Tommy
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Member since January 2013
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Post by Tommy on Jan 11, 2018 15:06:41 GMT -5
This one's hot off the saw. It's a Bed 79 McDermitt egg and my initial reaction was disappointment because it didn't have any plume agate but when I got it washed off and started looking closer holy cow. Almost exactly half of the cut is entirely botryoidal and the other half has a delicate Crystal arrangement. What are the odds of hitting it exactly in the separation like that? I was not using any cutting formula I just placed it in the jig and pushed it to the blade. The Matrix doesn't look like any Bed 79 or McDermitt egg that I've seen previously. I got it from the mine owner so I'm going to ask him to make sure nothing else got mixed in.    |
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fishnpinball
Cave Dweller 
So much to learn, so little time
Member since March 2017
Posts: 1,491 
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Post by fishnpinball on Jan 11, 2018 15:16:40 GMT -5
That is a real surprise... Getting the alignment right, getting the split right, the odds are totally against that cut happening. Nice display specimen.
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Tommy
Administrator
Member since January 2013
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Post by Tommy on Jan 11, 2018 15:32:02 GMT -5
I just confirmed it with the owner of Bed 79 - he says that crystals occur in one zone of the dig - and that they are very rare AND very fragile ...  I've never polished a specimen egg - I don't even have the right flat equipment for something this size  |
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Jan 11, 2018 15:41:19 GMT -5
That is really awesome. It deserves a nice polish and then a display stand.
Chuck
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Post by MsAli on Jan 11, 2018 15:48:27 GMT -5
That is incredible!!
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Tommy
Administrator
Member since January 2013
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Post by Tommy on Jan 11, 2018 15:48:55 GMT -5
That is really awesome. It deserves a nice polish and then a display stand. Chuck I agree! It's not often that I run into something that I know should never be cut up for cabochons but there it is. I think I'll put it away carefully and save it for the day when I get a real flat lap instead of the crappy little thing I have right now for smoothing out backs of cabochons. |
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Post by melhill1659 on Jan 11, 2018 16:26:59 GMT -5
WOWSA!!!
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Post by rockpickerforever on Jan 11, 2018 16:39:02 GMT -5
This one's hot off the saw. It's a Bed 79 McDermitt egg and my initial reaction was disappointment because it didn't have any plume agate but when I got it washed off and started looking closer holy cow. Almost exactly half of the cut is entirely botryoidal and the other half has a delicate Crystal arrangement. What are the odds of hitting it exactly in the separation like that? I was not using any cutting formula I just placed it in the jig and pushed it to the blade. The Matrix doesn't look like any Bed 79 or McDermitt egg that I've seen previously. I got it from the mine owner so I'm going to ask him to make sure nothing else got mixed in.
I've heard it said numerous times, "It's better to be lucky than good." Perfect example of that, lol.
For the crystals and botryoidals to be on opposite sides, and you to blindly split the middle is phenomenal!
Nice job, Tommy!
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Post by toiv0 on Jan 11, 2018 18:58:31 GMT -5
I say hit it with a hammer and tumble it
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Don
Cave Dweller
He wants you too, Malachi.
Member since December 2009
Posts: 2,616
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Post by Don on Jan 11, 2018 19:02:11 GMT -5
awesome. I have a little dugway that has a little crystal flower inside a cave, just missed by the saw. pretty cool stuff.
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Don
Cave Dweller
He wants you too, Malachi.
Member since December 2009
Posts: 2,616
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Post by Don on Jan 11, 2018 19:03:59 GMT -5
I say hit it with a hammer and tumble it booooo!!!!!  |
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Post by vegasjames on Jan 11, 2018 19:05:38 GMT -5
Love it, what a neat specimen.
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Tommy
Administrator
Member since January 2013
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Post by Tommy on Jan 11, 2018 19:07:09 GMT -5
I say hit it with a hammer and tumble it Acccck! How dare you!  Hahaha, if I was going to nuke it I'd try to make cabs out of it. It's beautiful and unique but I think any action taken other than polish it as-is will completely ruin the specimen. |
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zarguy
fully equipped rock polisher
Cedar City, Utah - rockhound heaven!
Member since December 2005
Posts: 1,791
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Post by zarguy on Jan 11, 2018 19:19:43 GMT -5
Tommy what a cool thing. Go buy a lottery ticket today. Lynn
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Post by fernwood on Jan 11, 2018 19:22:16 GMT -5
OMG! I do not think it was luck, but experience or some other type of guidance that caused you to slice it where you did.
If the crystal side is polished on a flat lap, what happens to the crystals? Is there another type of approved finish that would be better than polishing? If the crystals are fragile, what would the vibrations of a mechanical polishing technique do to them?
If I was lucky enough to have something like this, I would do a delicate hand or very low speed polish on the non-crystal surfaces and stay away from the crystals.
JMHO
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Post by Lapidaryrough / Jack Cole on Jan 11, 2018 19:23:46 GMT -5
When i use vibra lap, i fill geodes with ivory soap. place soap bar in cooking bag for hot water. melt bar tell soft, work the soap too the corner of the bag cut corner squeeze soap into the void. scrape with flat draw plate.
every black rock i cut 1/2 bar or so to fill with soap, or great sliver moss the last one.
each phase of lapping just wash out mud, and refill.
Ivory soap & King soap flake's, Are the only ones I've found to melt and cool back to firm bar mass in void.
Tommy that is a great cut. first glance i thought it was a Dugway UT. geode.
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grizman
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since July 2011
Posts: 878
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Post by grizman on Jan 11, 2018 19:43:58 GMT -5
WOWWWZERS to you for the great luck in your blade placement. That is truly a specimen that needs to be saved. If it means "as is", so be it. The polishing would be extra cool, but not at the possible chance you could harm or destroy the crystals. Keep us posted of you decide to polish the cut surfaces.
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Post by Pat on Jan 11, 2018 19:48:27 GMT -5
Wow! Two for the price of one!!!
The botryoidal side looks like a side view of a prancing poodle. lol
Both keepers for sure.
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Post by toiv0 on Jan 11, 2018 19:58:17 GMT -5
I say hit it with a hammer and tumble it Acccck! How dare you!  Hahaha, if I was going to nuke it I'd try to make cabs out of it. It's beautiful and unique but I think any action taken other than polish it as-is will completely ruin the specimen. well a one in a million cab then? |
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Tommy
Administrator
Member since January 2013
Posts: 12,989
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Post by Tommy on Jan 11, 2018 21:02:43 GMT -5
If it means "as is", so be it. The polishing would be extra cool, but not at the possible chance you could harm or destroy the crystals. Keep us posted of you decide to polish the cut surfaces. Thanks! I didn't mention it before but this feature circled in red is the most endangered if I polish it. I don't have a picture from the right angle but it's very thin and only supported by crystals underneath. It would easily break off under finger pressure I think.  |
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