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Post by Cher on Aug 29, 2005 14:22:49 GMT -5
Ok, there's not much to find in Iowa, seems like it's mostly limestone but there are real rocks used in landscaping around the hotels/stores and what not. Whether they are actually "Iowa" rocks, I don't know but I did collect them there. My apologies for not including something for scale. These are the fossils I collected for my grandson.  There was a lot of this orange colored quartz, kind of neat.  I believe this is pet wood, it's really neat.  Found quite a bit of these white crystals, too bad they weren't bigger but they are neat. Found a few like the geode but only the one that you could see inside.  Here's the inside ...  Lots of this stuff that I think is flint. At least it looks darn near identical to the flint I got from Llana. Ranges in color from creamy to almost a dark red or maroon color. Most of it has some kind of a whitish rind on it.  Flint close-up ...  A few pieces that appear to be agate, this was the nicest, slightly larger than a quarter.  Then there was this one, small, nickel size but just cool. Wish I could have found more of it.  Also found a few pieces of this, looks like black quartz.  Just a mix of some left overs.  And last but not least, I think I found a couple pieces of amber.  Thanks for looking ... Cher |
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Post by gaetzchamp on Aug 29, 2005 15:01:25 GMT -5
Cher-
Nice, very nice. I'll bet you're happy with that little haul, huh? I love that greeny one. Too bad you did find more of it. That's very unique.
I also love the flint. Looks like that'll tumble well.
congrats on finding some good stuff.
gaetz
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller 
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,503
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Post by Sabre52 on Aug 29, 2005 15:38:23 GMT -5
Boy! That looks like some pretty good stuff. Was any of the coral silicified? I've seen some fine agatized coral from Iowa. Looked just like the Indonesian stuff or like Petosky stone except for fully agatized. If you find some of the silicified material you should definately try to tumble some. Agatized coral makes spectacular stones!...mel
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Post by krazydiamond on Aug 29, 2005 20:09:59 GMT -5
 great haul, Cher....you did OK for cherry picking landscape rocks! bet they will tumble beautifully! KD
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Post by rockyraccoon on Aug 29, 2005 22:15:53 GMT -5
nice rocks cher. i love that green/red/yellow one. those fossils are very cool looking.
kim
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WarrenA
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2003
Posts: 1,530
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Post by WarrenA on Aug 29, 2005 23:17:48 GMT -5
what part of Iowa did you go to? I hope it wasn't close as I would drove over for a short visit
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Post by puppie96 on Aug 30, 2005 0:23:45 GMT -5
The Rock Trails book for Midwest-Prairie States makes Iowa sound like good rockhounding. This stuff looks great, there will be even more surprises when tumbling, don't you love collecting?
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Post by stoner on Aug 30, 2005 1:42:26 GMT -5
Nice haul Cher. Get any wierd looks from the hotel staff? Hey, some people take soap or towels, they should be grateful all you take are rocks!
Ed
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Post by Cher on Aug 30, 2005 7:00:00 GMT -5
Mel: I did see a few pieces that looked like the fossils on the outside but like agate on the inside. I didn't take any though because I was more interested in the fossil side for my grandson. I'll have to remember that for the next time.
Warren: We were over in Waterloo, didn't have much time for visiting, they had us on the run everyday.
Puppie: Thanks for the name of the book, I've looked all over the net and didn't find anything. Does the book give any idea what some of this stuff is that I found?
Hahahaha Ed ... the staff didn't look at me funny but the other guests did.
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Post by Cher on Aug 30, 2005 11:27:34 GMT -5
I did more searching and found some more info on Iowa's rocks. The orange stuff is orange calcite, anyone know anything about calcite? The black one might be rice agate or black chert.
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Aug 30, 2005 14:33:47 GMT -5
Yes Orange Calcite is used in healing (oooppsss sorry there I go again) ummm Orange calcite is soft (mohs 4 I think) but will take a shine (when tumbled alone and cushioned ever so gently) Oops no it's Mohs 3= Talc- 1, gypsum- 2, calcite-3
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Post by Cher on Aug 30, 2005 14:51:23 GMT -5
That soft? Oh pooh, guess I'll not bother with it then. Oh well, what'cha gonna do with something orange anyway. Thanks Stefan
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Debs
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since February 2005
Posts: 1,252
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Post by Debs on Aug 30, 2005 15:39:14 GMT -5
Small world! That's where I live Cher, in Waterloo, Iowa and have all my life. What area did your sister move into?
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Post by Cher on Aug 30, 2005 16:49:13 GMT -5
It's my daughter Debs. They've been looking at houses around the area but nothing's final yet. It is a small world isn't it. So do you know what any of my "stuff" is?
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Post by joe on Aug 31, 2005 0:27:53 GMT -5
Hey Cher, don't give up on the calcite yet. I have found clay rock here where I live. It is no more than 3 or 4 hardness. It shapes up nice in coarse, and I ran it with 120/220, 500, 1200. It'll never have an award winning shine, but it looks ok. I will polish them when a polish barrel is free. (2 weeks) Because they are so soft I thought they might drill out real easy and I could make beads out of them. Maybe that would work for your calcite?
Joe
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Post by puppie96 on Aug 31, 2005 3:10:27 GMT -5
June Culp Zeitner. "Midwest Gem, Fossil and Mineral Trails: Prairie States." Copyright 1998.
I haven't rockhounded in Iowa so I can't give you much of a review, but the Iowa chapter is pretty long and the directions look pretty good. I've noticed some chapters are better than others. I have been able to find any site I've looked for from this book, which of course is a good sign. This book tells you what you are supposed to find, but doesn't give photos, unfortunately.
I wouldn't assume the orange is calcite and won't tumble, I find orange rocks like that and they shape and polish, I think they are often quartz.
You've got a random sampling of stuff that looks like midwestern pickup rock from here in MO, as well as SD and WY -- we have a lot of that caramel colored flint or jasper here, as well as those geode type rocks. Most of the time I don't know what it is either. As our friend Shawn of the Rock Shed commented on a rock I carried all the way to SD for an expert opinion, "it's a quartzy rock." If you could see Shawn giving this analysis you'd be rolling on the floor.
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Post by Cher on Aug 31, 2005 5:22:03 GMT -5
LOL a quartzy rock eh? That's funny! Thanks for the info Puppie, might have to get that book, especially if they make the move. Does it include anything for Minnesota?
I need to do a scratch test to see if this orange stuff is that soft, maybe I'm wrong on the calcite thing. That's a good idea Joe, if a person can get any shaping or shine at all, beads might be kind of cool. If it is soft, it shouldn't take long to drill.
Thanks for the input everyone!!
Cher
PS Has anyone ever done anything with amber?
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Aug 31, 2005 11:44:48 GMT -5
AMBER is too soft to do much with- I think- No wait I've seen Tumbled amber somewhere- just can't think of it-
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Post by puppie96 on Sept 1, 2005 21:56:50 GMT -5
Cher, Minnesota is in the "Great Lakes States" not "Prairie States" edition -- same author and title. All of these books show up in all the sites that sell books/rock oriented stuff. If you search rockhounding and variations you get a list of appropriate books.
Before vacation I spent a bit more money on a book that takes a lot more concentration but is a lot more inclusive, Earth Treasures Volume 3: The Northwestern Quadrant. I like this book a lot but the rock trails ones are probably better for casual rockhounding.
BTW Cher, last night I was going to quote the first line of the Iowa chapter, it says, "Iowa, a fabled land of geodes and agate...."
You were in a fabled land. Who knew.
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Post by Cher on Sept 2, 2005 3:45:08 GMT -5
Fabled land ... lol I'll have to tell my daughter that. I knew about the geodes, it's their state rock (Keokuk geodes) but I didn't know they were known for any agates. Thanks for the info Pup, I'll have to check next time I get to a bookstore to see if I can find one. Appreciate the info.
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great haul, Cher....you did OK for cherry picking landscape rocks! bet they will tumble beautifully!
