dillonf
fully equipped rock polisher
Hounding and tumbling
Member since February 2022
Posts: 1,595
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Post by dillonf on Sept 17, 2023 6:11:40 GMT -5
That Llanite is something else! Those look like they are going to be great when they're done!! Thanks Jason! Based on what I've read about Llanite I had low expectations - most folks saying it is fairly bland. The variation in brown in these is cool and the blue flecks really pop. We will find out how it takes a shine??
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Post by velodromed on Sept 17, 2023 9:17:14 GMT -5
Nice! That Llanite did turn out very well! Thanks Velo. There are 2 pieces of the same stuff in the box I sent you. I noticed that! I’m excited to get them tumbling eventually.
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michiganpebbler
spending too much on rocks
Member since April 2023
Posts: 344
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Post by michiganpebbler on Sept 17, 2023 10:31:10 GMT -5
The llanite is cool! Love the blue specs in it.
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dillonf
fully equipped rock polisher
Hounding and tumbling
Member since February 2022
Posts: 1,595
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Post by dillonf on Oct 21, 2023 12:07:41 GMT -5
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Post by jasoninsd on Oct 21, 2023 19:54:55 GMT -5
Fantastic looking tumbles Dillon!! Of course I'm partial to the Prairie Agates! LOL - However, those all look fantastic!
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dillonf
fully equipped rock polisher
Hounding and tumbling
Member since February 2022
Posts: 1,595
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Post by dillonf on Oct 21, 2023 21:24:00 GMT -5
Fantastic looking tumbles Dillon!! Of course I'm partial to the Prairie Agates! LOL - However, those all look fantastic! Thank you Sir! Several of those SD Agates have some great banding!! Most of them need another 2-3 months of coarse grinding.
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Post by velodromed on Oct 21, 2023 21:32:52 GMT -5
Wow!! are you doing a fantastic job on that petrified wood and banded chert! Those moss agates are beautiful.
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dillonf
fully equipped rock polisher
Hounding and tumbling
Member since February 2022
Posts: 1,595
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Post by dillonf on Oct 21, 2023 21:38:17 GMT -5
Wow!! are you doing a fantastic job on that petrified wood and banded chert! Those moss agates are beautiful. Thanks Velo! There is a nice blue Jasp-agate in the batch you gave me. I haven't done a closeup of it yet - needs a lot more grinding - hoping I don't grind the color out!
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RWA3006
Cave Dweller
Member since March 2009
Posts: 4,214
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Post by RWA3006 on Oct 21, 2023 23:27:25 GMT -5
I'm gratified the moss agate is turning out so beautiful. 176 years ago Pioneers where literally walking over and past the very stones you have on their way out West.
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dillonf
fully equipped rock polisher
Hounding and tumbling
Member since February 2022
Posts: 1,595
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Post by dillonf on Oct 22, 2023 5:42:54 GMT -5
I'm gratified the moss agate is turning out so beautiful. 176 years ago Pioneers where literally walking over and past the very stones you have on their way out West. Yes, they are coming out nicely! There are some, not quite ready yet, that have a wonderful red/purple (Merlot) color. It reminds me of the purples often seen in Swazi agates. Once they are further along I'll get some pics. Thank you for the historical context! That is part of the wonder of rockhounding and tumbling - remaining connected to the history that these stones have witnessed. That is also part of my fascination with the coprolite you are an expert in - its amazing to think that we have just inherited the land of dinosaurs and are traversing some of the same lands they did millions of years ago.
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Post by velodromed on Oct 22, 2023 6:24:54 GMT -5
Wow!! are you doing a fantastic job on that petrified wood and banded chert! Those moss agates are beautiful. Thanks Velo! There is a nice blue Jasp-agate in the batch you gave me. I haven't done a closeup of it yet - needs a lot more grinding - hoping I don't grind the color out! Really!? Those are fantastic and fairly rare finds. I love when unique rocks uncover during the tumbling process. Post a picture of it, usually the blue goes through and through. I’m curious to see it though.
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dillonf
fully equipped rock polisher
Hounding and tumbling
Member since February 2022
Posts: 1,595
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Post by dillonf on Oct 22, 2023 6:26:19 GMT -5
Thanks Velo! There is a nice blue Jasp-agate in the batch you gave me. I haven't done a closeup of it yet - needs a lot more grinding - hoping I don't grind the color out! Really!? Those are fantastic and fairly rare fines. I love when unique rocks uncover during the tumbling process. Post a picture of it, usually the blue goes through and through. I’m curious to see it though. Will do at the next clean out - in ~2-3 weeks.
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michiganpebbler
spending too much on rocks
Member since April 2023
Posts: 344
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Post by michiganpebbler on Oct 22, 2023 10:12:37 GMT -5
Those are all looking good. I love watching the pattern of the rocks emerge. Roll on!
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dillonf
fully equipped rock polisher
Hounding and tumbling
Member since February 2022
Posts: 1,595
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Post by dillonf on Nov 6, 2023 21:43:01 GMT -5
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Post by jasoninsd on Nov 7, 2023 23:11:50 GMT -5
Great job on all of those Dillon!
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dillonf
fully equipped rock polisher
Hounding and tumbling
Member since February 2022
Posts: 1,595
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Post by dillonf on Nov 8, 2023 6:07:25 GMT -5
Great job on all of those Dillon! Thanks Jason. The Llanite has proven tricky. It pits a lot during the polish stage in the vibe. I'll probably bring them back to 220 and polish them in the rotary to see if that works better. I was happy with all the others - those SD Prairie agates are very cool, and that Wyoming moss agate I got from Randy takes a great polish.
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Post by HankRocks on Nov 8, 2023 7:49:25 GMT -5
Great job on all of those Dillon! Thanks Jason. The Llanite has proven tricky. It pits a lot during the polish stage in the vibe. I'll probably bring them back to 220 and polish them in the rotary to see if that works better. I was happy with all the others - those SD Prairie agates are very cool, and that Wyoming moss agate I got from Randy takes a great polish. Dillon With Llanite I have had mixed results and I believe some of that is related to getting rough that has not been weathered. Most of the better pieces I collected and polished were darker and had not been exposed to the weathering process. The better pieces I found were on the west side of the road where I was able to get down below the surface rocks. I have also had better luck polishing the cut side of a couple larger pieces on the Vib Lap which eliminated the collisions involved in tumbling. Llanite seems to be more prone to bruising and frosting , similar to Ark Quartz. When I get some time I will dig down into my finished material flats and pull out a piece.
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Post by jasoninsd on Nov 8, 2023 10:36:32 GMT -5
Great job on all of those Dillon! Thanks Jason. The Llanite has proven tricky. It pits a lot during the polish stage in the vibe. I'll probably bring them back to 220 and polish them in the rotary to see if that works better. I was happy with all the others - those SD Prairie agates are very cool, and that Wyoming moss agate I got from Randy takes a great polish. Those Sweetwater Agates have to be "kissing cousins" to Montana Agates...and what's not to love about either one! LOL
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hplcman
spending too much on rocks
Just getting into this....
Member since August 2022
Posts: 414
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Post by hplcman on Nov 8, 2023 10:47:28 GMT -5
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dillonf
fully equipped rock polisher
Hounding and tumbling
Member since February 2022
Posts: 1,595
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Post by dillonf on Nov 8, 2023 19:32:14 GMT -5
Thanks Jason. The Llanite has proven tricky. It pits a lot during the polish stage in the vibe. I'll probably bring them back to 220 and polish them in the rotary to see if that works better. I was happy with all the others - those SD Prairie agates are very cool, and that Wyoming moss agate I got from Randy takes a great polish. Dillon With Llanite I have had mixed results and I believe some of that is related to getting rough that has not been weathered. Most of the better pieces I collected and polished were darker and had not been exposed to the weathering process. The better pieces I found were on the west side of the road where I was able to get down below the surface rocks. I have also had better luck polishing the cut side of a couple larger pieces on the Vib Lap which eliminated the collisions involved in tumbling. Llanite seems to be more prone to bruising and frosting , similar to Ark Quartz. When I get some time I will dig down into my finished material flats and pull out a piece. Thanks Hank! I'd love to see some of your polished Llanite! I have a mix of weathered stuff, and some darker stuff that hasn't been weathered. Most of the unweathered stuff is big chunks that I need a bigger saw to cut (on my list!). I always enjoy seeing your Ark quartz, and reading about your digs in the crystal mines. We are heading back up to Ark to dig in the crystal mines this November for my wife's birthday. We haven't picked what mines we are going to yet, but we are really looking forward to the trip!
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