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Post by holajonathan on Feb 12, 2022 21:31:02 GMT -5
Calandria agates are from Mexico -- the world champion in banded nodular agates. They have less intense colors than Agua Nueva, Coyamito, or Laguna agates, but the banding can be just as good. They are not a super common material, but they are actively being mined, and cost a lot less than their more colorful and more showy nodular-agate compatriots. Calandria agates are similar to Casa Grande agates -- an old-timey material -- but tend to have a little more color. Parcelas Agates from Mexico are also similar. Calandria agates usually have white dots sprinkled between some of the bands. This is the hallmark of a Calandria agate. Most Calandria agates are fractured since they weather out of matrix. I got lucky and cut this one today with few to no fractures and some decent colors. The rough has another 6-8 slabs in it, but I took 6 slabs and called it a day. ----------- Taking a ride in the 12" slab saw -- a good size saw for agates this size.  Six cuts, including the end cut.  The end cut. You can see some of the characteristic white dots in this photo.  Good parallax banding which you can sort of see here.  The purple got better about an inch into the rock.  I normally don't love quartz in my agates, but it actually looks good here.  There they all are in crummy kitchen lighting.  This was a fun one to cut. I hope you enjoy taking a look. |
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Feb 12, 2022 21:58:36 GMT -5
That is a really pretty agate. I generally don't like all white agates because they tend to be so plain. This one is an exception because of all the banding and different color whites.
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Post by holajonathan on Feb 12, 2022 22:02:24 GMT -5
That is a really pretty agate. I generally don't like all white agates because they tend to be so plain. This one is an exception because of all the banding and different color whites. I like how the bands have an angle to them, if that makes sense. That's what gives it parallax banding. It also creates the impression that you are looking down into the material, depending on which side you are looking at. It's not the most amazing specimen of it's kind, but it's the first one I've cut that was't badly fractured, which was enough to make my day. |
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Post by jasoninsd on Feb 13, 2022 1:42:35 GMT -5
This really is a gorgeous specimen Jonathan! I really appreciate the information you gave about it as well!
That slab in the third single pic is my favorite out of the cuts. I've had some Bots and some other Mexican Lace where the banding "angled" like that. It really does allow for some amazing cabs!
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Post by fernwood on Feb 13, 2022 2:50:00 GMT -5
Very beautiful, but I love white agates.
Thanks for the background info on this type.
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Post by holajonathan on Feb 13, 2022 2:52:22 GMT -5
This really is a gorgeous specimen Jonathan! I really appreciate the information you gave about it as well! That slab in the third single pic is my favorite out of the cuts. I've had some Bots and some other Mexican Lace where the banding "angled" like that. It really does allow for some amazing cabs! Can you post a photo or direct me to the thread where you posted photos? I am trying to think about how the dome would look depending on which side I domed. In other words, the dome will end up being sort or parallel with the angled bands, or perpendicular to them, if that makes sense. I am having a hard time visualizing which would be better. Thank you! |
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Post by fernwood on Feb 13, 2022 3:01:57 GMT -5
Is this what you were looking for? It is more white than in the photo. The parallax banding causes some of the background color to appear.  |
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Post by jasoninsd on Feb 13, 2022 3:08:20 GMT -5
This really is a gorgeous specimen Jonathan! I really appreciate the information you gave about it as well! That slab in the third single pic is my favorite out of the cuts. I've had some Bots and some other Mexican Lace where the banding "angled" like that. It really does allow for some amazing cabs! Can you post a photo or direct me to the thread where you posted photos? I am trying to think about how the dome would look depending on which side I domed. In other words, the dome will end up being sort or parallel with the angled bands, or perpendicular to them, if that makes sense. I am having a hard time visualizing which would be better. Thank you! I'll see what I can find tomorrow.  |
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Post by rockjunquie on Feb 13, 2022 7:17:11 GMT -5
It's beautiful! I simply can't believe you got so many (relatively) big, fracture free slabs. Score!
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Sabre52
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Post by Sabre52 on Feb 13, 2022 12:15:28 GMT -5
Very,very nice cuts! Remind me of some of the AZ agates from the Gila Bend region. With fine banding like that who cares if the colors are pastels.
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Post by holajonathan on Feb 13, 2022 14:20:28 GMT -5
Sabre52 I found a photo of this agate from Fourth of July Butte -- which is the area you mention:  And on the east side of AZ, near the NM border, I found Mulligan Peak agates and Engine Mountain agates -- some of which look similar, also:   So many similar agates can be found both north and south of the Mexico border.
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Post by holajonathan on Feb 14, 2022 0:07:12 GMT -5
Here is a more typical (and smaller) Calandria agate that I just cut. Lots of fractures. Almost all are well-healed, strangely enough, except for those in the outer most layer of agate.   Still pretty, but the fractures take a lot away from the appearance. |
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Post by jasoninsd on Feb 14, 2022 0:37:32 GMT -5
This really is a gorgeous specimen Jonathan! I really appreciate the information you gave about it as well! That slab in the third single pic is my favorite out of the cuts. I've had some Bots and some other Mexican Lace where the banding "angled" like that. It really does allow for some amazing cabs! Can you post a photo or direct me to the thread where you posted photos? I am trying to think about how the dome would look depending on which side I domed. In other words, the dome will end up being sort or parallel with the angled bands, or perpendicular to them, if that makes sense. I am having a hard time visualizing which would be better. Thank you! Here's a link to one of my threads of Botswanas. I don't know if this is going to answer your query or not... forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/thread/97419/botswana-agates-bountifulHere is a more typical (and smaller) Calandria agate that I just cut. Lots of fractures. Almost all are well-healed, strangely enough, except for those in the outer most layer of agate. Still pretty, but the fractures take a lot away from the appearance. Definitely not a much of a "specimen" type slab as the first one you posted. However, it looks like there's room between the fractures for a couple nice cabs... |
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Post by holajonathan on Feb 14, 2022 1:04:18 GMT -5
jasoninsdI remember those now. They are puuuurdy. Thanks!
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