Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,487
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Post by Sabre52 on Feb 5, 2016 10:35:14 GMT -5
Howdy folks, Here are the pics of the red and white looking Rio I promised. Just goes to show you have you cannot really predict what's inside these agates. My crappy pics cannot even do this one justice. It really pops. I think it looks like fire on a mountain.....Mel This is the uncut stone: Cuts 2 and 3: Closer shot of the last slab and the left over half nodule is this good too. Finally, I thought this one was a dud and almost threw it out. Looked too pitted on the outside but is really nice inside and very unusual. Only got the one slab though as I had to put most the agate in the vice to hold it tight. I've been very nervous since I wrecked my last blade *L*.
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,711
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Post by Fossilman on Feb 5, 2016 10:44:50 GMT -5
HOLY MOLLY-Scored a great cut on that beauty!
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Post by captbob on Feb 5, 2016 11:33:42 GMT -5
Very cool. It does look like fire.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,564
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Post by jamesp on Feb 5, 2016 18:08:34 GMT -5
Good read. Some of the prettiest mosses have the whiter patina. i think it comes from the clear chalcedony.
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Post by Toad on Feb 6, 2016 0:02:54 GMT -5
stupid question, but what is the moss made of?
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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 Feb 6, 2016 9:48:53 GMT -5
Toad, the mossy inclusions we see in agate are usually composed of tiny tubes, plates or fibrous crystal structures. Some mossy or cloudy inclusions are even built of tiny spherules or sagenite stalk aggregates all smashed together. You need a microscope to see the tiny details. One of the reasons you can see tiny pits in some filament moss agates that have the annoying habit of catching polish particles is, when we cut them we cut across some of the tiny tubes and the hollow core of the tube collects the polish. If you've ever polished that beautiful green moss from India, you can really observe this feature. These structures are usually built from iron or manganese salts but can include other minerals. We call it moss but it is not organic in nature at all....Mel
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Post by beefjello on Feb 7, 2016 10:57:17 GMT -5
I had a feeling that one would not disappoint. Beautiful!!!
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adrian65
Cave Dweller
Arch to golden memories and to great friends.
Member since February 2007
Posts: 10,787
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Post by adrian65 on Feb 7, 2016 13:59:13 GMT -5
What a stunning difference between the rather common outside and the vibrant colors in the inside!
Adrian
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Post by txrockhunter on Feb 7, 2016 14:30:39 GMT -5
Both of those are amazing! With rocks like your Fire on the Mountain, I think you have to see it in person. I'm not sure photos will ever do them justice. Rocks like the 2nd one are what make this hobby so much fun! Please keep cutting and sharing!
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djaxon
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since February 2015
Posts: 159
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Post by djaxon on Feb 7, 2016 15:10:16 GMT -5
Thank you Mel for sharing these - beautiful agates. Agates are my favorite, just ahead of jasper and all other rocks!
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NDK
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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Post by NDK on Feb 8, 2016 16:40:56 GMT -5
Those are some really nice cuts Mel. I think your pix look good & if it's not doing the rocks justice I can't imagine how spectacular they are in person!
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Tom
fully equipped rock polisher
My dad Tom suddenly passed away yesterday, Just wanted his "rock" family to know.
Member since January 2013
Posts: 1,557
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Post by Tom on Feb 16, 2016 14:44:26 GMT -5
Mel great slabs. On the fire on the mountain one how did you know to cut it like that. Experience, the way it fit in the saw, shape or blind luck. You could not have cut that better its stunning!
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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 Feb 16, 2016 17:54:04 GMT -5
Tom, Blind luck *L*. Due to their rounded shapes, Rios often move in the vice. I just lost a perfectly good blade that way a couple of months ago due to such an error. I also only have a ten inch saw. So, I vice them the best way I can have them hold tight and still fit my saw. Actually, many Texas agate nodules are best sawed parallel to the top and bottom, especially if they contain plume but unfortunately, they are a booger to grip in the vice and slab, except for sawing perpendicular to the top and bottom....Mel
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,711
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Post by Fossilman on Feb 16, 2016 18:32:28 GMT -5
Tom, Blind luck *L*. Due to their rounded shapes, Rios often move in the vice. I just lost a perfectly good blade that way a couple of months ago due to such an error. I also only have a ten inch saw. So, I vice them the best way I can have them hold tight and still fit my saw. Actually, many Texas agate nodules are best sawed parallel to the top and bottom, especially if they contain plume but unfortunately, they are a booger to grip in the vice and slab, except for sawing perpendicular to the top and bottom....Mel I use small pieces of 1x4's for bracing in the vise,when cutting eggs and Rio's............They bite great against the rock and the vise tighten's the rocks......... Never had one slip yet......
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Tom
fully equipped rock polisher
My dad Tom suddenly passed away yesterday, Just wanted his "rock" family to know.
Member since January 2013
Posts: 1,557
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Post by Tom on Feb 16, 2016 18:56:40 GMT -5
Tom, Blind luck *L*. Due to their rounded shapes, Rios often move in the vice. I just lost a perfectly good blade that way a couple of months ago due to such an error. I also only have a ten inch saw. So, I vice them the best way I can have them hold tight and still fit my saw. Actually, many Texas agate nodules are best sawed parallel to the top and bottom, especially if they contain plume but unfortunately, they are a booger to grip in the vice and slab, except for sawing perpendicular to the top and bottom....Mel Thanks for the information Mel, you should buy a lottery ticket because that cut is absolutely perfect. Really nice rock, nice find. Tom
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