Thanks everyone
verhexen - I have never worked with the rock sheds stuff but it is a completely different material from a different location.
This material actually cuts and cabs better then it tumbles.
Here are some cuts I just posted recently in the slab section. Probably a thousand cab photos in the cab section from the last few years if you browse there.
forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/thread/71728/michigannowyo - here is some good info about our local pudding stone.
Michigan Puddingstone, a conglomerate of primarily quartzite and pebbles of jasper. The
pudding stone pebbles vary in color from red to brown and pink to purple. Pudding stones
are considered metamorphic and sedimentary. Pudding stone minerals contained within
the rock may also vary. In some puddingstones minerals such as chromites, corundum,
platinum, diamonds, gold, sapphire, and zircon have been found. Tightly cemented
puddingstones make great ornamental stones when cut and polished properly.
Michigan Puddingstones were formed a billion years ago in northeast Canada.
Puddingstone is a type of sedimentary rock which first formed in river channels. During
the Ice Age, they were pushed down through Eastern Michigan from Ontario Canada by
the glaciers. The white is quartz sand which has cemented itself together over millions of
years. Mixed with it is a combination of other pebbles and stones of various sizes, shapes
and colors. Some may even contain fossils. Another name for puddingstone is quartz
conglomerate, meaning sedimentary rock composed of quartz and various other minerals.
Puddingstone is ideal for the hobbyist. It can be tumbled to make wonderful key chains,
necklaces and other small items. The larger pieces can be cut, polished and made into
book ends, lamp shades, clocks, fountains and just about anything else you can think of.
My favorite items are night lights and sun catchers.
Hunt for Puddingstones in Michigan on the far Eastern End of the Upper Peninsula and
the Northeast part of the Lower Peninsula. In Canada look on St. Josephs Island and the
surrounding areas.
Chuck