jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Jul 5, 2022 10:36:22 GMT -5
Better be a fast runner Randy !! Reminds me of when I was a kid on the ranch... we derived a lot of juvenile satisfaction from planting m-80's in fresh cow turds. Fresh cow turd splattered on the walls of the bunkhouse made for a lot of amusement. Well that was a common pastime in my neighborhood too Randy. Except splattering it on the poor fellows bunkhouse ! Cutting the fuses short for dares was always funny when the slow guy lit the fuse. I don't know who would have done such a thing but I heard you can put a small paper bag of dog poop on the front porch, set it on fire and ring the fellow's doorbell only to have him stomp it out. The good ole days...
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Jul 5, 2022 9:35:02 GMT -5
Better be a fast runner Randy !!
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Jul 5, 2022 9:12:24 GMT -5
Surprised a low grade poppy. Will have to pay attention to poppy agates next time ! closer in on so-so poppy orbicular: A mystery with specks of copper ?
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Jul 5, 2022 9:00:01 GMT -5
Every time you post one of these "cobbles", I'm in awe of the microcosm within each one! Definitely worthy of 4th of July material! If you ever get a chance to collect at Lake Falcon please do it. One day I timed myself on about 50 feet along one of the many staircased rocky high water shorelines. I gave myself 15 minutes to pick the best I could find. The top row is agates, the 2nd row is woods, the third row is jaspers and agates and unknowns. Most of them are pretty nice material. In 15 minutes and this was along public shoreline and not unpicked private property. About 35 pounds...:
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Jul 5, 2022 5:55:10 GMT -5
Sawed this one open on the 3rd...
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Jul 5, 2022 5:29:59 GMT -5
M-80 with a short fuse in a dino dropping...
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Jul 4, 2022 21:34:29 GMT -5
Thanks for the info jamesp! I am only going to rotary tumble for stage 1 anyway and then do the remaining steps in the super finnicky Lot-O tumbler. I will keep an eye out for any bruising of rocks in my super fast Nat Geo Pro. I am thinking of cushioning with ceramic media and running it fuller than normal perhaps? sounds great Lot-O + ceramics
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Jul 4, 2022 21:30:23 GMT -5
jamesp Hey Jim, those look great. Of course I'm just shooting from the hip on my assessment on your specimens, so take it for what it's worth.... I would say they are not coprolite because as I examine the individual structures that the saw bisected I see that they are not consistently rounded in a pelletized form. We know that as food passes through animals it tends to get tumbled through the digestive tract into rounded forms that eventually collect into a larger turd near the exit of the critter. I believe the individual parts of these stones are too angular to indicate coprolite. Thanks for the photos and question. Thanks Randy. Darn. Glad you were available to ask the question. You'd be the master. Next trip out there maybe I can find them. It would be a victory.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Jul 4, 2022 15:44:41 GMT -5
Hi Randy Can you tell me if this is coprolite ? It was found along the Rio Grande in south Texas. It had similarities to some of yours. Thanks How about this one ?
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Jul 4, 2022 14:10:29 GMT -5
malduin That speed is suggested for step 1 shaping. Better to go much slower in steps 2-3-4-5-polish. For most step 1 takes 2 to 6 times longer than the finishing steps added together. Step 1 is the slow part of rotary tumbling. For 3 to 4 inch diameter barrels higher speeds are acceptable, for large diameter barrels slow rotation is better. It is not just the surface speed that is important, but the diameter that affects the tumble. A 10 foot diameter barrel travelling at 1200 inches per minute would certainly bang rocks terribly. slurry thickness is also an important factor for cushioning at higher rolling speeds. Welcome to RTH.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Jul 4, 2022 14:02:24 GMT -5
Perfect for the 4th.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Jul 3, 2022 13:15:00 GMT -5
Wine color yellow orange mix
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Jul 3, 2022 13:09:16 GMT -5
Well preserved. Nice find.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Jul 1, 2022 6:06:52 GMT -5
I roll at that speed for only step 1, then finish with a vibe. Just fill the barrel to 80% and add slurry thickener. Better to roll slow for 500-1000-polish steps Patty. what a cool machine.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Jun 29, 2022 10:13:16 GMT -5
jamesp that conglomerate is ultra cool! I couldn't find the conglomerate photo album. The Texas Gem Trail book does specify the CJ Young ranch on the Brazos River just west of Dallas as a large source of conglomerates. Since the Brazos flows directly into the Gulf of Mexico the Rio conglomerates are coming from a different source. One of the conglomerates had equally spaced BB sized agate chips frozen in crystal clear chalcedony. The ones with the white/beige matrix were similar and highly sought after but unfortunately infrequent. Not the best Robin: this matrix color was most common:
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Jun 29, 2022 6:26:07 GMT -5
Wood or root judging from the knots. Looks like lots of alteration thru silicification has occurred. In many cases the surface of the cobble will display wood patterns but after cutting you have to wonder if it is a plant at all. As if the wood served as a carrier for color and distorted patterns. Exposed patches of limestone or caliche covering 1/4 to 1 acre often have a petrified collection of a similar wood pattern as if in situ. Nice moss bi-color. probably better cut rotated 90 degrees to show plumes better Some of the conglomerates are bright and amazing. This on on the dark side. From past trip with white matrix: Banding
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Jun 29, 2022 5:37:12 GMT -5
Ooh, cut that green and gold plume the other way. Yall chopped across the plume ends. Should show great plume cut parallel to the tips. I see exactly what you are saying. It can be tricky knowing how to saw parallel to the plumes judging from the surface as you know. I'll give that a go. Thanks
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Jun 29, 2022 5:34:12 GMT -5
Great Googalee Moogalee those "cobbles" are just stunning! I think the variety of material from the Rio makes it one of the greatest hounding areas I could imagine! Just Wowzers!!! It is a massive deposit of so many varieties Jason. The Rio drainage covers a large area known for these quartz rocks. They all washed down and covered the flat lands of south Texas. The deposit runs for at least 100 miles. I'm collecting on just a few of those miles ! You never know what will be found from minute to minute.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Jun 29, 2022 5:26:48 GMT -5
That fall colored moss is unreal James Chad the moss agates come in about every color but blue. It must be the chemistry of that area that makes such nice mosses and so many of them.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Jun 28, 2022 1:31:16 GMT -5
I would love to get back to that area again rockpickerforever Jean. I hope Bob can come out too. We each had a strong focus and interest in finding the best we could. I do have to get a feel for how the landowner feels about inviting a guest on the private lands. It might be a sensitive issue. Ha, yes the Japanese Jeep would be the choice since it seems reliable enough to get it done. It's a big deal for an easterner to collect the rocks from the west. A shame it is so far away. I have yet to contact the fellow I met that got me permission to collect on his land and his relative's lands. That was a big deal from a collecting standpoint since there was so much land that did not seem picked over. The land out there is about all Latino owned and I get the feeling they were glad to show their Latino hospitality to a visiting Georgian by allowing me on their properties. It was as if they liked Atlanta folks. I never spent time in a border town but I sure liked the people there. Actually I liked them very much and developed a big soft spot for their values and kindness.
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