elementary
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Post by elementary on Oct 6, 2013 10:20:54 GMT -5
First off --- oops on your name. I've been reading in my head your name as rockpickerfever not rockpickerforever, but I'm fairly sure they are synonyms in this hobby! And ditto on the estate sale comment! I think I got spoiled this last month. I was looking for another local sale but couldn't come across one. The good news is that it enabled me to sleep in Saturday - a rare event.
And don't worry about the photos - the more samples I see the better. I've never been up to that area agate hunting, so these are great!
Do any of you have photos of the actual site? Love to see them!
Lowell
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elementary
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Post by elementary on Oct 5, 2013 19:59:12 GMT -5
Thanks Christopher! I've only seen the material that's solid and not banded/layered with the red. here's a sample from my collection which is mostly what I see from there: And here is one of the three samples I picked up. I wasn't used to the red, nor that layering of the agate. Thanks for showing. I see your point and concur. So for $5 I bought some old stock Raidbow Ridge. I'll settle for that. I wonder what the Alaska agate looked like that used to be in the little cardboard box...or if it was sold to him falsely as Alaskan? Hmmmm. Here's a couple viewpoints of a couple pieces I bought. Maybe I shoulda gone after the bloodstone! Thanks all Rockpickfever too!!! Lowell
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elementary
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Post by elementary on Oct 2, 2013 23:23:28 GMT -5
Huge thanks to all who responded!
Been busy or else would have responded sooner.
Scott and Fish! Thanks for the heads up on the marble. Took a better look and think you are on the money!
Re: The alaskan agate - yeah - I agree that it has much of the same colors but there are attributes that aren't typical of that location. The box I got could have been mislabeled, but I'll see if I can't verify the material somehow.
Thanks Mel - as always! Appreciate the heads up on the Mexican material. I grabbed it cause it looked interesting and I didn't have any. And want to thank you for the polished stones. My class is great this year - even starting an after school science club that about 90% of the class wants to attend. They are a joy.
Hope all is well with all!
Lowell
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elementary
fully equipped rock polisher
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Post by elementary on Sept 28, 2013 19:28:42 GMT -5
What the hey?!
I thought I put this in the member's photo section.
Oh well.
I do need ID's.
ALso - why do cropped photos in Photobucket lose their ability to be connected directly to where you want them posted? Both the links to photobucket were done because I cropped them and lost my ability to use a IMG link.
Hmmm.
Lowell
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elementary
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Post by elementary on Sept 28, 2013 19:19:59 GMT -5
Somehow I've been fortunate enough to get a foot in the door of another sale. This time it was in Simi Valley. I'm learning that 'estate sales' are more of a hassle than 'rock sales'. (I've never had to take a number for a rock sale, but the last two estate sales were a mass of people....also rock sales tend to be $1 a pound but estate sales want to price everything...literally taking blood from a stone.) When I got there this morning I saw a line out the door. At its end was a person handing out numbers for people to get through the front door and see what was in the house. One person I know was standing around so I asked him his number. "93" was his reply. "What was the last number called?" I asked. "60" he replied. I grunted and shambled into the garage, which was available. There I saw overpriced saws and sub-par chunks of stone. In the back room attached to the garage, a book shelf waited with a few dozen quasi-polished geode halves - $5 to $15 a pop. err. As I walked out I caught sight of a series of small cardboard containers set neatly against the wall. They were labeled, and in glancing through them, I suddenly found things I wanted. Each bin had its own price, so I could tell if I wanted to splurge to not. I picked up 6 containers and had them marked for me. (Alaskan agate/misc slabs/ Burro Creek Purple/ Malibu Lake nodules/ Vaquillia slabs/ schorl-tourmaline specimens ----- I left behind a bloodstone pile and when I reconsidered later, they had already been taken) Then I returned outside. I spoke to a few people and they finally left because they didn't want to wait for some number to be called. I stayed for a couple minutes to purchase my finds and wound up talking to one of the estate sales people. I said I didn't want anything from inside the house. I just wanted a peak around the sideyard at the rocks. At first she said everyone had to go through the house, and I said fine, and then offhand "Well, I brought $X dollars to spend, but I'll just cash out these here purchases." She looked at me for a long moment, and then said "I'll let you into the side yard." She was very nice and kind of stressed, with everyone roaming around touching EVERYTHING that might be for sale, but she did a great favor letting me into the yard. Was it worth it? Well, kind of. One guy had just bought three big crates of howlite he evidently sends out to Japan or somewhere for dying purposes. On one of the piles was a piece of what I'm pretty sure was youngite. I pointed at it and said did he need that as well, and he said "I bought these three baskets." So I pointed again and indicated that rock wasn't howlite. Did he want it? Again: "I bought these three baskets." I left it at that. So I dug through the piles and saw Hauser eggs, Lavic jaspers, a bunch of wishy washy agate that looked dug from the local deserts, a couple chunks of whale bone and a container of green jasperish stuff from Gem Hill near Rosamond. I grabbed some jasper nodules with very bright mossy interiors, a chunk of heavy blue copper ore material, and a large chunk of stone that seems to have thundereggs imbedded within - but it doesn't match either Thunderegg Matrix or Rainforest Jasper. There's a picture later. When I came out from behind the house, the woman took me into the house (which had thinned out tremendously by then) and introduced me to the guy taking the money and a place where I could stash my stash if I still wanted to walk around. She said there was one more room with rocks. Well, I was there so I dropped my load and pushed Pushed PUSHED my way into the room. Elbows and knees and hands and feet were everywhere. On the far side of the room was a table set up with mineral specimens and some agates. I was about ready to turn when one piece caught my eye. It was a piece of plume agate, fist sized, covered with chunky druzy. I picked it up, turned it over (the previous owner had glued 3 felt feet underneath so it would stand up on display) and analyzed the colors. Reddish short plumes leading up into a purplish mottled peak. Could it be what I thought it was? A piece from a dug-out site now in a wilderness area near Thumb Butte? Could it be paisley agate? COULD IT? ?!!!!!!! It wasn't Paul Bunyan, but there was an outside chance that it was Northern Cady, but those colors, they whispered to me 'Paisley'. I'll let you tell me if I'm wrong. Pictures follow below. The check showed no price tag. I asked the woman in the corner and she said $15. Fine by me! If it was what I thought it was, then Whoopie!!!!!! Good Price. If it wasn't, then eh - I overpaid by $10. I'll live. I then paid, and carried my materials down the block to where my car was parked. (I never knew estate sales could be so cut throat! I guess a lot of people go to fill their antique stores and sell stuff online.) So, thank you for following me through the morning. That estate sale stuff is different then what I'm used to. Here's the piles: The labeled Vaquilla Agate (got 6 or 7 slabs) Tourmaline/Schorl specimens A sample of the Alaskan agate i996.photobucket.com/albums/af89/3lementary/rock%20sales/IMG_4043_zpsf0ec5dea.jpgBurro Creek slabs and chunk Lavic Slab Unknown Slab (any idea?) i996.photobucket.com/albums/af89/3lementary/rock%20sales/IMG_4048_zpsaa78a343.jpgLarge chunk of imbedded agates. (Idea?) And finally Is it Paisley Agate? Thanks for looking! Lowell
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elementary
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Post by elementary on Sept 21, 2013 23:08:27 GMT -5
Estate sales are for me a bittersweet event as I know they are generally run by a family who has lost a cherished member. I always try to speak to the people and find out more about the rockhound, especially if the person used to be a member of our club. Anyway, got word yesterday of a sale in Fillmore Ca (on Grand Street and is on tomorrow as well, I believe) and headed out with my daughter to see what was there. Arrived and found a couple friends already rummaging around (and knowing them, fearful of all the good stuff being found already - but that was not the case.) We hunted though 20 or so boxes of material and maybe a dozen barrels. A lot of the material was relatively local - Howlite, Kokoweef (man how do you spell that word?) cavern stalagtites, Hauser Geodes, a barrel and box of Siam Siding Chapite (LOTS OF IT), a barrel of sheen obsidian, Paul Bunyan, etc. But there was some special material as well. Here's my take - 140 pounds. $1 a pound. Lots of stuff for the kids. The Haul: Carnelian Texas Springs Limb Casts Assorted T eggs Las Choyas, Lead Pipe Springs, Zacatecas, and one I can't ID - Unknown.... Misc cutting Material - Mosses, Plume, etc. Some samples: (Big Diggin's?) Some slabs - don't know the material offhand....or off any other part of my body.... (got more, but didn't want to go through them all) And Help! Not nodular but seam material that widens out at times. Not sure the origin. Got a shoebox of this stuff... Thanks for looking! Lowell
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elementary
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Post by elementary on Sept 21, 2013 20:52:23 GMT -5
Scott,
I won't be able to make the trip on your weekend. The Oxnard Gem and Mineral Show is that weekend and their focus is Agates. They pulled me aside last year and twisted my arm to put in a couple cases.
I am planning a trip into the Cady's November 2nd (Saturday) and I'm hoping to have a couple other people with me I know. I'll PM you the particulars. I believe you said you have plans on Sunday. Let me know if tentatively that works for you.
I AM ENVIOUS!!!!!
Lowell
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elementary
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Post by elementary on Sept 7, 2013 12:26:44 GMT -5
Nice batch! I've always been partial to sweetwaters!
Thanks for sharing,
Lowell
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elementary
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Post by elementary on Sept 7, 2013 12:17:57 GMT -5
Cool pieces!
Hoping to see you at the Oxnard Show.
Lowell
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elementary
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Post by elementary on Sept 6, 2013 23:56:23 GMT -5
Awesome animal, Mel. I love snakes!
Thanks for saving it.
Last year one of my students came back from a waterfall or pool near Fillmore and said he caught 13 water snakes - every one he could find. He then said he brought them all back.
Angered me to no end. Talk about putting a dent into a local population.
Love the wildlife in your neighborhood! Lowell
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elementary
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Post by elementary on Sept 6, 2013 23:53:07 GMT -5
It is in the latest Index(pg 92) One of my club's members (Jim Brace-Thompson who has a lot of articles in Rock and Gem Mag) produced a couple pics I believe I used.
I has a thick grey rind in the examples I've seen.
I also think it's in Agates and Jaspers by Ron Gibbs for additional images.
Lowell
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elementary
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Post by elementary on Sept 1, 2013 23:34:20 GMT -5
New photos added Sept 1st
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elementary
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Post by elementary on Aug 30, 2013 20:25:31 GMT -5
The sagenite nodule my friend Ron found in the north cadys. I hate him..... Lowell
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elementary
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Post by elementary on Aug 29, 2013 22:38:05 GMT -5
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elementary
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Post by elementary on Aug 29, 2013 22:35:09 GMT -5
Couple notes if you are going out there before hand.
#1 - Do you have exact directions on which road leads back into the hills? It's 10 miles in and there's several roads that point in the same direction, but only one takes you to the promised land. Then there is also multiple offshoots from this road. My friend and I took the wrong one once and found a small desert rose field in the middle of nowhere. The pieces were small but windblown smooth with none of the icky mossy stuff you get underneath pieces from other places. Just the luck of the draw. Unless you know exactly where you are heading, I wouldn't go in. My friend and I are talking about a Saturday trip sometime soon. Talk to me offline and maybe we can coordinate. Multiple cars makes it a bit safer.
#2 - Camping i've seen by Basin Road itself on the way in, but there is no camping by the RR tracks. Train police rousted people out of there a few years ago when it was a hugely popular place to stake your tent or trailer. Closest true camping spots is Afton Canyon, last exit before Basin Road. There is also a KOA in Barstow along with a couple other locations like that. I'm thinking of staying near Barstow, but that might change. 20+ miles the other way is Baker.
#3 - As stated before, I'm heading out (got my permission slip from the missus) the 1st weekend in Nov. I'm going to see if any of the Diamond Pacific guys want to head out Saturday morning. I've been out with them several times and they are great folk. They often will allow their parking lot to be a "Park and Ride" for people going out hunting. The other option is meeting at the offramp, or someone's camp just down the road from it.
Talk to you soon,
Lowell
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elementary
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Post by elementary on Aug 27, 2013 0:36:12 GMT -5
Photos from Kirk slide collection. Article from Rockhound Rambling (Ventura Gem and Mineral Society Newsletter) February 1960 Verdi Antique Field Trip by Bill Evans The Bonanza: In more ways than one. The material was plentiful, and the takers were there, 41 cars strong. How many people? Well, in the neighborhood of 90 to 100. 2 visitors from the Goleta club, 2 from Baldwin Park Club. 6 of our new members on their first trip, and our Junior Club were well represented. Some non-members that were guests of some of our members. There were some from Utah, Colorado, and all the way from Minn. How many of us beat the alarm clock Sunday A.M. and while the coffee was perking you take a flashlight to hunt for some of the tools you thought of while waiting for the alarm, gurgling of coffee, clean the ice from your windshield and start off the break of day. The air was crisp, but with these modern stoves we have in cars we felt like some stuffed donkeys. Soon the coats and sweaters came off as the sun began to penetrate. The snow began to show on the distant mountains, and wished we were there. Before we got to Palmdale the snow came to us, it lined the highway for some distance and we enjoyed it very much. Cars were passed, and cars passed us with waving of arms. Our first turnoff was coming up, there was our V.G.M. big as U please, and about 20 cars already there. This being Grady and Edith's trip, there he was lining up the cars. When I asked where is Edith, he said, "Oh, she's up there sitting on the rocks till we get there." With the air still crisp, some nincom-poop (Evan's) opened a coffee thermos and the aroma nearly started a stampede. At 9 A.M. sharp Grady said time to go --- so following the leaders we went. We found the turnoffs well marked with V.G.M. pointers placed by Edith the day before. There were 28 cars in this procession. We counted 7 cars already there and some came later. Parking was no problem. After all the cars were parked, announcements were made to acquaint all as to where the material was, so following Edith to the nest of the material -- which turned out to be huge boulders of the drooling stuff. Mumblings started and small groups formed. Soon, eavesdropping, one fellow said, "Well, I have a 16 pound block buster (wasn't it Bill Kirk?) and from that gads, bars, hammers, began to show -- shake, rattle, and the material rolled out. MANY THANKS for all of us to you guys that beat out the material for those droolers on the sidelines. Folks were seen staggering down the hill to the cars 1/2 mile away. Bones were dug up by hungry hounds. During lunch, much get acquainted chatter went on. The Club was complimented on their hospitality by the guests. Grady is now lining us up for a short run to the blue Verde Antique. So here we go again. On arriving we found Edith already on the hill waving her arms, "Come up here". Snow being all over the hill the pups found great sport rolling snow balls. P.S. Some were not pups. Plenty material was taken and left. I'll close now with much thanks to Grady and Edith Daries. Your trip chairman. (Except to fix a couple spelling mistakes, nothing was changed in the above report.) Thanks for reading. Others are coming. Lowell
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elementary
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Post by elementary on Aug 25, 2013 19:05:55 GMT -5
Thanks for all the great replies and responses!
I'll be posting a few new ones soon, but I had to pack up the scanner for a few days while getting ready for the new school year.
I love how the then and now photos are being done! Thanks for adding!
And I really would love one of those non-aerodynamic truck/campers they drove around in back then.
Any new photos will be added to this thread and I'll post the update date in the title so you can know when I added images (unless you as a group hate that idea and request new threads.)
Thanks again!
Lowell
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elementary
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Post by elementary on Aug 25, 2013 18:56:34 GMT -5
Just some photos of the North Cady Material. I thought I'd show some pieces of the green fluorite you can find there, along with the jasper which is nearby. The last nodule is typical for the smaller agates there. They're nothing special. I've been polishing up smaller pieces for my students. The fortification piece is the only one I'll be keeping. Fluorite 'Psychedelic Jasper' Nodule (And a Kramer Junction Moss agate to finish - not Cady). thanks for looking, Lowell
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elementary
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Post by elementary on Aug 22, 2013 22:47:29 GMT -5
Unfortunately, my only weekend to go is the 2nd and 3rd, which I've cleared with my wife today. It's the only weekend I can actually be gone for the whole Sat Sun timeframe. I won't be able to get there til late on friday night as I have training which is mandatory that day.
So, sorry for the conflict with others, but I'm in all in for the 2nd and 3rd if that turns out to be the time.... But even if the field trip doesn't happen that weekend I might head out there with a friend of mine.
Lowell
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elementary
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Post by elementary on Aug 14, 2013 11:25:16 GMT -5
Sorry I missed this post!!!!
I'm glad you liked the cr*ppy stuff. I still need to send you a box of the good stuff (same type of material, but larger with less fractures).
The green material is fluorite actually (nice guess tho) that comes from the Northern Cady Mountains near the place Mel finds his plumy jasper. If I go on that field trip, it is a great first stop. You need a small shovel and some water cause basically you are diggin in the tailings that date back 50 years. The pieces are mostly small, but you can find kid-fist sized chunks that polish up wonderfully. It's soft, so you don't treat it like agate (don't tumble!!!!) You dig and sift and wet and keep the pieces that show green.
About a five minute walk up the draw will bring you to an outcrop of jasper I call psychedelic due to its swirly nature (reminds me of San Francisco rock posters from the 1960's). Mel's jasper I've never found, but I've not been beyond this point.
At the mouth of the draw is a river basic where you can find aragonite chunks of you're lucky.
I received your letter - you are most kind. Thank you!
Gotta run, but I love cady stuff for tumbling.
Lowell
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