dennyk
off to a rocking start
Member since September 2012
Posts: 2
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Post by dennyk on Sept 8, 2012 20:31:36 GMT -5
We dug this up in southern Utah last weekend and wondering if it is actually agate and the best way of handling it. The mass weighs in at a bit over 75 pounds and seem very solid. We are rockhounds getting into making some cabs and other things. I hesitate to break into this thing not knowing if its value is in its size or if it would be better broken up. Any idea of the possible value would also be welcome. Thank you. BTW, new to the forum but have been lurking for quite some time. Very interesting and helpful people here. Attachments:
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,466
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Post by Sabre52 on Sept 8, 2012 20:49:22 GMT -5
Looks to have translucent areas of chalcedony mixed with opaque areas so I'd say it looks to be a jasper/agate which is a broad term for agate included with opaque deposits of various, often iron oxide based, minerals. If more stringy or mossy looking, I'd call it a moss agate, but jasper /agate. or jasp/agate, shortened form, would probably suffice. Jasper/ agates are fairly common and often have soft areas that undercut, so usually do not bring high prices unless exceptionally colorful, well patterned and solid....Mel
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Don
Cave Dweller
He wants you too, Malachi.
Member since December 2009
Posts: 2,616
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Post by Don on Sept 8, 2012 20:53:05 GMT -5
That looks like Agate from the Cedar City area, usually called brian head agate, as the material seems to originate from the mountain. It is very solid material and will take a high shine. Large boulders of this material are pretty common. Value depends on how much work you want to put into it. If it has good color and pattern and is relatively fracture free, you should be able to get many cabs from it. The challenge is going to be finding someone with a saw large enough to cut it. You might want to just hang onto this one as a awesome yard rock and go hounding for some smaller, more slab saw friendly sized agates. Have you joined up with the southern utah rock club? I'm the club's webmaster. www.southernutahrockclub.netThe club has a 20" saw and a lapidary shop in cedar city that members can use.
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Post by deb193redux on Sept 8, 2012 21:22:50 GMT -5
unless you are cutting bookends or pet wood whole rounds or large banded agates, a 20" saw is a waste of time. in my opinion. it often takes two people to put the rock in the vise, and it is hard to position. so cut some grooves and use a chisel, or drill some holes and put in a splitter. get out the hammer. or just collect smaller rock to begin with. as for saws, a few smaller saws are overall much more useful.
when you get more workable sized pieces, you can slab them.
as Don said, you need very good color and pattern to get good cabs. you also need you labor and talent and tooling. it is almost impossible for all but the best artists to make any actual profit. you can get money, but it will never cover your time and tooling. so do it because you enjoy it, or don't do it. "actual" profit takes great stone, some quantity, and some eye for design. on the other hand fun times and a bit of money back is very possible.
maybe not so much in the case of this rock. the color is diffuse and average (unless it improves inside). sharp transitions and contacts make for more interesting pattern. here the transitions from red to blue-gray are too gradual.
lots of rock like this gets collected, most of it ends up on the rock pile, and eventually sold in an estate sale for 10cents/lb, and then ends up on a bigger rick pile. I have visited lots of these piles and picked rock at 50/cents or 75/cents a pound - sometimes cheaper if I bought a few buckets.
there is some luck of the draw. you might get a nice few inches and cut a nice slab and make a nice cab and it could sell for $10 or $20 bucks. If you get a real nice pattern, and if you can produce a finished piece of jewelry, it might sell for $40 or $100 - but this is few and far between. folks who have talent with jewelry making generally buy higher end material that has a more certain payoff. unless they are just doing metal smithing for fun as well.
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dennyk
off to a rocking start
Member since September 2012
Posts: 2
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Post by dennyk on Sept 8, 2012 21:40:13 GMT -5
Thank you for all the quick answers and responses! Great gathering of people here. We are total amateurs here but enjoy getting out, hunting, collecting and cabbing interesting and good looking minerals. Sabre: Yes I see the jasper in this rock and definitely the agate. Don: We're in Saint George, so not sure can commit to getting involved in the club on a regular basis, but we'll want to hunt up the shop next time in the area for sure. This rock did come from just north of Cedar City. Good call. Great Web site. Deb: We're not necessarily looking for making money on the hobby, though all were excited by the color and size of this mass. I appreciate your candid answers. No to get out the chisel and goggles and open this guy up some more to see what might lurk inside. Thank you all so much again for such a prompt and honest reply to my query...
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fwfranklen (Mike)
spending too much on rocks
Rock-ON--Have you kissed your rock today?
Member since August 2012
Posts: 379
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Post by fwfranklen (Mike) on Sept 8, 2012 22:12:59 GMT -5
I use this type of material to learn on. Since I'm still in the learning stage I don't want to risk damaging the "folks who have talent with jewelry making generally buy higher end material that has a more certain payoff" mentioned above. I did my first stabilizihg with a rock just like that.
Mike
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Post by deb193redux on Sept 8, 2012 22:25:46 GMT -5
mike: you don't need to jump to precious opal or exceptional lapis or jade - things where fear/caution is warranted. often practice work turns out well enough. you should consider a few pounds of $4 to $8/lb rock to work with as you build skills. or get some nice slabs. you live in the middle of amazing rock country, and a lot is available for low dollar. not too much to fear. more potential for an attractive result.
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fwfranklen (Mike)
spending too much on rocks
Rock-ON--Have you kissed your rock today?
Member since August 2012
Posts: 379
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Post by fwfranklen (Mike) on Sept 8, 2012 22:32:07 GMT -5
;DYes I have a basement of very nice stuff. I guess I'm just a coward on jumping into cutting it. I'm about to start slabbing one of my 30lb chunk of plume agate. But I'm doing the baby step thing. Not sure why I'm that way I think I'm suffering from some sort of lapidary envy seeing all the talent on this sight. ;D
Mike
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Post by deb193redux on Sept 8, 2012 22:33:08 GMT -5
dennyk: your enjoyment of collecting rock and mingling with rock folks also counts. while folks who sell cabs jewelry part time do not get any kind of honest wage for their labor, they are also not paying for their amusement. if you are enjoying yourself, you are already collecting a different kind of value. some folks pay a lot for greens fees, or to put gas inthe motorboat, or to go to a resort - heck even the cost/hr to watch a movie is pricey. If you can figure (in the big picture) the value of you entertainment and enrichment it may well offset the uncompensated labor you put into the hobby.
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Don
Cave Dweller
He wants you too, Malachi.
Member since December 2009
Posts: 2,616
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Post by Don on Sept 10, 2012 12:54:20 GMT -5
Thank you for all the quick answers and responses! Great gathering of people here. We are total amateurs here but enjoy getting out, hunting, collecting and cabbing interesting and good looking minerals. Sabre: Yes I see the jasper in this rock and definitely the agate. Don: We're in Saint George, so not sure can commit to getting involved in the club on a regular basis, but we'll want to hunt up the shop next time in the area for sure. This rock did come from just north of Cedar City. Good call. Great Web site. Deb: We're not necessarily looking for making money on the hobby, though all were excited by the color and size of this mass. I appreciate your candid answers. No to get out the chisel and goggles and open this guy up some more to see what might lurk inside. Thank you all so much again for such a prompt and honest reply to my query... Denny, I"m in St George too. look me up if you want to go rock hunting some time.
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Post by kap on Sept 10, 2012 19:48:55 GMT -5
deb193redux, I dont know why you would say a 20" saw is a waste of time. I use one all the time cutting slabs and dont think I am wasting my time at all . I have a 4", a 6", a 12" and the 20". I guess I use the 20" the most. Keith
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fwfranklen (Mike)
spending too much on rocks
Rock-ON--Have you kissed your rock today?
Member since August 2012
Posts: 379
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Post by fwfranklen (Mike) on Sept 10, 2012 20:57:42 GMT -5
For me I have a 4" tile saw, 6" trim saw, 7" tile saw, 10" slab saw, and a 24" slab saw. A person has to have a backup (or two). ;-) I sue the 24" because I get very large rough pieces from time to time. That is just me. Mike
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Post by gingerkid on Sept 11, 2012 12:34:39 GMT -5
For me I have a 4" tile saw, 6" trim saw, 7" tile saw, 10" slab saw, and a 24" slab saw. A person has to have a backup (or two). ;-) I sue the 24" because I get very large rough pieces from time to time. That is just me. Mike Good heavens at the saws!! LOL!! Hi, dennyk!! Nice find and a big 'un, too!
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Post by gingerkid on Sept 11, 2012 12:36:38 GMT -5
...Not sure why I'm that way I think I'm suffering from some sort of lapidary envy seeing all the talent on this sight. ;D Mike LOL, glad I'm not the only one that suffers from this disease.
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keystonecops
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2010
Posts: 957
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Post by keystonecops on Sept 14, 2012 9:27:17 GMT -5
Guess I'll jump too. I've got two sizes{table size} 6 inch trim saws, a 10 Raytech fer fist size, a 14 home built that gets a lotta use, an a 20 Hilquist fer big stuff. One thing I really need is a cab machine. I cab, but its kinda a process. Later Clyde
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