chasfire
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since February 2008
Posts: 180
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Post by chasfire on Feb 21, 2009 12:08:42 GMT -5
Everyone has heard of Ellensburg Blue. In the past I thought that blue agate was formed only around the Ellensburg area. On Feb 19th, I found out different. I was hiking a small stream in the Toutle River valley when I located this beautiful piece of Blue agate laying on top of a gravel bar. The picture was taken with the agate dry and doesn't do it justice. www.gametrails.com/images/Agate 006.jpg[/img] www.gametrails.com/images/Agate 007.jpg[/img] I immediately thought of Ellensburg Blue, Malawi Blue, Mt. Ayres Blue, and numerous other blues that are found through out the world. I felt quite privileged to have been lucky enough to find this nice piece in my own back yard. If you want to read the complete story check out my field trip report at my website www.gametrails.comThanks for looking chasfire
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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 Feb 21, 2009 13:26:20 GMT -5
Wow! That's as nice or better than any blue agate I've ever seen. Great find!. Now you have to locate the deposit it came from....Mel
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SteveHolmes
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2009
Posts: 1,900
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Post by SteveHolmes on Feb 21, 2009 13:47:25 GMT -5
Very cool find Charlie! I guess that hiking your butt off pays off. Steve
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mossyrockhound
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2011
Posts: 1,278
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Post by mossyrockhound on Feb 21, 2009 14:13:34 GMT -5
That's a great find, and as you said very rare for western Washington! I don't recall ever seeing another blue agate from this area. If that picture doesn't do it justice, I can't wait to see it in person! It seems like the good blue agates (not the "grays" that people call blue) are the most rare color for agate, at least in this country. That's why the Ellensburg Blue agates sell for an arm and a leg. Garry
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Post by Bejewelme on Feb 21, 2009 22:18:23 GMT -5
Oh no, not another blue expensive agate for me to lust after!!! That is super, I hear you are the hiking maniac, and look what you found! WTG!!!
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chasfire
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since February 2008
Posts: 180
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Post by chasfire on Feb 21, 2009 23:02:51 GMT -5
Thanks for the comments. I really like blue agate myself, and I know that it is rare. Hiking does pay off(besides the exercise). Hopefully someday I can find the source.
bejewelme: So far this is the only piece I have found, so it is not for sale at any price. It goes into my personal collection with a polished face. Crazy old guy may describe me better than hiking maniac.
chasfire
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49er
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since February 2008
Posts: 753
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Post by 49er on Feb 21, 2009 23:41:59 GMT -5
Nice find on your hike.
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Post by Sea Faring Wang Dang on Feb 22, 2009 23:04:34 GMT -5
That is awsome. Really cool color and know that you just found it tops it all off.
Casey
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Feb 23, 2009 13:17:20 GMT -5
Very nice! Blue agate is my favorite, maybe because it's so rare.
Chuck
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Post by texaswoodie on Feb 23, 2009 17:28:37 GMT -5
That is one nice agate! Congrats!
Curt
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chasfire
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since February 2008
Posts: 180
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Post by chasfire on Feb 23, 2009 22:33:55 GMT -5
Thanks everyone for the comments. I hope to head out this week and look for the source. Here is what it looks like with a face polished: The rock is a paler blue than shows in the picture. Must be my camera. chasfire
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SteveHolmes
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2009
Posts: 1,900
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Post by SteveHolmes on Feb 23, 2009 22:37:29 GMT -5
The Polish sure brings out the PURE BEAUTY! ...WHISTLING.... (that's a whistle, not a kiss) ;D Steve
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Feb 24, 2009 13:30:43 GMT -5
LOL Steve!
Nice polish! What a difference!
Did you fill the void while polishing, or just wash it out well? I'd like to learn proper technique before I try some of mine.
Chuck
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Saskrock
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2007
Posts: 1,852
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Post by Saskrock on Feb 24, 2009 14:04:32 GMT -5
Beautiful agate. That is a really nice find.
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Post by Bikerrandy on Feb 24, 2009 14:58:04 GMT -5
Wow, I'd love to have a "15 pound" chunk of that stuff!!
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chasfire
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since February 2008
Posts: 180
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Post by chasfire on Feb 24, 2009 17:24:19 GMT -5
Chuck: I polish in the normal manner, finishing up with cerium on an old piece of wool carpet. I have a small hand held pressure washer that I clean out the pockets and pits with. It is used in the dry cleaning industry to do spot cleaning. It concentrates a high pressure jet of water into a very small stream. It is one of the best investments I have ever made for cleaning crystals, vugs, and small fractures or pits.
chasfire
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Feb 24, 2009 17:30:26 GMT -5
Ah yes, maybe you've mentioned that before. I drilled a hole in a brass hose cap, a la Kreigh, and it works pretty well for the investment. I'm sure your sprayer does a lot better!
Chuck
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