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Post by txrockhunter on Jan 27, 2016 9:16:17 GMT -5
Some day when I retire, I'm going to have to visit Texas. I'm a teacher, so I have summers off, but I doubt that's a good time to visit. I'd love to find rocks like those! Looks like you are on the index finger in MI. I went to school @ Ferris St., so I know that climate well! Texas does take some getting used to, but this Northerner has adjusted just fine! If you decide to visit Texas, make this your 1st stop. It sounds like jamesp is setting up a date with the border patrol on your Rio visit LOL!
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Post by txrockhunter on Jan 27, 2016 9:06:42 GMT -5
Wow very nice.might drive down to Conroe this weekend. Dave Let me know if you can make it down and I will take you out. - Jeremy
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Post by txrockhunter on Jan 27, 2016 9:05:19 GMT -5
That first tubey moss reminds me of some Bull Canyon stuff I've seen. Awesome orbiculars.. excellent finds!! That 1st one is one of a kind so far, but it really stood out when I saw it. I love the orbiculars too and wish I could find more! Thanks for looking! - Jeremy
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Post by txrockhunter on Jan 27, 2016 9:01:06 GMT -5
Amazing agates. Never seen such patterns. The fact that drainage is so far east is puzzling. And does not seem to be a big drainage for so much variety. photos excellent. Please don't post any purple dish rags LOL Thanks, James! They are fun to collect, too! My search for a purple dish towel resulted in permission to take a light blue one LOL! Not sure it will have the same magical properties......
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Post by txrockhunter on Jan 27, 2016 8:38:25 GMT -5
Whoa! What can I say? I'm kinda bowled over by so many great slabs of such quality and variety. I esp love the orbiculars. You seriously need to learn to cab. There's some amazing cabs in there. Thanks for the compliments! I am working on some equipment upgrades that should give me a shot at making cabs. I have some fantastic information here, as well as amazing examples. In the meantime, I will keep cutting an photographing. Thanks, again!
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Post by txrockhunter on Jan 25, 2016 18:33:42 GMT -5
That's some awesome stuff. Thanks for taking the time to post all the pictures. Is this stuff rare or common where you hunt? When I look for lakers in Michigan, I can spend three days hunting all day long and only find a few mediocre agates. How long would you have to hunt to find the rocks pictured above? Thanks! I really enjoy the photography side, just need to keep developing developing better techniques. This is about 10 - 12 hours of hunting in 2 hour increments after work. I have been blessed / cursed with a great resource 15 minutes from my office. In 2 hours of hunting, I am usually leaving with about 30 lbs of rock. About 75% of the load is good, 25% being really good. Quite a few of the rocks below weren't good until they were opened, so there is definitely a learning curve to picking up the right rocks. I probably cut 100 rocks this weekend and about 50% were great, 25% were good, and the other 25% were filler for the garden. In all, I probably spent about 10 hours hunting for these rocks (this is about 1/2 of the keepers). Thanks for Looking!
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Post by txrockhunter on Jan 25, 2016 16:50:07 GMT -5
Wow what a display, gotta love the Tx gravel! I've got a few pieces of that yellow/gold moss. I may need to dig around & find it. Nice pix too! I'm very lucky to have such a good source of material so close by! Working on improving my photography skills. I think a purple towel like jamesp, would make a huge difference! Thanks for looking! -Jeremy
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Post by txrockhunter on Jan 25, 2016 16:16:49 GMT -5
That's a beautiful bunch! Going to make a lot of outstanding cabs. Thanks for the show! Thanks, Pat! I have never made a cab, so the addition of a vibe has opened the door for me.
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Post by txrockhunter on Jan 25, 2016 16:03:24 GMT -5
Whoa buddy you've been busy!! Those are marvelous! Looks like you are really learning to pick out the great ones. I finally got a batch of my SJ finds into the tumbler. Can't wait to see them at the end! ~Roland Thanks, Roland! I think have developed a better eye and more importantly, the ability to realize that every rock can't be great! I think that gravel bar has been turned over 2 - 3 times since you were here and has revealed some really cool stuff. I would love to see your batch, so please post picks! Hope all is well! Jeremy
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Post by txrockhunter on Jan 25, 2016 15:50:24 GMT -5
Man those are some beautiful rocks and what an ingenious way to cut them. I am in the same boat as Intheswamp, with the 7" saw. Our biggest size doesn't overlap your smallest size. Your Photography has been fantastic since you introduced that purple towel! I got to go find me one. Thanks for the post!
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Post by txrockhunter on Jan 25, 2016 15:30:56 GMT -5
Cut up a few recent finds from the San Jacinto River Gravels. Most of these are 1" to 3", perfect for the 7" tile saw......my only means of cutting. A friend gave me an old Raytech TV-5, that I will polish the small ones with. Sorry for the crappy background. Wet plywood is not a good backdrop for photography! Thanks for looking! - Jeremy Some sort of Moss Agate. Haven't seen any others with this kind of pattern. Moss Agate (should look much better without all the saw marks) Orbicular Orbicular I guess some sort of Moss Agate This was my favorite. It was white encrusted with the patterns raised through the surface. Not sure what this is....don't see much blue in the gravels here. Suggestions??? More Moss Agate. Fortification Agate Moss Lots of color...thinking some sort of Jasper. Some sort of Jasper? Orbiclar Botryoidal- Braccia? More Moss Agate Jasper with little black crystals (maybe). They sparkle when turned in the right direction. More Moss Agate I think this is some form of Orbicular Jasper. Form of Moss Agate Jasper Some form of Agate, not sure of the ID. More Moss Agate Some Petrified Wood (probably should have put in the Post your favorite petrified wood thread, but oh well). I guess this is Shrink Wood? More Shrink Wood Thought this was pretty cool. The fibers appeared to be floating And one lone Sagenite. This Sagenite was different than most of the stuff that I have found. Instead of the crystals being colored and the main focal point, they were clear and showed as voids in the Jasper.
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Post by txrockhunter on Jan 22, 2016 13:44:53 GMT -5
I watched it last night. Not bad. Will have to see how it holds up. I am sucker for these types of shows. Started about 4 years ago with cash & treasures on the travel channel then gold rush on discovery then prospectors on the weather channel. I still have about 10 or 12 episodes of cash & treasures on disc. That was my favorite because at the end of each show they would take there finds to a lapidary shop and have something made from them. At the time I watched it I was not into this hobby yet so I had no idea what all that equipment was. Fun to go back and see them now. Chuck Also check out Game of Stones on Discovery & Ice Cold Gold on Animal Planet. Both have been canceled, but episodes are available at those links. Game of Stones was my favorite. Thanks for keeping us informed! Jeremy
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Post by txrockhunter on Jan 18, 2016 10:18:03 GMT -5
That "S" is cool!
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Post by txrockhunter on Jan 18, 2016 9:43:12 GMT -5
James, I'm going be very straightforward here....those are making me incredibly jealous!!!! I see a trip in your future Ed. Only an 18 hour drive from S Alabama. And don't listen to the constant DEA's advise about not walking around the banks of Lake Falcon. Strange to have them approach you constantly asking your business. I was curious that the local land owners were not involved in aid and abet, or just turned the other cheek. If you're road tripping to the valley, stop by and pick me up! I'm pretty much on the way. Maybe you could spend a few hours pick'n the San Jacinto gravels, before heading out! Great tumbles, James! I always enjoy the stories and background info! For what it's worth, there is some good information on Texas rock history at this site - Prospecting Texas BTW, I think purple makes the best back drop. Jeremy
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Post by txrockhunter on Jan 11, 2016 19:03:52 GMT -5
Awesome presentation, James! I can always count on on learning something from your posts. Thanks for taking the time to put it together! For what it's worth, I think the 1st one looks like something from Minecraft. Very cool!
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Post by txrockhunter on Jan 6, 2016 11:00:23 GMT -5
Beautiful job on those Agates and the presentation! I love the Lakers. You may have to make that last one available by mail.....Texas is a little too far for a road trip!
Thanks for sharing!
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Post by txrockhunter on Jan 2, 2016 23:36:55 GMT -5
The forum need to take a collection and buy a gravel operation on that river. You must be pulled to collect at the expense of your responsibilities living close to such a honey hole. That river has sure carried some fine agate downstream. that multicolored sagenite.... I'm in!
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Post by txrockhunter on Jan 2, 2016 0:30:16 GMT -5
The invite is always open! txrockhunter I was just through Conroe on my way up to Grapeland. If I would have known about the awesome rocks in the area I would have made a side trip on the way back. Hmmmm May have to make a visit back to that customer Will be in the Houston area this spring for work. PLMK if the offer is extended to this rockhound. btw, awesome finds. Absolutely! Just let me know when you are coming to town. This winter's El Nino should have the gravels turned over very well, by the time you come back! FYI......the river gravels are fairly small, mainly 1" - 2". There are some really cool rocks, but you probably won't need your 14" slab saws. Just want to set realistic expectations. Just send me an IM when you know your schedule! Thanks for checking out the post! - Jeremy
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Post by txrockhunter on Dec 28, 2015 14:28:15 GMT -5
Great info, James. You never cease to amaze with the knowledge!
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Post by txrockhunter on Dec 28, 2015 9:00:01 GMT -5
James, love the colors and patterns in those corals! Those Rio's look way cool under magnification! Did you use a macro lens or magnify in photo editing or both? Either way, great job on the tumble and fantastic job with the photos!
Thank you for including a few corals in tumble you did! I will take photos soon.....the wife hijacked the whole box for a Christmas display.
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