|
Post by HankRocks on Jan 5, 2021 8:08:32 GMT -5
About 4 months ago had an opportunity to do some collecting while my wife shopped with her sister, forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/thread/92636/un-expected-collecting-tripSince then I have been slowly tumbling this wood adding a bit at a time to normal loads of agate and jasper in my 1st stage tumbler. Some pieces only did 1 coarse run, some went through two coarse runs. After about 3 months had enough ready for a dedicated load of wood and ran through the next stages through polish. Here's the results. One thing about this petrified wood, most of the original caliche coating was removed. That does leave streaks of "white" in most pieces. Some is very hard, almost chert-like and takes a great polish. Some of the white is caliche-like and does not take a high polish with more of a dull shine. To me it's no matter as the white streaks help to hi-light the grain pattern. Unless the piece is closely inspected the difference in the polish is not easy to detect. One other note, there were almost no smalls in the 220SiC, 600Sic, or in the pre-polish stages. What is shown in the group picture is the makeup of the batch through these 3 stages. It was only at the polish stage that I added about 3 pounds of previously tumbled pea gravel to make up the difference between the 15 pound rotary for the 3 stages and the 18 pound vib run. IMG_2378 by Findrocks, on Flickr closer view of some of the white streaking; IMG_2381 by Findrocks, on Flickr IMG_2382 by Findrocks, on Flickr One of the palm pieces in the middle; IMG_2384 by Findrocks, on Flickr Henry
|
|
|
Post by hummingbirdstones on Jan 5, 2021 8:43:22 GMT -5
Wow, Henry. Those are gorgeous and what a beautiful shine!
Love how they look like someone took them individually and painted brush strokes on them. The palmwood in the last picture is so cool.
|
|
Brian
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2020
Posts: 1,506
|
Post by Brian on Jan 5, 2021 8:50:04 GMT -5
That is a beautiful pile of wood!!
I have a soft spot for pet wood ever since I first saw it as a kid. Even now, I just can’t help but wonder what that tree would have seen while it was still alive. And all of the events that transpired since then.
|
|
|
Post by jasoninsd on Jan 5, 2021 10:13:12 GMT -5
For the last two nights, I've had my dreams invaded by petrified wood in one way or another...I would prefer to dream of Fairburn Agates, but I'll deal with the petrified wood! Henry, those turned out spectacular! A lot of the petrified wood I'm finding is larger sized which I'm loving as landscaping rock. Maybe I need to start keeping my eye out a little better for tumble sized pieces! I remember that first thread...and I really do need to go "shopping" with my wife more often!
|
|
|
Post by rmf on Jan 5, 2021 13:45:58 GMT -5
aside from the expense of sending the wife shopping, you should send her off more often Some nice looking stuff.
|
|
|
Post by drocknut on Jan 5, 2021 13:51:44 GMT -5
Very cool. Looks like you had fun tumbling those.
|
|
NevadaBill
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2019
Posts: 1,332
|
Post by NevadaBill on Jan 6, 2021 15:10:26 GMT -5
I think you did great with these. I have some Pet Wood in my neighborhood which also offers similar challenge and finishes about the same if I am lucky. I am sure that there is some explaination regarding silicification and such which can explain the streaks. But hey, these were a windfall find of a lifetime.
Thanks for sharing the whole write up (including story).
|
|