matt2432
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2014
Posts: 171
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Post by matt2432 on Jan 2, 2015 23:13:20 GMT -5
Hey everyone, Just finished my first batch in the tumbler, all self-collected local rocks from North Dakota. Not exactly a "wet ice" finish, but I learned a lot about the process. Unfortunately I hadn't discovered this forum until they were almost done or they would have been much better. Much to improve for the next go around. Any idea what the one in the top left is? There is a lot of those along the rivers around here. It takes a good polish but has a lot of small fractures on the surface. I'll have to tumble one for longer and see if they come out or not. Knife River flint, you can see the root beer color in some of the thinner ones. Not a real pretty rock, but it polishes well Some sort of agate. I intentionally left the front rough, I intend to drill it for a pendant Montana Agates. It's hard to see in the photo but the top right one has a distinctive smilie face pattern. My favorites, a piece of Jasper-Agate and Pet Wood Nothing as exotic as most of the stuff posted on here, but I had a blast collecting and polishing it! Matt
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bcrockhound
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2014
Posts: 418
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Post by bcrockhound on Jan 2, 2015 23:17:02 GMT -5
Hey, I think those are awesome, even more so for your first time! All self-collects is great. I love them. Excited to see just how good you get. No help on rock ID. The pet wood is my favourite!
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,562
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Post by jamesp on Jan 2, 2015 23:55:40 GMT -5
Like bc said, self collected rocks rock. Those look like some hard agates that would be good candidates for tumbling on the large side.
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rodeodan
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since January 2010
Posts: 213
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Post by rodeodan on Jan 3, 2015 3:33:53 GMT -5
Fantastic batch, congrats!
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Post by Jugglerguy on Jan 3, 2015 5:48:11 GMT -5
I wish I could find rocks as nice as those! I thought the top left rock in the first picture was Montana agate too, but I'm not very good at identification. I have one just like it, whatever it is. I'd be picking up a lot of those if they were available here.
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Post by snowmom on Jan 3, 2015 6:23:28 GMT -5
Those look pretty darn good. Great stuff you find there, too. Looking forward to your posts!
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Jan 3, 2015 9:27:34 GMT -5
looking really good. I would say Montana agate on your top left rock too. I have a few just like that and they came in my Montana agate rough order.
Chuck
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matt2432
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2014
Posts: 171
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Post by matt2432 on Jan 3, 2015 10:26:15 GMT -5
I though Montana agate had black and reddish colors in it? This one is completely translucent except where the fractures on the outer skin show. I have another similar one that I cut into and there was nothing at all on the inside. No banding, color, nothing.
Snowmom says she finds Chalcedony agates where she is at that look similar, I wonder if that's what it might be... Whatever it is, it's hard stuff. Makes sparks fly like crazy when cutting it.
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,711
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Post by Fossilman on Jan 3, 2015 11:11:02 GMT -5
In Oregon,we have clear agates like that too,we just call them "river" agates..But it could be a Montana too,I have bigger Montanas that are clear like that...(Mud clear)... Nice batch...
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azgnoinc
spending too much on rocks
Member since March 2014
Posts: 484
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Post by azgnoinc on Jan 3, 2015 13:14:43 GMT -5
That is a fantastic job for your first batch, looking forward to more of your awesome self collects!!
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Post by iant on Jan 3, 2015 14:11:02 GMT -5
Superb results, on fantastic self collected rocks. I also find clear agate which is very hard and sparks when you cut it! Thanks for sharing these!
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tkvancil
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2011
Posts: 1,547
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Post by tkvancil on Jan 3, 2015 15:45:26 GMT -5
Very Nice! You did a lot better than I did on my first. Love the Montanas ... The rest are cool too.
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quartz
Cave Dweller
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,352
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Post by quartz on Jan 3, 2015 22:46:48 GMT -5
For a first batch, you did very well. Nice pieces, thanks for the show.
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riverrock
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since April 2010
Posts: 1,395
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Post by riverrock on Jan 4, 2015 17:50:09 GMT -5
If I had rocks like that in my back yard, I'd quit my day job. Looking foward too see more from ya.
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Post by pghram on Jan 4, 2015 19:32:07 GMT -5
Welcome & nice batch.
Rich
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hornseeker
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2014
Posts: 268
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Post by hornseeker on Jan 5, 2015 10:37:09 GMT -5
Where you at Matt? I assume near a montana river?
I pick up LOTS of those like you have on top left and I have always called them Yellowstone agates. yellowstones/montanas are "known" for their moss and dendritic patterns, but basically, they dont all have it! By the way, they are all chalcedony... I am not a rock expert, but I'll try and get a few more specifics to explain, at least from what I've heard!
Your two favorites... are probably also my two favorits. I have a large (4 pound) piece of red jasper that has those agate streaks in it that I am PUMPED to tumble!
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bsky4463
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2013
Posts: 1,696
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Post by bsky4463 on Jan 5, 2015 13:23:55 GMT -5
Ayup, hornseeker nailed it. Given your locale and all I would agree that one is a MT aggie. Lots of variety...to be found in the river gravels. Cheers edit: and btw - great job on your first tumble!
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matt2432
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2014
Posts: 171
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Post by matt2432 on Jan 5, 2015 14:21:29 GMT -5
Hornseeker - These were found along the Missouri river in central North Dakota, between Bismark and lake sakakawea; several hundred miles from the yellowstone. I suppose the glaciers and rivers must have brought them all the way out here. Amazing to think that they would be spread that far. I look forward to seeing your red jasper once it's tumbled. Fun stuff.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,562
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Post by jamesp on Jan 5, 2015 14:40:46 GMT -5
Jealous of the Montanamen's fine arsenal of rocks and geologic variety.
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bsky4463
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2013
Posts: 1,696
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Post by bsky4463 on Jan 5, 2015 14:48:50 GMT -5
MT agates are found in the 6-mile Creek and Flaxville gravel formations. We collect many fine agates all the way to the border in N/E MT, no reason there arent more downstream. I would guess they begin to loose color and "typical" MT agate characteristics the farther away you get.... Regardless nice finds and tumbles. Cheers
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