Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,456
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Post by Sabre52 on Jan 4, 2009 12:42:00 GMT -5
Howdy folks, Well, Randy was complaining about not enough pics etc so I thought I'd take pics of a few more of my specimens I'll probably never bring myself to chop up. Thanks for looking....Mel My best piece of Utah red agatized coral. This one is over four inches long and almost complete plus, it's a nice round full pattern example: Polished half of a Dulcote Agate ( potato stone) from the Mendip Hills, Somerset, UK. Snakeskin Agate nodule from near Jorden Valley, Oregon. These don't look like much cut as they're plain chalcedony inside but the exteriors are very cool. Don't ask me how they form cause I don't know *L*. They're just loose in the soil and ya rake them out. And finally, a big druzy example of Youngite from Wyoming. I have some slabbed and it's not a great cabbing material because it's vuggy so I'm saving this big'un whole.
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SteveHolmes
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2009
Posts: 1,900
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Post by SteveHolmes on Jan 4, 2009 12:58:50 GMT -5
Those are real nice Mel! Never heard of the 2nd one. That Youngite is tops. I love the druzy cluster. I to like the Snakeskin as is. I have a few pieces and have never cut them up cuz they look so realistic. Steve
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Post by fishenman on Jan 4, 2009 13:56:05 GMT -5
Very nice pieces Mel. That is one huge coral.
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Post by Bikerrandy on Jan 4, 2009 14:14:13 GMT -5
Thanks! ;D What color are the the snakeskin nodules inside?
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,456
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Post by Sabre52 on Jan 4, 2009 14:56:47 GMT -5
Randy: Mostly just gray to clear chalcedony with an occasional one with a pinkish tinge. There is a site in Nevada however that produces nodules that are quite red inside...Mel
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darrad
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2006
Posts: 1,636
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Post by darrad on Jan 4, 2009 15:50:08 GMT -5
The Coral is a real nice piece!
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Post by frane on Jan 4, 2009 22:31:55 GMT -5
Mel, you have some of the neatest specimens! I love that coral and that youngite really looks cool! Fran
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Post by texaswoodie on Jan 5, 2009 19:59:47 GMT -5
Neat coral Mel! And it's a good thing the snakeskin is so blah on the inside. It would be a shame to cut something like that. The Youngite is spectacular! You know how much I love druzy.
Curt
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highplainsdrifter
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since December 2008
Posts: 1,266
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Post by highplainsdrifter on Jan 6, 2009 11:48:29 GMT -5
Very nice specimens, particularly the Coral. Maybe you could polish the large end face...and put it in a museum.
HPD
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Post by sitnwrap on Jan 6, 2009 23:11:47 GMT -5
Those are awesome specimens. All of them have such different and really cool properties. That Dulcote Agate is exceptionally pretty.
Mel, this has been bugging me for a few days and the Dulcote reminds me of what I'm trying to remember, maybe you know. It is a geode or Thunderegg found in, I think Germany, called St (as in Saint) and I forget the rest of the name. If it is what I am thinking of the Dulcote looks a bit similar but with less white. Heck, maybe I'm way off or out to lunch. lol.
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,456
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Post by Sabre52 on Jan 7, 2009 0:28:39 GMT -5
sitnwrap: I think you're thinking of St. Egidien in Saxony, Germany. They are rhyolite shelled thundereggs from volcanic ash beds and if I'm remembering correctly, Dulcote Agate nodules are sedimentary nodules from limestone so are more closely related to Dryheads, Tee Pee Canyons etc which are also sedimentary nodules from limestone deposits....Mel
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Post by parfive on Jan 7, 2009 0:48:23 GMT -5
That was a good excuse to dig out the Zenz book, Mel. He’s only got a hundred pages on Germany! ;D p194
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Post by Woodyrock on Jan 7, 2009 2:12:54 GMT -5
Mel: Please, oh please just cut the coral a wee bit, and polish the big end so we can see it!
Woody
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Post by sitnwrap on Jan 7, 2009 9:36:15 GMT -5
sitnwrap: I think you're thinking of St. Egidien in Saxony, Germany. They are rhyolite shelled thundereggs from volcanic ash beds and if I'm remembering correctly, Dulcote Agate nodules are sedimentary nodules from limestone so are more closely related to Dryheads, Tee Pee Canyons etc which are also sedimentary nodules from limestone deposits....Mel I just checked out both your Dulcote and googled the St. Egidien. Mel, thanks tons for the info. It was St. Egidien that I was thinking of. I love reading about the rocks but it is when I look at them that the info really seeps in.
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,456
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Post by Sabre52 on Jan 7, 2009 9:40:45 GMT -5
Woody: *L* I'll think about it. I already have two end polished pieces that I display with this whole one in my "fossils that polish" display case.....Mel
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turnedstone
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since January 2006
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Post by turnedstone on Jan 7, 2009 20:46:08 GMT -5
Hi Mel I have A Dulcote Agate slab and was told it is very rare I am going to try to do my first picture right here hope it works . uld as I would love to start posting some pics mostly for Randy lol.
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turnedstone
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since January 2006
Posts: 766
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Post by turnedstone on Jan 7, 2009 20:53:15 GMT -5
Wow that was so easy just think I have tryed to do that so many times with out anything I just gave up and never tryed again. Mel the guy I bought this from said they are super rare and he could not recall where in England thay came from I payed 20 dollars for this one hope I did not get taken it is sweet though as is yours. I am so happy I got the picture up thanks for the motivation with your post. George
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,456
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Post by Sabre52 on Jan 7, 2009 21:32:07 GMT -5
George. I got mine at a shop in Jackson's Hole, Wyoming many years ago. It wasn't super expensive but I think I paid like $15 way back then so you probably got a pretty fair price. I haven't seen many around since the late 1970s which is too bad because they are a really beautiful variety..Mel
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turnedstone
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since January 2006
Posts: 766
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Post by turnedstone on Jan 9, 2009 21:42:40 GMT -5
Yes Mel they are some sweet slabs I got mine in a small old time rock shop out in the hills of North Carolina just south of Franklin close to the chunky gal mine this past summer. Went down on a dig with the Dirty rock hounds I think I have seen you post on there once or twice you are getting closer to us now that you are in Texas you are going to have to plan a trip up this way lol about 1200 miles I would say lol. I went to the diamond hill ammy mine with our own Kap as the dig leader had a great time and found a nice gemmy fist sized ammy crystal. Thanks again for the post and the local on that. George
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DeanW
has rocks in the head
Member since December 2007
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Post by DeanW on Jan 21, 2009 13:20:06 GMT -5
Cool pieces Mel. I've seen snake-skin tumbled sometimes (at least I think tumbled). Somehow partially exposing the "plain" interior but leaving most of the skin intact. Gives kind of an interesting effect.
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