elementary
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Post by elementary on Feb 6, 2010 20:42:28 GMT -5
Montana and Idaho (see other thread) are the next two states I'll be requesting images for.
`After these two states, I will be moving over into North and South Dakota.
We are now requesting images of material from the great state of Montana for this thread. The images can be of rough, polished specimens, cabs, or tumbled stones. If you have any that you're willing to share, please post with a brief note on the region and its common name (if it has one.) Credit for the photo will be assigned to your name or online title (or not at all if that's your choice.)
Any material that fits under the heading agate/jasper is welcome to be posted here, even if it is from lesser known locations.
A sample of some of the better known agates/locations we're hoping to have provided are: Dryhead Agate Montana Agate Bear Canyon Tom Miner Wood but it doesn't have to be from these places.
There are many places I've not mentioned that would be readily known to people outside the state. We'd love to see sample of these. If in doubt, POST!
Lowell
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elementary
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Post by elementary on Feb 6, 2010 20:28:17 GMT -5
Mike,
Those are perfect, thanks.
Lowell
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elementary
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since February 2006
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Post by elementary on Feb 6, 2010 4:20:04 GMT -5
Here is a template for the covers of this series of indexes. It's for the first file, and I would like feedback on its look. This project is for everyone, and if something doesn't work for you, please let me know. The photos will/can change as we gather images for Idaho and Montana. (Dryheads, Bruneau, and more, oh my!) How's it look?
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elementary
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since February 2006
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Post by elementary on Feb 6, 2010 3:56:10 GMT -5
Mike,
Ah! You just made my night! Your posting is exactly what this project is all about and as I scrolled down through all your material, I was overjoyed. The value of this whole project is the local collector sharing his state's material and you're the first to download an extensive amount of your information here -- besides Mel providing us access to his comprehensive collection. It provides me the hope that this index can become what we want it to be!
All your photos provided exactly what was needed, but a few were slightly blurred and if you can retake those so the agate can be more clearly seen, I'd appreciate it, as it would look better on the page. Some of the blurred items won't need another as you provided other clearer images of the same material. Ones to redo (if you don't mind) include the first and last images of the Casper Mountain Red Agate (the one on the Covington's - which is made in my home town of Redlands--and the one with the two pieces that look to be behind glass. If you can get better light on those - that would be great!) The Banded Onyx Polished stones are also just out of focus, and reshooting that one would aid its look. Everything else is wonderful, super, stupendous, and perfect! Awesome post!
To everyone else who posted - A Huge Thank You! I can't wait to see what else is up everyone's sleeve going forward!
Lowell
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elementary
fully equipped rock polisher
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Post by elementary on Feb 5, 2010 22:54:53 GMT -5
That's one wicked looking axe-head you've got there!
Wonderful work!
Lowell
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elementary
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Post by elementary on Feb 5, 2010 22:52:39 GMT -5
Cut it. Said "That's different." Picture doesn't do the red justice. Thank you for looking! Lowell
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elementary
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Post by elementary on Feb 5, 2010 22:46:27 GMT -5
It's so depressing. I don't have much from this region - mostly what others have posted but theirs are better specimens. All I have worth this index is a rough piece of Sweetwater.
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elementary
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Post by elementary on Feb 5, 2010 2:16:39 GMT -5
88pathoffroad,
Thanks for the all the information! I wish I lived closer. If I did, I'd be there to try my luck. I'm an agate nodule junkie. If you've seen the Agate ID Index we're working on, I'd like to ask if I may I use your photos for the material from Oregon when we get there.
Thanks much!
Lowell
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elementary
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Post by elementary on Feb 4, 2010 10:27:15 GMT -5
Mel,
I put it in because I didn't expect much material (to keep it simple at the beginning), but I realized I wanted to slowly do a tour of the middle to upper states before tackling the south and west. I also figured that I should have enough room in the first file I create to encompass these 1st 5 states I've mentioned, and I wanted them grouped fairly close together, hence Colorado. The main items I expected/hoped to see are the Del Norte, as it's been getting more play lately (article in Rock and Gem/inclusion in recent Fine Agate Calendar), Sowbelly Agate, as it's been around a while, and some of the Wolf Creek material. Everything else is going to be a bonus at this point. Dino bone I'm thinking deserves its own subset for the reasons you mention. It should be included, but I think maybe its own heading would work best. It allows for ID of this material without the exactness of location, when that is in doubt. I agree that the local collectors are going to have to be called upon for this project. But I'm thinking we, as visitors to Gem/Mineral Shows have cameras in our hands - so for those interested in helping in this project - I need to find out the policy/legality of photographing other people's material and then displaying the image. Do we, as the public, have the right to distribute images of other people's rocks that we photograph in public, like a show? Or is that somehow 'owned' by the rock owner? Thanks,
Lowell
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elementary
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Post by elementary on Feb 3, 2010 15:52:38 GMT -5
Updating this post so I can pull the images for the next Agate Index (Northern States - Wyoming Montana Minnesota Illinois Michigan Ohio Iowa across to the northeast. Plus Kentucky and others. Still finalizing the final roster.)
Please add images from these regions if you wish...
Lowell
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elementary
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Post by elementary on Feb 3, 2010 15:45:52 GMT -5
Colorado and Wyoming (see other thread) are the next two states I'll be requesting images for. `Both have well-known agate deposits but do not have as many as either the Pacific states or the Southern Border states (which will be coming later. `After these two states, I will be moving up into Montana and Idaho.
We are now requesting images of material from the great state of Colorado for this thread. The images can be of rough, polished specimens, cabs, or tumbled stones. If you have any that you're willing to share, please post with a brief note on the region and its common name (if it has one.) Credit for the photo will be assigned to your name or online title (or not at all if that's your choice.)
Any material that fits under the heading agate/jasper is welcome to be posted here, even if it is from lesser known locations.
Current Material on Post: from Mel dino bone coprolite Creed - Sowbelly agate agatized coral
A sample of some of the better known agates/locations we're hoping to have provided are: Wolf Creek Pass Geodes/Nodules Sowbelly Agate (would like a good purple shot) Del Norte Thundereggs Trinidad green jasper Fairplay - blue agate Royal Gorge/Red Canons region "Garden Park?" - banded agate, geodes but it doesn't have to be from these places. There are many places I've not mentioned that would be readily known to people outside the state. We'd love to see sample of these. If in doubt, POST!
Lowell
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elementary
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Post by elementary on Feb 3, 2010 15:32:48 GMT -5
Mel, Thank you! Keep me honest! I'm not the expert here - so I appreciate any corrections. The description you give is the one I've seen most, but there have been a couple photos with material similar to what I've posted labeled pigeon blood. It also explains why the Western Gem Hunter Hunter's Atlas switched sites for where this was found between editions. So - How would you list the above material? Pigeon Blood, Utah, specific site unknown? Or drop the material from the Index as too undefined for our goals? Thanks as always for your guidance.
Lowell
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elementary
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Post by elementary on Feb 3, 2010 14:01:08 GMT -5
Here are a few from my bucket. I'll update with polished specimens as they occur. (And yes, you've seen a couple of these before, but they are at home here.) *I have Dugway, but nothing that works as well as those already submitted. Klondike Bluffs, (Told near Moab by friend who collected them. Will verify.) From San Rafael Reef area. (Mel identified.) Possible coprolite material Pigeon Blood agate - according to book, from near Moab. (anybody give a better location?) I've also seen Pigeon blood on line with a clearer backdrop to the red spots. I don't think I have any more material at present. I am going to my local clubs to see what material they have. Our Gem/Mineral Show is in March, and I'll be looking for specimens there to photograph (dealer permission and displays). Lowell
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elementary
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Post by elementary on Feb 3, 2010 12:40:31 GMT -5
In looking at what you are doing to these stones, I gasp, kneel, and say that I am a mere fingerpainter compared to the mastery of art displayed on this thread.
I am in awe.
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elementary
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Post by elementary on Feb 1, 2010 19:51:43 GMT -5
Thanks Steve and Mel for being the first to post. I'll have my meager Utah items up soon.
Chuck, I'd love to have pictures of rough material (and wet slabs) as not every piece we (as collectors) come across has been cut. Having pictures of material in multiple forms (rough, cut, polished, cabbed) just provides us a better chance of identifying unknowns. I'll take anything at this point to work with and begin the project.
I'm in the process of contacting a few rock shops in Utah that have advertised on line with photos. I'm thinking of offering a space for their logo at the end of the file in exchange for free use of their on line images. They get publicity and we get a broader and deeper collection of photos to use.
Thanks to all for your support!
Lowell
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elementary
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Member since February 2006
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Post by elementary on Feb 1, 2010 0:26:14 GMT -5
Played on the machine last night with some stuff I hadn't played with before. I'm trying to work on smoother curves. Results: Warm up piece: Seam Agate from Northern Cady's When I started grinding, the red was just a small dot. I liked how it grew. -sorry for the darker pictures Petoskey Stone Never tried them before and was happy with how it shines. Material from Hauser Beds from the flats they call the Corn Field as it's loaded with tiny nodules the size of corn kernels. This material, though, was different. It's a little softer than agate. Not sure what to call it. I have a batch of lil pieces tumbling. And finally got to work for the first time on dino bone from that ongoing estate sale I visit. Back side is broken as is the bottom, so I tried to create something that had a nice front that hid the ragged sections. Hope it worked out. Thanks for looking! Lowell
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elementary
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Post by elementary on Jan 31, 2010 23:54:08 GMT -5
Love the crazy lace...
Looks like how I envision a dragon's toenail would appear!
Very cool!
Lowell
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elementary
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Post by elementary on Jan 31, 2010 23:48:36 GMT -5
Mel, What criteria do you use for adding pics to your notebooks? Are they only North American, or do you add Australia, South American, and more? Is there anything you leave out? I guess - what's easier to answer - what do you look for? or what do not include? You do know how to draw a crowd! Lowell
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elementary
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Post by elementary on Jan 31, 2010 19:09:05 GMT -5
*New information below on contents of post(for general viewing) and desired/missing material.
For anyone who still has stuff to share - Please- Drag out your Utah material! Share with the world!
We are starting this project with a request for images of material (agate/jasper) from the great state of Utah. Any material posted here will be considered for inclusion into the database. (We only need a couple images for each specimen type - so if we receive more than a few, only a couple will be published.)
If you have any that you're willing to share, please post with a brief note on the region and its common name (if it has one.) Credit for the photo will be assigned to your name or online title (or not at all if that's your choice.)
Current material (listed by provider, location - specimen.) by SteveHolmes (beautiful specimen!) Dugway by Mel Heber - Red Horn Coral Black Horn Coral Hanksville - Coprolite San Rafael Swell - Oyster Agate Delta - Black Agate Dugway Region - Amethystine Lace Agate Moab - Agated Barite Nodule Brianhead - Moss and Dendritic from Lori (sitnrap) Dugway Geodes from Lowell (elementary) Klondike Bluffs - agate San Rafael Swell - nodule, possible coprolite Moab(?) Pigeon Blood agate from Mel Green River - nodule Delta Utah - Tiffany Stone from SteveHolmes Snowville, Utah - Variscite Shooterang Canyon, Henry Mountains - Coprolite Bringham City - Turritella Pigeon Blood Milford - Picasso Marble or Picture Jasper Yellow Cat near Moab - Agatized Barite Nodule by mel Brianhead - rough agate from SteveHolmes Dino bone Yellow Cat near Moab - Petrified wood
Any material that fits under the heading agate/jasper is welcome to be posted here, even if it is from lesser known locations. A sample of some of the better known agates/locations we're hoping to have provided are: grape agate from thompson region Kanab flame agate golden swirl agate from near Levan St. George/Central - white agate geodes agate from Yellow Cat locality agate from the Cisco region agate from the Hanksville region agate from the San Rafael Reef region but it doesn't have to be just these places. There are dozens of places I've not mentioned that would be readily known to people outside the state. We'd love to see sample of these. If in doubt, POST!
In two weeks I'll have an initial file to see what works and doesn't.
Thanks all!
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elementary
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Post by elementary on Jan 31, 2010 18:47:31 GMT -5
I love the green.
Are they prone to pitting or fractures? Or are they fairly stable? Do you have to treat those stones different from the others?
thanks Lowell
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