jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,548
|
Post by jamesp on Aug 1, 2020 7:21:44 GMT -5
There are gravel bars full of coral from small tumble size to 2 pounds. This particular coral is pyramid shaped with the pointed side being the root end. The predominate coral found at this location. They are compartmental so that large 3 to 4 foot coral heads can split up into hundreds of smaller sections. This is a single section. Variable in color depending on the chemistry they silicified in. The 'coating' is a sort of patina that begins with a limestone consistency and increases with silicification percentage as going deeper into the rock. In this case the coating was selectively(composed) ground off with a diamond wheel to expose the white center.
|
|
quartzilla
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2020
Posts: 1,237
|
Post by quartzilla on Aug 1, 2020 7:55:49 GMT -5
Beautiful stuff. Your tumbles are an inspiration.
|
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,548
|
Post by jamesp on Aug 1, 2020 8:58:22 GMT -5
Beautiful stuff. Your tumbles are an inspiration. Well thank you quartzilla. Success in tumbling often boils down to the material we tumble. I am fortunate to have this coral source to explore and collect from. A pleasure to tumble. It is a vast supply running about 300 miles from Tampa Florida to Valdosta Georgia with many variations within. The collecting grounds are some of the most enchanting beautiful rivers on earth IMO. Great fishing, artifacts and fossils abound, old bottles in the clear rivers that have exposed prehistoria.
|
|
|
Post by rockjunquie on Aug 1, 2020 9:05:55 GMT -5
That is beautiful! The rich earthy hues and polish rival that of some of the porcelain jaspers. Purdy!
|
|
|
Post by RickB on Aug 1, 2020 9:18:42 GMT -5
As always, beautiful material and tumble; but those fingers. Third photo shows signs of rough use and recent splinters.
|
|
|
Post by rockjunquie on Aug 1, 2020 10:57:17 GMT -5
As always, beautiful material and tumble; but those fingers. Third photo shows signs of rough use and recent splinters. I've lost count of how many busted up fingers and hand pictures James has posted. That's a workin' man!
|
|
|
Post by orrum on Aug 1, 2020 11:02:59 GMT -5
Absolutely awesome sauce Jim!!!
|
|
|
Post by drocknut on Aug 1, 2020 12:25:58 GMT -5
Very cool looking coral and outstanding shine. WTG
|
|
dkurtz
having dreams about rocks
Tumbling to de-stress from my work. :)
Member since February 2010
Posts: 66
|
Post by dkurtz on Aug 1, 2020 15:56:39 GMT -5
Lovely. Which I had some of that.
|
|
|
Post by RocksInNJ on Aug 1, 2020 23:03:31 GMT -5
Wow that coral is awesome. Wish I could find me some nice coral. Fishing and rock hounding? It doesn’t get much better than that.
|
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,548
|
Post by jamesp on Aug 2, 2020 7:18:11 GMT -5
That is beautiful! The rich earthy hues and polish rival that of some of the porcelain jaspers. Purdy! Thanks Tela. A lot of this coral can be picked up off the bottom of those crystal clear fine white sand bottom Florida rivers. Or a comfortable lounge chair and a battery powered hand grinder sitting on a flat spot of a gravel bar. Pick thru the gravel and grind a small window to find out what internal combination of colors you have. Throw the keepers in a bucket to take home and finish composing with a diamond wheel. Then tumble. The Suwannee, Withlacochee, Santa Fe, beaches around Tampa, small creeks throughout the Florida Georgia territory each yield an infinite variety of similar corals. To further enhance color a heat treatment is in store.
|
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,548
|
Post by jamesp on Aug 2, 2020 7:24:34 GMT -5
As always, beautiful material and tumble; but those fingers. Third photo shows signs of rough use and recent splinters. Installing metal roofing. Slices seem to be on the menu recently. Can't do gloves. Aversion to them for some reason. Those gravel bars are composed about 1/3 flakes from native man. Easy to tell if they are chips from a modern day rock hound because they have not picked up the deep water stains. Or they are buried way deep. Prop wash lifts them up to(don't tell).
|
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,548
|
Post by jamesp on Aug 2, 2020 7:26:38 GMT -5
Very cool looking coral and outstanding shine. WTG Thanks Diane. Been on a long sabbatical, getting anxious to go coral collecting again. Come go with me. I must have taken 50 people on collecting/fishing trips on those rivers.
|
|
Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,709
|
Post by Fossilman on Aug 2, 2020 9:16:27 GMT -5
HOLY MOLY!
|
|
|
Post by drocknut on Aug 2, 2020 10:17:03 GMT -5
Very cool looking coral and outstanding shine. WTG Thanks Diane. Been on a long sabbatical, getting anxious to go coral collecting again. Come go with me. I must have taken 50 people on collecting/fishing trips on those rivers. It's been a long time since I've hounded too. Too hot here to do much of anything. I sure wish I could go hounding with you, that would be so much fun I'm sure. Unfortunately I'm pretty well grounded right now because of my mom and all the weird stuff going on right now. Thanks for the invite, gonna have to get a raincheck from you for now.
|
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,548
|
Post by jamesp on Aug 2, 2020 11:23:52 GMT -5
Thanks Diane. Been on a long sabbatical, getting anxious to go coral collecting again. Come go with me. I must have taken 50 people on collecting/fishing trips on those rivers. It's been a long time since I've hounded too. Too hot here to do much of anything. I sure wish I could go hounding with you, that would be so much fun I'm sure. Unfortunately I'm pretty well grounded right now because of my mom and all the weird stuff going on right now. Thanks for the invite, gonna have to get a raincheck from you for now. I know how demanding it is to look after Mom/Dad and that you keep your Mom comfortable. If you are in Arizona I doubt you would score better here than in Arizona ! I must be talking trash anyway, it's been a few years since going coral hunting.
|
|
|
Post by drocknut on Aug 2, 2020 12:35:49 GMT -5
It's been a long time since I've hounded too. Too hot here to do much of anything. I sure wish I could go hounding with you, that would be so much fun I'm sure. Unfortunately I'm pretty well grounded right now because of my mom and all the weird stuff going on right now. Thanks for the invite, gonna have to get a raincheck from you for now. I know how demanding it is to look after Mom/Dad and that you keep your Mom comfortable. If you are in Arizona I doubt you would score better here than in Arizona ! I must be talking trash anyway, it's been a few years since going coral hunting. It can be a challenge but I love my mom. Coral hunting would be something different from what rockhounding I do here in Arizona so that would be fun.
|
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,548
|
Post by jamesp on Aug 2, 2020 13:39:15 GMT -5
I know how demanding it is to look after Mom/Dad and that you keep your Mom comfortable. If you are in Arizona I doubt you would score better here than in Arizona ! I must be talking trash anyway, it's been a few years since going coral hunting. It can be a challenge but I love my mom. Coral hunting would be something different from what rockhounding I do here in Arizona so that would be fun. About the only place coral has been exposed is where river or ocean has removed sand to expose it. So it is best collected in and around water. Nice on hot days.
|
|
RWA3006
Cave Dweller
Member since March 2009
Posts: 4,525
|
Post by RWA3006 on Aug 3, 2020 17:02:57 GMT -5
I really like the rich colors in that specimen. Polish ain't bad neither!
|
|
NRG
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since February 2018
Posts: 1,687
|
Post by NRG on Aug 3, 2020 21:23:31 GMT -5
Fishing and coral collecting? Count me in!!
I'm serious! I have a vaca set for next week!
|
|