Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,423
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Post by Wooferhound on Mar 30, 2021 10:36:33 GMT -5
Visited Yuma Arizona over the Christmas Holidays
We went many places and I picked up rocks wherever I saw the opportunity. We never went out for a proper rockhounding trip. Couldn't get too many cause they were coming back in my Carry-on luggage and airport security act very strangely when you are carrying a lot of rocks.
The best rocks came from around the Colorado river.
But the rocks that were common and seemed to be everywhere looked great as Rough. I could see many colors and patterns and was optimistic about the results I would get. They looked great wet while going through the tumbling process with the pastel colors showing through wonderfully.
But the final polish was not that great. The colored areas shined up nicely, but the connecting matrix holding it all together wasn't taking a polish. After wetting them down they still come back to life and show how wonderful they could be. This is the first time I have considered painting a Clear Coat on the rock to help them to look as good as their potential.
Planning another trip to Yuma in a month. Will send back a box of rocks in the mail this time . . .
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victor1941
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2011
Posts: 1,975
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Post by victor1941 on Mar 30, 2021 12:25:06 GMT -5
Wooferhound, looks like some nice material to work. I also like to bring rocks back from vacations (we fly) and usually check the luggage. TSA has always checked the boxes but has always done a good job on repacking. However, on one occasion I had a late rock addition (purchase) as a carry-on that the agent said could be used as a weapon. The agent gave me that same strange look but did let me take the material.
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Post by Rockoonz on Mar 30, 2021 21:09:51 GMT -5
When travelling look for post office location, and mail a flat rate box or more to yourself on the way to the airport.
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Post by orrum on Mar 31, 2021 11:11:28 GMT -5
X2 on mailing. Plus there is nothing wrong with nice rocks, let us say that have a matte, satin or just shine here and therr.
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Post by orrum on Mar 31, 2021 11:11:40 GMT -5
X2 on mailing. Plus there is nothing wrong with nice rocks, let us say that have a matte, satin or just shine here and therr.
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Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,423
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Post by Wooferhound on Apr 14, 2021 9:23:14 GMT -5
My trip to Yuma AZ is in a week and I will find the time to look for some rocks. I would really like to find some Petrified wood. The plan is to drive about Halfway to Quartsite and get off of the main road and try and find some bare desert to look around on. Searching on the internet seems to show Pet Wood just about anywhere you can look out there. It is also suggested to look around any mines that can be found. Anyone have any other suggestions for places to find some special rocks ?
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Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,423
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Post by Wooferhound on Apr 18, 2021 20:46:42 GMT -5
I have decided that I will be rockhounding around the Tiny Chapel and the Bridge To Nowhere, North on Route 95 about 10 miles North of Yuma. If I come up short there I'll go further North on Route 95 looking for nice rocks laying on the ground. It all will depend on the amount of time I have available.
I will arrive on Tuesday in the afternoon and will be staying a week.
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Post by mohs on Apr 19, 2021 17:12:23 GMT -5
spay shellac got me started on shine
that black rock is cool
know how Yuma got its name it was a famous last word in a gunfight...mostly
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Post by Rockindad on Apr 19, 2021 19:01:31 GMT -5
Wouldn't blame you at all for doing something to those pastel ones to make them "pop", maybe even keeping in a vase/jar filled with water. They're really sweet.
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Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,423
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Post by Wooferhound on Apr 22, 2021 22:24:22 GMT -5
Been in Yuma for 3 days now Today I spent 3 hours hounding at the Bridge To Nowhere Had some great finds, too much, gonna need plenty of boxes if I'm going to send it all back. Never saw any Petrified Wood though.
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Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,423
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Post by Wooferhound on Apr 23, 2021 15:01:28 GMT -5
Today I went to the Colorado River to rockhound some, but the area I was at was just dirt and no bank to speak of. Went to a park on the river and the same muddy bank with deep water. So , no rocks from the river thru Yuma . Did find the Post Office and got 3 medium flat-rate boxes to send rocks back in. I may have too many and will need to leave some behind.
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Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,423
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Post by Wooferhound on Apr 24, 2021 16:47:03 GMT -5
Got a new Laptop Computer today, what a relief I have been using my cell phone to play on the internet and and it only has a 4 inch screen. Anyway ... I have been taking a pile of pictures on a Camera and don't have a way to transfer them, so the pictures will have to wait till after Wednesday when I get back home. Now have everything needed to send 4 flat-rate boxes of rocks back Any that don't fit may have to be returned back to the wild so they can Be Free . . .
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Post by jasoninsd on Apr 24, 2021 21:41:35 GMT -5
Got a new Laptop Computer today, what a relief I have been using my cell phone to play on the internet and and it only has a 4 inch screen. Anyway ... I have been taking a pile of pictures on a Camera and don't have a way to transfer them, so the pictures will have to wait till after Wednesday when I get back home. Now have everything needed to send 4 flat-rate boxes of rocks back Any that don't fit may have to be returned back to the wild so they can Be Free . . . Only four...you were being REALLY selective! LOL Can't wait to see the pics and the "spoils"!
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Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,423
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Post by Wooferhound on Apr 27, 2021 12:17:22 GMT -5
Goodness ... All of those rocks fit in 3 medium Flat-rate boxes. Used a whole roll of packing tape on those 3. I'm sure it was at least 70 pounds of rocks, total. They have been delivered to the post office.
I get home on Wednesday afternoon Rocks will arrive on Thursday thru Saturday Today I will visit Roxaboxen Park interestingly dedicated to rocks
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Post by paulshiroma on Apr 27, 2021 14:49:13 GMT -5
How about some picks to go along with this great trip report! Then we can go along vicariously, LOL!
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Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,423
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Post by Wooferhound on Apr 27, 2021 22:19:57 GMT -5
How about some picks to go along with this great trip report! Then we can go along vicariously, LOL! -- Oh Yes -- I have some great pictures, but they are in a camera and I don't have the cable to transfer them to the computer. Was supposed to fly back home to Bama tomorrow, but they are asking us to change flights with a generous offer, so I might not get back till Thursday. Then I plan on doing a detailed write-up with excellent pics to bring you guys along with me.
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Post by rockpickerforever on Apr 27, 2021 22:23:23 GMT -5
Sounds good, Woofer. We're gonna hold you to that!
Safe trip home.
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Post by paulshiroma on Apr 27, 2021 22:51:24 GMT -5
Safe travels home. Looking forward to the pics!
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Wooferhound
Cave Dweller
Lortone QT66 and 3A
Member since December 2016
Posts: 1,423
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Post by Wooferhound on Apr 29, 2021 12:58:33 GMT -5
As promised, here is the story of my Yuma Arizona rock-hounding adventures over the past week, with pictures. I went with my girlfriend to House sit for her daughter while they went on vacation to Mexico. Was also taking care of their son and 2 dogs. I had visited Yuma a few months ago at Christmas and got a tour of the area. Of course I was looking for rocks cause the town of Quartsite is 90 miles away and I only hear good things about that place. We visited a Suspension Bridge that had been abandoned because the Gila River had been rerouted and the bridge was no longer needed. "The Bridge to No Where" This place promised the best Tumbling Rock. ------- Construction began in mid-1928 and was completed in December 1929. McPhaul Bridge carried traffic on US 95 until 1968, when it was deemed unacceptable for modern, heavier cars. A new dam was built upstream that rerouted the river, along with a new bridge to carry the highway, leaving the old bridge metaphorically and a bit literally high and dry. -------
This return trip was unexpected and I asked the Forum what areas had a good selection of rocks but never got a response, so I decided to go back to the Bridge and scout around for myself. When I was there the first time a large yellow translucent rock was getting a lot of my attention. It was embedded in some other rock and would not move. Didn't have a hammer so got some other large stones to be used as a hammer, but No Success. and it remained there. Upon returning this time with a claw hammer, I was absolutely looking for that rock but it was gone with a hole remaining in it's spot. Was deeply disappointed and wished I had tried to hide it the first time but I didn't know that I would be there again so soon.
Next to the bridge is a large hill about half a mile long and 500 feet tall this was the main target of my search. Went to the the top of a 100 foot part on the end (pictured above) and found rocks all the way to the top. Took another picture of the Bridge while I was up there. Had been looking at the whole area on Google Earth and there were many Washes that were dug deep into the side of the hill and I spent most of my time there. It was the first time that I actually felt like I was rock-hounding, using a hammer and actually finding stuff that I wanted. Here is a Pic looking up into one of these washes.
Was finding Veins of Quartz in about 4 locations, clawed a bunch of that stuff out with a Hammer. Plenty of other colorful rocks to choose from. Here is a Pic looking down out of that last wash.
After finishing with the hill I wanted to look at the Open Desert Floor and try to find some Petrified Wood. Found some gravel roads that were for servicing some Power Lines. Most of it was flat but there were plenty of other smaller hills less than 20 feet high. The whole place was covered totally covered in rocks but they had a soft black material in them, much like Sandstone and Charcoal and not pretty at all.
Was using plastic grocery bags to collect in. I found that they can be about 1/3 full before getting too weak to hold more. Got about 6 bags into the back floorboard of the car. I'm kinda glad that was all the bags I had.
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Post by miket on Apr 29, 2021 13:59:50 GMT -5
Thanks for the report and pics, I enjoyed them! Hounding is my favorite part of this hobby. Will you be showing some of your finds?
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