Post by Sabre52 on Sept 5, 2022 9:25:49 GMT -5
Howdy folks,
Read Brians post on Royal Sahara Jasper (AKA Pebbles of the Nile), slabbing with interest, and it reminded me I finally found my last example of Owens Lake Jasper the other day. a tumble polished bola tie stone. A little background. A buddy and I were hunting paleo artifacts on an ancient gravel bar on the south side of Owens Lake in California, just west of Dirty Sock Springs. On the gravel bar we found evidence of Amerind knapping in the form of fragments of this interesting jasper. Definitely a picture type, high silica and polishes well. Definitely not sourced on the gravel bar as we found no cores or evidence of rough nodules. Fragments appeared to be off nodules with a chocolate brown exterior. Never gave it much thought as I was obsessed with artifacts and not hounding in those days but in later years, I went back just on a brief passing through visit and could not find the location due to so much new activity at the lake. Then, Royal Sahara Jasper appeared om the market and I was amazed at how similar the two materials appear. Both appear to be silica rich mudballs with nice picture jasper in the inside. I do remember the east shore of Owens lake south of Keeler had at the time large gravel bars as we hunted artifacts in the sand dunes just above the gravel bars. Those dunes and bars appear on Google maps to still be present and I've always wondered if that was the source of the nodules the ancient Amerinds used for knapping. Always wanted to go back there and chip some mudballs if I could find them but I'm sure I never will. Just thought I'd mention this again in case some intrepid California rockhound here on the board is in the area some time and wants to check it out Here's aa pick of the pebble fragment I tumbled.
owens lake jasper by lonerider652000, on Flickr
Read Brians post on Royal Sahara Jasper (AKA Pebbles of the Nile), slabbing with interest, and it reminded me I finally found my last example of Owens Lake Jasper the other day. a tumble polished bola tie stone. A little background. A buddy and I were hunting paleo artifacts on an ancient gravel bar on the south side of Owens Lake in California, just west of Dirty Sock Springs. On the gravel bar we found evidence of Amerind knapping in the form of fragments of this interesting jasper. Definitely a picture type, high silica and polishes well. Definitely not sourced on the gravel bar as we found no cores or evidence of rough nodules. Fragments appeared to be off nodules with a chocolate brown exterior. Never gave it much thought as I was obsessed with artifacts and not hounding in those days but in later years, I went back just on a brief passing through visit and could not find the location due to so much new activity at the lake. Then, Royal Sahara Jasper appeared om the market and I was amazed at how similar the two materials appear. Both appear to be silica rich mudballs with nice picture jasper in the inside. I do remember the east shore of Owens lake south of Keeler had at the time large gravel bars as we hunted artifacts in the sand dunes just above the gravel bars. Those dunes and bars appear on Google maps to still be present and I've always wondered if that was the source of the nodules the ancient Amerinds used for knapping. Always wanted to go back there and chip some mudballs if I could find them but I'm sure I never will. Just thought I'd mention this again in case some intrepid California rockhound here on the board is in the area some time and wants to check it out Here's aa pick of the pebble fragment I tumbled.
owens lake jasper by lonerider652000, on Flickr