SJPatrick
starting to spend too much on rocks
2 1/2 years into rock hounding and I'm still a newbie!
Member since September 2013
Posts: 124
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Post by SJPatrick on Apr 9, 2014 18:23:20 GMT -5
Last year I attended the Rockhound Roundup in Deming, New Mexico, and again this year. Last year I was a wet behind the ears newbie. Now I'm just a little older newbie. A year ago I knew of thundereggs (nodules/geodes) but had never held one in my hands. That changed at the Deming show as it has field trips and one is to the Baker Ranch (thunderegg mine). For those who aren't familiar with that field trip, one doesn't get to dig in the actual mine which is a big, deep, and possibly dangerous pit. Rather one digs through the mine's tailings. Since the mine workers cull the good eggs before the tailings are piled up, the pickings are slim and ones found are typically small. Occasionally a big one is found that the workers missed. The biggest I've found is a little over 3 inches, and most are between 1 and 2 1/2 inches. But what they lack in size is made up for in how pretty they can be. What I have found there has served to whet my appetite to go back and dig in other areas near the mine to hopefully find some larger eggs. Here are a half dozen examples of Baker eggs shown wet as I haven't had a chance to polish them. All are about 2 inches except for the last two that are 3 inches at their widest point I laughed when I cut the next double. It's so tiny, barely 2" in it's longest dimension, but complex. Water line agate topped with quartz, and fortification agate in the lower nodule. And my favorite Thanks for looking. -Patrick
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owyhee
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2014
Posts: 105
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Post by owyhee on Apr 9, 2014 18:29:28 GMT -5
They are the best and I have none in my collection. Don't know which one I like the best......they all are great!
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,709
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Post by Fossilman on Apr 9, 2014 19:37:57 GMT -5
Love " Baker " eggs,but the miners think they are gold,with the prices on them...You found some beautiful ones there- thumbs up..
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SJPatrick
starting to spend too much on rocks
2 1/2 years into rock hounding and I'm still a newbie!
Member since September 2013
Posts: 124
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Post by SJPatrick on Apr 9, 2014 20:27:55 GMT -5
I agree. I went to the Kid's museum/rockshop and while his partner was printing a map for me I looked at the eggs for sale. My jaw dropped when I saw what was being asked for some of them. I thought to myself, "I got to find me some more of those eggs".
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,487
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Post by Sabre52 on Apr 9, 2014 20:34:57 GMT -5
Awesome! Baker Eggs are among the best. Many eons ago, before it was a big commercial dig. I went to the fee dig ( single fairly small pit) when it was owned by the Lindbergs. Just to show how long ago this was, the eggs were like 15 cents per pound for all you could dig. Ash digging was so bad you'd wear your pick down to a nubbin in a weekend,but man it was a fun treasure hunt. Found some monster eggs up to a foot or so but all them we just megaquartz in the center. Most colorful eggs we found were in the 1-4" size range. Fun to camp out there in the middle of nowhere with desert scaled quail all around the camp. Probably one of my top ten field trip locations ever.....Mel
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SJPatrick
starting to spend too much on rocks
2 1/2 years into rock hounding and I'm still a newbie!
Member since September 2013
Posts: 124
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Post by SJPatrick on Apr 10, 2014 18:37:48 GMT -5
Wow. 15 cents a pound. That did have to be awhile back Mel. The area there is good for hunting eggs as the terrain is fairly flat. And it's BLM land so I suppose one could camp there if they wanted. I stayed longer than most after the field trip. And on the way out I stopped at a place a short distance away from the mine. There were broken eggs scattered around. If there ever was any digging done there it was a long time ago. So I started digging and about a foot down I ran into bunches of eggs. In a little over an hour I had 3/4 of a bucket of 2 to 4 inch eggs. To make a long story shorter, so far most of those eggs I've cut have turned out to be duds. Only about one in seven or eight has had an agate core. But I still have many to cut. Maybe the ratio of duds to good eggs will get better. Most likely though I'll find another place to dig next time.
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kellyj
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2013
Posts: 100
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Post by kellyj on Apr 12, 2014 6:59:43 GMT -5
Absolutely fascinating! Is there a hint of purple I see in the third picture down and the second to the last photo? Amethyst maybe? Tell me if I'm wrong Thank you for sharing!
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SJPatrick
starting to spend too much on rocks
2 1/2 years into rock hounding and I'm still a newbie!
Member since September 2013
Posts: 124
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Post by SJPatrick on Apr 12, 2014 14:30:13 GMT -5
Kelly, no that's not purple. The cavity extends farther into the rock at that point. And it appears to have filled with water when I sprayed it before I took the photo. It must be a reflection from something. It would have been nice if it were indeed purple.
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miander
spending too much on rocks
Searching for the shop of my dreams...
Member since November 2013
Posts: 407
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Post by miander on Apr 13, 2014 10:11:59 GMT -5
Those are the types of specimens that turn regular people into rockhounds like us, for life. Thank you for sharing - gorgeous!
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delo
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since February 2014
Posts: 134
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Post by delo on Apr 25, 2014 0:14:50 GMT -5
Those colors are rad!
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Post by stoner on Apr 25, 2014 0:20:30 GMT -5
Nice! They make great cabs too.
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Post by 150FromFundy on Apr 25, 2014 17:20:39 GMT -5
In general, the solid agate cores are heavier that the matrix that surrounds them. To increase your odds of success when cutting, cut the heaviest ones.
It's pretty addictive when you find something good. Bet you can't wait to go back.
Darryl.
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Post by jakesrocks on Apr 25, 2014 17:39:28 GMT -5
Can I have some bacon and hash browns to go with those eggs ? You found some beauties.
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gemfeller
Cave Dweller
Member since June 2011
Posts: 4,019
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Post by gemfeller on Apr 25, 2014 17:59:45 GMT -5
Those are extra-special. That double sure tells a story about different modes of agate formation.
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Post by paulshiroma on Apr 26, 2014 23:02:55 GMT -5
Those are beautiful pieces. Congrats on the score. Paul.
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SJPatrick
starting to spend too much on rocks
2 1/2 years into rock hounding and I'm still a newbie!
Member since September 2013
Posts: 124
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Post by SJPatrick on Apr 27, 2014 15:57:03 GMT -5
Thanks guys. Darryl, yep, I couldn't wait to get back. I was planning to be in Southern Cal for Easter and it occurred to me that Deming is "only" another 10 hours farther. I'm retired, having fun, so here I am in New Mexico again. The land of enchantment. It will soon be too hot to hunt rocks. I love the desert. I could probably think of more rationalizations for returning so soon after the last trip. Oh, the desert flowers are blooming. -Patrick
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