Check out this coral head

[jamesp]

From the Withlacoochee River a few days ago-a new vein.It is a typically shaped specimen shaped like a cauliflower.This is the top view.

Side view

Bottom view

Cut in half before the blue clay was pressure washed out

After cleaning.The cavity goes all the way around full circle.The coral from this vein all have great color and good many w/boytroidal linings.As the vein got to the river bank a black ring is in the rind


Has one fracture in the top.
Thanks for looking

[herchenx]

man that is cool

[Pat]

Neat! Looks like the sun just coming over the horizon.
Reminds me of Florida coral we bought at a garage sale in Oregon!

What are you going to do with it?

[jamesp]

Happy New Year guys.I think i will use it to hold the shelves down Pat.Along w/a hundred others.Using up shelf space aggravates my wife-perfect.I do make lamps out of them.One on each side of the lamp post and an acrylic base.So a coral made it all the way to Oregon.It is the Florida state rock.And Florida law says no digging in water ways.I get most of my stock from south Georgia where they are hated for inteferring with boat traffic.Most of the new generation wardens don't know what they are.The problem got out of control during the lapidary hey day 30 years ago.Florida is strict about artifacts though.

[bhiatt]

whoa! the inside of that thing is very cool looking. nice find.

[jamesp]

Thanks bhiatt

[jamesp]

This coral from a new vein on the Suwanee River

Attachments:

[gingerkid]

Both pieces are really nice, James!

Do you have any pics of the lamps? Please post 'em if you do have some.

[helens]

Whoa... teaches me not to look at Fossil's section for a while!!!

I'm in Central Florida!!! Where exactly do you go for these???

[Pat]

Must be about time for some new shelves!

[jamesp]

Here is a lamp.I do not have dedicated pics.This is a metal base industrial theme.

Attachments:

[jamesp]

That whole wall is shelves Pat!Got a long way to go:>

[jamesp]

Helen,coral can be found around Tampa,Zephyr Hills,New Port Richey,Suwanee River,Lake Parker.Are any of those close to you?

[Fossilman]

So jamesp if I cut mine,this is what will show for colors? Awesome!

[jamesp]

This is above average.Discovered this vein last week,100 feet from another fine vein.Probably not that nice Fossilman.Strange,when i find coral in coarse white sand they have white rind and the yellow/orange thing goin on.Usually they are in clay or washed out loose,w/different material inside.I thought this vein was 20 feet from the main river channel until i saw that it extended into the river.Those corals had a black layer in the rind suggesting salt content in the river water at some time or now or in the soil.I f you dig a foot or two deeper all changes again.The amount of coral is amazing.You feel like you are standing on a reef-and you are.
Hope you have a great New Year Fossilman

[helens]

Dec 31, 2012 19:59:45 GMT -5 jamesp said:

Helen,coral can be found around Tampa,Zephyr Hills,New Port Richey,Suwanee River,Lake Parker.Are any of those close to you?

Hi James:). I'm in Orlando, but I've never actually been rockhounding myself yet... we went out to Tampa one weekend, and ended up with a lot of shells and a couple of leaverite agates we pillaged from the piling at the Guard shack at one of the parks (right in front of them), and that's the extent of the experience... LOL!

Where should we try in Tampa? You are clearly a master at this in this area!!!

[jamesp]

My cribe is mostly S.Georgia and down to the Suwanee River.Most of the Tampa type coral i found in Zephry Hills in a tiny creek flowing under Handcart Road north of town.Tampa Bay had the finest but it is closed to collecting.I have found it around Zephry Hills north in rogue excavations.It's weird,if an excavatating project hits coral there is a life time supply.They are usually in a hurry to bury it/get rid of it.I can give exact instructions to that creek.Are you OK getting in a creek?Let me know and i will put you on that spot.The deep drainage ditches in north Zephry Hills are often full of coral-ditches around orange groves...The coral is usually 10-25 feet down in the ground.That is why i am sending you down under-creeks,ditches,excavations,etc.I do the rivers up here, you see.And check w/local rock club-i think Tampa has one.They have insurance and power that makes land owners comfortable w/rock hounds.Just let me know how you want to proceed.All i ask is that you post a few of your fav finds. jim

[helens]

OH YAY!!! Jim, if you don't feel comfortable posting the directions, pm them to me, but YES! I'd LOVE to know exactly where to go!!!! That little excursion to Tampa had us driving around in circles for hours along the coast... my husband is NOT ready to do that again soon!! LOL! The biggest problem is being clueless what to even look for!

If I had a place for us to go to, I might talk him into it again:P.

If I find anything decent, I absolutely will post them, with much gratitude to you for sharing!!!