jamesp
Cave Dweller 
Member since October 2012
Posts: 35,931
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Post by jamesp on Apr 29, 2022 5:44:47 GMT -5
Good for you, that's some fine material. We always figured a person has to do their diligence to get a good payday, looks like you sure did. Lot of effort to track that stuff, and a great payday. The chase was fun, the find was a victory. We share that work ethic Larry. Barely filling a small bag in a couple of hours to filling a 5 gallon bucket in 10 minutes was all good until it was time to carry the loot back to the jeep. May have lost 5 gallons of blood thanks to the briars. This time the machete is coming along. |
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 35,931
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Post by jamesp on Apr 29, 2022 5:50:35 GMT -5
i'm highly exited for ya James ! well at least mildly elevated  How about that Ed. May have found some Raising Arizona driftwood way down in southern Alabama. How that get there ? Never know what Mother Nature might have to offer. |
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Post by liveoak on Apr 29, 2022 6:26:07 GMT -5
Congratulations Jim !
Sure are torturing us down here in FL.
You sound like the "Pocket Miner" in the Jack London story, " All Gold Canyon".
Which if you haven't read, you should  Maybe you need a mule, like that miner, to haul out the loot
Success rewards persistence !!!!!
Patty
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 35,931
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Post by jamesp on Apr 29, 2022 6:28:50 GMT -5
Awesome haul and well-earned too. Very well agatized high quality material too. Had no idea such colorful wood was to be found in that area. This might interest you Mel. There is one petrification at this site that is numerous that has the unique colors and grainy/tough texture very similar to opaque silicified corals found in it's lower range at Pasco County Florida. As if the same silicification process occurred on this wood. No idea why the Pasco coral was so different from coral found north other than the higher salt water metal salt exposure. The wood location is sitting right on the Fall Line near Auburn Alabama 350 miles NWN from Pasco County Fl. Pasco County coral heat treats to some insane colors. And it is not fond of being knapped unless it is treated due to its grainy texture. Will have to fire up the ole kiln and cook some wood ! |
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 35,931
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Post by jamesp on Apr 29, 2022 7:46:56 GMT -5
Congratulations Jim !
Sure are torturing us down here in FL.
You sound like the "Pocket Miner" in the Jack London story, " All Gold Canyon".
Which if you haven't read, you should Maybe you need a mule, like that miner, to haul out the loot
Success rewards persistence !!!!! Patty
I am aware of that story Patty. Fortunately pet wood shouldn't draw such a rush ! And the perils would be reduced to briars and steep slick creek banks lol. I'll have to meet you guys there when I find my way around. I had turned a lot of people on to fossilized coral spots. There is so much coral in those rivers no one could clean it all out. I hope this pet wood falls in the same volume category so the lapidary bunch can fill their buckets and post photos of their finds. |
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Post by rickb on Apr 29, 2022 8:45:39 GMT -5
Nice finds jamesp are you seeing any Native American pet wood debitage in the mix? |
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Post by liveoak on Apr 29, 2022 9:32:58 GMT -5
Good Luck getting some of that - it might as well be gold for all the fun it is.
At least for all the leg work you've put in, you actually found more - now that had to be a wonderful moment !
One of these days we will meet you up there.
Patty
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Apr 29, 2022 10:21:12 GMT -5
Woot, woot, WOOT!  Congrats on finding the mother lode, jamesp! You're probably already there picking up more beautiful wood since we're 3 hours time difference, but be a good boy like rockpickerforever said and stop giving out clues to where your spot is. Someone will put all your little clues together and nab all your wood. Can't wait to see your new haul. Be safe! |
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Post by rickb on Apr 29, 2022 10:28:12 GMT -5
Woot, woot, WOOT!  Congrats on finding the mother lode, #jamesp! You're probably already there picking up more beautiful wood since we're 3 hours time difference, but be a good boy like rockpickerforever said and stop giving out clues to where your spot is. Someone will put all your little clues together and nab all your wood. Can't wait to see your new haul. Be safe! how many miles did you just put on your truck.  |
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 35,931
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Post by jamesp on Apr 30, 2022 10:39:10 GMT -5
Woot, woot, WOOT! Congrats on finding the mother lode, #jamesp! You're probably already there picking up more beautiful wood since we're 3 hours time difference, but be a good boy like rockpickerforever said and stop giving out clues to where your spot is. Someone will put all your little clues together and nab all your wood. Can't wait to see your new haul. Be safe! how many miles did you just put on your truck. Nice finds jamesp are you seeing any Native American pet wood debitage in the mix? OK, my question too, I looked really close for debitage in the creek where I find quartzite chips and points and occasional chert points and chips. I have only found one chip that even resembled the wood. Not enough to draw conclusions. Let me say, I can swing a hammer as hard and fast as I can on a 3" x 3" x 1.5" chunk of the well silicified wood and it won't break. It is the toughest (hardest) rock I have ever found. Some is glassy though but not many. Which brings up the subject of heat treatment. The knapper would have a field day heating the 20 pound chunks for slabs. They would also tear this place apart hauling off big chunks ! I owe you for the last shipment of points you gifted me, I will collect some chunks for you if you want to cook it and knap it. I plan on cooking some. I just worry because it is so similar to Talhatta quartzite which makes no sense being pet wood. Fossils made of quartzite ?? It would make some beautiful points IF it could be treated to workability. Let me know... |
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 35,931
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Post by jamesp on Apr 30, 2022 10:43:54 GMT -5
Good Luck getting some of that - it might as well be gold for all the fun it is.
At least for all the leg work you've put in, you actually found more - now that had to be a wonderful moment !
One of these days we will meet you up there.
Patty
Yes it is a fun project. Ha, I'm getting to old for this. Lots of ground to cover ! I found another spot a mile away yesterday based on a theory. I think I have the geology figured out which should help find more locations. That was another victory. Already planning next trip |
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Post by liveoak on Apr 30, 2022 11:02:49 GMT -5
Never too old if you're having fun.
In fact adventures are what keep you young !
You don't seem the type for a coach potato & TV 
Patty
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 35,931
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Post by jamesp on Apr 30, 2022 11:41:13 GMT -5
Woot, woot, WOOT! Congrats on finding the mother lode, jamesp! You're probably already there picking up more beautiful wood since we're 3 hours time difference, but be a good boy like rockpickerforever said and stop giving out clues to where your spot is. Someone will put all your little clues together and nab all your wood. Can't wait to see your new haul. Be safe! Not the first time Jean has kept me out of trouble. She is the ultimate friend. Don't tell her but she has a special place in my heart as she does with many ! I would not mind sharing other than one BIG problem that I had with coral. I brought dozens of friends and acquaintances to the Withlacoochee River to collect coral. No problem till word got out over the years and 100's of people started digging and making a mess. No way they could deplete the coral, most of it is underwater and so vast an area. It was the mess they made that was the problem. The wood sites are vulnerable to a similar situation. The sites can't handle such traffic. They are well camouflaged, it would be difficult to find so it is likely safe. They are headed for the tumblers. I plan to keep the samples from each site separated. Site #2: Shade shot, wet:  Sun shots, wet:       |
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 35,931
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Post by jamesp on Apr 30, 2022 11:54:56 GMT -5
Never too old if you're having fun.
In fact adventures are what keep you young !
You don't seem the type for a coach potato & TV Patty
Since selling our 25 yr old plant biz a few years ago me and wife have noticed what a reduction in activity has done. You are so right, the couch can be a silent trap ! Of course you can certainly over-do the activity card too. I guess most 65 year old's have their aches and pains. |
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pizzano
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Member since February 2018
Posts: 1,371
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Post by pizzano on Apr 30, 2022 12:04:41 GMT -5
Woot, woot, WOOT! Congrats on finding the mother lode, jamesp ! You're probably already there picking up more beautiful wood since we're 3 hours time difference, but be a good boy like rockpickerforever said and stop giving out clues to where your spot is. Someone will put all your little clues together and nab all your wood. Can't wait to see your new haul. Be safe! Not the first time Jean has kept me out of trouble. She is the ultimate friend. Don't tell her but she has a special place in my heart as she does with many ! I would not mind sharing other than one BIG problem that I had with coral. I brought dozens of friends and acquaintances to the Withlacoochee River to collect coral. No problem till word got out over the years and 100's of people started digging and making a mess. No way they could deplete the coral, most of it is underwater and so vast an area. It was the mess they made that was the problem. The wood sites are vulnerable to a similar situation. The sites can't handle such traffic. They are well camouflaged, it would be difficult to find so it is likely safe. So I found another site a mile away based on a theory yesterday and it has a different array of color and found in very different conditions. I went right to the site 5 minutes after exiting my jeep. At the end of the day I went to another spot based on the theory and found it there too so I must have the geological deposition figured well. There is no signs of rock collector's, no hammered rocks or diggings at any of the sites. Must be that no one knows about them or people don't consider it attractive. So I collected chunks and hammered these samples from a site a mile away from the first site. This material has a different color and pattern. A bit duller. It may not be impressive to many but I like it so there ! Just the fact that it is fossil wood is impressive enough. They are headed for the tumblers. I plan to keep the samples from each site separated. Site #2: Shade shot, wet: Sun shots, wet: No shortage of it. Looks to be at least 10 feet deep in spots and closely packed in soil judging from eroded locations. It has a patina, hard to know what's on the inside without windowing it. The dense material rings when tapped with a hammer. Color seems closely related to both the soil/clay type and moisture levels it was formed or stored in as does fossil coral. Those pickens are really a nice size for tumbling........natural or did you whack them into submission....?............Noticed the term "jeep".......never knew you had one.......or was that just a figure of speech.....? |
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brybry
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Post by brybry on Apr 30, 2022 12:09:22 GMT -5
Good Luck getting some of that - it might as well be gold for all the fun it is.
At least for all the leg work you've put in, you actually found more - now that had to be a wonderful moment !
One of these days we will meet you up there.
Patty
Yes it is a fun project. Ha, I'm getting to old for this. Lots of ground to cover ! I found another spot a mile away yesterday based on a theory. I think I have the geology figured out which should help find more locations. That was another victory. Already planning next trip I need covertly follow you one day,lol. |
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Post by rockpickerforever on Apr 30, 2022 12:41:47 GMT -5
Not the first time Jean has kept me out of trouble. She is the ultimate friend. Don't tell her but she has a special place in my heart as she does with many ! Why thank you, James, and you in mine! So glad you had a safe, successful and fun trip yesterday. Yes, you need to keep the location to yourself. The less who know the better! The same situation has happened many times in Cali. There's the trash, and then long-time locations get closed down. Then there's the thievery. They can be very blatant. A few years back, there was a group of people that brought heavy digging equipment into the geode beds south of Blythe. The had guns and chased people off, and stayed there, keeping others out until they had their fill. I imagine they sold their finds online. I have no problem with sharing how-to information, or helping others, on this forum, but because of issues like these, I will not divulge specific collecting locations, at least to people I do not know or trust. If this is hoarding information, so be it. We've learned through experience. |
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 35,931
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Post by jamesp on Apr 30, 2022 13:53:40 GMT -5
Not the first time Jean has kept me out of trouble. She is the ultimate friend. Don't tell her but she has a special place in my heart as she does with many ! I would not mind sharing other than one BIG problem that I had with coral. I brought dozens of friends and acquaintances to the Withlacoochee River to collect coral. No problem till word got out over the years and 100's of people started digging and making a mess. No way they could deplete the coral, most of it is underwater and so vast an area. It was the mess they made that was the problem. The wood sites are vulnerable to a similar situation. The sites can't handle such traffic. They are well camouflaged, it would be difficult to find so it is likely safe. So I found another site a mile away based on a theory yesterday and it has a different array of color and found in very different conditions. I went right to the site 5 minutes after exiting my jeep. At the end of the day I went to another spot based on the theory and found it there too so I must have the geological deposition figured well. There is no signs of rock collector's, no hammered rocks or diggings at any of the sites. Must be that no one knows about them or people don't consider it attractive. So I collected chunks and hammered these samples from a site a mile away from the first site. This material has a different color and pattern. A bit duller. It may not be impressive to many but I like it so there ! Just the fact that it is fossil wood is impressive enough. They are headed for the tumblers. I plan to keep the samples from each site separated. Site #2: Shade shot, wet: Sun shots, wet: No shortage of it. Looks to be at least 10 feet deep in spots and closely packed in soil judging from eroded locations. It has a patina, hard to know what's on the inside without windowing it. The dense material rings when tapped with a hammer. Color seems closely related to both the soil/clay type and moisture levels it was formed or stored in as does fossil coral. Those pickens are really a nice size for tumbling........natural or did you whack them into submission....?............Noticed the term "jeep".......never knew you had one.......or was that just a figure of speech.....? Japanese Jeep lol, the FJ Cruiser. She will get in some nasty spots. Whacked, and trashed a large amount, only picked the best for easy tumble shapes(wasteful but had infinite rough). Shrapnel was obnoxious, that stuff is HARD and fires blood splinters bad. 25 pounds from site 1 and 20 pounds from site 2. Just finished loading, adding clay and big SiC, cap with water and set them spinning. Anxious to see how they grind. Seems like really MOHS hard rock. Hope other locations can be found with prettier colors/patterns. |
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 35,931
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Post by jamesp on Apr 30, 2022 13:56:34 GMT -5
Yes it is a fun project. Ha, I'm getting to old for this. Lots of ground to cover ! I found another spot a mile away yesterday based on a theory. I think I have the geology figured out which should help find more locations. That was another victory. Already planning next trip I need covertly follow you one day,lol. Got a vehicle equipped with James Bond grease ejector to foil followers. And tire shredding chariot spikes on the wheels. forgot about the 50 cal machine gun in the trunk... |
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 35,931
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Post by jamesp on Apr 30, 2022 13:58:33 GMT -5
Not the first time Jean has kept me out of trouble. She is the ultimate friend. Don't tell her but she has a special place in my heart as she does with many ! Why thank you, James, and you in mine! So glad you had a safe, successful and fun trip yesterday. Yes, you need to keep the location to yourself. The less who know the better! The same situation has happened many times in Cali. There's the trash, and then long-time locations get closed down. Then there's the thievery. They can be very blatant. A few years back, there was a group of people that brought heavy digging equipment into the geode beds south of Blythe. The had guns and chased people off, and stayed there, keeping others out until they had their fill. I imagine they sold their finds online. I have no problem with sharing how-to information, or helping others, on this forum, but because of issues like these, I will not divulge specific collecting locations, at least to people I do not know or trust. If this is hoarding information, so be it. We've learned through experience. People started breaking into cars near Valdosta at the boat ramp. You summed up the problem Jean. Geez, those guys were dominant really wanted those geodes. That's crazy. |
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Now replaced with fake plastic. 
stly
