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Post by Michael John on May 23, 2009 22:16:49 GMT -5
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Post by stonesthatrock on May 23, 2009 22:49:29 GMT -5
ummmmm maybe leverites?
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Post by Michael John on May 24, 2009 10:45:30 GMT -5
Definately not leverites. They're gorgeous 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 May 24, 2009 12:53:12 GMT -5
MJ: Yeah, I've found a lot of that agate often in association with areas that produce Desert Roses. Lots of it occurs at the Hector Hills in California and we call it Hector Hills Agate. I think it's just a case of the same sort of chalcedony that produces the roses filling voids and cracks in the host rock and then later weathering free. Many do have pleasing patterns of swirls and waves and often in nice colors of white and peach, brown etc. When wavy and brown and white, it's called bacon agate but I've never really heard a name given to the white or white and pastel forms. It is very hard and takes a wonderful polish though.....Mel
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Post by Michael John on May 24, 2009 13:56:00 GMT -5
Ahhh! Thanks, Mel! That's down by the Lavic area, so it makes sense. Pretty sure you nailed it.
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Post by stonesthatrock on May 24, 2009 15:12:57 GMT -5
i was just joking with you, mj. don't take no offence plz
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Post by Michael John on May 24, 2009 15:15:37 GMT -5
Hehehe of COURSE not!
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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 May 24, 2009 16:18:22 GMT -5
MJ: No I wouldn't use Hector Hills as my ID. I was just saying that the material you've posted looks to be similar internally. Hector Hills Agate comes from ash beds and mostly has a light tan or whitish exterior and from the deeply pocked exteriors showing, I'd say yours weathered from a more frothy maybe basaltic matrix. Also, most Hector stuff is not desert varnished. The varnishing would be more likely to come from around Needles, the Turtle Mountains, SW Arizona or somewhere on the lower Colorado desert where that dark desert varnish is more common.....Mel
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Post by Michael John on May 24, 2009 19:26:58 GMT -5
Hmmm okay. I guess that if it could have possibly come from any of at least three states, it's probably impossible to positively identify then. Wherever it came from, it's gnarly, but it sure is pretty.
Thanks again, Mel!
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Post by Michael John on May 25, 2009 16:49:45 GMT -5
I had a closer look at this stuff yesterday. I busted a few pieces up a bit, and it's painfully obvious that most of it is too pitty to be used for cabbing or even tumbling. They're just going to have to stay in the yard.
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catskillrocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2008
Posts: 1,270
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Post by catskillrocks on May 30, 2009 21:18:07 GMT -5
A friend gave me these when he moved. They're pure quartz/agate/chalcedony, whatever, no matrix, just colored desert varnish on them. What is "Desert Varnish"? Thanks, Don
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Post by Michael John on May 31, 2009 16:30:59 GMT -5
I have no clue what it "technically" is. It's a sort-of coating on the outside of a lot of rocks, like a thin skin. It's almost always some shade of orange, red, brown, or black ... at least out in this neck of the woods. I dunno about other places. It doesn't wash-off with water, but it can usually be removed with acid (if'n you're willing to handle acid). It comes-off easily by grinding or tumbling.
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snuffy
Cave Dweller
Member since May 2009
Posts: 4,319
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Post by snuffy on May 31, 2009 16:56:09 GMT -5
MJ, one thing I noticed is that members in your parts of the country dont have to worry about mangled lawn mowers hitting those big rocks.lol.........snuffy
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Post by rockmanken on May 31, 2009 17:18:25 GMT -5
Yeah, I noticed the same thing. No grass. Here these ozark rocks seem to just jump out of the ground into the blades of my mower. Donna's 'rock garden' is a pain to cut around. Same thing over at her mothers house where I cut the grass. Rocks around every plant or bush. Not good rocks either. Limestone, chert or leverite. ;D Ken
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Post by Michael John on May 31, 2009 18:28:49 GMT -5
Huh? What's "grass"? Hardly ANYONE bothers with grass in Pahrump. Most yards are dirt, rocks, and weeds. Our yard is just one big rock garden. Paved driveways are scarce, and sidewalks are non-existent except in the "town" area. There are only three intersections with stoplights.
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