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Post by stephan on Dec 30, 2020 11:04:48 GMT -5
This cab was cut this past weekend, and I'm much happier with it than the dino bone.  DSC_2147_Morgan Hill poppy jasper by Stephan T., on Flickr Unfortunately, I did damage the back, removing it from the dop. I used Gorilla superglue gel, and a screw (I wanted a larger head than the nails I have at the moment -- well, at least the ones that are not already glued to pre-forms), and I could not remove it with acetone. After more than a 24 hour soak, I got a little impatient, and ended up plucking a poppy from the back. Since it's now unsellable, I guess I made myself a Christmas present. I would have tried the torch method, but the one I used to have for making crème brûlée disappeared when the boys were teens (I get it -- I loved fire at that age as well -- I guess the pyro gene is one of the few active genes on the Y chromosome). Good news for those who want to try stabilizing, this glue may do better than some other C-A glues. Also, this is one of very few pieces of MHPJ that I've encountered that didn't have hidden fractures. I wish I had a larger slab. ETA: The polish is better than it appears in this pic, I actually had to work not to get full wash-out glare. |
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Post by stephan on Dec 30, 2020 15:42:59 GMT -5
Oh man, I started two Norse gods threads, and on the second-to-last day of the year I figured it out: Loki is the patron deity of 2020.
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Post by jasoninsd on Dec 30, 2020 16:12:39 GMT -5
This cab was cut this past weekend, and I'm much happier with it than the dino bone. DSC_2147_Morgan Hill poppy jasper by Stephan T., on Flickr Unfortunately, I did damage the back, removing it from the dop. I used Gorilla superglue gel, and a screw (I wanted a larger head than the nails I have at the moment -- well, at least the ones that are not already glued to pre-forms), and I could not remove it with acetone. After more than a 24 hour soak, I got a little impatient, and ended up plucking a poppy from the back. Since it's now unsellable, I guess I made myself a Christmas present. I would have tried the torch method, but the one I used to have for making crème brûlée disappeared when the boys were teens (I get it -- I loved fire at that age as well -- I guess the pyro gene is one of the few active genes on the Y chromosome). Good news for those who want to try stabilizing, this glue may do better than some other C-A glues. Also, this is one of very few pieces of MHPJ that I've encountered that didn't have hidden fractures. I wish I had a larger slab. ETA: The polish is better than it appears in this pic, I actually had to work not to get full wash-out glare. Beautiful material and great cab. Kind of heartbreaking about popping the poppy... Isn't it fascinating how many males had/have a pyro-gene! As kids we had to sneak around...as adults we push everyone out of the way to get to the BBQ grill first! LOL Oh man, I started two Norse gods threads, and on the second-to-last day of the year I figured it out: Loki is the patron deity of 2020. Was this decided a long time ago, or was he just the best and most obvious pick, after the fact? LOL |
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Post by stephan on Dec 30, 2020 17:40:23 GMT -5
This cab was cut this past weekend, and I'm much happier with it than the dino bone. DSC_2147_Morgan Hill poppy jasper by Stephan T., on Flickr Unfortunately, I did damage the back, removing it from the dop. I used Gorilla superglue gel, and a screw (I wanted a larger head than the nails I have at the moment -- well, at least the ones that are not already glued to pre-forms), and I could not remove it with acetone. After more than a 24 hour soak, I got a little impatient, and ended up plucking a poppy from the back. Since it's now unsellable, I guess I made myself a Christmas present. I would have tried the torch method, but the one I used to have for making crème brûlée disappeared when the boys were teens (I get it -- I loved fire at that age as well -- I guess the pyro gene is one of the few active genes on the Y chromosome). Good news for those who want to try stabilizing, this glue may do better than some other C-A glues. Also, this is one of very few pieces of MHPJ that I've encountered that didn't have hidden fractures. I wish I had a larger slab. ETA: The polish is better than it appears in this pic, I actually had to work not to get full wash-out glare. Beautiful material and great cab. Kind of heartbreaking about popping the poppy... Isn't it fascinating how many males had/have a pyro-gene! As kids we had to sneak around...as adults we push everyone out of the way to get to the BBQ grill first! LOL Oh man, I started two Norse gods threads, and on the second-to-last day of the year I figured it out: Loki is the patron deity of 2020. Was this decided a long time ago, or was he just the best and most obvious pick, after the fact? LOL MMM! Fire! Good. Makes tasty meat! The Loki thing? From who's perspective? As a human, I just now figured it out. The gods probably had this planned long ago. It seems likely that the Aztecs knew, but were off by 8 years, which could be due to (in order of likelihood): * Loki isn't going to be pinned down * We mistranslated their calendar * The calendar needed re-calibration (leap years or something?) |
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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 1, 2021 11:19:33 GMT -5
Ah stephan your last post actually made laugh out loud! That Loki always was a trickster. |
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Post by stephan on Jan 6, 2021 18:47:05 GMT -5
A small piece of MHPJ that is probably not cabbable, because of the shape:  DSC_2226_Morgan Hill poppy jasper rough, small piece by Stephan T., on Flickr It is about 38mmx50mm, ranging in thickness from 2mm to 20mm. It would be difficult to even it out enough for a cab without losing the best patterns, but I might be able to dome the face and polish it into a display piece, since it *APPEARS* to be fracture-free (but we shall find that out, shan't we?). It is interesting that the center of the orb seems much harder than the surrounding material, so the whole thing goes, meaning the former mate to this rock is out there with a perfect 2mmx5mm divot. |
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Post by jasoninsd on Jan 7, 2021 6:26:12 GMT -5
A small piece of MHPJ that is probably not cabbable, because of the shape: DSC_2226_Morgan Hill poppy jasper rough, small piece by Stephan T., on Flickr It is about 38mmx50mm, ranging in thickness from 2mm to 20mm. It would be difficult to even it out enough for a cab without losing the best patterns, but I might be able to dome the face and polish it into a display piece, since it *APPEARS* to be fracture-free (but we shall find that out, shan't we?). It is interesting that the center of the orb seems much harder than the surrounding material, so the whole thing goes, meaning the former mate to this rock is out there with a perfect 2mmx5mm divot. Probably??? So you're saying there's a chance!  |
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Post by stardiamond on Jan 7, 2021 11:36:36 GMT -5
A small piece of MHPJ that is probably not cabbable, because of the shape: DSC_2226_Morgan Hill poppy jasper rough, small piece by Stephan T., on Flickr It is about 38mmx50mm, ranging in thickness from 2mm to 20mm. It would be difficult to even it out enough for a cab without losing the best patterns, but I might be able to dome the face and polish it into a display piece, since it *APPEARS* to be fracture-free (but we shall find that out, shan't we?). It is interesting that the center of the orb seems much harder than the surrounding material, so the whole thing goes, meaning the former mate to this rock is out there with a perfect 2mmx5mm divot. Probably??? So you're saying there's a chance! Deciding whether to work on it is determined by are you making for yourself or to sell. Any solid cab of MHPJ with a reasonable pattern will sell. I generally try to work on the problem pieces because I don't have a huge supply of the material. With a piece like that, I would slab it using a trim saw. That produces two flat bottoms, trim off the knife edges, look for a shape, trim and dome. |
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Post by jasoninsd on Jan 13, 2021 12:19:57 GMT -5
Found this sedimentary rock while out hounding by the Cheyenne River yesterday. I didn't adopt it. Just took a pic for this thread...   |
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Post by stardiamond on Jan 13, 2021 19:32:30 GMT -5
Paul, hookedonrocks identified this material as Lion's den which is highly desirable. |
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Post by stephan on Jan 13, 2021 21:10:02 GMT -5
Paul, hookedonrocks identified this material as Lion's den which is highly desirable. I can see why |
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Tommy
Administrator 
Member since January 2013
Posts: 13,004
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Post by Tommy on Jan 18, 2021 16:30:05 GMT -5
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Tommy
Administrator
Member since January 2013
Posts: 13,004
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Post by Tommy on Jan 18, 2021 16:46:28 GMT -5
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Tommy
Administrator
Member since January 2013
Posts: 13,004
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Post by Tommy on Jan 18, 2021 16:54:50 GMT -5
Last one for now. This was a small slab of what I bought as Galaxy Rhyolite - I also have seen it listed as birdseye rhyolite but it's obviously not close to classic birdseye color wise. This is the last little piece I have of it - I'm thinking about cabbing it for this month's cabochon contest, winter colors theme.  This beautiful cab is soon leaving for it's new home in the Netherlands.  |
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Post by HankRocks on Jan 18, 2021 19:34:35 GMT -5
I'm a little late for the party - I always seem to miss the cool threads lol. Here's a peek at my most precious slab and the only slab I own that I can promise I will never cut up. It's not just the rarity but also the totality of the pattern including the colors can never be captured in a way that would justify cutting up the slab. Pope Creek poppy jasper - Pope Valley Napa County in the vicinity of Lake Berryessa. It is thought this material originated on Snow Mountain to the north. It's a big slab at approx 9" x 8"   When everything settles down and I get another Napa trip on the schedule, I may have to book an extra day to do some collecting! Hey!, Rocks and Wine go well together. |
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Post by stephan on Jan 27, 2021 16:41:46 GMT -5
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Post by stephan on Jan 27, 2021 16:51:14 GMT -5
Some tasty-looking stuff, there, especially that "inverted" Hornitos. More for the "needed" list. |
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Post by stephan on Feb 3, 2021 9:58:10 GMT -5
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Feb 3, 2021 10:20:35 GMT -5
It's not cheating, stephen, it's sharing.  |
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Post by stephan on Feb 3, 2021 10:52:48 GMT -5
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... to the New Guys from The ChatBox V.2 Crew