|
Post by 1dave on Sept 29, 2014 19:54:26 GMT -5
This morning rockpowell , bigfoot , and I made a run out to Dendrite Gulch. bigfoot likes to call this material "Speckled Trout Agate." 1st, you have to find an agate seam which is kind of easy because the sun and rain slowly convert the eroding agate into very obvious white opal. 2nd, check along the seam until you find something more solid than the float. 3rd start digging, tapping it from time to time to make sure it is solid and LARGE. 4th, if you break off a chunk along about here and it looks good, GET EXCITED! 5th, keep digging! 6th, no matter how tired you are, you have to haul those rocks back to the truck. rockpowell 's carts are backsavers! 7th, admire the haul. Most of it is visible Do you agree with Bigfoot on the name?
|
|
|
Post by 1dave on Sept 29, 2014 20:09:55 GMT -5
Along the way we noticed a stream bed filled with magnetite.
|
|
gemfeller
Cave Dweller
Member since June 2011
Posts: 3,728
|
Post by gemfeller on Sept 29, 2014 20:49:05 GMT -5
[quote author="1dave " Do you agree with Bigfoot on the name? [/quote] Dave, it's always difficult to tell from images but judging from the bright luster and fracture pattern on those bigger pieces it looks more like common opal than agate to me. Neat looking stuff whatever it is. [/p]
|
|
|
Post by 1dave on Sept 29, 2014 20:59:29 GMT -5
[quote author="1dave " Do you agree with Bigfoot on the name? Dave, it's always difficult to tell from images but judging from the bright luster and fracture pattern on those bigger pieces it looks more like common opal than agate to me. Neat looking stuff whatever it is. [/p][/quote] It is right on the line. If it is opal, it is the hardest, toughest opal I've ever come across !!
|
|
|
Post by Toad on Sept 30, 2014 6:17:57 GMT -5
Great looking material, definitely worth the work.
|
|
|
Post by 1dave on Sept 30, 2014 10:45:00 GMT -5
Great looking material, definitely worth the work. Thanks Todd. I'll go with opal/agate. The brown appears to be rhyolite. I really like the material. Here is a closer view.
|
|
|
Post by Toad on Sept 30, 2014 15:18:32 GMT -5
Will love to see it slabbed and polished.
|
|
Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,666
|
Post by Fossilman on Sept 30, 2014 15:43:28 GMT -5
WOW!!! That is some wicked cool agate...Thumbs up
|
|
chassroc
Cave Dweller
Rocks are abundant when you have rocktumblinghobby pals
Member since January 2005
Posts: 3,586
|
Post by chassroc on Oct 2, 2014 7:28:05 GMT -5
That is nice material
Great tutorial too. Specked Trout is an apt name and that magnatite is fascinating
Charlie
|
|
herchenx
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2012
Posts: 3,360
|
Post by herchenx on Oct 2, 2014 9:10:13 GMT -5
Thanks for the great lesson Dave! And great looking stuff, I'm looking forward to seeing how it finishes up as well.
|
|
alan
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2013
Posts: 111
|
Post by alan on Oct 2, 2014 9:10:40 GMT -5
Beautiful material! Would love to slab some!
|
|
|
Post by roy on Oct 2, 2014 9:13:58 GMT -5
nice agate Dave and the name fits cool pic at the end too
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 10, 2014 22:37:39 GMT -5
holy cow!
|
|
|
Post by 1dave on Oct 12, 2014 2:53:04 GMT -5
For @shotgunner - I LIKE your quote and made this for you!
|
|
|
Post by Peruano on Oct 12, 2014 18:38:47 GMT -5
I'd be interested in what the local geologists say. If I saw it with no information on origin or geology, I'd say it looks like what we find as Pedernal Chert (marine origin?) near Pedernal Peak (Georgia O'keafe's favorite mountain in New Mexico). It has that same pink, with tiny black spots. BTW it was the commonest material used by the Anazazi (Prepueblo Native Americans) other than obsidian -- hard, cleavage like flint, and easy to knap into sharp useful instruments, and worth carrying around to work on when time permited. Tumble or cab, it and similar stuff is beautiful. Enjoy. Tom
|
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,154
|
Post by jamesp on Oct 12, 2014 20:19:42 GMT -5
Sure looks solid too. way worth the effort. Does look like a trout.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 12, 2014 22:43:29 GMT -5
For @shotgunner - I LIKE your quote and made this for you! Thanks Dave. I may usurp that for my signature.
|
|