wannabee
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since September 2016
Posts: 188
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Post by wannabee on Oct 16, 2016 18:52:28 GMT -5
I started these around the time I found and joined this board, so I do not have any photos of their original state. I am 80% certain of most of the identities. I am uncertain what the ones I've labeled as Dolomite are embedded in. They came from a pile of abandoned crushed road bed aggregate. I know it is a very common mineral used as the gravel under-layment of paved roads in New York. I have dozens of rough specimens. I have a few more of the unknown one in the top row. They are a mud-brown stone with lots of little white stones embedded in them. Not the prettiest thing, but they were unusual, so they went into my pocket. Most of these stones are local specimens I found or dug up in about a 100 mile radius of Albany, NY. Closer photos are below. I am probably making mistakes tumbling unlike or mixed hardness stones together, but that's part of the learning process. However, constructive and helpful advice and counsel is always welcome. Top to bottom Row 1 L-R: Dolomite | Agate | Agate | Granite | Unknown | Granite Row 2 L-R: Carnelian | Carnelian | Carnelian | Agate | Granite | Gneiss Row 3 L-R: All Granite Row 4 L-R: Carnelian | Granite | Granite | Granite | Granite | Calcite Row 5 L-R: Granite | Dolomite (or granite) | Granite | Dolomite | Granite | Granite Closer photos follow
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Oct 16, 2016 18:58:16 GMT -5
Welcome. Your rocks are rounding nicely. I am not too concerned about the mixed variety in the batch. It is the granites that will give you the problems. Even if the whole load was all granites they would still give you problems because of the different hardness of each mineral the makes up granite. The later stages will begin to eat away at the softer minerals at a faster rate than the harder minerals leaving an uneven finish. They are still worth doing but will never end up like an agate or jasper tumble.
Chuck
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napoleonrags
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2015
Posts: 474
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Post by napoleonrags on Oct 16, 2016 20:48:53 GMT -5
Looking good. Keep on rollin.
And, welcome.
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Post by Garage Rocker on Oct 16, 2016 21:28:35 GMT -5
I like the idea of self collected material. Welcome!
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Rockandroll
having dreams about rocks
Member since January 2008
Posts: 52
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Post by Rockandroll on Oct 16, 2016 21:53:42 GMT -5
Very cool finds! I wish I had something local to tumble. Those are shaping up nicely.
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,711
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Post by Fossilman on Oct 17, 2016 9:53:15 GMT -5
Nice tumbles! We pick up Granite in Montana for tumbling.....I usually roll it for three months in the tumblers....Tough stuff... Liking your agates and others too,thumbs up....
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Post by greig on Oct 17, 2016 10:59:50 GMT -5
IMHO - you got great results for road crush. I find the process used to making road gravel tends to fracture the rocks too much for a good specimen. It is neat that you have identified the kinds of rocks. I am not sure the ones called dolomite are accurate, but don't have a better answer. I have learned to tumble calcite by itself, only because it rounds quickly and with other stones grinds down to zilch fast. As said, keep rolling. Thanks for the pics.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Oct 18, 2016 9:16:31 GMT -5
Nice first timer!! Well done.
Dolomite scratches with a knife.
They look like granite to me.
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