James
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2003
Posts: 876
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Post by James on Sept 7, 2005 2:07:28 GMT -5
As some of you already know by now, I went on a trip to Glass Buttes over Labor Day weekend. I have to tell you, I really needed to get out of the city. It's been so long since I returned to the earth. I grew up as an outdoors man and city life is killing me. This is such a beautiful world and I can't stand being tied down by this society. A trip to the Buttes was just what the doctor ordered... The drive from Modesto California to Central Oregon took about 10 hours and was a 600 mile drive. With gas prices topping $3.35 in some areas, it proved to be quite an expensive journey. However, I wouldn't put a price tag on it. It was well worth every penny! After a day of driving and a few hours of sleep I finally found my destination. This is the pumpkin obsidian pit. The drive in was treacherous. The hills are very steep and the roads are cover with large boulders and endless fragments obsidian. To make matters worst, the wet seasons erode out large washes along the trials you have to drive on. You'll need a 4 wheel drive vehicle to get to this location. It is one hell of a white-knuckle drive! It's kinda like walking on hot coals but instead, you are literally driving on roads made of sharp obsidian. You can get a flat at any time if you're not careful!  You are looking at the overburden from the pumpkin obsidian mine. Note: all of that material was rejected by knappers because it was too small. However, it is perfect for lapidary. There are piles upon pile of the stuff!  If you want the bigger stuff, you'll have to work for it! Here's the seam.  After an hour of brutal, DUSTY work I finally struck pay dirt! This boulder weighs about 50 lbs!  After several hours of work, I decided to take a lunch break. Here is a picture of the horizon behind the pit.  Now its off to mahogany hill. This mountain is made of pure glass. Look at the ground; those are all fist-sizes pieces of red/black obsidian!  Here's the midnight-lace mine. I have to tell you, the material here is spectacular! The obsidian here is black with fine purple swirls and laces running through it. Really nice stuff!  Well, it's time to test some of this stuff out. Here is a medium quality nodule and an assortment of knapping tools.  Look closely........there's a spearhead trapped inside of there............  .........And here it is. It measures 5" long 1-1/2" wide and 1/4 thick.  And just like everything else, all good things must come to an end. Here is a pic of my camp the night before I had to head out.  One final good-bye.....  Fire in the sky.....  I've finally rediscovered why life is worth living......... |
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RedwoodRocks
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2003
Posts: 762
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Post by RedwoodRocks on Sept 7, 2005 2:16:25 GMT -5
Very cool pics James, Great sunset pictures. I can totally understand your need to get out of the city. When I was younger, we went camping once a month year round - something you can do in California and not suffer too much in summer or winter! I now live in the mountains and just love it!
Cal
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rollingstone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2009
Posts: 236
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Post by rollingstone on Sept 7, 2005 3:09:53 GMT -5
James, that sounds like a fun trip, and definitely some great scenery. What strikes me the most though, is that spearhead. Did you really crank that out in... what?... one evening!? If you were born in the Stone Age, you'd definitely be a valued member of the tribe!
Of course, in this modern stone age, a.k.a. Rock Tumbling Hobby, you are also definitely a valued member of the tribe...
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SteveHolmes
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2009
Posts: 1,900
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Post by SteveHolmes on Sept 7, 2005 6:26:42 GMT -5
James,
Wow! Great field trip report. I guess I'll have to get up that way before long. Did you find any of the rainbow obsidian? I must say that you must be an expert KNAPPER! I have a friend of mine who does that, and he's made me a few points. I guess it's time to learn yet another aspect of the vast world of Lapidary! Thanks for the awesome pictures of your trip! Glad you had a safe and fun trip.
Steve
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stefan
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Sept 7, 2005 9:38:09 GMT -5
JAMES- AHHHHHHH thank you- I am a country boy myself- Have lived in the country for all of my adult life- and I hate the city- Even my job is in a very rural town (population of around 3000) And those pictures are the exact reason I won't go to the city! Hey Your Knapping talents are pretty remarkable! any chance of you putting together a tutorial ?
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Post by Cher on Sept 7, 2005 9:44:46 GMT -5
WoW! Awesome pics James, what beautiful country that is. So how much did you end up bringing home? It's awful, the gas prices, I'm glad you had a grand enough time that the cost of the gas didn't ruin it for you. Thanks for sharing and yes, I want to know too ... how long did it take you to make that spearhead?
Cher
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BillE
having dreams about rocks
Member since November 2004
Posts: 58
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Post by BillE on Sept 7, 2005 10:39:00 GMT -5
The spear is amazing. As someone said you would make a valuable addition to the tribe. If they ever have "Survivor Caveman" you should apply. Think of all the rocks you could get for a million dollars.
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James
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2003
Posts: 876
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Post by James on Sept 7, 2005 12:01:00 GMT -5
Thanks for all of the support everyone! I'm glad you enjoyed the pics as much as I enjoyed taking them. I would have posted the pictures of my "haul" too but I didn't want to bog down the page with too many pictures. I'll post pics at a latter time. The material that I collected was pumpkin, black/red, black, midnight-lace, silver sheen, green sheen, a little rainbow (hard to find) and some black dacite. That spearhead was made in about 4 hours total. For me, that is a long time. I had some problems early on getting into that nodule with the hammer stone. If you don't prepare your striking platforms just right with obsidian, you can crush the edge and create a mess for yourself. So I had to work through those problems. I'd be Happy to make a tutorial on knapping. However, the subject is so vast and so technical, I'd literal have to write a book! Now, the way that I learned how to do it was by studying the work of D.C. Waldorf. This man has been knapping for over 40 years! He is the undisputed heavyweight of knapping. No one can even come close to this guy. Possibly not even the Indians themselves... If you're interested buy his book and video companion "The Art of Flintknapping." www.moundbuilderbooks.com After you see some of his points, you wont even want to look at mine  I will make a tutorial one of these days when I have the time. |
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Post by xenaswolf on Sept 7, 2005 12:12:54 GMT -5
That is some beautiful stuff there and the pictures sure told the story. Glad you were able to get out and spend time with mother nature. Where in Oregon is that? I'm thinking I might need to take a trip there  |
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James
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2003
Posts: 876
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Post by James on Sept 7, 2005 12:22:46 GMT -5
The buttes are located right in the center of Oregon on highway 20 between the cities of Burns and Bend and 27 miles exactly west of Riley. There used to be a sign that read "Obsidian Road" but some selfish a-hole stole it. Now there is a paper plate nail to a stop sign that reads "Glass Buttes...
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Rose
Cave Dweller
Member since November 2004
Posts: 875
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Post by Rose on Sept 7, 2005 12:32:42 GMT -5
Wow fantastic sunset and some nice rocks! Glad you had a good time |
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Banjocreek
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since March 2003
Posts: 1,115
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Post by Banjocreek on Sept 7, 2005 13:04:41 GMT -5
Absolutely wonderful James.
Looking at those pictures I have the hills of Arizona just tugging on me to get back up there.
Just to get off the beaten path for a few days would be great.
I feel like I've been clamoring around for the past 2 months and am very much desiring a camping break like those pictures display.
All beautiful shots.
What an inspiration! Thanks for sharing.
-Banjo
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Sept 7, 2005 13:05:03 GMT -5
James- I only ask cause it is something that I would love to try -again- Just some pix of the progress- how to hold the tools and what to look for- I tried it once- Got laughed offf stage- Put me in my place it did!
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chassroc
Cave Dweller
Rocks are abundant when you have rocktumblinghobby pals
Member since January 2005
Posts: 3,586
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Post by chassroc on Sept 7, 2005 13:13:18 GMT -5
James, very very nice....Love the pix and the story, nice knapping.
csroc
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textiger
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since May 2005
Posts: 946
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Post by textiger on Sept 7, 2005 13:49:33 GMT -5
James,
Thanks for taking us along via this thread. Great pix and fascinating work on the spear head.
Now, for the dumb question: Is all of this open public land or is it park land or what? Does one have to get permission from someone?
I keep seeing these posts from folks where they are able to drive somewhere, get out and hunt rocks without a care or a question. I have got to get out of this city!
matt
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Duckbean
fully equipped rock polisher
Looking for rocks in all the wrong places
Member since February 2005
Posts: 1,072
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Post by Duckbean on Sept 7, 2005 14:30:08 GMT -5
Do you ever part with any of your spear heads James? It's unbelievable that you can whip out something like that in so short a time. It would be great to live in that part of the country, not fair that you guys out west got all the nice rocks. After a trip like that the city must be a little easier to deal with , at least for awhile.
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Post by krazydiamond on Sept 7, 2005 14:31:42 GMT -5
phenomenal photos, James! thanks for posting such a great thread....
KD
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SteveHolmes
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2009
Posts: 1,900
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Post by SteveHolmes on Sept 7, 2005 15:27:18 GMT -5
James,
I'd love for you to post a tutorial on knapping. Only when you have some extra time. I'm still very impressed with your point....in 4 hours! You're a finely skilled knapper!
Steve
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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 Sept 7, 2005 15:28:21 GMT -5
Thanks for the great fieldtrip pics James. Campsite and rock sites look fantastic. Looks like you scored some good material too. I'm so impressed with your knapping job. Have tried it a few times myself and it's much more difficult than it looks. Always have a hard time getting my pressure flakes to go far enough across the workpiece! You've deveolped it to a fine art! Keep up the good work and the fine pics!.....mel
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Post by xenaswolf on Sept 7, 2005 21:10:37 GMT -5
Can you explain how you got that point out? I tried to explain it to the other half but I couldn't.
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