goiter
off to a rocking start
Member since July 2019
Posts: 11
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Post by goiter on Jul 20, 2020 10:01:15 GMT -5
So I was out at the Kern Beds, first time out there. Wind was brutal, not too hot, and I had to go to the bathroom - bad. After fighting it a while, I decide to head back to the campground, use the toilet and head out. As I get down the hill that enters the beds, I realize my Estwing was left behind somewhere up in the rocks, so I decide hammer is more important than bathroom and head back. Now this is my first time up there, and my family had come with, the kids did not want to stay long so they had headed back earlier. We had just stayed around the first hill there at the beds, tooling around gulleys, but I had had little luck. So after some searching, I find my hammer and headed back up the road, when right next to the first hill, on the road, I spy this holly leaf pattern. What do the experts feel is best to do when a full nodule with no windows is found? I’m assuming I will face polish this, are there any votes for cutting? Anyway, I feel lucky, and very accomplished at finding the subtle pattern, let me know what you think! Thanks- Andy
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Post by miket on Jul 20, 2020 10:59:26 GMT -5
I'm no expert, but I've collected my share of fairburns. I face the same decisions when I find ones like this. I've tumbled a few to bring out the patterns with decent results. This one may have more inside, but so far I haven't been able to figure out a 100% effective way to figure that out.
Nice find, by the way!
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Post by stardiamond on Jul 20, 2020 11:12:24 GMT -5
I'm not an expert on agates. I only make cabs. I have worked on a few Fairburns. I start with making a slab and then designing around the pattern. Some rocks have a better pattern as a specimen than for cabs.
Depending on your equipment, I would start by facing the nodule and then looking at the pattern. When better suited as a specimen, polish the face. If you don't have a good saw, start polishing it where it looks good. Agates are tricky because the pattern and color can be in the skin and not inside.
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