|
|
Post by stardiamond on Jun 13, 2018 12:00:22 GMT -5
I cut this from rough and I need to hopefully find either more slabs or the rough. I'm looking forward to cabbing this.  No fractures and I believe the white line will wither disappear or become less apparent. |
|
|
|
Montana
Jun 13, 2018 14:19:25 GMT -5
Post by MsAli on Jun 13, 2018 14:19:25 GMT -5
I am loving Montanas
Each of them so unique
I cut one the other day and was just awed by the inside.
Have about 15-20 more to cut
|
|
|
|
Montana
Jun 13, 2018 14:22:52 GMT -5
Post by fernwood on Jun 13, 2018 14:22:52 GMT -5
Nice. I have some Montana cabs and rough in tumbler now. More preforms and slabs, plus rough. I love it.
If looking for more Montana, post an adv. here. Lots of it out there.
|
|
Fossilman
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,723 
|
Post by Fossilman on Jun 14, 2018 10:08:36 GMT -5
Nice little guy.... The white line is there to stay (water line)... I have several hundred pounds of this material laying around.. (favorite rock) .... Have fun with cabbing it..
|
|
|
|
Post by stardiamond on Jun 14, 2018 13:34:38 GMT -5
I found the other slabs. I was selling them for $1. The one I kept was more translucent. The White line will almost disappear when I grind the face. I It doesn't appear on the back. There is something completely healed on the back.
|
|
|
|
Post by stardiamond on Jun 17, 2018 18:17:25 GMT -5
|
|
Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,723
|
Montana
Jun 18, 2018 10:10:07 GMT -5
Post by Fossilman on Jun 18, 2018 10:10:07 GMT -5
The bad thing about Montana moss agate, are the healed fractures, most of the agates have them ..You do get lucky and snag a good one, they are fun to work with...
I like them all though....LOL
|
|
|
|
Montana
Jun 18, 2018 11:23:23 GMT -5
Post by MsAli on Jun 18, 2018 11:23:23 GMT -5
The bad thing about Montana moss agate, is the healed fractures, most care them.. Ok I have some questions, and you seem to know alot about these I am loving these more and more and having been seeing quite a bit of "Iris" Montana's on FB. Is there a difference in the appearance or do you not know it is going to do that until its cut? How rare is it for that to occur |
|
|
|
Post by stardiamond on Jun 19, 2018 12:34:57 GMT -5
With Montana there are fractures, partially healed fractures and healed fractures. I stay away from the first two and healed fractures can fracture, hopefully before pad polishing. Color lines and where color bands meet other material can fracture even thought they are healed. For the slab pictured there is a fracture at the bottom of the scene that looks like a flame. When I cab this slab, the design will need to not incorporate that area.
There is a trade off when cabbing Montana, interesting scene and risk. No guts, no glory.
|
|
|
|
Post by drocknut on Jun 19, 2018 14:15:10 GMT -5
The bad thing about Montana moss agate, is the healed fractures, most care them.. Ok I have some questions, and you seem to know alot about these I am loving these more and more and having been seeing quite a bit of "Iris" Montana's on FB. Is there a difference in the appearance or do you not know it is going to do that until its cut? How rare is it for that to occur I'm sure fossilman will chime in on this but figured I could at least provide a little insight. The iris effect is seen only when the agate is cut very thin as far as I've been told. Someone once told me that the more clear agates without dendrites have more potential for irising but not sure if that holds true. Iris in agate is rare. I'm not sure on the odds of finding an iris agate but I know of some people who have a lot of them or others who have never found one in years of collecting. |
|
|
|
Post by MsAli on Jun 19, 2018 14:24:55 GMT -5
Ok I have some questions, and you seem to know alot about these I am loving these more and more and having been seeing quite a bit of "Iris" Montana's on FB. Is there a difference in the appearance or do you not know it is going to do that until its cut? How rare is it for that to occur I'm sure fossilman will chime in on this but figured I could at least provide a little insight. The iris effect is seen only when the agate is cut very thin as far as I've been told. Someone once told me that the more clear agates without dendrites have more potential for irising but not sure if that holds true. Iris in agate is rare. I'm not sure on the odds of finding an iris agate but I know of some people who have a lot of them or others who have never found one in years of collecting. Thank you! The pieces that i've seen are very thin with little to no dendrites. I read somewhere that less than 1% produce an Iris effect |
|
|
|
Montana
Jun 19, 2018 15:29:38 GMT -5
Post by drocknut on Jun 19, 2018 15:29:38 GMT -5
I'm sure fossilman will chime in on this but figured I could at least provide a little insight. The iris effect is seen only when the agate is cut very thin as far as I've been told. Someone once told me that the more clear agates without dendrites have more potential for irising but not sure if that holds true. Iris in agate is rare. I'm not sure on the odds of finding an iris agate but I know of some people who have a lot of them or others who have never found one in years of collecting. Thank you! The pieces that i've seen are very thin with little to no dendrites. I read somewhere that less than 1% produce an Iris effect 1% sounds about right but might be a little low. I believe that in order to see the iris effect the rock has to be cut very thin, like less than 1/4" which is typical for slabs. |
|
|
|
Post by MsAli on Jun 19, 2018 15:56:22 GMT -5
Thank you! The pieces that i've seen are very thin with little to no dendrites. I read somewhere that less than 1% produce an Iris effect 1% sounds about right but might be a little low. I believe that in order to see the iris effect the rock has to be cut very thin, like less than 1/4" which is typical for slabs. Most of you probably already knew this, but I learned something new today. geology.com/stories/13/iris-agate/www.minsocam.org/MSA/collectors_corner/arc/iris.htm |
|
|
|
Post by stardiamond on Jun 19, 2018 16:07:06 GMT -5
I don't think I have any iris; I've had turtleback.
Beside the fractures , Montana can be a pain because it is very hard and for me the scratches are difficult to see.
I'm going to start cabbing again soon and have some nice Montana slabs, but I'm going to start with something easier.
|
|
goatgrinder
spending too much on rocks
Make mine a man cave
Member since January 2017
Posts: 368
|
Montana
Jun 19, 2018 16:09:06 GMT -5
Post by goatgrinder on Jun 19, 2018 16:09:06 GMT -5
1% sounds about right but might be a little low. I believe that in order to see the iris effect the rock has to be cut very thin, like less than 1/4" which is typical for slabs. Most of you probably already knew this, but I learned something new today. geology.com/stories/13/iris-agate/www.minsocam.org/MSA/collectors_corner/arc/iris.htmWell then maybe you will post some pics? I know that I have seen this effect but I need a nudge. |
|
goatgrinder
spending too much on rocks
Make mine a man cave
Member since January 2017
Posts: 368
|
Post by goatgrinder on Jun 19, 2018 16:10:06 GMT -5
Oh fudge, I just looked at your note and noticed your link. Thanks.
|
|
Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,723
|
Post by Fossilman on Jun 21, 2018 11:10:08 GMT -5
Iris, everybody's dream, when cutting...LOL Yes Diana has it right, thin cuts, solid whites and clear waterlines, will sometimes bring out the iris...
Some didn't know that you can get iris from Carnelian, Brazilian also...Probably other agates too, if worked right...
I have iris from Montana, Carnelian and one Brazilian.. Most are in the beginnings of the polish stages...
You see Iris right after the cutting is done, once the oils are gone off the material, you won't see iris again, till it's polished!
I have a friend in Montana that cuts more iris than a kid has candy! He is good at it and knows the rock before its cut..
Beautiful material...
Turtle backs, in my opinion can knock that material right out of the ball park too, they are some awesome visuals..
As stated above and I quote "No guts, no glory" Just go for it, you just never know!
|
|
Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,723
|
Post by Fossilman on Jun 21, 2018 11:12:46 GMT -5
I hoard Montana moss agate and don't sell much of it....LOL I tell people to just walk around that barrel and keep moving...Hahahaha
My favorite material to work with and cut..
|
|
|
|
Post by MsAli on Jun 21, 2018 11:26:44 GMT -5
Iris, everybody's dream, when cutting...LOL Yes Diana has it right, thin cuts, solid whites and clear waterlines, will sometimes bring out the iris... Some didn't know that you can get iris from Carnelian, Brazilian also...Probably other agates too, if worked right... I have iris from Montana, Carnelian and one Brazilian.. Most are in the beginnings of the polish stages... You see Iris right after the cutting is done, once the oils are gone off the material, you won't see iris again, till it's polished! I have a friend in Montana that cuts more iris than a kid has candy! He is good at it and knows the rock before its cut.. Beautiful material... Turtle backs, in my opinion can knock that material right out of the ball park too, they are some awesome visuals.. As stated above and I quote "No guts, no glory" Just go for it, you just never know! Didn't know about the Carnelian, but it makes sense that it would. I wonder if it is your friend that keeps posting on FB making me drool over them. What is a turtleback? |
|
|
|
Post by rockpickerforever on Jun 21, 2018 12:00:19 GMT -5
Didn't know about the Carnelian, but it makes sense that it would. I wonder if it is your friend that keeps posting on FB making me drool over them. What is a turtleback? |
|
