|
|
Post by jasoninsd on May 31, 2021 23:52:50 GMT -5
I couldn't wait to show this picture! I took one more cut on my BIG nodule.    Holy bovines, Jason. Definitely not bad for surface collecting. Right!?! LOL So this nodule was actually in a crevice in the rocks where the digging was going on. The "ceiling" overhang (which is actually a part of the hillside leading down to the dig spot) was ready to collapse - in fact, part of it had collapsed from the first time I went out to the second time. I could see this nodule back in the crevice about four or five feet in. I had to get under the overhang and stretch my arm into the crevice - using my crowbar to reach the nodule and start fishing it out of the crevice. It was one of those things OSHA wouldn't have approved... So, it's true, technically I didn't "dig" it out...I "fished" it out! LOL |
|
|
|
Post by stephan on Jun 1, 2021 0:16:30 GMT -5
Holy bovines, Jason. Definitely not bad for surface collecting. Right!?! LOL So this nodule was actually in a crevice in the rocks where the digging was going on. The "ceiling" overhang (which is actually a part of the hillside leading down to the dig spot) was ready to collapse - in fact, part of it had collapsed from the first time I went out to the second time. I could see this nodule back in the crevice about four or five feet in. I had to get under the overhang and stretch my arm into the crevice - using my crowbar to reach the nodule and start fishing it out of the crevice. It was one of those things OSHA wouldn't have approved... So, it's true, technically I didn't "dig" it out...I "fished" it out! LOL I wonder what will be revealed when it collapses the rest of the way. |
|
|
|
Post by jasoninsd on Jun 1, 2021 0:23:41 GMT -5
Right!?! LOL So this nodule was actually in a crevice in the rocks where the digging was going on. The "ceiling" overhang (which is actually a part of the hillside leading down to the dig spot) was ready to collapse - in fact, part of it had collapsed from the first time I went out to the second time. I could see this nodule back in the crevice about four or five feet in. I had to get under the overhang and stretch my arm into the crevice - using my crowbar to reach the nodule and start fishing it out of the crevice. It was one of those things OSHA wouldn't have approved... So, it's true, technically I didn't "dig" it out...I "fished" it out! LOL I wonder what will be revealed when it collapses the rest of the way. It will actually bury the exposed nodule line. The nodules are in about a 3-4 foot section of the bedrock. In that dig spot, the "ceiling" is around four feet above that nodule section. So, as more gets dug out of the nodule line, it increases the overhang of the hillside above (the ceiling of that spot). Thus making it more unstable. Once that overhang collapses all that material will have to be dug back out to get back to the nodule line. It's just a matter of time before that upper hillside collapses. |
|
|
|
Post by stephan on Jun 1, 2021 0:34:34 GMT -5
I wonder what will be revealed when it collapses the rest of the way. It will actually bury the exposed nodule line. The nodules are in about a 3-4 foot section of the bedrock. In that dig spot, the "ceiling" is around four feet above that nodule section. So, as more gets dug out of the nodule line, it increases the overhang of the hillside above (the ceiling of that spot). Thus making it more unstable. Once that overhang collapses all that material will have to be dug back out to get back to the nodule line. It's just a matter of time before that upper hillside collapses. D'oh! Actually, what I meant to say is, if we all believe it hard enough, there will be a second, undiscovered, even more amazing nodule line that will be exposed in the ceiling collapse. |
|
|
|
Post by jasoninsd on Jun 1, 2021 0:56:01 GMT -5
It will actually bury the exposed nodule line. The nodules are in about a 3-4 foot section of the bedrock. In that dig spot, the "ceiling" is around four feet above that nodule section. So, as more gets dug out of the nodule line, it increases the overhang of the hillside above (the ceiling of that spot). Thus making it more unstable. Once that overhang collapses all that material will have to be dug back out to get back to the nodule line. It's just a matter of time before that upper hillside collapses. D'oh! Actually, what I meant to say is, if we all believe it hard enough, there will be a second, undiscovered, even more amazing nodule line that will be exposed in the ceiling collapse. That would be super nice! LOL I won't mind it when that hillside/ceiling collapses (as long as I'm not there when it happens!). It will allow a safer work area once that comes down. It's going to be a lot of work to remove the subsequent rubble, but once that's removed normal excavation can resume. I know I'm not the only one who works that spot. I just hope whoever else is going there is smart about how much lower level they're removing while that overhang still exists. The more material removed equates to more overhang...which lessens the stability. |
|
|
|
Post by stephan on Jun 1, 2021 1:06:16 GMT -5
D'oh! Actually, what I meant to say is, if we all believe it hard enough, there will be a second, undiscovered, even more amazing nodule line that will be exposed in the ceiling collapse. That would be super nice! LOL I won't mind it when that hillside/ceiling collapses (as long as I'm not there when it happens!). It will allow a safer work area once that comes down. It's going to be a lot of work to remove the subsequent rubble, but once that's removed normal excavation can resume. I know I'm not the only one who works that spot. I just hope whoever else is going there is smart about how much lower level they're removing while that overhang still exists. The more material removed equates to more overhang...which lessens the stability. If the matrix starts looking more like Dryhead matrix, you'll know that someone wasn't careful. |
|
|
|
Post by jasoninsd on Jun 1, 2021 1:22:44 GMT -5
That would be super nice! LOL I won't mind it when that hillside/ceiling collapses (as long as I'm not there when it happens!). It will allow a safer work area once that comes down. It's going to be a lot of work to remove the subsequent rubble, but once that's removed normal excavation can resume. I know I'm not the only one who works that spot. I just hope whoever else is going there is smart about how much lower level they're removing while that overhang still exists. The more material removed equates to more overhang...which lessens the stability. If the matrix starts looking more like Dryhead matrix, you'll know that someone wasn't careful. If I see something like this, I'll know it too:  |
|
Brian
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2020
Posts: 1,512
|
Post by Brian on Jun 1, 2021 7:37:02 GMT -5
I know it may be a bit blasphemous, but I think I am starting to like the Teepees more than the Fairburns. There is just something about the colors and patterns in the Teepees that I find alluring. Not that there can’t be room to love both, but if I had to pick, it would be a hard decision.
|
|
|
|
Post by jasoninsd on Jun 1, 2021 8:52:36 GMT -5
I know it may be a bit blasphemous, but I think I am starting to like the Teepees more than the Fairburns. There is just something about the colors and patterns in the Teepees that I find alluring. Not that there can’t be room to love both, but if I had to pick, it would be a hard decision.  LOL - I totally understand. However, for me there's a few things that will likely always put Fairburns above Teepees. The elusiveness/rarity of Fairburns or the difficulty in finding them. Teepee Canyon Agates are located (with the exception of a few outlying "escapees") in one specific location. If you go there, work hard, you're going to find some Teepee Canyon Agates. Granted, not all of them are like the BIG nodule I found...but you will find some. With Fairburn Agates, it's more of a "needle in a haystack" kind of adventure. There's never a guarantee on finding Fairburns...so when you do, the feeling has to be similar to the feeling of being stranded on a desert island for a year and a yacht just happens to dock in one of the lagoons around the island. (Maybe a little overly dramatic there...but you get the point. LOL) With Teepee Canyon Agates, there's only a few color variations with the fortifications. Oranges, reds, whites, yellows, and occasionally some blacks. Of course, there's some outliers of peaches and blue-tints. With Fairburns, it seems the color variations in the fortifications are throughout the whole spectrum! I quickly Googled Teepee Canyon Agates just now and ran across the following thread. There are some amazing Teepee examples along with Hills Agates (aka Fairburns for most). Sabre52, beefjello, and parfive contributed a bunch of examples in that thread. miket - Have you seen this thread? forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/thread/35957/agtjasp-project-north-south-dakota |
|
|
|
Post by miket on Jun 1, 2021 9:31:25 GMT -5
Thanks for the link, jasoninsd. No, I hadn't seen that yet... |
|
Brian
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2020
Posts: 1,512
|
Post by Brian on Jun 1, 2021 12:24:51 GMT -5
I know it may be a bit blasphemous, but I think I am starting to like the Teepees more than the Fairburns. There is just something about the colors and patterns in the Teepees that I find alluring. Not that there can’t be room to love both, but if I had to pick, it would be a hard decision. LOL - I totally understand. However, for me there's a few things that will likely always put Fairburns above Teepees. The elusiveness/rarity of Fairburns or the difficulty in finding them. Teepee Canyon Agates are located (with the exception of a few outlying "escapees") in one specific location. If you go there, work hard, you're going to find some Teepee Canyon Agates. Granted, not all of them are like the BIG nodule I found...but you will find some. With Fairburn Agates, it's more of a "needle in a haystack" kind of adventure. There's never a guarantee on finding Fairburns...so when you do, the feeling has to be similar to the feeling of being stranded on a desert island for a year and a yacht just happens to dock in one of the lagoons around the island. (Maybe a little overly dramatic there...but you get the point. LOL) With Teepee Canyon Agates, there's only a few color variations with the fortifications. Oranges, reds, whites, yellows, and occasionally some blacks. Of course, there's some outliers of peaches and blue-tints. With Fairburns, it seems the color variations in the fortifications are throughout the whole spectrum! I quickly Googled Teepee Canyon Agates just now and ran across the following thread. There are some amazing Teepee examples along with Hills Agates (aka Fairburns for most). Sabre52, beefjello, and parfive contributed a bunch of examples in that thread. miket - Have you seen this thread? forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/thread/35957/agtjasp-project-north-south-dakotaSo what you’re saying is finding a Fairburn is like winning the lottery and collecting Teepees is like always walking around with a wallet full of $100 bills? 😉 |
|
|
|
Post by fernwood on Jun 1, 2021 12:30:56 GMT -5
Maybe this has been discussed before, but I have a question.
I love seeing all the Tee Pees. Many of them look just like Lake Superior Agates.
Are there any major differences, other than location?
Thanks.
|
|
|
|
Post by jasoninsd on Jun 1, 2021 13:07:37 GMT -5
Maybe this has been discussed before, but I have a question. I love seeing all the Tee Pees. Many of them look just like Lake Superior Agates. Are there any major differences, other than location? Thanks. Beth, that's a great question. I don't have the knowledge or experience to answer that...hopefully someone with a LOT more knowledge/experience than me will be able to chime in on that one. I know Mel did a thread awhile back discussing Teepee Canyon Agates, Dryhead Agates, and Fairburns...but there was no mention of Lake Superior Agates that I recall. |
|
|
|
Post by jasoninsd on Jun 2, 2021 18:57:57 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by miket on Jun 2, 2021 20:07:59 GMT -5
That's too bad about the fractures, but they're still beautiful!
I'm sure you'll get some great cabs.
Thanks for sharing!!!
😁
|
|
|
|
Post by hummingbirdstones on Jun 2, 2021 20:19:46 GMT -5
Jason, I would try Paul's stabilization technique on those. They are too beautiful not to try.
|
|
|
|
Post by jasoninsd on Jun 2, 2021 20:27:30 GMT -5
That's too bad about the fractures, but they're still beautiful! I'm sure you'll get some great cabs. Thanks for sharing!!! 😁 Thanks Mike.  Thankfully I've got a little more of this material to work with other than these slabs. LOL Jason, I would try Paul's stabilization technique on those. They are too beautiful not to try. Thanks Robin! That's exactly what I was thinking. I've got some other material that I believe would benefit from stabilization as well...so this will get set aside until I can figure all that out.  |
|
|
|
Post by amygdule on Jun 2, 2021 21:04:43 GMT -5
WOW !!! Now that's a Rock to be proud of. Way to go jasoninsd Thank you for taking the time to take photos and share them with us  |
|
|
|
Post by jasoninsd on Jun 2, 2021 21:21:14 GMT -5
WOW !!! Now that's a Rock to be proud of. Way to go jasoninsd Thank you for taking the time to take photos and share them with us Thanks 'dule! It's definitely not a beautiful beach picture...but yes, I'm so very grateful for finding this one. I'm on the fence about going down there again tomorrow. This morning I slabbed all the rest of the rough I'd collected....so I want (read that as need) to replenish the "stock pile". It's supposed to be into the 90s coming up for awhile, so I'm thinking tomorrow might be one of the less "sweaty" days! LOL |
|
|
|
Post by stephan on Jun 2, 2021 23:34:16 GMT -5
Definitely some cool patterns. Have a good hunt if you go tomorrow
|
|
... to the New Guys from The ChatBox V.2 Crew