jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,562
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Post by jamesp on Mar 15, 2015 17:01:46 GMT -5
I was approached by a ranch owner to hunt rocks on his ranch. I was collecting on a public gravel road when he pulled up and asked what i was doing. The spot is desolate and the DEA kept stopping and looking in my car due to drug traffic issues. the rancher, Fernando knew everyone in the area. His family owned a bunch of land. I ended up hanging out with the bunch in the evenings at the local watering hole and ended up getting invites to hunt about 4000 acres of land. All fronting along the Rio. El Primo agate land. I stayed on Fernando's land, he had cleared about 100 acres and that is where these came from. And some from the gravel pit down the road a few miles that his uncle owned. Borax in vibe polish in overcast Bright light Slabs sawn from Rio pebbles poured in concrete and bulk sawn before tumbling After tumbled. lots of variety for 100 acres Still have hundreds of pounds that have not been worked. In 11 days I brought back over a thousand pounds. Smallish gravel is most common, averaging 1-3 inches. Hill tops had bigger cobbles.(ancient turns in the river 300 feet higher than the present day Rio). Which is where I spent most of the time. That place is amazing. And only covered a small area. The rock quarry was pushing all the big cobbles off to the side. Did not think about looking at them. 6-10 inch agate cobbles in that pile. Felt comfortable at the gravel pit with people around. The drug smuggling issue is a bit unnerving.
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panamark
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2012
Posts: 1,343
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Post by panamark on Mar 15, 2015 19:24:22 GMT -5
those are gorgeous James. I remember when you first posted about taking that trip. The stuff of dreams
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Mar 15, 2015 19:28:31 GMT -5
Such cool variety for a relatively small area. Nice job on the tumble too.
Chuck
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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 Mar 15, 2015 19:29:41 GMT -5
Wow awesome display. Thanks for the post James.....Mel
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Post by Pat on Mar 15, 2015 20:10:36 GMT -5
James, that sounds soooo fun! Rocks are good looking, too. Thanks!
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Post by orrum on Mar 15, 2015 20:50:49 GMT -5
Fantastic rocks and shine James!!!!
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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 Mar 15, 2015 21:17:33 GMT -5
I've always loved the Rios and those are some nice ones! Can't wait to be able to buy some from Mel.
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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 Mar 15, 2015 23:56:13 GMT -5
We would have to a hundred miles to find anywhere near that much variety, thanks for the show. Like to hunt that area sometime.
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Post by snowmom on Mar 16, 2015 4:02:46 GMT -5
plumes! Breccias! Conglomerates! color galore. Those rocks are having their own party. talk about rock hunter's paradise. I remember the photos you posted when you collected those, and the conditions you collected them under. Maybe not paradise but an opportunity for the bold. Not for the weak hearted, but the pay load is tremendous. Will be watching for more agate show and tell as you finish the other 2 tons of agates you brought home! I wouldn't be able to keep my hands off 'em if they were sitting in front of me. Thanks for the show.
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tkvancil
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2011
Posts: 1,547
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Post by tkvancil on Mar 16, 2015 8:56:03 GMT -5
Lots of color and variety. First couple pics really show off the shine. Nice batch!
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Post by iant on Mar 17, 2015 8:58:48 GMT -5
Tremendous rocks with an amazing shine. Such superb variety. Jim you seem to get all the good stuff!
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Post by rockpickerforever on Mar 17, 2015 10:02:50 GMT -5
Wild stuff! The borax is your friend! Thanks for posting those, James.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,562
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Post by jamesp on Mar 17, 2015 10:49:38 GMT -5
Wild stuff! The borax is your friend! Thanks for posting those, James. I think we need to kidnap iant and take him down to cowboy land to hunt the Texas agate Jean. I'll bring my 41 six shooter and it's leather waist belt and strap it on him. Doc Hoilday, Calamity Jean, and some Scott English that no one will understand, which would certainly lead to some great gun fights. We will carry the water and rocks Ian, you handle the gun fights. If we see the drug cartel coming across the river we best run lest you can pull the trigger real fast.
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Post by rockpickerforever on Mar 17, 2015 11:03:32 GMT -5
James, there are places around here I stay away from, too. There's a place called Smuggler's Cave out near Jacumba (Ha-coomba), east of San Diego and just north of the Mexican border. Some nice rocks out there, it was suggested for field trip (Elliot Mine area) by someone in my rock club. There's a reason they call it "Smuggler's Cave."
But it is a really cool area, very scenic. www.in-the-desert.com/smugglerscave.html
May just have to go in a huge group, safety in numbers, ya know?
Bob has been caught in the crossfire between Border Patrol and some illegals down near Otay Lake. Don't want to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, too easy to be a victim.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,562
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Post by jamesp on Mar 17, 2015 12:25:06 GMT -5
Gotta be bad on the populated Ca. border Jean. to easy to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. So Bob was trying to get shot eh ? sounds like a close call.
Beautiful spot, looks like they scored tungsten at the Elliot mine.
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Post by captbob on Mar 17, 2015 12:34:01 GMT -5
Lovin' the pics here. Would like to hear more about this: Slabs sawn from Rio pebbles poured in concrete and bulk sawn before tumbling
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,562
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Post by jamesp on Mar 17, 2015 12:45:47 GMT -5
I told a story about this trip captbob. It was an experience staying in the small town of Zapata for 12 days. I met a bunch of crazy folks and partied with them. Almost did not come home ha. Lots of fun and trouble to get into there. mostly trouble. i would like to take a bunch out there some time. The landowner and i got along real well. His property is par excellence (high hills) for killer Rios. Two of the highest hills for many miles, prime agate deposits.
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panamark
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2012
Posts: 1,343
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Post by panamark on Mar 17, 2015 13:04:09 GMT -5
I think the group trip would be awesome. Like said, there is safety in numbers..... at least in this country.
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Post by captbob on Mar 17, 2015 13:15:32 GMT -5
I recall the trip story. I'm talking about - Slabs sawn from Rio pebbles poured in concrete and bulk sawn before tumbling.
Looking for methods for slabbing roundish pieces that a vise just won't get a good hold on. Like if you wanted to slab something shaped like a dinosaur egg long ways. Seems setting in concrete would work, but sure make a mess of your saw oil. I've also read here of folks using plaster of paris or the like. Still seems like it would make a fine mess of the oil.
Topic may require a separate thread when I feel up to it
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Post by rockpickerforever on Mar 17, 2015 13:18:43 GMT -5
Gotta be bad on the populated Ca. border Jean. to easy to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. So Bob was trying to get shot eh ? sounds like a close call. Beautiful spot, looks like they scored tungsten at the Elliot mine. Not sure what they find at the Elliot, I have never been. And no, Bob wasn't trying to get shot, that kind of stuff just finds you. There are both drug and human smugglers out there, Bob found a group of the latter.
Lovin' the pics here. Would like to hear more about this: Slabs sawn from Rio pebbles poured in concrete and bulk sawn before tumbling James, I think captbob was referring to your method of sawing them, not the trip itself: forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/post/749510
and again forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/post/764131
Or maybe he wanted to hear about the trip, IDK??
ETA - Guess I was right the first time
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