Good Earth
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2010
Posts: 155
|
Post by Good Earth on May 1, 2014 12:02:57 GMT -5
Fantastic trip report! Thanks for taking me along. I'm still planning two weeks in that area in the next month or so, so this gets me pumped! I'll PM you a couple of good locations if you are going back up there anytime soon...
|
|
Good Earth
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2010
Posts: 155
|
Post by Good Earth on Apr 30, 2014 11:25:35 GMT -5
The ways of using this site are clearly stated in the "no sales until 50 posts" rule. That's a good rule to keep the community close knit, and avoid this becoming a group of overseas mineral dealer/spammers. Get to know the folks around you, and you'll figure it out for yourself.
|
|
Good Earth
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2010
Posts: 155
|
Post by Good Earth on Apr 30, 2014 9:34:58 GMT -5
There is obsidian near Reno. When I was a kid we lived south of Reno on Mt Rose Highway. One day, the neighbor had the road re-graveled. About two miles with pieces of obsidian in the gravels. I collected about a bucket full, the largest being twice fist sized. That must have come from a local pit. One of my very first collecting experiences. I couldn't have been more than 7 or 8...
|
|
Good Earth
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2010
Posts: 155
|
Post by Good Earth on Apr 29, 2014 12:00:22 GMT -5
Very nice trip report. My favorite type of thread to read.
|
|
Good Earth
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2010
Posts: 155
|
Post by Good Earth on Apr 26, 2014 18:31:45 GMT -5
In my experience grading is a totally subjective art. The miner grades his runs, the dealers grade theirs, and the lapidarys grade theirs. 90% or more of the time, it's used as a marketing tool to catch the eye on sales ads.
That being said, there is a grading process that happens with every stone. I've found the best way to understand it is to ask the seller to explain their system. Get them talking.
Looks like good rough. If you can't handle it in person first, ask to buy a sample package. Doesn't stop fraud sellers from salting the sample with killer rough, but most sellers will give you a good representation. As in everything, communication is key!
|
|
Good Earth
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2010
Posts: 155
|
Post by Good Earth on Apr 25, 2014 11:32:22 GMT -5
Greetings there. I'm also from the pacific northwest! Welcome to this board. Can't wait to see what you make. We'll have to get together one day and share rocks...
|
|
Good Earth
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2010
Posts: 155
|
Post by Good Earth on Apr 16, 2014 16:52:39 GMT -5
Very nice looking cabs! I really like the epidote too. It really seems to set off the reds... My favorite specimen piece:
|
|
Good Earth
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2010
Posts: 155
|
Post by Good Earth on Apr 14, 2014 15:32:00 GMT -5
Well folks... It's been a fun run, but this years season for Olympic Poppy Jasper is winding down. This is the last week that I'll be taking orders for rough, and I'm not going to be digging after May 1st. I may keep a small amount of rough on ebay until I run out, but that's it for the season!
Thank you to all that bought some of this material. It's been super fun being a miner again, and I do hope to continue to pursue other minerals, so you haven't seen the last of me!
Interested in a box of rough? Please PM me.
Thanks! Joshua
|
|
Good Earth
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2010
Posts: 155
|
Post by Good Earth on Apr 12, 2014 18:34:48 GMT -5
Very nice! Do you ever find these any larger?
|
|
Good Earth
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2010
Posts: 155
|
Post by Good Earth on Apr 4, 2014 20:51:34 GMT -5
I went out in the rain today, and manged to find this monster vein of Olympic Poppy. The piece in the photo weighs 18lbs, and it's half of the rock! Big smile on my face today!
|
|
Good Earth
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2010
Posts: 155
|
Post by Good Earth on Apr 3, 2014 22:59:48 GMT -5
I haven't ordered one yet. Sent a couple of slabs to a friend out in Texas that has one of these: www.ebay.com/itm/like/400564087056 and we'll see how it works. It's fun to find the loose poppies. Some times the size of BB's. One night I had a dream about finding a big vug with poppies a foot across that I could cut to look like agates. Too bad it was just a dream (so far!)
|
|
Good Earth
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2010
Posts: 155
|
Post by Good Earth on Apr 3, 2014 22:55:45 GMT -5
If only... I'm close enough to come get it, but broke enough to cry that I can't.
Hope it finds a good home.
|
|
Good Earth
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2010
Posts: 155
|
Post by Good Earth on Apr 3, 2014 22:54:09 GMT -5
For sure. Both look like classic california poppy jasper patterns. I'll lay money that Mel will come by and know the exact street address of each...
|
|
Good Earth
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2010
Posts: 155
|
Post by Good Earth on Mar 31, 2014 23:29:18 GMT -5
|
|
Good Earth
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2010
Posts: 155
|
Post by Good Earth on Mar 29, 2014 14:37:33 GMT -5
Pm's sent & Thanks CarloScinco for the purchase! Can't wait to see some come from the tumbler!
|
|
Good Earth
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2010
Posts: 155
|
Post by Good Earth on Mar 25, 2014 11:31:20 GMT -5
Looks great! Love that moss... so deep!
|
|
Good Earth
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2010
Posts: 155
|
Post by Good Earth on Mar 20, 2014 18:05:46 GMT -5
WOW. Nice haul! If there we a bunch of other folks bidding too, I can't imagine how large the collection must have been... Wow! That black Bruneau is by far my favorite! I've always wanted one of those...
|
|
Good Earth
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2010
Posts: 155
|
Post by Good Earth on Mar 19, 2014 12:10:36 GMT -5
I've built screens before. All the way from a 1/4" mesh in a milk crate to a 8'x4'x1.5" mesh screen plant. A couple of 1" wood frames with screen stapled on should work great. Takes about 15 minutes to make once you have the metal. Chicken wire is available in different sizes and you can double the layer of wire to make a custom size.
|
|
Good Earth
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2010
Posts: 155
|
Post by Good Earth on Mar 19, 2014 11:05:18 GMT -5
My problem is re-hounding my seconds piles. I get tunnel vision sometimes when grading material, and I've found some killers that I had tossed aside as junk. I've got a pile of poppy jasper 3' high that I have turned a couple of times and am never disappointed!
|
|
Good Earth
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2010
Posts: 155
|
Post by Good Earth on Mar 18, 2014 18:26:55 GMT -5
Shotgunner- Remind me what size spheres you make? I've been cutting some Olympic Poppy that is pretty free of fractures (gasp!) and could possibly cut a 3" square. 4" would be much rarer, but also theoretically possible. I could send you marble sized pieces all day long. Believe me that I'm looking as hard as I can because I'm dying to see a sphere made of this material!
|
|