Post by elementary on Jan 31, 2010 13:11:49 GMT -5
Creating America Agate Index!!!!!
We are going to need your help.
Just shy of a week ago a few people here began talking about how there may be some good books out there on Agates, but there is no encompassing American Agate database/book where we can go and try to match or identify our agate/jasper material. We decided that this project, admittedly huge, would be a good one to do ourselves, as members of RTH.
The below thread is the discussion as it's been ongoing.
forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/index.cgi?board=rocksidlib&action=display&thread=35686
It seemed smart to go slowly, working initially on a single state, in order to limit mistakes and keep the project manageable. Utah was chosen. (See related Thread)
The idea is to have several images showing what typical specimens from each locality look like so we can compare our unknown specimens with examples of famous and not-so-well known locations.
The strength of this project is that there are RTH members everywhere at every level of this hobby. Our database will be produced from images provided by you (and by various outside sources that will be contacted.) Because every image used will be in the public domain, it should be open to sharing to anyone who wants it. Because it's rockhounds putting it together, it should be tailored to our needs, and not a publisher's desire.
The goal of this project is not to create an online museum, so you won't see multiple pictures of similar stones unless it is to show variations of the material, nor is it a field guild with directions to where these specimens can be found.
There will be an index to aid finding specific examples by name or location.
Ultimately (at present) the idea is that there will be a series of pdf files available through a posted link where the ongoing databases can be downloaded. Each file would encompass a different region of the United States.
There would be no cost involved to anyone. The idea is to create a mutually generated database for all our benefit - and for those outside the group here.
The format/layout of these is still to be finalized. If you have any suggestions about what you would want to see in this kind of database, please post them here.
We look forward to working together to make this database a success. It's a very ambitious project, so don't look for a completion anytime soon, but we hope everyone has fun helping compile it.
(Utah will be the first state to be worked on - and that thread will be set up a little later day.)
Lowell
We are going to need your help.
Just shy of a week ago a few people here began talking about how there may be some good books out there on Agates, but there is no encompassing American Agate database/book where we can go and try to match or identify our agate/jasper material. We decided that this project, admittedly huge, would be a good one to do ourselves, as members of RTH.
The below thread is the discussion as it's been ongoing.
forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/index.cgi?board=rocksidlib&action=display&thread=35686
It seemed smart to go slowly, working initially on a single state, in order to limit mistakes and keep the project manageable. Utah was chosen. (See related Thread)
The idea is to have several images showing what typical specimens from each locality look like so we can compare our unknown specimens with examples of famous and not-so-well known locations.
The strength of this project is that there are RTH members everywhere at every level of this hobby. Our database will be produced from images provided by you (and by various outside sources that will be contacted.) Because every image used will be in the public domain, it should be open to sharing to anyone who wants it. Because it's rockhounds putting it together, it should be tailored to our needs, and not a publisher's desire.
The goal of this project is not to create an online museum, so you won't see multiple pictures of similar stones unless it is to show variations of the material, nor is it a field guild with directions to where these specimens can be found.
There will be an index to aid finding specific examples by name or location.
Ultimately (at present) the idea is that there will be a series of pdf files available through a posted link where the ongoing databases can be downloaded. Each file would encompass a different region of the United States.
There would be no cost involved to anyone. The idea is to create a mutually generated database for all our benefit - and for those outside the group here.
The format/layout of these is still to be finalized. If you have any suggestions about what you would want to see in this kind of database, please post them here.
We look forward to working together to make this database a success. It's a very ambitious project, so don't look for a completion anytime soon, but we hope everyone has fun helping compile it.
(Utah will be the first state to be worked on - and that thread will be set up a little later day.)
Lowell