kyoti
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2020
Posts: 542
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Post by kyoti on Dec 23, 2020 19:10:28 GMT -5
Ah excellent thanks for the pics. Mine are more like the pale yellow one at the bottom.
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NevadaBill
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2019
Posts: 1,332
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Post by NevadaBill on Dec 28, 2020 15:48:23 GMT -5
Those are more nice rocks. I wish I could come across Agates like yours more often! Honestly it is hard to imagine myself owning a rock like the ones posted here without the urge to cast aside everything that I was doing to polish or cut/cab them. Until I had some finished products.
But I can understand that everything happens in its own time. And often I have put aside rocks for a year or two before I recently cut them open to see what was inside. All things in time.
More neat examples! Thanks for posting!
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rockhoundmn
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since November 2020
Posts: 75
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Post by rockhoundmn on Dec 28, 2020 16:54:03 GMT -5
Are you freaking kidding me?! I'd be stoked to find ANY of those... thanks for sharing and keep em coming  |
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Post by jasoninsd on Dec 28, 2020 18:31:02 GMT -5
Those are more nice rocks. I wish I could come across Agates like yours more often! Honestly it is hard to imagine myself owning a rock like the ones posted here without the urge to cast aside everything that I was doing to polish or cut/cab them. Until I had some finished products. But I can understand that everything happens in its own time. And often I have put aside rocks for a year or two before I recently cut them open to see what was inside. All things in time. More neat examples! Thanks for posting! I've got somewhere around 5 or 6 five gallon buckets filled with prairie agates...some are definitely better than others, for sure! I agree twenty-four hours doesn't seem to be enough hours for one day...I could always use a few more each day it seems!  Are you freaking kidding me?! I'd be stoked to find ANY of those... thanks for sharing and keep em coming Oh...believe you me...I was stoked on each and every one of these finds! LOL But that's the "bad" part about this addiction...every time I go out, I want that feeling of being stoked about finding something special...and I can never seem to ever be satisfied...there always just has to be another one around the next bend! |
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rockhoundmn
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since November 2020
Posts: 75
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Post by rockhoundmn on Dec 28, 2020 21:38:56 GMT -5
I hear ya!
Not only that, but tumbling reveals so many rocks have all kinds of awesome hidden inside as well. So there's that too. But yeah, those are pretty special.
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NevadaBill
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2019
Posts: 1,332
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Post by NevadaBill on Jan 2, 2021 16:04:46 GMT -5
Looking at these rocks again just now. Have to admit that when I see the smaller ones that part of me is thinking "Pendant! Pendant! .. Pendant!"
I like how you have arranged them in the yard by the walkways. I do that too, with some of it going out front by the sidewalk in front of the house. My wife is like "the kids will steal them then!". I just say "Well, I hope so. Then maybe the kid will have a rock hobby too some day!". Hehe.
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quartzilla
Cave Dweller 
Member since April 2020
Posts: 1,240
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Post by quartzilla on Jan 4, 2021 20:28:19 GMT -5
Those are more nice rocks. I wish I could come across Agates like yours more often! Honestly it is hard to imagine myself owning a rock like the ones posted here without the urge to cast aside everything that I was doing to polish or cut/cab them. Until I had some finished products. But I can understand that everything happens in its own time. And often I have put aside rocks for a year or two before I recently cut them open to see what was inside. All things in time. More neat examples! Thanks for posting! I've got somewhere around 5 or 6 five gallon buckets filled with prairie agates...some are definitely better than others, for sure! I agree twenty-four hours doesn't seem to be enough hours for one day...I could always use a few more each day it seems! Are you freaking kidding me?! I'd be stoked to find ANY of those... thanks for sharing and keep em coming Oh...believe you me...I was stoked on each and every one of these finds! LOL But that's the "bad" part about this addiction...every time I go out, I want that feeling of being stoked about finding something special...and I can never seem to ever be satisfied...there always just has to be another one around the next bend! Me too. We are addicted my friend; chasing the “stone” dragon! |
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kyoti
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2020
Posts: 542
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Post by kyoti on Jan 5, 2021 8:10:00 GMT -5
This is so true! I can't tell you the number of times I go down to the creek and say let's just look we don't have to take anything. LOL yeah that never happened that I left without putting something in my pocket. There's always some pretty shiny just sitting there taunting you to try to walk away from it  . I say to myself but if I don't pick it up it'll be washed away in the next storm. |
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Post by jasoninsd on Jan 5, 2021 9:39:20 GMT -5
This is so true! I can't tell you the number of times I go down to the creek and say let's just look we don't have to take anything. LOL yeah that never happened that I left without putting something in my pocket. There's always some pretty shiny just sitting there taunting you to try to walk away from it . I say to myself but if I don't pick it up it'll be washed away in the next storm. I wear cargo pants. They're called cargo pants for a reason. So I tend to fill them with "cargo"! For heaven's sake, I don't want to misrepresent my attire! So I try to make sure I always put something in the pockets so as not to upset and get a ticket from the fashion police! LOL |
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Post by jasoninsd on Feb 2, 2021 22:47:12 GMT -5
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,494
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Post by Sabre52 on Feb 4, 2021 8:47:32 GMT -5
Those Prairie agates are outstanding. I've always thought those are a very under rated agate that often show nice color combinations and even scenic patterns in addition to the nice banding. Very hard and take a high polish too...Mel
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Post by jasoninsd on Feb 4, 2021 10:36:41 GMT -5
Those Prairie agates are outstanding. I've always thought those are a very under rated agate that often show nice color combinations and even scenic patterns in addition to the nice banding. Very hard and take a high polish too...Mel Mel, I'm in total agreement with you. From a tumbling standpoint, I'm really amazed at what I've gotten out of the first few tumbles I've done. From a cabbing standpoint, it's interesting to slab them and realize the patterns don't continue through like you'd think they would...but some of the interiors are gorgeous nonetheless. I love using the big prairie agates (in the 6-12" range) for landscaping "highlights". |
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Post by jasoninsd on Feb 9, 2021 19:33:04 GMT -5
Here's a prairie agate I cut the other day. I was a bit surprised at the interior of this one. I loved the patterns on the exterior and was really curious to see what the interior looked like... I know it's not, but it really reminded me of the interior of coprolite.   |
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Brian
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2020
Posts: 1,512
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Post by Brian on Feb 9, 2021 21:01:35 GMT -5
Here's a prairie agate I cut the other day. I was a bit surprised at the interior of this one. I loved the patterns on the exterior and was really curious to see what the interior looked like... I know it's not, but it really reminded me of the interior of coprolite. That one is cool both inside and out. I wouldn't have guessed that the interior would have looked anything like that based on the exterior. What are your plans for that one? I could see throwing that one in the vibe just to polish up the surfaces, sort of like Chuck's Botswana agates that he cuts in half and polishes. |
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Post by jasoninsd on Feb 9, 2021 21:05:05 GMT -5
Here's a prairie agate I cut the other day. I was a bit surprised at the interior of this one. I loved the patterns on the exterior and was really curious to see what the interior looked like... I know it's not, but it really reminded me of the interior of coprolite. That one is cool both inside and out. I wouldn't have guessed that the interior would have looked anything like that based on the exterior. What are your plans for that one? I could see throwing that one in the vibe just to polish up the surfaces, sort of like Chuck's Botswana agates that he cuts in half and polishes. I actually slabbed the whole thing. I only got a couple useable slabs out of it. But after I saw the interior, I knew I wanted to try and get some cabs out of this piece. I think I got two slabs and the "heel cut"... |
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stewdogg
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2020
Posts: 388
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Post by stewdogg on Feb 10, 2021 10:30:30 GMT -5
Fun to revisit this thread. Some nice finds. It's kind of funny to go back to the beginning of this thread and see what I was questioning as being Fairburn Agates. LOL - It really wasn't that long ago, but my "knowledge" about them has increased exponentially...while my ability to identify ANYTHING else has stayed rather static! LOL  Man, you have some great treasures out there my friend! So, how do you attempt to tell the difference between the Bubblegum, Prairie and Fairburn agates? We are thinking about taking a little road trip out that way this late spring... I might have to hit you up for some areas to visit while we are there. My wife told me we can't just keep taking rock hunting vacations. I said she can plan a vacation wherever she wants and I will find a way to take a rock home. |
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Post by jasoninsd on Feb 10, 2021 13:07:35 GMT -5
It's kind of funny to go back to the beginning of this thread and see what I was questioning as being Fairburn Agates. LOL - It really wasn't that long ago, but my "knowledge" about them has increased exponentially...while my ability to identify ANYTHING else has stayed rather static! LOL Man, you have some great treasures out there my friend! So, how do you attempt to tell the difference between the Bubblegum, Prairie and Fairburn agates? We are thinking about taking a little road trip out that way this late spring... I might have to hit you up for some areas to visit while we are there. My wife told me we can't just keep taking rock hunting vacations. I said she can plan a vacation wherever she wants and I will find a way to take a rock home. There's a saying around these parts...if you have to ask if what you found is a Fairburn, then it is NOT a Fairburn! LOL The fortification patterns on a Fairburn are actually pretty distinctive compared to Prairie Agates and Bubble Gum Agates. Again, I'm no expert, but the best way I can think to describe the difference between Prairie and Fairburn is; Prairie agates have "banding" as opposed to fortifications. Bubble Gum Agates are pretty easy to tell. They really do look like chewed up bubble gum in their natural state. There's usually no banding showing prior to being tumbled. By all means, let me know when you folks are headed this way. We could plan to meet up, or I can definitely point you towards areas where I've found all three of them. |
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stewdogg
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2020
Posts: 388
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Post by stewdogg on Feb 11, 2021 10:11:36 GMT -5
The fortification patterns on a Fairburn are actually pretty distinctive compared to Prairie Agates and Bubble Gum Agates. Again, I'm no expert, but the best way I can think to describe the difference between Prairie and Fairburn is; Prairie agates have "banding" as opposed to fortifications. Bubble Gum Agates are pretty easy to tell. They really do look like chewed up bubble gum in their natural state. There's usually no banding showing prior to being tumbled. By all means, let me know when you folks are headed this way. We could plan to meet up, or I can definitely point you towards areas where I've found all three of them. So, a fortification is "banding" that goes through the rock as opposed to banding, which is mostly on the surface? Or is it just that the patterns in a Fairburn are unique compared to all other agate type of rock. Sorry for the questions, I'm just trying to understand more clearly the definition of the rocks. Also, are the Fairburns really rare and that's why you leave them unmolested or do they not improve with working them in some way? I will let you know when we have our plans solidified. It would be very cool to meet up and geek out on some rocks! In place of wine, I will bring some of our unique pink/purple Barabo quartzite as a thank you for the hospitality. |
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Post by jasoninsd on Feb 11, 2021 10:36:57 GMT -5
The fortification patterns on a Fairburn are actually pretty distinctive compared to Prairie Agates and Bubble Gum Agates. Again, I'm no expert, but the best way I can think to describe the difference between Prairie and Fairburn is; Prairie agates have "banding" as opposed to fortifications. Bubble Gum Agates are pretty easy to tell. They really do look like chewed up bubble gum in their natural state. There's usually no banding showing prior to being tumbled. By all means, let me know when you folks are headed this way. We could plan to meet up, or I can definitely point you towards areas where I've found all three of them. So, a fortification is "banding" that goes through the rock as opposed to banding, which is mostly on the surface? Or is it just that the patterns in a Fairburn are unique compared to all other agate type of rock. Sorry for the questions, I'm just trying to understand more clearly the definition of the rocks. Also, are the Fairburns really rare and that's why you leave them unmolested or do they not improve with working them in some way? I will let you know when we have our plans solidified. It would be very cool to meet up and geek out on some rocks! In place of wine, I will bring some of our unique pink/purple Barabo quartzite as a thank you for the hospitality. You're putting me on the spot for defining a geological term...and I'm not a geologist! LOL According to mindat.org, a fortification agate is defined as "Agate with sharp-angled bands which resemble the outlines of fortifications of a castle." Now, in layman terms (as in mine!): The fortifications in a Fairburn seem to be separate and distinct different types of mineral layers which create very distinct bands with definitive edges to those bands. As opposed to Prairie Agates (which aren't really agates - they're jasper or chert) where the "bands" don't generally have distinct edges to the bands...they "blend" their edges. The shorter answer to your question, is yes, Prairie Agates are mostly "surface" banding, while Fairburn banding goes into the rock. YES! Fairburns are a rare find. I've been out countless times and never come across one. Then one day I found three in a single day. It's a complete fortuitous day when a Fairburn is found. Some people do have more luck with finding them than others. miket does find quite a few down in Nebraska in the grasslands just across the border. I prefer to leave them in their natural state...mainly because I don't have a hundred of them. I think the more someone acquires, the more likely they'd be to alter it. I also just like to see them in the state I find them. I'm telling you...I can take you to some places where you'll get sensory overload seeing all the rocks that are out here! I can't guarantee you'll find a Fairburn, but I can guarantee I can take you where they've been found in the past! That's a very nice offer on the quartzite. |
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Post by jasoninsd on Feb 11, 2021 10:47:20 GMT -5
stewdoggHere's some pictures of Fairburn Agates and Prairie Agates. One of the more common explanations of the difference in the banding, is Fairburns have a distinctive "holly-leaf" pattern to the banding as opposed to the more linear banding in Prairie Agates. Fairburn Example (not my pic or rock)  Prairie Agate (not my pic or rock)  Here's a good resource page that shows a bunch of examples of Fairburns, Prairie, and Bubble Gum Agates: www.sdakotabirds.com/rockhounding.htm
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. I say to myself but if I don't pick it up it'll be washed away in the next storm.
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