braat
spending too much on rocks
Member since December 2016
Posts: 350
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Post by braat on Jul 6, 2019 11:32:29 GMT -5
So recently my friend and his wife went on a holiday to Haida Gwaii (formerly known as Queen Charlotte Islands) just off the west coast of Canada to visit friends of theirs and do some bird watching. He knows I'm a tumbler and told me in advance he would see if he could find some Haida Gwaii agates for me. There is a beach there callled "Agate Beach" and is well known regionally as a good source of Haida Gwaii agates. He also told me of a friend of his who collects these agates (not a tumbler as far as he knew just a collector) and had buckets and buckets of them.... I jokingly told him if he could pry a 5 gallon pail full from his friend I 'd be willing to take them Yesterday my friend dropped in for a visit on his way home and presented me with what you see in the photo.... the pail weighs in at 70 lbs! I am pleased beyond words and look forward to inspecting, sorting and tumbling these guys in the coming months and years. Without a doubt the highpoint of my tumbling career so far! A couple years ago my friend gave me some Haida Gwaii agates he had self collected and gave up on as he didn't have the patience for tumbling. I tumbled them to what you see in the second photo... photo included to give an idea of what Haida Gwaii agates look like....
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Post by Rockindad on Jul 6, 2019 11:55:43 GMT -5
That's great and will keep you busy for some time! Congrats on the score, and for having such a good friend.
Al
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Post by Pat on Jul 6, 2019 13:40:39 GMT -5
Good rocks. Good tumbles. Good friends. Good story!
Thanks.
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Post by MsAli on Jul 6, 2019 15:39:04 GMT -5
Awesome friend! Love white agate and I learned something new today
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Post by drocknut on Jul 6, 2019 16:25:31 GMT -5
Nice score and I learned something too, never heard of those agates but they do look pretty cool tumbled.
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Post by greig on Jul 6, 2019 17:34:38 GMT -5
Should have said you need two buckets of agate. ;-) I have never been the Queen Charlolottes, but it is on my bucket list. I know somebody who does some gold panning there and has a great time of it. Looks like agate beach should also be on my agenda.
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Post by Toad on Jul 6, 2019 18:09:29 GMT -5
Nice. They would make great ‘filler’ for larger rocks in the tumbler
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braat
spending too much on rocks
Member since December 2016
Posts: 350
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Post by braat on Jul 6, 2019 20:12:32 GMT -5
Should have said you need two buckets of agate. ;-) I have never been the Queen Charlolottes, but it is on my bucket list. I know somebody who does some gold panning there and has a great time of it. Looks like agate beach should also be on my agenda. haha I already thought I was pushing it I was there twice during my military carreer but it was pretty much in and out and what little time extra there was would have been spent in the bar somewhere I'm from the prairies so 2 visits to the Queen Charlottes and a one year tour on the northern end of Vancouver Island was like going to the moon for this flatlander
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braat
spending too much on rocks
Member since December 2016
Posts: 350
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Post by braat on Jul 6, 2019 21:09:34 GMT -5
Nice. They would make great ‘filler’ for larger rocks in the tumbler As soon as I read your post one of my questions about this batch was answered...what to do with the small ones? I sorted them out today into what you see in the photo. the pail and pan at the top are tumble ready in size and shape...some will need preforming with the tile saw. Bottom left are larger ones I'll downsize at a later date. Bottom right are the smalls I wasn't sure what I was going to do with but now I know so thanks! I'm currently using aquarium quartz pea gravel as filler/cushion so when that wears down the agate smalls will do the job! The bottom middle container holds the odd ones...agates imbedded in "normal rock" and other stuff that looks like agate to my rookie eyes but is different than the rest? Overall lots of banded stuff, different colors and inclusions that should prove interesting when done...
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Post by TheRock on Jul 6, 2019 23:05:33 GMT -5
Nice Grab And the price was right.
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braat
spending too much on rocks
Member since December 2016
Posts: 350
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Post by braat on Jul 11, 2019 9:35:52 GMT -5
I think Haida Gwaii agates is maybe the wrong name for these guys.... I did a google search and Pacific Northwest Agate seems more accurate. Don't want to promote a name based on assumption ( I heard someone call it that) although it seems that every creek or mine has it's own name for local rocks
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