p40whk
starting to shine!
Member since October 2018
Posts: 45
|
Post by p40whk on Oct 17, 2018 13:05:31 GMT -5
I've always been a rock collector but only recently decided I wanted to get into tumbling and polishing what I've found. I picked these up while hiking on a recent trip to Utah in places like Moab, Capitol Reef, Escalante, and Zion. I know the sandstone won't tumble but I think I have some agates mixed in with this bunch. I have no idea what kinds of rocks these are but I'll throw the harder ones in the tumble to see what happens. The big chunk of rock seems like agate but not sure, I was wondering if I should break it into smaller pieces of just leave it as is?  Utah Rocks by Jeff Schaber, on Flickr |
|
|
|
Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Oct 17, 2018 13:16:13 GMT -5
The large rock at top right and the smaller one just to the left of it look like good tumbling material. If you have a barrel large enough tumble it as is. Breaking it into smaller pieces will leave you with more jagged edges and possible fractures to deal with. I do bust up rocks on a regular basis for tumbling and it does work it just adds some tumbling time to get them smooth.
Chuck
|
|
|
|
Post by MsAli on Oct 17, 2018 13:16:46 GMT -5
Can you get a solo picture of that big chunk, dry and wet?
Looks like agate or carnelian from this view
|
|
p40whk
starting to shine!
Member since October 2018
Posts: 45
|
Post by p40whk on Oct 17, 2018 13:21:42 GMT -5
I'll take some close up shots of the ones that I think can be tumbled and post them tonight. I wish I had a better understanding of the kinds of rock butI've got a lot to learn being new to the hobby.
|
|
|
|
Post by MsAli on Oct 17, 2018 13:25:15 GMT -5
I'll take some close up shots of the ones that I think can be tumbled and post them tonight. I wish I had a better understanding of the kinds of rock butI've got a lot to learn being new to the hobby. I have been collecting for years and still am learning. I spend a lot of time researching and asking for help My best advice is research your area. I know Utah has a whole bunch of cool stuff to collect |
|
p40whk
starting to shine!
Member since October 2018
Posts: 45
|
Post by p40whk on Oct 17, 2018 16:36:32 GMT -5
Okay, Took close up pics of both wet and dry of each of the rocks I collected, let me know what you think of them:  Untitled by Jeff Schaber, on Flickr  Untitled by Jeff Schaber, on Flickr  Untitled by Jeff Schaber, on Flickr I think this is Selenite (Utah Glass) and not sure if I should tumble it?  Untitled by Jeff Schaber, on Flickr  Untitled by Jeff Schaber, on Flickr  Untitled by Jeff Schaber, on Flickr I really like this piece!  Untitled by Jeff Schaber, on Flickr  Untitled by Jeff Schaber, on Flickr  Untitled by Jeff Schaber, on Flickr This rock is a small thumbnail size black rock and not sure what it is but it has some very faint white marbling in it:  Untitled by Jeff Schaber, on Flickr  Untitled by Jeff Schaber, on Flickr  Untitled by Jeff Schaber, on Flickr  Untitled by Jeff Schaber, on Flickr This is also Selenite:  Untitled by Jeff Schaber, on Flickr  Untitled by Jeff Schaber, on Flickr  Untitled by Jeff Schaber, on Flickr  Untitled by Jeff Schaber, on Flickr  Untitled by Jeff Schaber, on Flickr  Untitled by Jeff Schaber, on Flickr That's most of the different stuff |
|
|
|
Post by victor1941 on Oct 17, 2018 17:14:51 GMT -5
The material that you have looks like it will tumble but the pits and cracks will be hard to clean during grit changes.
|
|
|
|
Post by MsAli on Oct 17, 2018 17:32:36 GMT -5
I am not that great at identification. But the first one does look like a nice jasp/agate (maybe) The ones that you think are selenite I am not convinced they are. vegasjames |
|
p40whk
starting to shine!
Member since October 2018
Posts: 45
|
Post by p40whk on Oct 17, 2018 18:49:44 GMT -5
Well, they're all in the tumbler now so I'll check them next week to see if I have any keepers!
|
|
goatgrinder
spending too much on rocks
Make mine a man cave
Member since January 2017
Posts: 368 
|
Post by goatgrinder on Oct 17, 2018 18:50:09 GMT -5
Nice pieces. No need to break up the big one, you will find plenty of smalls. You're one of us now. And welcome to the RTH from sunny Atlanta.
|
|
kskid
Cave Dweller 
Member since July 2014
Posts: 98
|
Post by kskid on Oct 21, 2018 0:01:54 GMT -5
Hi p40whk, welcome to the group. Don't let the details get in the way of the fun. Take the Pelosi approach (sort of): Get those rocks tumbling so you can see what's in them!  |
|
Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,723
|
Post by Fossilman on Oct 21, 2018 8:26:32 GMT -5
Tumble away, that's how you learn and (teach) yourself....OJT is the only way!
You get better as the tumbling goes by.....
|
|
