iamchris
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2023
Posts: 671
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Post by iamchris on Jul 24, 2023 10:23:59 GMT -5
Hello All! I went looking for agates in the only place I've been able to find listed as a chance for finding them - the Lower Falls area near Seth Green Road in downtown Rochester. It wasn't in the best part of town. Came across a couple abandoned tents in the woods where some homeless people had been living. Lots of litter on the way down to the river. I did manage to take these pictures though: I came across some unusual specimens. I'm not sure if I'm using the right terminology, but the white spots here show some opalescence, which is atypical of anything I've found in the area. Normally it's just marble or granite or quartzite that are the more unique ones. And of course some fossils which was neat. Any chance I could ask for some help in identifying these? The large picture in what appears to be aggregate might be helpful for identifying the substrate it's in, which is why I included that. Also, no offense taken to anyone who can correct me using the wrong terminology at any point! I'm looking to learn here; always open to feedback/corrections. Thank you! Chris...
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iamchris
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2023
Posts: 671
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Post by iamchris on Jul 24, 2023 10:28:34 GMT -5
Let me know if a video while wetted would be more helpful and I can supply one!
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iamchris
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2023
Posts: 671
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Post by iamchris on Jul 24, 2023 13:38:47 GMT -5
Also don't be afraid to say "hey dummy, those are just plain garbage rocks and there's nothing special about them." 😆
I am fully aware it's possible I'm asking a very silly question. Confirmation still helps me learn! I promise you won't hurt my feelings.
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chris1956
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2022
Posts: 1,237
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Post by chris1956 on Jul 24, 2023 15:09:54 GMT -5
I don't know what the rocks are, but the falls are amazing.
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Post by liveoak on Jul 25, 2023 18:12:18 GMT -5
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Post by liveoak on Jul 25, 2023 19:57:06 GMT -5
My husband reminded me at dinner, that the last time we were hounding (sharks teeth) below a waterfall dam, they opened the flow & we had to high tail it out of there- so be careful !
Patty
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docharber
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Member since October 2008
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Post by docharber on Jul 25, 2023 22:48:45 GMT -5
Patty, I live in the Florida panhandle and I suspect you're talking about Andalusia, AL? I've heard of incidents where folks were caught off guard when they opened the gates on the dam. the dam is fairly low, and is right next to the hunting area in the river (it's normally no more than 2-3 feet deep, and crystal clear with a white sand bottom). Our club has been there a few times and plans a trip when it cools down some in october and the water is lower.
I wanted to pass along to everyone that there is an individual who has a P.O. Box in Fort White, FL where my daughter lives with her husband, who has produced a series of fossiling videos for youTube. He goes by the moniker "Paleochris". He has done one on Kentucky geode hunting, too, in a location that looked very familiar to me as the site where fiends took us in southeast Kentucky several years ago. I couldn't find the place again, I'm sure. Check out his videos and website.
Oh, iamchris, our oldest daughter lives in central Maine, not far from Waterville, which has a wiid river running through it with low falls in places. I understand there is some great stuff to be found in southwest Maine. I plan to check it out nest trip up. I see lots of references to the upstate New York area as well. I bet you could find some great stuff up there! Don't know much about the fossiling there, though.
Mark H.
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iamchris
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2023
Posts: 671
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Post by iamchris on Jul 26, 2023 5:36:50 GMT -5
They did have a sign on the way down that warned about what to do if you heard the siren!
I'm no expert, but based on how plants were growing on the shallow island in the middle of the river slightly upstream, it's been a long time since they've done that.
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Post by liveoak on Jul 26, 2023 5:56:07 GMT -5
Yup, they had signs in AL as well. And yeah, we did hear some kind of horn (pretty low volume) and honestly didn't think too much about it. We then found the angle deep water we walked in though was knee deep and rising. I'm sure all dams work differently - but as I said just be aware. Glad to hear of someone else in the area Mark docharber. The only club I can guess you belong to is Dothan ? Mostly because it's the only one I know of. Patty
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docharber
has rocks in the head
Member since October 2008
Posts: 693
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Post by docharber on Jul 26, 2023 16:14:49 GMT -5
No, actually I belong to the Fort Walton Beach club (Playground Gem and Mineral Society) which was organized over 50 years ago. We have a nice little facility we rent from the city, where we have a meeting/classroom, restroom, storage area, and a workshop with all the equipment you could want to work with. We hold classes in wire wrapping, cabbing, faceting, precious metal clay, intarsia, and wire wrapping either there or in members' homes, udually free to club members except for supplies, of course. A couple of our members teach at William Holland School for Lapidary Arts on the North Carolina / georgia border. It's a wonderful place and I encourage everyone to check out their website. They run 1 week classes with lodging and meals for about $500. I have been to the Dothan show a few years ago and a couple of times caught the SFMS show in Live Oak (are you a local there?). I have also been to the pre-Michael show the Panama City Club used to do. I think that storm hit them a death blow as I haven't heard anything about them for a while. Mobile usually has a great show, too, as doe Pascagoula. Those are pretty much it for our area, within a reasonable driving distance. So, where are you from? There are active clubs in Penscola, Gainesville, probably Tallahassee, and I'm pretty sure in Jacksonville. Check out the Southeast Federation of Mineralogical Societies online and they can confirm for you. Our club and if there is one, Tallahassee aren't on the website and I think we may not be a member club with them. You can also check out the American Federation of Mineralogical Societies website.
Mark H.
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iamchris
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2023
Posts: 671
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Post by iamchris on Jul 26, 2023 16:32:23 GMT -5
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Post by liveoak on Jul 26, 2023 17:36:15 GMT -5
No, actually I belong to the Fort Walton Beach club (Playground Gem and Mineral Society) which was organized over 50 years ago. We have a nice little facility we rent from the city, where we have a meeting/classroom, restroom, storage area, and a workshop with all the equipment you could want to work with. We hold classes in wire wrapping, cabbing, faceting, precious metal clay, intarsia, and wire wrapping either there or in members' homes, udually free to club members except for supplies, of course. A couple of our members teach at William Holland School for Lapidary Arts on the North Carolina / georgia border. It's a wonderful place and I encourage everyone to check out their website. They run 1 week classes with lodging and meals for about $500. I have been to the Dothan show a few years ago and a couple of times caught the SFMS show in Live Oak (are you a local there?). I have also been to the pre-Michael show the Panama City Club used to do. I think that storm hit them a death blow as I haven't heard anything about them for a while. Mobile usually has a great show, too, as doe Pascagoula. Those are pretty much it for our area, within a reasonable driving distance. So, where are you from? There are active clubs in Penscola, Gainesville, probably Tallahassee, and I'm pretty sure in Jacksonville. Check out the Southeast Federation of Mineralogical Societies online and they can confirm for you. Our club and if there is one, Tallahassee aren't on the website and I think we may not be a member club with them. You can also check out the American Federation of Mineralogical Societies website. Mark H. Wow Mark I had no idea there was a club in Fort Walton.
I actually live south of Chipley, half way between there and PC.
I have never belonged to a club - as none in my immediate area.
So not really practical, as I always seem to be hours from anywhere.
I guess that's why I like RTH, it's my local club .
Patty
PS- Sorry iamchris I can't ID your rocks - didn't mean to hijack your attempt.
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iamchris
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2023
Posts: 671
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Post by iamchris on Jul 27, 2023 7:07:49 GMT -5
No worries at all! I enjoyed the journey. I tossed the rocks in with some coarse; we will get some more clues next week
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docharber
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Member since October 2008
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Post by docharber on Jul 27, 2023 16:02:53 GMT -5
Yep, I know where Chipley is, right next to the boundaries of the known universe. One of our members lives in DeFuniak Springs and has the next-to-longest drive to our meetings of anyone. Some good friends and rock/mineral/stuff dealers live in Youngstown, north of Panama City. Our club is making its annual Silver Pick to see them August 19th. If you want, I'll message you with their name and contact information. Tell her Mark Harber sent you and ask if you can attend the silver pick in August for the Fort Walton Beach club, or make a trip to see them yourself. They're easy to find, just a little off US 231, a little south of the intersection with hwy 20. When you drive a little on the dirt road and hear strains from the theme of "deliverance" you're almost there. Maybe we will see you there. A lot of our club members will be there- usually on a Saturday morning. The dealer and her husband are wonderful people and they have all kinds of stuff- specimens to finished (and some fine) jewelry.
iamchris, I add my apologies for hijacking your thread. Is that a cave mouth i see in the picture you posted? the banks look like they might be a little unstable Still, there might be some interesting fossils in there.
Mark H.
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Post by liveoak on Jul 28, 2023 6:36:09 GMT -5
Yep, I know where Chipley is, right next to the boundaries of the known universe. One of our members lives in DeFuniak Springs and has the next-to-longest drive to our meetings of anyone. Some good friends and rock/mineral/stuff dealers live in Youngstown, north of Panama City. Our club is making its annual Silver Pick to see them August 19th. If you want, I'll message you with their name and contact information. Tell her Mark Harber sent you and ask if you can attend the silver pick in August for the Fort Walton Beach club, or make a trip to see them yourself. They're easy to find, just a little off US 231, a little south of the intersection with hwy 20. When you drive a little on the dirt road and hear strains from the theme of "deliverance" you're almost there. Maybe we will see you there. A lot of our club members will be there- usually on a Saturday morning. The dealer and her husband are wonderful people and they have all kinds of stuff- specimens to finished (and some fine) jewelry. Mark H. I looked up your FW club & saw that you guys have a nice work space, and looks like a good group of people. Too far to drive for sure, on any regular basis. You're lucky to have it !
I'd love the info on the "Silver Pick" - not sure if I'll pull off Aug 19th (although I'll try) but would love to look up the dealer there, I had no idea about them. Thanks for thinking of me.
Patty
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iamchris
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2023
Posts: 671
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Post by iamchris on Aug 1, 2023 8:51:49 GMT -5
Update: they ground down to boring plain black rocks. Looks like I'm a dummy after all! I won't waste my time trying to ID these, but will remember the tests before the next time I post.
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Post by liveoak on Aug 1, 2023 11:19:23 GMT -5
No dummy at all - live & learn. Maybe they were just specimen rocks to enjoy, not tumbling rocks
One time,on a river trip, I was so excited to find rocks (none where I live) that I carried 2- 5 gallon buckets out through the woods up hill, in the heat, and the bugs & through the poison ivy, only to find out it was Tallahatta SANDSTONE, which just crumbled in my rock saw. Want some ?? Maybe I learned ( probably not!)
Patty
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khara
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Member since September 2022
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Post by khara on Aug 1, 2023 13:51:36 GMT -5
That upper right hand rock is really cool. Hope you left it just as a little specimen...
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iamchris
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2023
Posts: 671
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Post by iamchris on Aug 3, 2023 12:23:14 GMT -5
That upper right hand rock is really cool. Hope you left it just as a little specimen... Sure did! There was another similar one in the batch. This is how the material came out after 60/90 for a week. Not going to take it any further than this.
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khara
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Member since September 2022
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Post by khara on Aug 3, 2023 15:34:02 GMT -5
Well I think your best find were the cute little baby shell fossils, or impressions, not sure if they’re considered fossils. Your tumbles, they looked like they might’ve had something interesting going on in there but just too muddy, not great quality. Still sounds like a nice outing. Being out is at least half the fun anyway. 👍
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