Tommy
Administrator 
Member since January 2013
Posts: 13,004
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Post by Tommy on Aug 3, 2021 12:12:29 GMT -5
Welcome to the August 2021, RTH Cabochon Challenge contest! Everyone is welcome and encouraged to enter the contest regardless of experience or skill level. This contest continues to be just about having fun and challenging ourselves to step outside our comfort zones and learn and grow, while dazzling with our beautiful rock creations. Each month's contest is contained in a single challenge thread and has a theme that serves as the primary criteria for voting. The voting period will consistently occur for seven full days around the start of the following month and the winner will have the opportunity to choose the theme for the contest occurring two months after the contest they won (ie: August winner chooses October theme). During the voting period, all contest submission posts and responses will be hidden from view in order to help insure a level playing field. All original content will be replaced in the thread at the close of voting.
August 2021 RTH Cabochon Skills ContestContest Theme:As chosen by our June contest winner miket Fortified and Banded AgateContestants are asked to follow the entry requirements and create a cabochon made material that is identifiable as agate with fortifications and or banded agate.
Links to all of the original front and side submission photos can be found below the photo collage. All of the original contest submission posts and responses have been removed from view during the voting period in order to remove as much of the popularity contest aspect from the voting as possible. All original content will be replaced in this thread at the close of voting. We sincerely appreciate all the feedback comments we get and want to continue to improve the contest as we go so keep 'em coming!  Photo Links: Cabochon 1 - frontCabochon 1 - sideCabochon 2 - frontCabochon 2 - frontCabochon 3 - frontCabochon 3 - sideCabochon 4 - frontCabochon 4 - sideCabochon 5 - frontCabochon 5 - sideCabochon 6 - frontCabochon 6 - sideCabochon 7 - frontCabochon 7 - sideCabochon 8 - frontCabochon 8 - sideCabochon 9 - frontCabochon 9 - sideCabochon 10 - frontCabochon 10 - sideCabochon 11 - frontCabochon 11 - sideCabochon 12 - frontCabochon 12 - side
Contest Period:August 3rd thru August 31st at 11:59pm PST Voting Period:Seven days beginning around the first few days of the following month
Prize:Winner will receive a teeshirt, mug, mask, or RTH sticker pack of their choice from the RTH Store. If anyone ever wants to sponsor this or any contest with a prize box of rocks etc. please let me know. For a second straight month fernwood will present the 2nd place finisher of this contest with a $15 gift card for The Rock Shed.
Entry Requirements:Participants may enter one hand-shaped, jewelry ready rock cabochon, consisting of a visible dome on top and a flat backside. Variations on dome heights and girdle styles are permitted and ultimately it's up to the voters to decide if the contest criteria has been met. Entry cabochons must be made entirely by the member, within the contest month and feel free to let us know about the piece including how you shaped and polished it, and what challenges it presented. Please identify the material if you know what it is. Cabochon may have a hole(s) drilled but nothing attached to it. Photo Requirements:Please post between three to five photos including one bright and focused front direct photo that will eventually be cropped to 200px for the voting collage, a photo close to a 90 degree angle showing the elongated side of the cabochon so we can see the dome shape and girdle if applicable, and a photo of what you started with. For size perspective it is helpful to include a photo alongside an object such as a coin or fingers. If you don't have all of the required photos, post what you have and let us know that's all we're getting. No entry has been, or will be excluded based on photos or lack of photos, but history shows that voters do take it into account whether the photos meet the contest requirements when voting. Please no jewelry photos which include the stone after it has been set, wrapped, or had any kind of bail attached. Also, please don't post "glamour" shots that have been clearly manipulated in a photo editor, faded backgrounds, enhanced colors, filters, etc. Back lit photos are permitted in your extra photos but will not be used as your front featured photo. Voting Criteria:Please judge each entry based on the following. 1) How well was the challenge of the contest theme met? 2) How well did the stone meet the contest requirements of a flat back, domed top cabochon? 3) General appearance - keeping in mind that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and many materials are difficult to work with and an exceptional creation might not be flashy and bright. 4) Photography - is there a direct and focused front shot, and a direct and focused side shot showing girdle and dome for voting purposes? If a tie vote occurs, a new voting poll will be launched for the period of one day and will include only the stones that were tied for the lead. Community participation:As always on the forum, polite and respectful dialog and encouragement is very welcome in the form of 'likes' and comments. Advice or direction from the community is welcome only if the contestant has requested it. Members are welcome to enter work-in-progress photos but if the final photos are not added before the conclusion of the contest, the piece can't be included in the voting. Thank you to everyone who participates by entering and or commenting and encouraging others. We sincerely appreciate all the comments and feedback we get and want to continue to improve the contest as we go so keep 'em coming! |
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Post by parfive on Aug 3, 2021 13:56:14 GMT -5
This aughta be good.  |
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Post by MsAli on Aug 3, 2021 18:42:31 GMT -5
I have a maybe dumb question
Isn't Fortified just a type of banding?
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Post by MsAli on Aug 3, 2021 19:07:25 GMT -5
I have a maybe dumb question Isn't Fortified just a type of banding? It sure is. I generally think of fortification banding as having a bunch of turns, corners, that really busy look. Thank you, that is how I always thought of it as well. |
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Tommy
Administrator
Member since January 2013
Posts: 13,004
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Post by Tommy on Aug 4, 2021 18:04:15 GMT -5
I have a maybe dumb question Isn't Fortified just a type of banding? Yes in that context but I think initially miket was really asking for specific fortification agate which in my limited understanding the features are Liesegang rings as found in certain types of agates (Fairburns, Laguna nodules, etc.) In the interest of a slightly more expansive contest theme I encouraged the inclusion of banded agate which to me means something different. It might be splitting hairs but in my mind it's the difference between a Laguna agate nodule and a lace agate.   I have a hunk of lace agate that I would absolutely not consider a fortification agate because there is no hint of "rings" to be seen. |
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Post by MsAli on Aug 4, 2021 21:04:04 GMT -5
Thank you Tommy
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Post by stephan on Aug 6, 2021 9:33:58 GMT -5
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Post by miket on Aug 6, 2021 9:40:54 GMT -5
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Post by jasoninsd on Aug 6, 2021 10:47:13 GMT -5
I'm pretty sure you weren't tagging me for any definitive answers...but merely to bring up other questions! LOL I was thinking about this very question the other day while cutting Botswana Agate preforms... Awhile back, I was trying to find a legitimate definition for "fortification banding" when trying to describe the difference between Prairie Agates and Fairburn Agates to someone. I couldn't find an actual definition. So, I'll give my thoughts through analogy. Let's say we have a castle. Around that castle are concentric walls (fortifications). Each one is a separate formation than the castle itself and a separate formation from each wall themselves. To me this describes fortification banding. Now let's say you have a two-dimensional castle painted on the ground. Around it are paint marks on the ground where in the above example the walls are located. This to me describes banding in things like Prairie Agates, or Lace Agates like Tommy posted. Examples in my mind: Fortification Containing: Fairburn Agates Teepee Canyon Agates Laguna Lace Agates Crazy Lace Agates (There are more obviously...) Material with banding which to me ISN'T fortification banding: Botswana Agates Lake Superior Agates Prairie Agates Lace Agates (Again, more examples are out there...) To be clear, I think these contests are strictly for fun, so I don't care what is included or not... especially since it wasn't my theme to choose. LOL What I do hope is that this discussion brings about some kind of definitive definition for what really constitutes fortification banding, because I've been curious... |
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Post by stephan on Aug 6, 2021 11:25:30 GMT -5
I'm pretty sure you weren't tagging me for any definitive answers...but merely to bring up other questions! LOL I was thinking about this very question the other day while cutting Botswana Agate preforms... Awhile back, I was trying to find a legitimate definition for "fortification banding" when trying to describe the difference between Prairie Agates and Fairburn Agates to someone. I couldn't find an actual definition. So, I'll give my thoughts through analogy. Let's say we have a castle. Around that castle are concentric walls (fortifications). Each one is a separate formation than the castle itself and a separate formation from each wall themselves. To me this describes fortification banding. Now let's say you have a two-dimensional castle painted on the ground. Around it are paint marks on the ground where in the above example the walls are located. This to me describes banding in things like Prairie Agates, or Lace Agates like Tommy posted. Examples in my mind: Fortification Containing: Fairburn Agates Teepee Canyon Agates Laguna Lace Agates Crazy Lace Agates (There are more obviously...) Material with banding which to me ISN'T fortification banding: Botswana Agates Lake Superior Agates Prairie Agates Lace Agates (Again, more examples are out there...) To be clear, I think these contests are strictly for fun, so I don't care what is included or not... especially since it wasn't my theme to choose. LOL What I do hope is that this discussion brings about some kind of definitive definition for what really constitutes fortification banding, because I've been curious... Awesome help with clarifying the sort-of-definition for fortifications. My main objective, though was to maximize the chances of you and Mike both entering. |
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Brian
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2020
Posts: 1,512
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Post by Brian on Aug 6, 2021 12:04:04 GMT -5
I'm pretty sure you weren't tagging me for any definitive answers...but merely to bring up other questions! LOL I was thinking about this very question the other day while cutting Botswana Agate preforms... Awhile back, I was trying to find a legitimate definition for "fortification banding" when trying to describe the difference between Prairie Agates and Fairburn Agates to someone. I couldn't find an actual definition. So, I'll give my thoughts through analogy. Let's say we have a castle. Around that castle are concentric walls (fortifications). Each one is a separate formation than the castle itself and a separate formation from each wall themselves. To me this describes fortification banding. Now let's say you have a two-dimensional castle painted on the ground. Around it are paint marks on the ground where in the above example the walls are located. This to me describes banding in things like Prairie Agates, or Lace Agates like Tommy posted. Examples in my mind: Fortification Containing: Fairburn Agates Teepee Canyon Agates Laguna Lace Agates Crazy Lace Agates (There are more obviously...) Material with banding which to me ISN'T fortification banding: Botswana Agates Lake Superior Agates Prairie Agates Lace Agates (Again, more examples are out there...) To be clear, I think these contests are strictly for fun, so I don't care what is included or not... especially since it wasn't my theme to choose. LOL What I do hope is that this discussion brings about some kind of definitive definition for what really constitutes fortification banding, because I've been curious... So to add another dimension (pun fully intended) to this discussion, what you’re saying is a fortification completely surrounds like a gobstopper, but a non-fortification is layering on top of something, but not completely encompassing, like a cake? Fortifications =  Non-fortifications =  |
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jasperfanatic
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2019
Posts: 463
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Post by jasperfanatic on Aug 6, 2021 13:41:46 GMT -5
So to add another dimension (pun fully intended) to this discussion, what you’re saying is a fortification completely surrounds like a gobstopper, but a non-fortification is layering on top of something, but not completely encompassing, like a cake? You captured the pattern in that cake deliciously! Well done! |
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gemfeller
Cave Dweller 
Member since June 2011
Posts: 4,068 
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Post by gemfeller on Aug 6, 2021 14:26:44 GMT -5
They are said to be named "fortification" agates because their banding resembled the aerial outlines of old forts. Tommy's examples are spot-on for that definition. I think that over time the definition has been stretched in common use to include most banded agate nodules with or without the intricate outlines of forts.
For fun I went to the old (1951) edition of the "Dictionary of Gems & Gemology," written by Robert M. Shipley who founded the Gemological Institute of America. His definition for Fortification Agate is:
"Agate with parallel zigzag lines which are heavier than in Topographic Agate." I've been around a while but have never heard of Topographic Agate, for which Shipley's definition is: "Agate with fine markings like the lines of a topographic map."
So there! Hope I've added a bit to the general confusion.
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Post by jasoninsd on Aug 6, 2021 16:48:29 GMT -5
I'm pretty sure you weren't tagging me for any definitive answers...but merely to bring up other questions! LOL I was thinking about this very question the other day while cutting Botswana Agate preforms... Awhile back, I was trying to find a legitimate definition for "fortification banding" when trying to describe the difference between Prairie Agates and Fairburn Agates to someone. I couldn't find an actual definition. So, I'll give my thoughts through analogy. Let's say we have a castle. Around that castle are concentric walls (fortifications). Each one is a separate formation than the castle itself and a separate formation from each wall themselves. To me this describes fortification banding. Now let's say you have a two-dimensional castle painted on the ground. Around it are paint marks on the ground where in the above example the walls are located. This to me describes banding in things like Prairie Agates, or Lace Agates like Tommy posted. Examples in my mind: Fortification Containing: Fairburn Agates Teepee Canyon Agates Laguna Lace Agates Crazy Lace Agates (There are more obviously...) Material with banding which to me ISN'T fortification banding: Botswana Agates Lake Superior Agates Prairie Agates Lace Agates (Again, more examples are out there...) To be clear, I think these contests are strictly for fun, so I don't care what is included or not... especially since it wasn't my theme to choose. LOL What I do hope is that this discussion brings about some kind of definitive definition for what really constitutes fortification banding, because I've been curious... So to add another dimension (pun fully intended) to this discussion, what you’re saying is a fortification completely surrounds like a gobstopper, but a non-fortification is layering on top of something, but not completely encompassing, like a cake? Fortifications = Non-fortifications = Brian, the Gobstopper is a great example of what I would consider to be a Fortification Agate! The cake I believe would be an example of a Lace Agate in particular... They are said to be named "fortification" agates because their banding resembled the aerial outlines of old forts. Tommy's examples are spot-on for that definition. I think that over time the definition has been stretched in common use to include most banded agate nodules with or without the intricate outlines of forts. For fun I went to the old (1951) edition of the "Dictionary of Gems & Gemology," written by Robert M. Shipley who founded the Gemological Institute of America. His definition for Fortification Agate is: "Agate with parallel zigzag lines which are heavier than in Topographic Agate." I've been around a while but have never heard of Topographic Agate, for which Shipley's definition is: "Agate with fine markings like the lines of a topographic map." So there! Hope I've added a bit to the general confusion. Okay, not to toot my own horn...but Toot Toot! His "definition" is basically what I was trying to say with my castle analogy.  Now, that being said, I feel that what he has said describes the two agates, but doesn't define them...but maybe it's just not clicking in my head. I totally "get" the difference, and I am fairly confident I know what a Fortification Agate is and what's not, but I guess I was looking for something a little more "scientific"...  |
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Post by stephan on Aug 6, 2021 18:13:13 GMT -5
So to add another dimension (pun fully intended) to this discussion, what you’re saying is a fortification completely surrounds like a gobstopper, but a non-fortification is layering on top of something, but not completely encompassing, like a cake? Fortifications = Non-fortifications = Brian, the Gobstopper is a great example of what I would consider to be a Fortification Agate! The cake I believe would be an example of a Lace Agate in particular... They are said to be named "fortification" agates because their banding resembled the aerial outlines of old forts. Tommy's examples are spot-on for that definition. I think that over time the definition has been stretched in common use to include most banded agate nodules with or without the intricate outlines of forts. For fun I went to the old (1951) edition of the "Dictionary of Gems & Gemology," written by Robert M. Shipley who founded the Gemological Institute of America. His definition for Fortification Agate is: "Agate with parallel zigzag lines which are heavier than in Topographic Agate." I've been around a while but have never heard of Topographic Agate, for which Shipley's definition is: "Agate with fine markings like the lines of a topographic map." So there! Hope I've added a bit to the general confusion. Okay, not to toot my own horn...but Toot Toot! His "definition" is basically what I was trying to say with my castle analogy. Now, that being said, I feel that what he has said describes the two agates, but doesn't define them...but maybe it's just not clicking in my head. I totally "get" the difference, and I am fairly confident I know what a Fortification Agate is and what's not, but I guess I was looking for something a little more "scientific"... ∇(∇⋅A)−∇2A ∇×∇×E=0−∇2(E) ∇×−dBdt=−d(∇×B)dt =−μ0ν0d2(E)dt2 ∇2E=μ0ν0d2(E)dt2 |
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Post by jasoninsd on Aug 6, 2021 18:42:25 GMT -5
Brian, the Gobstopper is a great example of what I would consider to be a Fortification Agate! The cake I believe would be an example of a Lace Agate in particular... Okay, not to toot my own horn...but Toot Toot! His "definition" is basically what I was trying to say with my castle analogy. Now, that being said, I feel that what he has said describes the two agates, but doesn't define them...but maybe it's just not clicking in my head. I totally "get" the difference, and I am fairly confident I know what a Fortification Agate is and what's not, but I guess I was looking for something a little more "scientific"... ∇(∇⋅A)−∇2A ∇×∇×E=0−∇2(E) ∇×−dBdt=−d(∇×B)dt =−μ0ν0d2(E)dt2 ∇2E=μ0ν0d2(E)dt2 Well that totally clears it up!  |
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Post by stephan on Aug 6, 2021 23:47:53 GMT -5
∇(∇⋅A)−∇2A ∇×∇×E=0−∇2(E) ∇×−dBdt=−d(∇×B)dt =−μ0ν0d2(E)dt2 ∇2E=μ0ν0d2(E)dt2 Well that totally clears it up!  Anytime |
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Post by stephan on Aug 6, 2021 23:49:56 GMT -5
I'm pretty sure you weren't tagging me for any definitive answers...but merely to bring up other questions! LOL I was thinking about this very question the other day while cutting Botswana Agate preforms... Awhile back, I was trying to find a legitimate definition for "fortification banding" when trying to describe the difference between Prairie Agates and Fairburn Agates to someone. I couldn't find an actual definition. So, I'll give my thoughts through analogy. Let's say we have a castle. Around that castle are concentric walls (fortifications). Each one is a separate formation than the castle itself and a separate formation from each wall themselves. To me this describes fortification banding. Now let's say you have a two-dimensional castle painted on the ground. Around it are paint marks on the ground where in the above example the walls are located. This to me describes banding in things like Prairie Agates, or Lace Agates like Tommy posted. Examples in my mind: Fortification Containing: Fairburn Agates Teepee Canyon Agates Laguna Lace Agates Crazy Lace Agates (There are more obviously...) Material with banding which to me ISN'T fortification banding: Botswana Agates Lake Superior Agates Prairie Agates Lace Agates (Again, more examples are out there...) To be clear, I think these contests are strictly for fun, so I don't care what is included or not... especially since it wasn't my theme to choose. LOL What I do hope is that this discussion brings about some kind of definitive definition for what really constitutes fortification banding, because I've been curious... So to add another dimension (pun fully intended) to this discussion, what you’re saying is a fortification completely surrounds like a gobstopper, but a non-fortification is layering on top of something, but not completely encompassing, like a cake? Fortifications = Non-fortifications = I think the center of that gobstopper may undercut. |
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Post by fernwood on Aug 16, 2021 4:04:34 GMT -5
That's a beauty.
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brotherbill
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2018
Posts: 388
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Post by brotherbill on Aug 17, 2021 13:35:06 GMT -5
Not sure of the material??? My best guess is something from eastern Africa. Possibly rose Botswana or Swali, or maybe even Malawi.    |
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