looks boring and gray right? It can contain certain properties like an opal that make it shimmer (labradorescence), like this:
this stone is usually hand cut so that it can give the best optical effects, so when one chooses to tumble it (like I did) you're taking a gamble on if it will flash or not. I was actually very lucky with this stone, sometimes labradorite will just shatter and fall apart in the tumbler, or just come out full of pits-you can see some in the first pic.
The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun.
The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun.
Not all rocks are boring...sometimes they take on interesting shapes...
(Kat/Sea-feel free to remove this pic if it's not appropriate...but I couldn't stop laughing when I took it out of the tumbler)
The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun.
Rkcndy how do you know how to identify them? And what do you do with them? Most of mine are in a clear box on a shelf I can't reach. I tried looking at rouckhounding sites but it's all clubby and like "go visit this person's business" and pay an entrance fee to get rocks from their property. I just like picking up pretty things lol
Rkcndy how do you know how to identify them? And what do you do with them? Most of mine are in a clear box on a shelf I can't reach. I tried looking at rouckhounding sites but it's all clubby and like "go visit this person's business" and pay an entrance fee to get rocks from their property. I just like picking up pretty things lol
I've been a rock nerd since I was a kid, did a science fair project on crystals in 7th grade and got 'honorable mention', took a geology class in high school, thought I wanted to be a geologist. Ah, then I became insanely obsessed with music and art (that was around '90-something)...
anywho, check out: http://geology.com/ lots of great information, click on 'find gems/minerals' .
(i now will continue the post in a second post because I have been writing this post and adding lots of info only to have my phone tell me 'the internet stopped working' and deleting everything I just typed.)
The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun.
Yes, lots of sites are 'clubby' because the hobby is like that. I found most my info on the net and reading geology books.
Go to a gem and mineral show in your area if you think you might want to hang out with other rock people-the people who host the shows are usually members of the local club. Talk to people working there, and you can get an idea of their personality, and if you like them or not. I've met some really nice people, and some not so friendly people.
The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun.
All the polished rocks I posted I purchased as rough rock, specifically collected for tumbling. The beach agates were collected on public land. The sea glass (the pic of all sea glass and a penny) were collected on private land. Joining a rock club usually allows you access to land generally not open to the public.
The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun.
That access to private land may or may not be free. But, they do know all the great sites to go hunting. They also plan international field trips-for those interested.
I have not joined a club because I don't know if I want to get that into it all. I'm pretty good at looking up info on the net, so I'm cool to go on my own for now.
Just have fun, if you like it, cool. I'm thinking about making jewelry from the tumbled pieces. I live in an "artsy-fartsy, hand-made, support local" kind of town.
The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun.
Wow you just dug out one of those forgotten/repressed memories from when I was a kid - I had those books like with pictures and mini samples in plastic to identify different rock... Species? I was reeeeeeeeeeeally into that shit. It was not a practical hobby though.
I actually intended on studying geology when i first started college. But I figured it's an impractical career lol
Geologists don't typically get paid very well, and you gotta go where they need them. Here in earthquake country they get paid well, but then in boring areas, well, not much for jobs. Besides, the field is so small, not many job openings anyway...I guess most people don't have a job that relates to what their major in college was!
I don't need a piece of paper, I like to read, do stuff that I want to do. Some people into the rocks are a little...uh....
The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun.
I love labradorite. A friend gave me a pair of earrings years ago. The coloration (or whatever you'd call it) is amazing. It looks to be so many colors.
Rocks fascinate me. I don't think I would have gone into geology but I wish I'd at least taken a class in college. I tend to go for the big stuff though. Here's me and my prince at Vasquez Rocks a couple of years ago:
yea it never went anywhere beyond the idea phase. I realized the logistics would have posed a huge problem for me and went in a different direction.
When I went to the Smithsonian like 5 years ago the gift shop in the Natural History museum had a giant display with random rocks and you could pick out the ones you want and but them by the weight or something. I was the only full grown adult picking through that display. I had these hanging in the bag next to my desk for years:
Ident-very nice rocks! I'm always checking out the rock displays in gift shops to see if anything looks interesting.
I got my sapphire back today...holy shit it's nice. I 'll post a better pic in the next few days. Hope to be able to go to a jeweler to have something nice made to set it in.
The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun.
Ok, as promised.. Some of what we've found out near Lake George/Cripple Creek area. They are about two to ten pound rocks, some all white, some smokey, and some clear.. Lots of Quartz up there!!
Thanks, completely raw, and unfinished, but pretty cool still! Still hope we follow the Quartz into something really neat this year! I'll let ya'll know!
Great thread, RKCNDY! Nice photos everyone. I'll try to post a photo of some of my favorites that I keep in a cigar box. I also have a little satchel with a couple of small lodestones in it that I carry with me all the time.
“The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
Great thread, RKCNDY! Nice photos everyone. I'll try to post a photo of some of my favorites that I keep in a cigar box. I also have a little satchel with a couple of small lodestones in it that I carry with me all the time.
wonderful Brian! I can't wait to see them!
Here is the finished sapphire:
I called a custom jeweler...she was quite excited to work with me on a piece of jewelry and see the stone. Dark blue sapphires are very rare in Montana, they usually are found in Sri Lanka. She actually wants to 'test' the appraiser to see what he thinks it's worth first, then tell him it's a Montana sapphire and see what he says after. That should be fun.
The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun.
when are you going to change your board name to RKHND?
If I had known then what I know now...
Vegas 93, Vegas 98, Vegas 00 (10 year show), Vegas 03, Vegas 06
VIC 07
EV LA1 08
Seattle1 09, Seattle2 09, Salt Lake 09, LA4 09
Columbus 10
EV LA 11
Vancouver 11
Missoula 12
Portland 13, Spokane 13
St. Paul 14, Denver 14
Great thread, RKCNDY! Nice photos everyone. I'll try to post a photo of some of my favorites that I keep in a cigar box. I also have a little satchel with a couple of small lodestones in it that I carry with me all the time.
wonderful Brian! I can't wait to see them!
Here is the finished sapphire:
I called a custom jeweler...she was quite excited to work with me on a piece of jewelry and see the stone. Dark blue sapphires are very rare in Montana, they usually are found in Sri Lanka. She actually wants to 'test' the appraiser to see what he thinks it's worth first, then tell him it's a Montana sapphire and see what he says after. That should be fun.
Oo...the sapphire came out beautiful! I look forward to seeing what you and the jeweler come up with for the stone.
That sapphire is beautiful! Can't wait to see how the appraisal goes lol
thanks guys! I have to make an appointment to see her, things are a little crazy at my house right now, so I'm not sure if I'll be able to see her this weekend or not-knowing me, I'm gonna make it work one way or another. I really like her, she chatted with me on the phone for quite a while and talked about Ellensburg Blue Agates-comparing them to the dark blue Montana sapphires.
The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun.
Comments
This mineral is found near Labrador, Canada.
looks boring and gray right? It can contain certain properties like an opal that make it shimmer (labradorescence), like this:
this stone is usually hand cut so that it can give the best optical effects, so when one chooses to tumble it (like I did) you're taking a gamble on if it will flash or not.
I was actually very lucky with this stone, sometimes labradorite will just shatter and fall apart in the tumbler, or just come out full of pits-you can see some in the first pic.
- Christopher McCandless
Tattooed Dissident!
- Christopher McCandless
Tattooed Dissident!
Not all rocks are boring...sometimes they take on interesting shapes...
(Kat/Sea-feel free to remove this pic if it's not appropriate...but I couldn't stop laughing when I took it out of the tumbler)
- Christopher McCandless
I tried looking at rouckhounding sites but it's all clubby and like "go visit this person's business" and pay an entrance fee to get rocks from their property.
I just like picking up pretty things lol
LIVEFOOTSTEPS.ORG/USER/?USR=435
anywho, check out: http://geology.com/ lots of great information, click on 'find gems/minerals' .
(i now will continue the post in a second post because I have been writing this post and adding lots of info only to have my phone tell me 'the internet stopped working' and deleting everything I just typed.)
- Christopher McCandless
Yes, lots of sites are 'clubby' because the hobby is like that. I found most my info on the net and reading geology books.
Go to a gem and mineral show in your area if you think you might want to hang out with other rock people-the people who host the shows are usually members of the local club. Talk to people working there, and you can get an idea of their personality, and if you like them or not. I've met some really nice people, and some not so friendly people.
- Christopher McCandless
Joining a rock club usually allows you access to land generally not open to the public.
- Christopher McCandless
I have not joined a club because I don't know if I want to get that into it all. I'm pretty good at looking up info on the net, so I'm cool to go on my own for now.
Just have fun, if you like it, cool. I'm thinking about making jewelry from the tumbled pieces. I live in an "artsy-fartsy, hand-made, support local" kind of town.
- Christopher McCandless
I actually intended on studying geology when i first started college. But I figured it's an impractical career lol
LIVEFOOTSTEPS.ORG/USER/?USR=435
I don't need a piece of paper, I like to read, do stuff that I want to do. Some people into the rocks are a little...uh....
- Christopher McCandless
Rocks fascinate me. I don't think I would have gone into geology but I wish I'd at least taken a class in college. I tend to go for the big stuff though. Here's me and my prince at Vasquez Rocks a couple of years ago:
When I went to the Smithsonian like 5 years ago the gift shop in the Natural History museum had a giant display with random rocks and you could pick out the ones you want and but them by the weight or something. I was the only full grown adult picking through that display. I had these hanging in the bag next to my desk for years:
LIVEFOOTSTEPS.ORG/USER/?USR=435
LIVEFOOTSTEPS.ORG/USER/?USR=435
Ident-very nice rocks! I'm always checking out the rock displays in gift shops to see if anything looks interesting.
I got my sapphire back today...holy shit it's nice. I 'll post a better pic in the next few days. Hope to be able to go to a jeweler to have something nice made to set it in.
- Christopher McCandless
They are about two to ten pound rocks, some all white, some smokey, and some clear.. Lots of Quartz up there!!
LIVEFOOTSTEPS.ORG/USER/?USR=435
Tattooed Dissident!
Here is the finished sapphire:
I called a custom jeweler...she was quite excited to work with me on a piece of jewelry and see the stone. Dark blue sapphires are very rare in Montana, they usually are found in Sri Lanka. She actually wants to 'test' the appraiser to see what he thinks it's worth first, then tell him it's a Montana sapphire and see what he says after. That should be fun.
- Christopher McCandless
Vegas 93, Vegas 98, Vegas 00 (10 year show), Vegas 03, Vegas 06
VIC 07
EV LA1 08
Seattle1 09, Seattle2 09, Salt Lake 09, LA4 09
Columbus 10
EV LA 11
Vancouver 11
Missoula 12
Portland 13, Spokane 13
St. Paul 14, Denver 14
Tattooed Dissident!
LIVEFOOTSTEPS.ORG/USER/?USR=435
thanks guys! I have to make an appointment to see her, things are a little crazy at my house right now, so I'm not sure if I'll be able to see her this weekend or not-knowing me, I'm gonna make it work one way or another. I really like her, she chatted with me on the phone for quite a while and talked about Ellensburg Blue Agates-comparing them to the dark blue Montana sapphires.
- Christopher McCandless
LIVEFOOTSTEPS.ORG/USER/?USR=435