|
Post by 150FromFundy on Jan 5, 2017 16:18:26 GMT -5
OK metalsmith, you got me! Is that REALLY coal cut on your new Facetron? Must know more.
captbob - I'm also a fan of the Viburnum Trend and have a few others from this fascinating MRV type formation. I guess a visit is on the bucket list. Don't rock lick the Galena.
Darryl.
|
|
|
Post by 150FromFundy on Jan 3, 2017 16:54:02 GMT -5
Shame about the new basalt. In a few hundred million years, those gas bubbles and cavities may be filled with amazing crystals forming from hydrothermal solutions. What is the elevation on the caldera photo? The air appears to be getting a little thin looking down on the clouds.
Darryl.
|
|
|
Post by 150FromFundy on Jan 3, 2017 16:36:34 GMT -5
I would have posted these Christmas goodies sooner, but Photobucket and I are not on the best of terms lately. I’m not sure what is going on with that site, but prolonged use may lead to stress-induced illness. In spite of my display shelves being overcrowded, my #1 rockhound supporter (Santa Laura) came through once again. These are the three newest additions to the family. Yellow Quartz – Mount Ida, Montgomery County, Arkansas This one is really nice and compliments my water-clear and blue-phantom specimens from this location. Laura found this one at the Bancroft show this summer when I was otherwise distracted. Calcite (Hexagonal XLS) with Galena and Chalcopyrite – Sweetwater Mine, Reynolds County, Missouri Brochantite and Fluorite on Quartz, Blanchard Mine, Socorro County, New Mexico The Brochantite is the dark green and shows the characteristic sprays under a hand lens and the Fluorite is the purple crystals. I’m not sure if the lighter blue crust is simply oxidized Brochantite, or is another unidentified mineral. Any input from the experts would be appreciated. Darryl.
|
|
|
Post by 150FromFundy on Dec 22, 2016 17:53:40 GMT -5
A general rule of thumb is if it is easy, it has already been found.
It's easy to dig through the top foot, or so of a tailings pile. Therefore you have to dig deeper than that.
Look for the most remote, difficult to access part of the tailings pile, and dig there.
Trees and roots deter many diggers, so many good finds are found in the root mat of trees.
Most dirty dug rocks get overlooked. You need a water bucket, or spray bottle, or go digging in the rain.
I have found many nice samples in picked over areas using these general principles.
Dig where it is tough.
Darryl.
|
|
|
Post by 150FromFundy on Dec 22, 2016 17:40:26 GMT -5
I hear ya! Two of my favorite collection locations are now under Claim and the holder of the Claim doesn't take well to other rockhounds. I can understand resource development needing to stake Claims, but this is simply a selfish rockhound that wants to keep the public off what were formerly public collecting areas since the late 1800's.
Here's an other verse ...
This land is my land, And it ain't your land, So get off it, Or I'll blow your head off.
I got a shotgun (or a Claim), And you ain't got one, This land is made, For only me.
Darryl.
|
|
|
ID
Dec 22, 2016 17:30:39 GMT -5
Post by 150FromFundy on Dec 22, 2016 17:30:39 GMT -5
2 out of 3 ain't bad. It's good to have a non-rockhoud friend looking out for you. However, could you imagine what the possibilities would be if he were an obsessed rockhound like many of us. Travelling around the US with a drill and a license to drill. Whoa!
Darryl.
|
|
|
Post by 150FromFundy on Dec 12, 2016 18:18:49 GMT -5
Hilarious! I had a dream I was a geologist once. It happened after an evening of drinking like a geologist.
Darryl.
|
|
|
Post by 150FromFundy on Dec 7, 2016 17:51:29 GMT -5
For $85, I could find some pretty amazing shelf specimens to put on display. This nonsense gives legitimate collectors a bad name.
Maybe I should sell a bunch of crap to idiots to fund my rock collection. Hmmm!
Darryl.
|
|
|
Post by 150FromFundy on Nov 17, 2016 16:43:04 GMT -5
Nice colours, great wood pattern and the fractures appear to be well agatized.
Darryl.
|
|
|
Post by 150FromFundy on Nov 9, 2016 17:19:40 GMT -5
Please post a photo dry and wet to show the colours. Corundum (Ruby) always generates a little interest. Why the photos? You want to make sure that you don't have any gemmy crystals in the mix. The members will let you know if you do.
With a hardness of 9, it is a tough polish as it is harder (or as hard as) many of the grits and polishes we use. It can also be brittle and often fractured which is another challenge.
I think a rotary is a better choice than a vibratory. The material is so hard, it will require weeks or months of tumbling to polish. Chances are, it would tend to wear through a vibratory tumbler until any sharp edges are taken off.
Darryl.
|
|
|
Post by 150FromFundy on Nov 9, 2016 17:10:19 GMT -5
Check out an aquarium shop for a pump that uses small diameter plastic tubing for connections. Many of the pumps use a cotton like filter media that may tend to clog up quite quickly with rock dust water.
When I drill, I simply drain and replace the water as it gets cloudy, but that can get to be a chore.
Darryl.
|
|
|
Post by 150FromFundy on Oct 21, 2016 17:51:31 GMT -5
My drinking glass budget tops out at about $2.40 I'm not even sure if borosilicate is dishwasher safe. The glass is amazing, but $240 sure would buy a lot of rocks.
Darryl.
|
|
|
Post by 150FromFundy on Oct 20, 2016 17:17:28 GMT -5
I've bought nice material from Stone Age Industries, but they offer more chunks for cutting than crushed material for tumbling. I've also bought from The Little Red Store which has limited, but nice material for cutting/tumbling.
As spiceman suggest, your best deal will likely come from one of the RTH members. Check out the Buy, Sell and Swap section.
Darryl.
|
|
|
Post by 150FromFundy on Oct 20, 2016 17:05:04 GMT -5
Epoxy? I though that was stuff was called liquid agate. No problem to convince people that slab really was wood, a long time ago.
Darryl.
|
|
|
Post by 150FromFundy on Oct 17, 2016 17:27:46 GMT -5
The vibe looks pretty industrial. No plastic bowl to burn through on that one.
Darryl.
|
|
|
Post by 150FromFundy on Oct 17, 2016 17:23:23 GMT -5
Really big knapped arrowhead? Creepy!
Darryl.
|
|
|
Post by 150FromFundy on Oct 13, 2016 17:32:39 GMT -5
Laura and I did a little scenic drive on the Thanksgiving weekend. We have to get our Thanksgiving in early above the 49th due to a thing called winter. These photos are from The Fundy Trail, which starts at St. Martins, New Brunswick. The trail only extends a few miles to the north along the coast, but the scenery is well worth the admission price. Big Salmon River – The river runs dry this late in the year. Big Salmon River – The start of the fall show. The colours will peak in about another week. Big Salmon River – These sugar maples are so popular around here, we put a leaf on our flag. Lone Spruce Long Beach Long Beach – This side of the Bay of Fundy is not blessed with amygdaloidal basalt, so all the typical things I search for are not to be found. Long Beach – Photo contains humans for scale. Can you see them? Long Beach – How about now? Melvin Beach Darryl.
|
|
|
Post by 150FromFundy on Oct 13, 2016 16:43:54 GMT -5
Hand polishing Petosky stones for 8 hours at a time! I think hubby needs a hobby. Rock tumbling perhaps?
Darryl.
|
|
|
Post by 150FromFundy on Oct 13, 2016 16:34:05 GMT -5
I didn't realize there were eggs/geodes in Alaska. I like the Quartz(?) filled cavities.
Darryl.
|
|
|
Post by 150FromFundy on Oct 12, 2016 17:08:48 GMT -5
Interesting dolphin photos. I had dismissed the possibility of Sharknado up until now.
Darryl.
|
|