Post by NatureNut on Mar 16, 2009 4:55:04 GMT -5
Steve (NorthShoreRocks) is an incredible guy and his daughter, Kayla (BwcaChick), is a promising wrapper. I sent Kayla some of my Grade B vibe cabs to practice with... so it was no biggie. Steve wanted to compensate me with money, but I told him I didn't expect anything, but if he insisted, I'd love ONE MaryEllen Jasper. LOL. Well, a whole stinkin FRB showed up!
Steve NSR was also kind enough to scan a whole book on the geologic history of the North Shore with all kinds of information on these rocks and sent me the scans. (Don't let him fool you, it was alot of work)
It has lots of good rockhounding tips like: Wear a hat but do not wear sunglasses (it distorts the color of the rocks- this is true), bring along a bag to pick up trash while your hounding, hound after a good storm, and it actually tells you to lick rocks!
These rocks are there on Lake Superior (that's why they're called "Lakers") due to a "rifting" or splitting of North America's tectonic plates that happened like 1,100 mil yrs ago. This allowed lava to rise up to the surface. As the lava cooled, holes formed with the contraction of the cooling molecules. Some of the gas bubbles were trapped inside the rock, then water seepage carried minerals and gradually filled in the holes. Later glacier action did it's job to break them up, bring them to the surface, round them and distribute them around. These rocks are ancient, and have been through centuries of repeated heating and cooling that make them so unique... and that's why they have the cracks and vugs that drive Steve NSR crazy! LOL.
Here's my beautiful MaryEllen Jasper. This is actually laced with swirls of petrified precambrian fossil algae in stromatolite structure. It's called this because it was first found in the Mary Ellen Mine in MN.
Here's the group
And a closeup, love the wavy banding
This is one also. I really think the algae gives it a cool "outer space" look.
Then, there were some incredible Jasper/Hemitite called Jaspilite. The Hemitite came into those gas pockets via water seepage and settled there. It looks gray, but is actually a deep, deep burgundy.
And this Seam Agate that hasn't been glaciated (NSR wrote "yet" on his enclosed note, LOL, I hope I don't get stuck in a glacier with it, LOL) It's amazing how the repeated freezing and thawing process makes the particles in the rock harder and more packed. This piece is a little crumbly and pitty with a hard center. I'm saving this for when I get my future cab machine.
Closeup
Also, NSR and I had done a previous swap and here are a couple preformed vibe cabs, currently on hold, and will go on into polish in my new dedicated polish bowl that just arrived from The Rock Shed, after my current quartz load finishes. Pics taken dry.
Steve, I learned so much from these and the book. Thank you SO much for being such a great guy and being so generous (as well as being a great dad). There was one big beautiful Jasper/Hemitite baby, cleaned and lightly oiled, that is now holding a place of honor on my mantelpiece. When you hold these Lakers, you just get this wonderful "ancient & stable" feeling from them. They're incredibly special!
Hope you enjoyed seeing these as much as I am. Steve, you rock! Thank you!!!
Jo
Steve NSR was also kind enough to scan a whole book on the geologic history of the North Shore with all kinds of information on these rocks and sent me the scans. (Don't let him fool you, it was alot of work)
It has lots of good rockhounding tips like: Wear a hat but do not wear sunglasses (it distorts the color of the rocks- this is true), bring along a bag to pick up trash while your hounding, hound after a good storm, and it actually tells you to lick rocks!
These rocks are there on Lake Superior (that's why they're called "Lakers") due to a "rifting" or splitting of North America's tectonic plates that happened like 1,100 mil yrs ago. This allowed lava to rise up to the surface. As the lava cooled, holes formed with the contraction of the cooling molecules. Some of the gas bubbles were trapped inside the rock, then water seepage carried minerals and gradually filled in the holes. Later glacier action did it's job to break them up, bring them to the surface, round them and distribute them around. These rocks are ancient, and have been through centuries of repeated heating and cooling that make them so unique... and that's why they have the cracks and vugs that drive Steve NSR crazy! LOL.
Here's my beautiful MaryEllen Jasper. This is actually laced with swirls of petrified precambrian fossil algae in stromatolite structure. It's called this because it was first found in the Mary Ellen Mine in MN.
Here's the group
And a closeup, love the wavy banding
This is one also. I really think the algae gives it a cool "outer space" look.
Then, there were some incredible Jasper/Hemitite called Jaspilite. The Hemitite came into those gas pockets via water seepage and settled there. It looks gray, but is actually a deep, deep burgundy.
And this Seam Agate that hasn't been glaciated (NSR wrote "yet" on his enclosed note, LOL, I hope I don't get stuck in a glacier with it, LOL) It's amazing how the repeated freezing and thawing process makes the particles in the rock harder and more packed. This piece is a little crumbly and pitty with a hard center. I'm saving this for when I get my future cab machine.
Closeup
Also, NSR and I had done a previous swap and here are a couple preformed vibe cabs, currently on hold, and will go on into polish in my new dedicated polish bowl that just arrived from The Rock Shed, after my current quartz load finishes. Pics taken dry.
Steve, I learned so much from these and the book. Thank you SO much for being such a great guy and being so generous (as well as being a great dad). There was one big beautiful Jasper/Hemitite baby, cleaned and lightly oiled, that is now holding a place of honor on my mantelpiece. When you hold these Lakers, you just get this wonderful "ancient & stable" feeling from them. They're incredibly special!
Hope you enjoyed seeing these as much as I am. Steve, you rock! Thank you!!!
Jo