spiritstone
Cave Dweller 
Member since August 2014
Posts: 2,061 
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Post by spiritstone on Nov 5, 2014 18:26:50 GMT -5
Playing around with some Opalized limb casts that I received from VV Nevada. Found a couple in the bunch that look like they might be some good contenders for a piece. Most only good enough for specimens in a jar of water, and a couple for the display cabinet. Cleaned up most of the clay that surrounds the few i got worth working on, and started on this one. So far its holding good and no treatment other then sanding. Not sure if I have enough time to finish it this week, still in a preshape stage, but wanted to share the outcome so far. Keep u all updated on the final product.    |
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Post by Peruano on Nov 5, 2014 19:21:53 GMT -5
Wow, you indeed are showing some fire. The opalized wood I find here in NM tends to have a fibrous white body, often layered with the opalized black layer, and a more striated bark like layer that sands to a variegated grey. Working through the various layers to different degrees can produce some dramatic looks. Enjoy. Tom
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,723
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Post by Fossilman on Nov 5, 2014 19:27:29 GMT -5
WOW!!!!
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,612
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Post by jamesp on Nov 5, 2014 19:49:33 GMT -5
that is some special wood
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Post by mohs on Nov 5, 2014 20:15:39 GMT -5
that wood going to flash in to fire
keep water nearby
fabulous material!
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gemfeller
Cave Dweller
Member since June 2011
Posts: 4,064
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Post by gemfeller on Nov 5, 2014 20:17:51 GMT -5
How long has the piece been out of water? Not much of the VV limb material is stable in air. I'll be interested to see how you do with it.
Years ago I spent several days digging opal at the Rainbow Ridge Mine with the owner, Keith Hodson. I asked him how he could tell cutters from specimens.
"I just throw anything that looks good up on the cabin's tin roof," he said. "If it stays in one piece through the heat of July and August, I take it home with me in the Fall and try cutting it." He said even some of those "seasoned" pieces crazed but quite a few didn't.
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spiritstone
Cave Dweller
Member since August 2014
Posts: 2,061
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Post by spiritstone on Nov 6, 2014 6:47:36 GMT -5
How long has the piece been out of water? Not much of the VV limb material is stable in air. I'll be interested to see how you do with it. Years ago I spent several days digging opal at the Rainbow Ridge Mine with the owner, Keith Hodson. I asked him how he could tell cutters from specimens. "I just throw anything that looks good up on the cabin's tin roof," he said. "If it stays in one piece through the heat of July and August, I take it home with me in the Fall and try cutting it." He said even some of those "seasoned" pieces crazed but quite a few didn't. He is much like the miner your describing, known him personally for 5 years or so. Its left outside for a min of a year or longer. So far havent had any cracks or craze come from that one piece, it should hold out just fine. I have subjected it to the worst parts preshaping plus in and out of water, now on to the polish stages. A couple fell apart right after I placed them in water, the rest seem stable and solid. From what I posted the best is yet to come "maybe" I have a couple with the cores all replaced with a common blue opal with green POC and a couple on black. I need to get in touch with him, I know he just sold this one claim where these ones came out of. I wonder if he is aware of what i pulled out of the rough. hmmm Thanks all for the encouraging words. |
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Post by roy on Nov 6, 2014 9:50:16 GMT -5
nice fire wood!
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Post by pghram on Nov 6, 2014 13:33:07 GMT -5
Great fire in that one.
Rich
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rockingthenorth
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2012
Posts: 1,637
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Post by rockingthenorth on Nov 7, 2014 21:06:17 GMT -5
Beautiful
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Post by gingerkid on Nov 10, 2014 22:39:13 GMT -5
 Beautiful opalized limb casts, spiritstone! Is it some of John's findings?
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spiritstone
Cave Dweller
Member since August 2014
Posts: 2,061
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Post by spiritstone on Nov 11, 2014 6:20:17 GMT -5
Beautiful opalized limb casts, spiritstone! Is it some of John's findings? Hey Jan, yes it is. |
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Post by gingerkid on Nov 12, 2014 18:07:57 GMT -5
Thanks, spiritstone! Didn't know he sold the claim to one of his mines (kinda hard "understanding" some of his posts, lol, you know what i mean?). |
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Henry
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2013
Posts: 452
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Post by Henry on Nov 25, 2014 0:10:37 GMT -5
The colors are awesome!
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spiritstone
Cave Dweller
Member since August 2014
Posts: 2,061
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Post by spiritstone on Jan 2, 2015 18:02:38 GMT -5
Some update on the wood. Seems to be holding fine. Seventyfive percent done with a few small spots that are needing a little more attention due to undercutting between the wood and opal replacement. Other then that it was hard to show you what it was doing in the department of colors, so I made a vid to show it a little better. Had to edit halfway because the cam went out of focus.  |
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,723
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Post by Fossilman on Jan 2, 2015 19:15:47 GMT -5
Thumbs up....
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,612
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Post by jamesp on Jan 2, 2015 19:26:35 GMT -5
Lookin good spirit. Nice to find a whole tree of that stuff.
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Post by adam on Jan 2, 2015 19:51:22 GMT -5
Wow they're stunningly beautiful. Good luck with your wood.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2015 20:27:48 GMT -5
dude that is super cool. Opal's I get!
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spiritstone
Cave Dweller
Member since August 2014
Posts: 2,061
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Post by spiritstone on Jan 3, 2015 15:40:56 GMT -5
Lookin good spirit. Nice to find a whole tree of that stuff. I could go for one the size of those Cypress you posted. |
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Beautiful opalized limb casts, 
