kyoti
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2020
Posts: 542
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Post by kyoti on Oct 7, 2020 18:47:48 GMT -5
Recently I received an order of the mixed Botswana tumbling rough from The Rock Shed. I love Botswana agate and this was nice material that I received. I got to thinking about some of the older Botswana rough that I have laying around from when I was a kid. It looks very different from modern Botswana material. The older rough is at least 40 years old and is much more opaque than what I see today. It almost looks like a different material. Is my old rock low-grade or is it just the differences between dig sites? Old stock Modern stock
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Post by Pat on Oct 7, 2020 19:22:35 GMT -5
I don’t know. I like them both. Have never seen orange Botswana.
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Post by amygdule on Oct 7, 2020 20:30:45 GMT -5
Nice Cream
The new stuff looks like it's been tumbled before.
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Post by jasoninsd on Oct 7, 2020 20:57:19 GMT -5
Wow. The middle piece on the right side of the old stock has the same patterning as the new and the bottom piece on the right side has similar colorization, but other than those two things, I don't see a lot of other similarities. Just call me Captain Obvious! LOL
I like the looks of both the old and new stock.
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kyoti
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2020
Posts: 542
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Post by kyoti on Oct 8, 2020 9:38:47 GMT -5
Nice Cream The new stuff looks like it's been tumbled before. Yes I had pulled them from the first rough round to inspect them. It was a handy example for my post. I was surprised too with the gorgeous orange stones I received. Honestly I think I like both styles. I noticed that too Jason. That's one thing I like about Botswana agate is the pretty and consistent patterns. Is it still possible to find the older pastel material?
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Post by rockjunquie on Oct 8, 2020 10:42:16 GMT -5
This comes from left field, but maybe the darker material is heat treated?
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wpotterw
spending too much on rocks
Member since September 2016
Posts: 421
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Post by wpotterw on Oct 8, 2020 17:04:15 GMT -5
Recently I received an order of the mixed Botswana tumbling rough from The Rock Shed. I love Botswana agate and this was nice material that I received. I got to thinking about some of the older Botswana rough that I have laying around from when I was a kid. It looks very different from modern Botswana material. The older rough is at least 40 years old and is much more opaque than what I see today. It almost looks like a different material. Is my old rock low-grade or is it just the differences between dig sites? Old stock Modern stock I have a few pieces purchased circa 1965 at a rock shop on the Atlantic City Boardwalk. Some are Opaque pink with nominal banding. It was sold as tumbling material, but I haven't seen those shades of color since. Until now.
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Post by jasoninsd on Oct 8, 2020 20:39:48 GMT -5
Ok, I've come back to this thread several times just to look at the old stock photos. I think I prefer the older "pastel" look to these over the newer stock. Not saying the new stuff is "icky"...just saying I really dig the colorization of the old stuff. Ok, I feel better since I got that off my chest!
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kyoti
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2020
Posts: 542
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Post by kyoti on Oct 11, 2020 12:35:25 GMT -5
wpotterw good to know you have some of the pastel agate too. Mine would have come from the mid 70s possibly. (Unless the shop had some older stock) Must be associated with the digs of that period. rockjunquie the new stuff could be treated. They are very vivid. The new stock is quite beautiful too jasoninsd. Just look at these gorgeous lttle guys. Can't wait to work on them. I think I'm going to hand polish this one. There's something very interesting going on up near the edges of the nodule I just adore agate. I especially love them with bold banding or inclusions. Plume agates have me completely captivated. Some of the material out of eastern Europe and the Utah / Idaho area makes my jaw drop. I always love the African material like Botswana, Malawi and Zimbabwe.
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