bcrockhound
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2014
Posts: 418 
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Post by bcrockhound on Dec 25, 2014 17:45:25 GMT -5
I just got back from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, with my girlfriend. We had a great time and made sure to fit in some rockhounding. Are some of these agates? We assume some are, but realize not everything with bands is. The beaches around our hotel were surprisingly bountiful. I have found *one* banded, waxy looking rock in my hundreds of hours (literally) patrolling Vancouver Island beaches. We found about a dozen in just a few hours cumulatively on our trip. Anyway, pictures below. I need sun in my life or everything starts to fall apart.  Even the Mexicans there didn't believe I was a native English speaker. I spent six months going to a WhiteSpot here in BC for breakfast almost every day, and the waitress thought I was a Mexican learning English! She even knew I wrote for the local paper. I make a good tourist/immigrant anywhere I guess. My girlfriend's best find. She beat me at rockhounding on this trip.  My best find!   This one is actually my favourite of all. My girlfriend found it. It seems to have very little matrix.   Cool spot on this one but most of it is nothingness.  Some of the smaller/less exciting ones.   And a Chinese Writing Rock. I guess these are just ubiquitous.  Thanks for looking. Merry Christmas! bcrockhound.com/2014/12/25/mexican-agates-from-puerto-vallarta/ |
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Post by kk on Dec 25, 2014 19:43:58 GMT -5
Been to this place in 1988, and can remember prestiene beaches , black sand, and finding huge shells early in the mornings. Rocks where not my thing then yet. Nice find, let's cut them open and see what's inside.  |
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Post by gingerkid on Dec 25, 2014 21:55:35 GMT -5
Nice finds, bcrockhound, and enjoyed your trip pics. Agree with Kurt, please cut 'em open and see what's inside! Merry Christmas!  |
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spiritstone
Cave Dweller 
Member since August 2014
Posts: 2,061
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Post by spiritstone on Dec 25, 2014 21:55:49 GMT -5
Bud...you live in one of the warmest parts of canada and on a island? Just kidden with ya.
The heat must feel good about now. Maybe next winter if opportunity arises.
Nice score!
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spiritstone
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Member since August 2014
Posts: 2,061
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Post by spiritstone on Dec 26, 2014 8:09:58 GMT -5
After reading on where you found the Chinese writing stone. I have to agree with that statement. I find them also on the east side of the rockies, why the are so abundant along the west side of the continent is beyond me.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 26, 2014 9:48:02 GMT -5
I am no expert but I am thinking calcite. How hard is it?
Jim
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Fossilman
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Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,717
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Post by Fossilman on Dec 26, 2014 11:01:20 GMT -5
Great vacation spot!!! Nice finds too..............Thumbs up
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spiritstone
Cave Dweller
Member since August 2014
Posts: 2,061
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Post by spiritstone on Dec 26, 2014 16:36:15 GMT -5
I am no expert but I am thinking calcite. How hard is it? Jim Chinese writing stone (also known as porphory or chinese letter stone) is a limestone matrix with andalusite crystals that appear as a delightful pattern resembling chinese characters. This is what I pulled up on it. |
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,589
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Post by jamesp on Dec 26, 2014 20:16:35 GMT -5
How many kilos were ya able to get on the plane ? where are the photos of the nude beach ?? |
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spiritstone
Cave Dweller
Member since August 2014
Posts: 2,061
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Post by spiritstone on Dec 26, 2014 21:11:35 GMT -5
How many kilos were ya able to get on the plane ? where are the photos of the nude beach ?? That province is more into export not import.  oh you mean rocks lol |
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bcrockhound
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2014
Posts: 418
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Post by bcrockhound on Dec 26, 2014 21:15:17 GMT -5
Been to this place in 1988, and can remember prestiene beaches , black sand, and finding huge shells early in the mornings. Rocks where not my thing then yet. Nice find, let's cut them open and see what's inside. That's when I was born! After reading on where you found the Chinese writing stone. I have to agree with that statement. I find them also on the east side of the rockies, why the are so abundant along the west side of the continent is beyond me. That is interesting. I like them but they sure are abundant. How many kilos were ya able to get on the plane ? where are the photos of the nude beach ?? Just a few pounds I think. The sexy photos are all for me. |
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spiritstone
Cave Dweller
Member since August 2014
Posts: 2,061
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Post by spiritstone on Dec 26, 2014 21:27:15 GMT -5
I thought of something recently on a question you asked of hounding spots in your area awhile back. Take a look at Rick Hudson Vol 1 and 2, all sites are within a days drive of Van.
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bcrockhound
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2014
Posts: 418
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Post by bcrockhound on Dec 27, 2014 2:40:29 GMT -5
I thought of something recently on a question you asked of hounding spots in your area awhile back. Take a look at Rick Hudson Vol 1 and 2, all sites are within a days drive of Van. Thank you. I got the one for Vancouver actually! I should have got the Vancouver Island one too. Great book indeed. |
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Post by Peruano on Dec 28, 2014 12:06:35 GMT -5
I've spent a fair amount of time collecting somewhat similar agate on beaches near Guaymas (a bit further north in Sonora). I'm fairly sure you have some agate, but it is also mixed in with softer material like calcite or some other calcified matrix. Note how nature has undercut the two materials of differing hardness in the natural wave tumble. When I do find some larger, or more solid ones, they do polish into things that look like satellite weather maps. Could the first one be what is often called a septarian (spelling). Again they are found in some frequency on Mexican beaches, but hey its a big country with a complex geology along its entire coastline. I'll bet you can find something in the rocks if you cut them. Tom
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Post by Peruano on Dec 28, 2014 18:45:41 GMT -5
Here is what some of those beach stones from Guaymas look like when sliced. I convinced myself that they were a composite of agate, some rhyolites, and some calcite/calcium deposits. These are just raw slabettes. They do polish on the wheel and or with the vibratory tumbler. Tom  |
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bcrockhound
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2014
Posts: 418
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Post by bcrockhound on Dec 29, 2014 23:48:22 GMT -5
I've spent a fair amount of time collecting somewhat similar agate on beaches near Guaymas (a bit further north in Sonora). I'm fairly sure you have some agate, but it is also mixed in with softer material like calcite or some other calcified matrix. Note how nature has undercut the two materials of differing hardness in the natural wave tumble. When I do find some larger, or more solid ones, they do polish into things that look like satellite weather maps. Could the first one be what is often called a septarian (spelling). Again they are found in some frequency on Mexican beaches, but hey its a big country with a complex geology along its entire coastline. I'll bet you can find something in the rocks if you cut them. Tom Thanks for the input! We're going to try to tumble a few and see how it goes. Did you ever make it to Vancouver Island? |
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Post by Peruano on Dec 30, 2014 7:57:35 GMT -5
Your thread on Puerto Vallarta has stimulated me to select some representative beach stones collected from Guaymas which I have tumbled, sliced, cabbed, etc. So I'll start a new thread in the near future.
Alas my trip to Vancouver and parts North was only days away (even had ferry reservations from Prince Rupert), when I was presented with a diagnosis of an autoimmune disease that required immediate steroid treatment and blood tests twice per month so . . . travel plans were amended to shorter trips and Western Canada postponed. I still have hopes for 2015.
BTW blood results and kidney function are approaching normal, the travel leash is loosened slightly, and I have my eyesight on southern Californian desert, Quartzite, and Sonoran beaches in the coming months. Good luck with the beach stones. They are so much fun due to variety and being smoother than many rocks, they work up quickly.
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bcrockhound
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2014
Posts: 418
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Post by bcrockhound on Dec 30, 2014 21:41:03 GMT -5
Your thread on Puerto Vallarta has stimulated me to select some representative beach stones collected from Guaymas which I have tumbled, sliced, cabbed, etc. So I'll start a new thread in the near future. Alas my trip to Vancouver and parts North was only days away (even had ferry reservations from Prince Rupert), when I was presented with a diagnosis of an autoimmune disease that required immediate steroid treatment and blood tests twice per month so . . . travel plans were amended to shorter trips and Western Canada postponed. I still have hopes for 2015. BTW blood results and kidney function are approaching normal, the travel leash is loosened slightly, and I have my eyesight on southern Californian desert, Quartzite, and Sonoran beaches in the coming months. Good luck with the beach stones. They are so much fun due to variety and being smoother than many rocks, they work up quickly. I'm sorry to hear that but glad you're recovering! |
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oh you mean rocks lol
