jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,155
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Post by jamesp on Jun 16, 2020 2:55:17 GMT -5
Gotta go back. I made connections to land owners back in 2014 to have permission to collect. I put this trip in the rock tumbling category because that was my soul intent for collecting the Rio. Including a focus on collecting 1.5 to 4+ pound candidates for 'big tumbles' due the pre-shaped cobbles. How did I get permissions ? Well, I found an 'influential' man in the community of Zapata and paid him $800 for a sorta lifetime 'right to collect'(I think). His relatives owned 1000's of acres and a gravel quarry. He pointed to various holdings and said "have at it". I don't think rock collectors had stepped foot on much of these properties. They are not exactly inviting. Captain Bob joined me for a portion of this trip. It was good times. Thanks Bob. I hope my 'lifetime membership' is still in force lol. I want to go back when free time comes my way again. I can not describe the rush you get collecting in this territory. I may purchase a piece of el cheapo property for a home base one day in the area to store my rock stash and lapidary tools at and do a camper. The area is fairly depressed. Primary piece of equipment would be a very large tumbler rolling HDPE pipe barrels using bulk SiC to remove the patina's off the agates. One of the worst patina's is the alkaline coating cause by the lake water which would tumble off in hours. Billions of agates camouflaged by the alkaline coating. Even better would be a portable sand blaster to spray the rocks where they sit - ha ha, that one is a pipe dream. A portable battery powered angle grinder equipped with a diamond cup wheel would be the best choice in all likelyhood. With lots of batteries. www.flickr.com/photos/67205364@N06/albums/72157698981277390/page1This thing was too heavy, did a great job removing patina but lugging it was a problem. And having to lift the rock to place against the diamond cup. The lightweight battery powered angle grinder would remove the patina with the rocks in place as they lay in the many gravel bars.
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Post by HankRocks on Jun 16, 2020 7:23:17 GMT -5
jamesp I keep my buckets and tools ready along with my collecting/digging clothes bag packed. Just say the word. Henry
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whyofquartz
spending too much on rocks
So, Africa is smaller than I expected...
Member since December 2019
Posts: 316
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Post by whyofquartz on Jun 16, 2020 8:08:15 GMT -5
those are some stunning rocks, it is heartening to know that my part of the country can produce those kinds of stunners. As a horticultural type did you enjoy the various and varied thorny plants we have here? It is really something else: Honey Mesquite, Huisach(sweet acacia), Retama(Jerusalem thorn), black brush, white brush(I believe that limb you laid across the stones was a white brush), jumping cactus, prickly pear, the barrel cacti are so rare and elusive that I don't actually know anything about them
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saxplayer
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since March 2018
Posts: 1,327
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Post by saxplayer on Jun 16, 2020 9:05:20 GMT -5
Always impressed by your commitment to the hobby
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Post by captbob on Jun 16, 2020 12:30:06 GMT -5
yeah right ...
wandering off will check back next year
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old hound
starting to shine!
Member since August 2018
Posts: 36
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Post by old hound on Jun 16, 2020 23:38:11 GMT -5
Thanks for sharing. A dream come trueđź‘Ť
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quartzilla
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2020
Posts: 1,215
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Post by quartzilla on Jun 17, 2020 20:55:05 GMT -5
Wow what a gold mine you have access too. Looks like a lot of fun was had on all accounts.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,155
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Post by jamesp on Jun 22, 2020 6:07:34 GMT -5
those are some stunning rocks, it is heartening to know that my part of the country can produce those kinds of stunners. As a horticultural type did you enjoy the various and varied thorny plants we have here? It is really something else: Honey Mesquite, Huisach(sweet acacia), Retama(Jerusalem thorn), black brush, white brush(I believe that limb you laid across the stones was a white brush), jumping cactus, prickly pear, the barrel cacti are so rare and elusive that I don't actually know anything about them I learned not to drive off of the tire tracks whyofquartz. The first trip cost 4 new Michelin tires. I am from Georgia and will take a vehicle most anywhere off road. Your dry rocky/sandy soil is very inviting for off roading. The stickers and thorns are treacherous. Must have had over 100 thorns sticking thru to the inside of all 4 tires. Tire store in Zapata smiling, thinking "dumb ass Georgia hill billy" taking his car across our mine fields of thorns. He removed a tire and handed me a rag to drag across the inside of the tire. The rag 'stuck' to the thorns protruding into the inside of the tire. He said add air daily and have the tires replaced once back home. Bought a cheapo 12volt compressor to avoid getting stuck out in the out back. It was the shrub species that caused the problem.
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wjslife
off to a rocking start
I wish I could figure this computer thing out. I can't figure out how to play your game.
Member since July 2020
Posts: 2
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Post by wjslife on Jul 8, 2020 23:27:03 GMT -5
Hey, I'm from Mission, just about 75 miles from Zapata. Went this last Saturday rock hunting but couldn't get to lake cause all shut down. Have to go thru parks. since lake been so dry, fishing camps pretty much gone and fenced as private. Found a couple of spots down by river by Roma but had families doing the picnic thing. Will go back. I have no idea if I found anything worthy of a name besides "rock". Haha. I tumble in the little 2 barrel ones from harbor frt and just got a V10. Got bigger rocks in it to start. I don't have a saw yet to see if there is anything interesting in some of them. Some are as big as a mans fist. thinking of trying a cement mixer with plastic barrel. I'm new to this forum not real sure how it all works and am old and thickheaded sometimes about learning computer tricks. Takes me a while. Hubby know more but never done forums - just for work. I would appreciate it if someone would answer this so I can understand how it works and know that my post is getting out there.
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Post by knave on Jul 9, 2020 3:54:26 GMT -5
Hey, I'm from Mission, just about 75 miles from Zapata. Went this last Saturday rock hunting but couldn't get to lake cause all shut down. Have to go thru parks. since lake been so dry, fishing camps pretty much gone and fenced as private. Found a couple of spots down by river by Roma but had families doing the picnic thing. Will go back. I have no idea if I found anything worthy of a name besides "rock". Haha. I tumble in the little 2 barrel ones from harbor frt and just got a V10. Got bigger rocks in it to start. I don't have a saw yet to see if there is anything interesting in some of them. Some are as big as a mans fist. thinking of trying a cement mixer with plastic barrel. I'm new to this forum not real sure how it all works and am old and thickheaded sometimes about learning computer tricks. Takes me a while. Hubby know more but never done forums - just for work. I would appreciate it if someone would answer this so I can understand how it works and know that my post is getting out there. wjslife welcome to the forum!
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whyofquartz
spending too much on rocks
So, Africa is smaller than I expected...
Member since December 2019
Posts: 316
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Post by whyofquartz on Jul 9, 2020 7:45:18 GMT -5
Hey, I'm from Mission, just about 75 miles from Zapata. Went this last Saturday rock hunting but couldn't get to lake cause all shut down. Have to go thru parks. since lake been so dry, fishing camps pretty much gone and fenced as private. Found a couple of spots down by river by Roma but had families doing the picnic thing. Will go back. I have no idea if I found anything worthy of a name besides "rock". Haha. I tumble in the little 2 barrel ones from harbor frt and just got a V10. Got bigger rocks in it to start. I don't have a saw yet to see if there is anything interesting in some of them. Some are as big as a mans fist. thinking of trying a cement mixer with plastic barrel. I'm new to this forum not real sure how it all works and am old and thickheaded sometimes about learning computer tricks. Takes me a while. Hubby know more but never done forums - just for work. I would appreciate it if someone would answer this so I can understand how it works and know that my post is getting out there. Howdy and welcome from your neighbor in Pearsall Tx
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