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Post by txrockhunter on Dec 15, 2017 13:46:58 GMT -5
I finally made it over to George West, to hunt the County Roads for Pet Wood. I've seen material from the area and heard others Sabre52 talk about hunting there, but haven't ever been able to make the trip. Wednesday, my luck changed and had a few hours to kill after a customer fishing trip, about 2 hours away. The strategy is to find County Roads in the George West / Three Rivers area, and hunt along the edge of the road. I was only able to hunt 2 roads, as my tire decided it was a great time to deflate! Even so, I was able to fill up a 5 gallon bucket in about 1.5 hours. Here is a small map of the area. I hunted 441 and half of 443 before I noticed the flat tire. There is some beautiful material out there! I picked up a bunch of tumble size pieces, but also found some really nice 2-3 pounders that will make some really nice small slabs. Here are a few of the finds (sorry for the cell phone pics).
1) 2) 3) 4) 2 ponder 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) 11) 12) Limb cast?
13) Looks like there could be some moss inside.
14)
15) 3 ponder that Is one of the favorite finds. Hoping to get it cut soon! 16)
17)
18) Even found a little botryoidal.
19) Found this piece that looks like it's been worked, but it's hard to tell.
Thanks for Looking!
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Fish
Dec 8, 2017 18:57:37 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by txrockhunter on Dec 8, 2017 18:57:37 GMT -5
All over my yard and vehicles, roads are clear. It's a local "Craft Show", not quite the right venue to sell rocks and minerals but did ok in the last two. Not sure it helped that I was the only guy selling rocks. The good thing is that the facility is only about 6 miles from the house and I can always let friends and neighbors know I am there selling. A few folks who bought in those last two Shows asked me when I would be back so maybe get some repeat business. For me it's all "Beer and Gas" money. One never knows when he may be out in West Texas with Jeremy chasing those agates, or South Texas getting mad at them Rio Agates! Henry Like Bob said, post some pictures of your sale items. Still need to line up our local hunt, Henry.... Good luck at your show this weekend!
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Fish
Dec 7, 2017 21:57:24 GMT -5
via mobile
toiv0 likes this
Post by txrockhunter on Dec 7, 2017 21:57:24 GMT -5
Well actually a rock. Was rained out today and stopped by a spot txrockhunter showed me. Rock on! Maybe we can hook up before you head home. I have some stuff for you to take back to MN.....not be as cute as that fish, but should make some sweet cabs!
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Post by txrockhunter on Nov 24, 2017 10:19:12 GMT -5
Great tumbles & photos, James! The variety in those Rios is amazing. I just got the Galaxy 8 and have been somewhat disappointed with the picture quality. The focus seams a little soft with the auto-focus. It got a little sharper, when I used thee manual focus in pro mode. I do think I got better photos from the 6. Or, maybe the dslr has made my expectations too lofty.... I still have a long way to go, to get to Randy's quality! How did you get to the pro mode? On my 7 it was easy to do, now with the 8+ I can't figure it out. With the camera up, slide the screen from left to right. That reveals the camera options menu. It's kinda weird....
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Post by txrockhunter on Nov 24, 2017 8:38:52 GMT -5
Great tumbles & photos, James! The variety in those Rios is amazing.
I just got the Galaxy 8 and have been somewhat disappointed with the picture quality. The focus seams a little soft with the auto-focus. It got a little sharper, when I used thee manual focus in pro mode. I do think I got better photos from the 6. Or, maybe the dslr has made my expectations too lofty.... I still have a long way to go, to get to Randy's quality!
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Post by txrockhunter on Nov 24, 2017 7:58:26 GMT -5
@garage Rocker did you find out what this is? That was likely sent to me by txrockhunter, via AzRockGeek. But maybe Sabre52 could help with an ID. I'm late for the party, again! Fantastic batch, Randy! I really like 10, 11, & the top 2 in 13, but really, they're all great! Quite a variety of material and all very well finished. I think the material in 12, came from a location just north of Phoenix. Tim AzRockGeek took me up there. Some great moss agate! Great job on the finish! Kicking myself, that I've never tumbled any!
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Post by txrockhunter on Nov 14, 2017 14:28:18 GMT -5
Here we are goofing off and James is out there doing genius stuff. Joke's on us, Jeremy. It always ends up on us. Fun while it lasted...... (doesn't mean you have to give up on the photoshop project, though)
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Post by txrockhunter on Nov 14, 2017 14:11:11 GMT -5
I'm pretty sure Randy's in Photoshop, giving you an opportunity to be Jim Carey, right now! Can't wait to see the new Jim....... Think this is a suitable jumping off point, Jeremy? I'll lay off this time, I've been pretty rough on James. This might be a little too rough.....
This may be more appropriate....
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Post by txrockhunter on Nov 14, 2017 13:44:41 GMT -5
Who, me? If I come back in another life can I be Jim Carrey ? I'm pretty sure Randy's in Photoshop, giving you an opportunity to be Jim Carey, right now! Can't wait to see the new Jim.......
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Post by txrockhunter on Nov 14, 2017 9:36:15 GMT -5
I cheated and looked at them on Flickr already. Nice stuff, look forward to seeing it all polished up in 4 days. I saw these on Flickr, yesterday too..... Unbelievable the variety of colors and patterns, in those Rio's! I have to figure out a way to get a trip together. I'd even ditch my Marfa stuff to make room for the haul! Can't wait to see the finished material!
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Post by txrockhunter on Nov 13, 2017 17:52:47 GMT -5
Damn, Randy Garage Rocker , it didn't even take 2 full pages to end up with the fat guy at a shooting range...... 1,000 post ago, it would have taken at least 4 or 5 pages to escalate that far. Not sure what my point is, other than to say, 2,500 posts has made you a lot more efficient! Seriously though, your ability to produce great tumbles and then professionally photograph them, has forced a lot of us to rethink and refine our own processes. You have definitely had a positive impact on this community! On a personal level, you are the main reason I bought a camera an started down that road! Your encouragement to step outside that box and experiment with different forms of photography, has been invaluable! Can't wait to see what's next! - Jeremy Thanks, Jeremy, it takes a special kind of skill to get under the administrator's skin so much he pulls out the big guns (pun intended) so quickly. I am blessed.
I would tell you to not be such a stranger and get on the forum more often, but if you are out taking those beautiful pics instead, then I understand. If I had anything at all to do with you jumping into that pursuit, then I'm honored. You are turning out amazing work. Dare to dream, someday we need to get a photography/rock hounding trip on the books.
Humor is medicine for the soul! I'd love to be on here more! Work, family, Kids activities, and photography have limited my time! Getting something on the books needs to be a priority!!!!
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Post by txrockhunter on Nov 13, 2017 15:42:10 GMT -5
Jeremy, I am still looking to make the trip over to meet up with you and walk the gravel banks on the San Jacinto. Have made two rock trips since March to catch you up on. Maybe aim for after Thanksgivng weekend, before Christmas. I do have 20 inch saw, that manages to cut 98% of my rocks. Have 5 or 6 large pieces that will need a bigger saw to cut. The good news is they will not spoil waiting on the bigger saw Henry Timing sounds good, for our trip to the San Jacinto! Anything after the 1st weekend in December is good. Can't wait to hear about those 2 trips! Your 20" saw will cut a little more than my 8" trim saw, so I might have to barter for a little cutting help! Look forward to getting together!
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Post by txrockhunter on Nov 13, 2017 13:46:20 GMT -5
Dang, Henry! That's some great looking material there! You need any help processing that stuff? Still need to get you down to the San Jacinto, for a little rock hunting and catching up!
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Post by txrockhunter on Nov 13, 2017 13:40:19 GMT -5
Damn, Randy Garage Rocker, it didn't even take 2 full pages to end up with the fat guy at a shooting range...... 1,000 post ago, it would have taken at least 4 or 5 pages to escalate that far. Not sure what my point is, other than to say, 2,500 posts has made you a lot more efficient! Seriously though, your ability to produce great tumbles and then professionally photograph them, has forced a lot of us to rethink and refine our own processes. You have definitely had a positive impact on this community! On a personal level, you are the main reason I bought a camera an started down that road! Your encouragement to step outside that box and experiment with different forms of photography, has been invaluable! Can't wait to see what's next! - Jeremy
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Post by txrockhunter on Nov 13, 2017 9:53:21 GMT -5
Great Batch, James! Love those 3 large Rio's, guarding the paper plates in the 1st pic! Great shine and the variety of colors always amazes me. Hoping to get lucky, with an invitation to spend a day hunting with you on the next trip ! The paper plates are most likely a result of your wife's negative reaction, to using her heirloom dish towel as packaging material...... At least you're still learning! - Jeremy
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Post by txrockhunter on Nov 13, 2017 9:12:44 GMT -5
Great Batch, Dave! Great finish from a fully tumbled batch! Really like 14, 15, & 16.
Thanks, for posting! - Jeremy
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Post by txrockhunter on Sept 15, 2017 13:53:59 GMT -5
Beautiful thundereggs! I think you cut them all perfect! I think you're right on the money with 1 and 16 being Buchanon. Not as confident on #2 because of the color of the rind., but it's beautiful. #3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13 and 14 all look like McDermitt varieties. #2 looks exactly like something I've seen in the Geode Kid's display in Deming at the Museum, but I can't put a finger on it. I have his CD. If I can find it I'm sure it will jump out at me. #4 is a mutant...lol. #5 the agate looks like Friend Ranch, but can't be sure. #15 may be a Priday. Nice group! Craig Excellent! Thanks, Craig! Some of the cuts are somewhat lucky......the ones not posted, for obvious reasons, tell me so. If you figure out #2, I'd love to know. Thanks for sharing your knowledge!
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Post by txrockhunter on Sept 15, 2017 13:27:10 GMT -5
Thanks, Randy! I think you need to go play around with that lap! Other than slabbing and cabbing or face polishing and displaying, there aren't a whole lot of options. Like you said, it takes a lot of work to get to the tumble-able parts and there's no guarantee it will tumble if you get it out. I've tumbled a few of the solid Las Choyas nodules, but never tried to tumble any of the thundereggs. If memory serves correct, you've posted at least 1 tumbled thunderegg, haven't you? Either way, I love the surprise of cutting them open and using Flickr as a display case. I've picked #1, 5, 6, 14-17 as favorites and I would definitely make the effort to get something done with those beauties. Not that the others aren't worthy too. I guess 'love/hate' is misleading. I definitely love getting to see what's inside, but don't hate anything about them, of course. Just have a bucket of them that are really too big to handle properly with my saw, and I'm not going to bust them up, so they are sitting there like a bucket of prehistoric batting cage baseballs, waiting to be hit. Then, as mentioned, for tumbling, you've got some work ahead of you. I guess love/frustrated relationship is more precise.
I have tumbled the halves of the small (golf ball size) thundereggs Fossilman sent me. At least a few. They came out nice, I like it for a different tumble look.
How big are the ones displayed in your Flickr showcase?
I love that tumbled TE! I've got to try tumbling a few....... As far as size goes, the first 3 are about 2"-3" and the others range from 4" to 6" (that last one is about 6"). I just about fell over, when I read your Prehistoric Batting Cage Balls description! That's hilarious!
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Post by txrockhunter on Sept 15, 2017 13:02:12 GMT -5
I am no expert as far as what is what, but those are all stunning! Cut them wrong? I don't think so. Nice eggs, Jeremy! txrockhunter Thanks, Jean! At first, I spent too much time trying to read and orient the TE's based on Geode Kid's explanations and diagrams, but never really saw anything that looked like his drawings. Just cut it! I think you said it best in your post from a few years ago...... Orenting and Cutting ThundereggsAttachments:
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Post by txrockhunter on Sept 15, 2017 12:19:55 GMT -5
Wow, that's a bunch of awesome eggs! I have a love/hate relationship with those things. I like cutting them and really like looking at them, but have difficulty putting them to use. It takes a lot of work to get them tumble ready, they're so irregular on the inside and require a lot of matrix removal. Never have polished anything on my vibrating lap, but I'm sure that would be the way to go, to keep those halves intact. What do you plan to do??? Thanks, Randy! I think you need to go play around with that lap! Other than slabbing and cabbing or face polishing and displaying, there aren't a whole lot of options. Like you said, it takes a lot of work to get to the tumble-able parts and there's no guarantee it will tumble if you get it out. I've tumbled a few of the solid Las Choyas nodules, but never tried to tumble any of the thundereggs. If memory serves correct, you've posted at least 1 tumbled thunderegg, haven't you? Either way, I love the surprise of cutting them open and using Flickr as a display case.
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