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Post by rockjunquie on Jul 14, 2020 7:08:58 GMT -5
For me it's an easy question- I love to collect and cab pretty rocks. For some, it is the fun of the chase (rock hounding); for others, it is discovering what's inside (slabbing); and some, they just love to learn and expand on what they have; while jewelers love to create with them. I know I left a bunch out. So, what primarily draws you to the rock hobby?
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Post by fernwood on Jul 14, 2020 7:36:25 GMT -5
Finding and transforming a piece of history.
Expanding my own knowledge, whether it be learning about a specific rock, or the best way to transform it.
The appreciation of customers when I transform one of their special rocks.
A chance to be creative.
Many more reasons.
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Post by knave on Jul 14, 2020 8:37:12 GMT -5
I love the amazing colors and patterns that can be found in nature.
I also really enjoy the challenge of artistry, cutting and polishing stone.
Last but not least I enjoy my rock related friends!
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Post by MsAli on Jul 14, 2020 8:45:49 GMT -5
All of the above
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Jul 14, 2020 9:05:52 GMT -5
I think I must have been born this way.  |
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Post by fernwood on Jul 14, 2020 9:33:44 GMT -5
I think I must have been born this way.  Me too, since I have been addicted to rocks since I was 3 years old. |
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Post by miket on Jul 14, 2020 9:45:12 GMT -5
I have to say all of the above, also.
Although hounding is my first love in this hobby (it's what got me here after all), I've come to really enjoy the surprises you get when slabbing, finding a shape that a stone wants to be when I'm freeforming, and of course attempting to wrap it and turn it into a piece of "art".
Each of the above brings their own frustrations, but I'm surprised at the amount of passion I have developed for them, too.
And I can't say enough about the people that I've had the pleasure to talk with on RTH, I've never met a nicer group.
On a side note, my grandpa taught geology and biology at several colleges over a period of 20 years- but he passed away almost 30 years ago and I hadn't been bitten by the rock bug yet, unfortunately.
Maybe all of this came from him...
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Post by rockjunquie on Jul 14, 2020 9:51:38 GMT -5
I think I would really enjoy hounding, but I can't do it. Physically or in my location. One day, I'll get a big saw and enjoy slabbing, too.
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jasperfanatic
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2019
Posts: 463
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Post by jasperfanatic on Jul 14, 2020 10:17:09 GMT -5
it's definitely all of the above for me, and as a variety junkie, I kind of ping pong between them all depending on mood and available free time.
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Post by victor1941 on Jul 14, 2020 10:42:03 GMT -5
My interest started when I was very young with my collecting Indian artifacts in the riparian zone on the St. Johns River in Jacksonville, Fl. and wondering where the flint came from. My rock collecting actually started at Texas A & M when I saw petrified wood and small amounts of colorful jasper where I did field work(research). After visiting a small local rock shop in College Station I saw what was available both locally and in Texas and started both buying and hunting wood and other colorful material. I, like the others above, enjoy the process of creating designs or art.
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Post by stardiamond on Jul 14, 2020 10:54:25 GMT -5
Finding an interesting pattern in a rock or slab. Problem solving when making a cab.
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Post by Pat on Jul 14, 2020 11:03:24 GMT -5
Why do I have rocks in my head?
I'm lucky!
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Post by greig on Jul 14, 2020 11:11:16 GMT -5
I love exploring new areas, the hunt and the fun of seeing what's inside. Also, the people I meet. Fellow rockhounders are some of the best.
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kyoti
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2020
Posts: 542
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Post by kyoti on Jul 14, 2020 18:30:59 GMT -5
I really enjoy exploring nature and finding things people rarely notice. I like the patterns and colors that cleaning or tumbling reveals. Photos and rock collecting are my way to share my adventures and the beauty I see. I love to give my pictures and rocks to people because it makes us both happy.
With the fossils, it's really amazing to hold one in your hand and try to imagine what the world looked like for it when it lived there.
I
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Post by stonemon on Jul 14, 2020 18:53:50 GMT -5
My father and grandfather were both geologists. I cut my teeth on suphide ore and limnitic ooze. When I was about three or four, I was out with dad and he was beating rocks, prospecting.
I was getting bored and he brought a nice chunk of ore over and said watch this. He broke it in half and it shimmered with chalcopyrite, galena, sphalerite etc. He said to me "no one has ever seen this before, each break gives you a look at something that has never been seen by a person" That was it for me. I have been looking at the insides of rocks ever since.
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EricD
Cave Dweller 
High in the Mountains
Member since November 2019
Posts: 1,142
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Post by EricD on Jul 14, 2020 19:14:21 GMT -5
I've always been fascinated by rocks and their many colors, patterns, and textures, but I really have to thank a local teacher for my rock addiction. And his dad. His father passed, I was given his tumbler, and from there things just went to heck. In a good way, I think?
I wish his dad was still alive, he was a great guy, an old Navy sailor. Had an impeccable sense of respect and duty. And actually maintained his vehicle unlike a lot of the people we are surrounded by in life.
He taught his son well, and I'll always remember him and what he excelled at.
RIP Jake Callentine
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Post by rockjunquie on Jul 15, 2020 6:44:25 GMT -5
My father and grandfather were both geologists. I cut my teeth on suphide ore and limnitic ooze. When I was about three or four, I was out with dad and he was beating rocks, prospecting. I was getting bored and he brought a nice chunk of ore over and said watch this. He broke it in half and it shimmered with chalcopyrite, galena, sphalerite etc. He said to me "no one has ever seen this before, each break gives you a look at something that has never been seen by a person" That was it for me. I have been looking at the insides of rocks ever since. Great story! Thanks.  |
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bushrat
off to a rocking start
Member since July 2020
Posts: 1
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Post by bushrat on Jul 15, 2020 22:59:38 GMT -5
Hi folks, a very new newly here, I just love the challenge of finding "that stone" and being able to enhance the beauty it already displays. Also being out and at one with nature while rock hounding in the wide open spaces we enjoy in Australia. Stay safe everyone
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Post by pauls on Jul 16, 2020 5:52:29 GMT -5
Welcome bushrat from another Aussie.
I would have to have rocks in my head, every great great grandfather and all their families were all miners back in the 1850s, every single one of them. Some of them struck it rich and became fabulously wealthy, but to a man they all blew the lot speculating on mines. Most just scraped by and were living in awful conditions on the goldfields having heaps of kids and having most of them dying, it must have been a terribly hard life.
My mothers great grandfather's mine produced 20000 ounces of gold, they thought it was running out so sold out and started a new mine on the next claim. They sunk a fortune into it and it was completely worthless, the original mines new owners put in new machinery and found heaps more gold, just the gold they retrieved from the old tailings heaps paid back what they paid for the mine and paid for the new machinery.
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Post by rockjunquie on Jul 16, 2020 8:59:10 GMT -5
Welcome bushrat from another Aussie. I would have to have rocks in my head, every great great grandfather and all their families were all miners back in the 1850s, every single one of them. Some of them struck it rich and became fabulously wealthy, but to a man they all blew the lot speculating on mines. Most just scraped by and were living in awful conditions on the goldfields having heaps of kids and having most of them dying, it must have been a terribly hard life. My mothers great grandfather's mine produced 20000 ounces of gold, they thought it was running out so sold out and started a new mine on the next claim. They sunk a fortune into it and it was completely worthless, the original mines new owners put in new machinery and found heaps more gold, just the gold they retrieved from the old tailings heaps paid back what they paid for the mine and paid for the new machinery. I hated to "like" that, in a way. It's great that you know your history, but it's sad your people had such a rough life. |
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