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Post by adam on Feb 27, 2016 20:06:07 GMT -5
Sounds like a bunch of different cameras. I want one to take crystal clear pictures of my specimens and tumbles to upload to photobucket. I just don't know much about cameras at all. I like taking pictures, but that's different. Sounds like SLR would be worth looking into.
I don't think I'd pay more than $150 for a camera... really. Unless spending money on advanced features is for you.
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Post by adam on Apr 7, 2016 17:07:36 GMT -5
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 7, 2016 17:51:51 GMT -5
Are you in nyland?
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Post by adam on Apr 8, 2016 7:40:20 GMT -5
I stayed in Niland twice, once last year, once this year. How did you figure?
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Post by Deleted on Apr 9, 2016 10:35:22 GMT -5
Sounds like a bunch of different cameras. I want one to take crystal clear pictures of my specimens and tumbles to upload to photobucket. I just don't know much about cameras at all. I like taking pictures, but that's different. Sounds like SLR would be worth looking into. I don't think I'd pay more than $150 for a camera... really. Unless spending money on advanced features is for you. Research nikon coolpix point and shoot cameras. Learn the older models. Then hit a pawn shop or three. See what they have. Maybe research it again. Then make a buy. $30-$40 is your target number. I have bought a few this way. They all work. To this day. Most I gifted to kids who showed interest in making images. Now they all have iPhones. The pawnshop cameras may not have chargers and cables. If they do they carry greater value. If not these are cheap on ebay. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 9, 2016 10:38:15 GMT -5
Oh, and switch to flickr. More space available and greater flexibility in your time. Upload full size images. Flickr resizes for display, on the fly.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 9, 2016 10:56:48 GMT -5
I stayed in Niland twice, once last year, once this year. How did you figure? I guessed by your descriptions of where you are. Its one of my superpowers.  As for rock saws. Haunt craigslist for used tile saws. 10" lapidary blades are affordable. |
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Post by adam on Apr 9, 2016 15:34:00 GMT -5
Thanks for the advice on the cameras and saws. I won't need a camera any time soon, but some day I'll get one, same for a saw. I would like for someone with knowledge of fire agate to tell me if what I have in the pictures below is is the same, or carnelian, or just agate. Though it has the characteristics of fire agate. I greatly appreciate any help. More photos for your viewing pleasure. Specimen #1     Specimen #2    Here's a tumble of some small agate geode. It's translucent, very light pink color, with a soft yellow glow under the sunlight.  Geode I broke open myself. In another geode I found within Niland, acicular amethyst crystals smothered the inside, I gave it to a friend. Geodes are uncommon for the area. To look for geodes, you must trek the vast open desert, sometimes braving the barren drains and creeks, all the while keeping an eye out for shiny material(quartz, or calcite!). Please tell me that is milky white druzy inside, but the black plates? I have no idea what those are.  |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 9, 2016 19:01:49 GMT -5
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Post by adam on Jul 9, 2016 17:56:44 GMT -5
Hey, rockpickforever, your thought's on these finds? I think one member told me these 2 are fire agate but there's not much to work with, if any. I just though these were cool specimens but I'd like to now what they really are. 1)  2)  |
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Post by rockpickerforever on Jul 9, 2016 20:38:06 GMT -5
Okay, I'll bite. It seems what you have heeeeere, is some chalcedony/fire agate. You can clearly see the botryoidal bubbles in it, as well as some druzy. The chalcedony is microcrystalline quartz, not exactly sure what turns it into fire agate. Some type of chemical in solut6ion must permeate it. But it seems that's what it starts out as. I have been playing with/reorganizing rocks all afternoon, took some photos of some of the chalcedony I have. Will try to get those photos up a little later tonight or tomorrow.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Jul 10, 2016 3:54:12 GMT -5
You are fortunate to do western agate collecting Adam. Looks like you live next to a treasure trove. You may get spoiled out there...
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Post by adam on Jul 10, 2016 8:13:54 GMT -5
You are fortunate to do western agate collecting Adam. Looks like you live next to a treasure trove. You may get spoiled out there... I was only out in California for a total of 3 months, but that wasn't enough time. Never ride Greyhound if you plan on taking rocks with you. I had over a hundred pounds of rocks and had to drop nearly half that. It stills bites me, I literally had to dump half of my Cali rocks into a trashcan at the bus terminal in EL Centro, CA. Whoever took out the garbage is one lucky man, or woman. lol Maybe I'll get to go to CA again. I'd rather go to Richardson's Ranch and stay a week. But then there's so many other rockhounding spots out west it boggles my mind. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 10, 2016 10:22:51 GMT -5
adamWhat is the blue glow on the bottom right of this one? Moonstone?
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Post by Garage Rocker on Jul 10, 2016 10:31:18 GMT -5
adamWhat is the blue glow on the bottom right of this one? Moonstone? [/quotke] Probably the computer screen reflection. I see it on his fingertips also. |
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Post by rockpickerforever on Jul 10, 2016 13:41:15 GMT -5
Here's the pics I took yesterday. Have a large bucket of chalcedony chunks, most from CA, some from AZ.
Kinda looks like this one, huh? I think your camera has made the one in your photo oranger then it is.
Not all the rock that looks like this has fire in it Seems the good fire only occurs in a small percentage of them, mostly dependent on the location where found. I am wondering why they call it fire "agate" when I think it is actually quartz? Anybody?
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Post by adam on Jul 10, 2016 14:12:59 GMT -5
I like how you have that collection of chalcedony, beautiful stuff. My CA chalcedony and agate collection is limited and probably mediocre, but the area I hunted wasn't the most ideal. I just thought fire agate is translucent chalcedony with a color spectrum of layers.
Should the specimens that I have be left in a natural state/not be worth cutting into?
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Post by Peruano on Jul 23, 2016 14:33:01 GMT -5
I went to gemselect.com for a definition and other info on fire agate (worth a read). In the fewest words its a microcrystaline quartz usually botryoidal with alternating layers of limonite or goethite iron oxide and silica that cause the light to be refracted into wonderful (my adjective) colors.
Not all orangish bots are fire agate (only those with the irredescent refraction of light) and in my experience the layering is very thin and sometimes covered with oxidized material. Polish too much and it goes away too.
Sorry about the rocks. Hopefully you saved some favorites. Keep posting and reading. You will benefit from a special knowledge.
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Post by Psycho on Aug 2, 2016 4:26:15 GMT -5
Adam are you still in Cali? And does the offer still stand on buying so!e of your finds?
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Post by Psycho on Aug 2, 2016 4:27:06 GMT -5
Adam are you still in Cali? And does the offer still stand on buying so!e of your finds?
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