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Post by Bluesky78987 on Apr 14, 2014 18:35:49 GMT -5
Thanks to Tommy for reminding me Clear Creek was open, and easy. He took such nice pictures that I didn't really bother, except for a couple: Little McSnakersons in the stream catching frogs I think (there were lots of little frogs). Anybody know what kind he is?  And yes, those green rocks really are jade and other jade-like things. The view from the top of the hill (I drove up to snag a geocache that's up there): This is looking up the right fork at the top of Clear Creek.  And the rocks (I stayed home from work to day to cut them up, hee!) Chromite with Uvarovite (I think): (According to google, Uvarovite has something to do with garnets. I didn't get past that though, rock chemistry puts me to sleep.) It looks more like Uvaroite and less like serpentine veins on the outside. It's a really bright kelly green.  Jade? (Nephrite?): This was the only light colored one I saw; most were dark. Kinda so-so except in that one center area - I should have left the cobble whole and given it to my mom for a fancy yard rock. I don't like the yellow blobs.  Plasma agate:   Reminds me of Van Gogh. NOT chatoyant.   It comes in more of a green flavor too:  Lots of different varieties of Serpentine there. Like, every single rock in the stream.    Thanks for looking. |
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Post by paulshiroma on Apr 14, 2014 19:45:02 GMT -5
Looks like a great trip, Susan. I'm soooo jealous! LOL! Photos and slabs came out beautifully!
Paul
[edit] just showed Barbara where this was... trying to convince my family that we should take a drive up the state and spend a weekend there.
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Deb/nyllynn
spending too much on rocks
Deb & Jim
Member since April 2009
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Post by Deb/nyllynn on Apr 14, 2014 20:21:03 GMT -5
Wow, some really beautiful pieces.... Can't wait to see cabs.... Deb  |
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller 
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
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Post by Sabre52 on Apr 14, 2014 21:34:52 GMT -5
Cool beans! Nice finds and pics! The snake appears to be one of the Garter Snake group. I know jadeite jade is found there. Not sure about nephrite or if I could even tell them apart if I had them in hand. All your cuts are beautiful but that last green looking plasma rules. What a great color combo!.....Mel
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bsky4463
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2013
Posts: 1,696
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Post by bsky4463 on Apr 14, 2014 21:55:20 GMT -5
Awesome trip, finds and slabs....wow what a color show. Very cool. Cheers.
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jollyrockhound
spending too much on rocks
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Post by jollyrockhound on Apr 14, 2014 21:59:26 GMT -5
looks cool nice finds must be socal? Did any of the rocks repeat what you were saying? lol
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Post by Bluesky78987 on Apr 15, 2014 9:07:36 GMT -5
It's central cal, jolly. Thanks y'all -- and thanks ont he snake ID mel. I'm not sure if that plasma agate is going to polish - it has a lot of fibers. But we'll see.
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Post by johnjsgems on Apr 15, 2014 11:23:46 GMT -5
I think Mel is correct on jadeite being the one found there. Glad to hear the area is open again.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 15, 2014 16:45:01 GMT -5
Cool beans! Nice finds and pics! The snake appears to be one of the Garter Snake group. .....Mel Yes, indeed. Thamnophis for sure. But which one? Unless it is NOT a garter snake, the lack of dorsal stripe is diagnostic. Thamnophis hammondi the Two Striped Garter Snake. He is quite a bit paler than most hammondi. Here is a normal colored Two Striper:  I submit he also may be a Western Yellow Belly Racer (Coluber constrictor mormon) taking a dip. This is unusual, but not unexpected. They will feed on frogs or lizards. Here is a yellow belly:  Lastly there is a third much rarer but still possible answer to the question; "What kind of snake is it?". That is the possibility of the specimen displaying a genetic condition such as "blonde". I get to identify specimens for folks all the time. Last year I id'd a patternless gulf coast toad found by an entomologist/photographer who showed images to his university herpetologist could not ID it. This because that gentleman had not considered the possibility of an aberrant specimen. The herp world I lived in had mutations everywhere and so my eye is tuned. So there you have it. Nothing. It is either a two striped garter or a yellow belly racer, but we cannot be more precise without specimen in hand. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 15, 2014 16:47:32 GMT -5
That out of the way, Susan! those are really nice stones you brought home. wow! Love the "Van Gogh" stuff and I'll take 200# of this: |
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Tommy
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Post by Tommy on Apr 15, 2014 17:47:47 GMT -5
Woohoo! nice trip report Susan!
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Post by Bluesky78987 on Apr 18, 2014 16:09:39 GMT -5
Thanks all. I'll try to go home and blow up the snake picture tonight, maybe we can figure him out.
And yeah, Scott, I like that rock the best too. Of course, that's the one I forgot to cut a preform on while I had the saw out, grr. There weren't that many of them, but there were enough.
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Post by Pat on Apr 18, 2014 16:16:53 GMT -5
Good finds! Really like the plasmas and serpentines. There's always something to see in Clear Creek .... after the serpentine!
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milto
starting to spend too much on rocks
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Post by milto on Apr 18, 2014 18:07:48 GMT -5
Bluesky, where is Clear Creek located, I see you are from SoCal and I am in Yuma,az on Cal/Az border, looks like it would be worth the drive.Thanks in advance
milto
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milto
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2010
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Post by milto on Apr 18, 2014 18:07:58 GMT -5
Bluesky, where is Clear Creek located, I see you are from SoCal and I am in Yuma,az on Cal/Az border, looks like it would be worth the drive.Thanks in advance
milto
Sorry for the double post,can't figure out how to cancel one, oh well!!Happy Easter everyone..He is Risen
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Post by Bluesky78987 on Apr 18, 2014 18:13:16 GMT -5
Hi milto. Clear Creek is about an hour west of Coalinga (which is southwest of Fresno on the west side of the San Joaquin Valley).
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 18, 2014 22:50:03 GMT -5
Thanks all. I'll try to go home and blow up the snake picture tonight, maybe we can figure him out. And yeah, Scott, I like that rock the best too. Of course, that's the one I forgot to cut a preform on while I had the saw out, grr. There weren't that many of them, but there were enough. I'd love to see the full resolution image. If you would send it to me my email is: scott dot solar at gmail dot com I love solving reptilian puzzles. Great trip report susan! |
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Post by Bluesky78987 on Apr 20, 2014 15:11:25 GMT -5
Scott, some full rez crops are below. Here is what I observe about my little guy: 1. His head seems to be pointier than all the pictures I see online of garters and racers. 2. He has ticking on his back (there's probably some official name for that). 3. He has a definite transition between the back color and the sides (or belly) color. 4. No rattle. It seems that juvenile racers have (lots of) ticking -- maybe he is a teenager. www.californiaherps.com/snakes/images/ccmormonmod811.jpgSan Joaquin coachwhip also seems close in coloration. www.californiaherps.com/snakes/pages/c.f.ruddocki.html    |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 20, 2014 15:58:45 GMT -5
wow! Nice job Susan, that is now 100% certain to be a very pale Hammond's Two Striped Garter Snake. It's the sudden change from back coloration to light colored sides/belly that are diagnostic.
Pointy head is likely an artifact of refraction from the water and angled head position. That is definitely a garter.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 20, 2014 15:59:20 GMT -5
did you grab the jade pebble just to the right of the snakes head?  |
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