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Post by bekkifromontario on Jul 17, 2020 12:01:35 GMT -5
Hey! I’m a new rock hounder / tumbler and I’ve gathered a lot of information around the internet, but there are definitely some things I’m missing.
I’ll mostly be sourcing my rocks from the Nottawasaga Bay Area of Lake Huron. From what I understand, I won’t find agates or jaspers there. My first try collecting stones along the beach was really fun and I could have spent hours searching, but I found that I didn’t really know what to look for.
I know rocks of the same hardness get tumbled together, and hardness around 7 is easiest... and I know deep pits and cracks could fracture or collect grit and ruin a full barrel of stones... I also know that black crystal looking stuff in granite will dislodge and also ruin a barrel of stones. Please correct me if I’m wrong?
I’m still struggling with being able to identify possible rocks to tumble while I’m out collecting, so if anyone has any tips on how to choose rocks visually or by touch to bring home from the beach? Thanks all!
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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 17, 2020 19:09:28 GMT -5
Hi Bekki. Welcome to the forum! Everything you listed looks correct. If there are Chert in your area, they make a good starting stone. They're tough and usually colorful or patterned. There are some great youtube videos of great lakes collecting that might help. Michigan Rocks, Agate Dad and Chocolate Cherry coins are very informative and fun to watch. They often talk about which stones do or don't polish well in the Lakes area.
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lordsorril
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since April 2020
Posts: 866
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Post by lordsorril on Jul 17, 2020 20:18:36 GMT -5
I'm not a pro rock-hound. I just gather some local stuff I run across in river beds/random locations to tumble. If I'm scanning through tons of rocks for ones that will accept a high polish then it is safe to assume that harder rocks should be able to take more damage and should be smoother overall (or at least the edges should be). Jagged edges would not be the first ones I would spot (even though there are usually some that are broken). I marked the four stones I snagged from the photo below based on worn edges/shape/condition. Also: I have no problem tumbling certain types of granite. Some do take a high polish, and yes some do undercut and shed and have the potential to ruin a polish cycle on a batch of rocks---hopefully you pick those out when you see the pits/cracks form prior to that point.
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Jul 17, 2020 20:26:38 GMT -5
Welcome from Northern Arizona!
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Post by taylor on Jul 17, 2020 22:39:22 GMT -5
Welcome! Wetting the stone with water will sometimes give a clue as to how it might look polished.
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Post by bekkifromontario on Jul 18, 2020 18:37:35 GMT -5
Hi Bekki. Welcome to the forum! Everything you listed looks correct. If there are Chert in your area, they make a good starting stone. They're tough and usually colorful or patterned. There are some great youtube videos of great lakes collecting that might help. Michigan Rocks, Agate Dad and Chocolate Cherry coins are very informative and fun to watch. They often talk about which stones do or don't polish well in the Lakes area. Thank you!! I’ll definitely have a look!
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Post by bekkifromontario on Jul 18, 2020 18:38:38 GMT -5
I'm not a pro rock-hound. I just gather some local stuff I run across in river beds/random locations to tumble. If I'm scanning through tons of rocks for ones that will accept a high polish then it is safe to assume that harder rocks should be able to take more damage and should be smoother overall (or at least the edges should be). Jagged edges would not be the first ones I would spot (even though there are usually some that are broken). I marked the four stones I snagged from the photo below based on worn edges/shape/condition. Also: I have no problem tumbling certain types of granite. Some do take a high polish, and yes some do undercut and shed and have the potential to ruin a polish cycle on a batch of rocks---hopefully you pick those out when you see the pits/cracks form prior to that point. Thank you!! That’s a great tip about the edges of the rocks!!
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Post by pauls on Jul 18, 2020 19:00:57 GMT -5
Look at a freshly cracked edge, if it looks hard and shiny it should be good, if it looks grainy or sandy kiss it and toss it back. Also please try for colourful stuff, I have a mate who calls most tumbled rocks SBR. Small Brown Rocks. I suppose he's saying Garbage in garbage out.
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Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,432
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Post by Wooferhound on Jul 19, 2020 6:44:44 GMT -5
I tumble North Alabama Granite all the time. Never had a problem with the tumbler while doing that. Tried only collecting granite with large portions of black running through it in veins. Here are the results . . .
I was tumbling a lot of glass from theatrical lighting and the sharp glass chewed through my Lid Liners after a few months. That is the only damage from tumbling that I ever had.
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Post by bekkifromontario on Jul 19, 2020 7:34:59 GMT -5
I tumble North Alabama Granite all the time. Never had a problem with the tumbler while doing that. Tried only collecting granite with large portions of black running through it in veins. Here are the results . . .
I was tumbling a lot of glass from theatrical lighting and the sharp glass chewed through my Lid Liners after a few months. That is the only damage from tumbling that I ever had.
Thank you!! Great info.
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SirRoxalot
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2003
Posts: 790
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Post by SirRoxalot on Nov 18, 2020 23:23:53 GMT -5
There are plenty of neat rocks to tumble on Ontario beaches! The problem is that Southern Ontario is all sedimentary rocks, and they’re mostly too soft. A whole lot of brown to grey limestone to sort through. So you need to learn about chert, milky quartz, unakite, puddingstone, stuff like that. Learn about the Moh’s scale of hardness, it’s easy to understand and test your rocks, and will lead to plenty of polished goodies. Our rocks tend to be on the drab side, you should treat yourself to some nice colorful jasper, or banded agate, every now and then, they aren’t too expensive.
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lookatthat
Cave Dweller
Whatever there is to be found.
Member since May 2017
Posts: 1,360
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Post by lookatthat on Nov 19, 2020 13:15:57 GMT -5
Look at a freshly cracked edge, if it looks hard and shiny it should be good, if it looks grainy or sandy kiss it and toss it back. Also please try for colourful stuff, I have a mate who calls most tumbled rocks SBR. Small Brown Rocks. I suppose he's saying Garbage in garbage out. He must be a birder. There are lots of kinds of sparrows, finches, etc that look similar at a glimpse. They are called LBBs -- Little Brown Birds.
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Post by greig on Nov 19, 2020 14:15:49 GMT -5
I have not yet collected on Huron. I don't find much on Lake Ontario for tumbling. However, it might be fun to try some sea glass. I have in the past ordered rock in Ontario from Robert Hall Originals and Stonebridge Imports. Once the rock and mineral shows start up again, there is usually tumble rough for sale there too.
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gatorflash1
spending too much on rocks
Active in Delaware Mineralogical Society, Cabchon Grinding and Polishing, 2 Thumlers B's and a UV-18
Member since October 2018
Posts: 375
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Post by gatorflash1 on Nov 19, 2020 15:58:10 GMT -5
Hi - Welcome from Delaware. Here is a video about hunting rocks on Lake Huron that you might enjoy. Stay warm!
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reeniebeany
starting to spend too much on rocks
Rotary Only
Member since January 2020
Posts: 125
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Post by reeniebeany on Nov 20, 2020 19:53:40 GMT -5
Neat video, I love that heart shaped Petoskey! Completely different rocks than we have in Washington. Those puddingstones are crazy, just laying around....
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