bluish color. The second one, what is the black coating?
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,562
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Post by jamesp on Mar 30, 2014 11:34:00 GMT -5
That is a nice clean piece of coral! The coralites sure stand out on that one. I like the muted bluish color. The second one, what is the black coating? That coating would be swamp slime. If they are laying out of the sand and basking in the sun they get a black (organic) coating Bill. A pressure washer and sitting out in the sun will clean it or the sun dry it. If it is buried in sand or impregnated in clay they are free of such coatings. It takes a year or two for the aquatic moss and vegetation to 'rot' away sometimes. The first coral was found several years ago and had a coating of moss all over it. It has since decayed away. Those western rivers are too brutal to allow such growth, my guess. Or the ice cold water may prohibit growth.
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Post by washingtonrocks on Mar 30, 2014 12:35:48 GMT -5
I like that the subtle patterns of the coral are still evident against the white-ish/clear background. Awesome! Do you turn these beauties into jewelry or keep them as specimens?
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Post by Pat on Mar 30, 2014 15:45:45 GMT -5
Subtle and pretty. I really like black slime edges of the second one. Great contrast. Would the black slime hold up? I don't see any black on you!
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bsky4463
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2013
Posts: 1,696
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Post by bsky4463 on Mar 30, 2014 21:58:21 GMT -5
Awesome one James...yeah Rocky Mountain river rocks slime up real good in the summer, makes for fun walking - like greased up bowling balls, but the winters nuke the slime off each year. I really like the big chunks your cutting into. Cheers
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,562
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Post by jamesp on Mar 31, 2014 5:20:44 GMT -5
Awesome one James...yeah Rocky Mountain river rocks slime up real good in the summer, makes for fun walking - like greased up bowling balls, but the winters nuke the slime off each year. I really like the big chunks your cutting into. Cheers So the freeze nukes the slime off bsky ? I was curious if the warm weather is the culprit in maintaining the coating. With fast water and slick bowling balls I bet footing would be an issue in your fast currents. The few shoals down here are not very strong current. The problem is walking on the jagged, loose coral in the shoals. Best cover your ankles with high boots or your ankles will have no skin left on them. Even fossilized coral will fester when it cuts; many are broken and have razor sharp edges.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,562
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Post by jamesp on Mar 31, 2014 5:39:43 GMT -5
Subtle and pretty. I really like black slime edges of the second one. Great contrast. Would the black slime hold up? I don't see any black on you! It can get a bit messy Pat. What's a little black slime going to hurt ?
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,562
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Post by jamesp on Mar 31, 2014 5:48:44 GMT -5
I like that the subtle patterns of the coral are still evident against the white-ish/clear background. Awesome! Do you turn these beauties into jewelry or keep them as specimens? It depends washingtonrocks. If they have an attractive cross section they may get used as display halves after mounting them on a pedestal or lamp base. if they have color I may break them up and tumble them. Some will be traded to knappers and cabbers. Oh yea, hoarding is the biggest category
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Post by rockpickerforever on Mar 31, 2014 6:01:45 GMT -5
That's a beauty, for sure! Like Christmas morning whenever you cut one open.
Yes, I understand hoarding, lol! But such pretty things to hold onto. And they don't require any care or feeding.
Have you ever soaked the black slimed ones in bleach to hasten the demise of the slime? Or you just give it some time?
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,562
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Post by jamesp on Mar 31, 2014 7:51:03 GMT -5
That's a beauty, for sure! Like Christmas morning whenever you cut one open. Yes, I understand hoarding, lol! But such pretty things to hold onto. And they don't require any care or feeding. Have you ever soaked the black slimed ones in bleach to hasten the demise of the slime? Or you just give it some time? I have seen pics of your hacienda Jean. It is neat and orderly. I was not thinking you are hoardful. I like this expression, 'DEMISE OF THE SLIME'. Hollywood movie title candidate for sure. The saw oil really absorbs into the porous coating. So i saw them undemised, and let them incubate in the sun and rain. Slowly taking care of all such coatings. Smaller corals thrown in the tumbler a couple of days is another tactic. But destroys the natural patina. there is an acid that does best. Can't remember the name. A mild acid for long term soak. A white powder.
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Post by rockpickerforever on Mar 31, 2014 9:09:05 GMT -5
I have seen pics of your hacienda Jean. It is neat and orderly. I was not thinking you are hoardful. It's only an illusion! I have more rocks than you can shake a stick at, of course I'm a hoarder. But you can place them all around and call them "landscaping."
Front yard (old picture, much more than that now).
Behind shed
On patio (another old pic, lol!) (Can't see all this in satellite view!)
There are probably twice this amount of rocks on the patio now, very disorganized. This is just a small taste. I've found if you can keep your hoard neat, it doesn't look like a hoard. Well, not so much... At least I don't have to feed them.
I'll have to take some current photos, and show you how out of control it has gotten. And yet, I'll still go to estate sales, shows, silent auctions, AND BUY MORE!!
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ash
spending too much on rocks
Prairieville, Louisiana
Member since July 2012
Posts: 361
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Post by ash on Mar 31, 2014 9:55:01 GMT -5
Oxalic acid perhaps?
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,562
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Post by jamesp on Mar 31, 2014 10:13:08 GMT -5
Yes Ash. I got your avatar in. Just got to take a photo of it. Thanks-Oxalic is it
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