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JXR
Went to JXR (Jackson's Cross Roads, E. GA) last month (Dec. '07) and was handed a clump of mud that turned out to be this (see pixs). I picked around but mainly photographed.
We weren't allowed into the pit (as the mine has just changed hands. Our field trip chair didn't know if we would ever be allowed back in so we feel lucky that it was even opened to us for picking thru the tailings.
The trick is to take the clumps of mud home them and work on them because the clay holds the crystals to the matrix and protects them (if you see black sharp objects jutting from the mud-those are crystals, just wrap the blob in newspaper and clean them at home...it takes some time to do it correctly). I started in the kitchen with a bowl, water and a spoon but quickly took the operation outside as the water pik got to be rather messy.
Pictures posted...not enough room to explain on the photo site but the pictures are self explainatory.
Audie
We weren't allowed into the pit (as the mine has just changed hands. Our field trip chair didn't know if we would ever be allowed back in so we feel lucky that it was even opened to us for picking thru the tailings.
The trick is to take the clumps of mud home them and work on them because the clay holds the crystals to the matrix and protects them (if you see black sharp objects jutting from the mud-those are crystals, just wrap the blob in newspaper and clean them at home...it takes some time to do it correctly). I started in the kitchen with a bowl, water and a spoon but quickly took the operation outside as the water pik got to be rather messy.
Pictures posted...not enough room to explain on the photo site but the pictures are self explainatory.
Audie
Feather agate pix posted
There are a couple of more pictures posted...I removed the Day of the Dead entry and presume it is on it's way back from Dallas TX.
The purpose of the feather agate photos is to show how Basonite backing makes the translucent agate inclusions POP.
The feather agate is cabbed rather thinly to show the beautiful inclusions. The dust actually shows up better on the backed picture (forgot wipe it before the photo session). It is merely placed on the thinly sliced Basonite for purpose of taking a picture and still isn't finished.
I have a Quant tube agate (also known as Ochoco tube agate) that has made the next step...It is cabbed and glued to a thin piece of trimmed and polished (not the glued side) Basonite but not yet ground to the shape of the cab...my first doublet.
Will take a picture and post later.
Audie
The purpose of the feather agate photos is to show how Basonite backing makes the translucent agate inclusions POP.
The feather agate is cabbed rather thinly to show the beautiful inclusions. The dust actually shows up better on the backed picture (forgot wipe it before the photo session). It is merely placed on the thinly sliced Basonite for purpose of taking a picture and still isn't finished.
I have a Quant tube agate (also known as Ochoco tube agate) that has made the next step...It is cabbed and glued to a thin piece of trimmed and polished (not the glued side) Basonite but not yet ground to the shape of the cab...my first doublet.
Will take a picture and post later.
Audie
Hogg Mine, LaGrange GA 2-24-2007
If anyone wants a quantity of rose quartz, Hogg mine in LaGrange, GA run by Rodney Moore is the place to go. Easy pickings and some of it will star, says Rodney.
Posted is a picture of me beating on a boulder. Shortly after this picture was taken, a little old lady walked by and remarked that there was half fist sized facet grade down there (in the hole) all over the place. I thanked her (and so did my hand), rushed down into the hole and picked up around 30 pounds of the stuff. It was remarked that my rock hound buddy and myself looked like a Chinese work detail as she pulled the little red wagon up the hill and I was pushing BUT we got a lot of clean rose quartz and were quite happy.
The dig is always held at this time every year and is a lot of fun because the rose quartz is clean with very little dirt and very little digging. Last year there was a whole hill of it with a pit in the center. The hill is now gone but there was still plenty left. Blue and yellow beryl and black tourmalimne is found there, also. One can only imagine what is under the grass at the horse farm across the street because the vein runs right across their property.
As usual, it had rained the night before and was cold and windy. The area , though, was protected somewhat by trees and it wasn't too uncomfortable until the sun came out, which was welcomed, at least by me. (not liking the cold...am wonder how I stood it all those years up north??)
There are plenty of mineral and fossil digs to keep an avid rockhound busy nearly every week of the year here in the southeast. Our fairly large (two) clubs are pretty centrally located to all of them. We did manage to make the last dig at the Hackney Farms for Staurolite Field Trip 9-1-07 in Blue Ridge.
The land has been sold and there are acerage (lot) markers with roads being cut through the beautiful rolling hills and woods for small estates. I don't know how many acres but someone said there is at least a thousand and maybe a lot more. We all were wondering if the prospective new estate owners will ever know what lies beneath their feet. Another rockhounding site gone. We thanked the gentleman who approved the dig, took our goodies and left the remaining staroulites to the new owners.
As far as cutting the material found on digs, our club has a relatively new workshop (of which I am the general foreman) with new and donated machines. We are now having faceting classes; there will be silversmithing and stone carving classes starting. I teach all of the newbies how to cab calibrated stones, first on the flat lap and then on the Genie. After they are certified (know what they are doing) they are cut loose to come in (and cut free form cabs) when the shop is open for lapidary and use the machinery.
If anyone is interested in joining, please e-mail me privately and I can give you the info.
It is a fun club with friendly people.
Audie01
Posted is a picture of me beating on a boulder. Shortly after this picture was taken, a little old lady walked by and remarked that there was half fist sized facet grade down there (in the hole) all over the place. I thanked her (and so did my hand), rushed down into the hole and picked up around 30 pounds of the stuff. It was remarked that my rock hound buddy and myself looked like a Chinese work detail as she pulled the little red wagon up the hill and I was pushing BUT we got a lot of clean rose quartz and were quite happy.
The dig is always held at this time every year and is a lot of fun because the rose quartz is clean with very little dirt and very little digging. Last year there was a whole hill of it with a pit in the center. The hill is now gone but there was still plenty left. Blue and yellow beryl and black tourmalimne is found there, also. One can only imagine what is under the grass at the horse farm across the street because the vein runs right across their property.
As usual, it had rained the night before and was cold and windy. The area , though, was protected somewhat by trees and it wasn't too uncomfortable until the sun came out, which was welcomed, at least by me. (not liking the cold...am wonder how I stood it all those years up north??)
There are plenty of mineral and fossil digs to keep an avid rockhound busy nearly every week of the year here in the southeast. Our fairly large (two) clubs are pretty centrally located to all of them. We did manage to make the last dig at the Hackney Farms for Staurolite Field Trip 9-1-07 in Blue Ridge.
The land has been sold and there are acerage (lot) markers with roads being cut through the beautiful rolling hills and woods for small estates. I don't know how many acres but someone said there is at least a thousand and maybe a lot more. We all were wondering if the prospective new estate owners will ever know what lies beneath their feet. Another rockhounding site gone. We thanked the gentleman who approved the dig, took our goodies and left the remaining staroulites to the new owners.
As far as cutting the material found on digs, our club has a relatively new workshop (of which I am the general foreman) with new and donated machines. We are now having faceting classes; there will be silversmithing and stone carving classes starting. I teach all of the newbies how to cab calibrated stones, first on the flat lap and then on the Genie. After they are certified (know what they are doing) they are cut loose to come in (and cut free form cabs) when the shop is open for lapidary and use the machinery.
If anyone is interested in joining, please e-mail me privately and I can give you the info.
It is a fun club with friendly people.
Audie01
Day of the Dead
Uploaded are two pictures of my accepted piece (a double sided pendant) for the "Day of the Dead" expo in Dallas Texas, going on right now.
It's name is "Rich Man Poor Man-Both Dead" and the expo is for their celebration of death held every year...that is why such a mecabre appearance.....here take a look:
view link
Now it doesn't look so bad, eh?
The pendant touts 6mm Peridot, 4mm Garnet faceted gemstones with 14/20 gold filled, sterling silver wire and a sterling silver plate (with a dead looking) patina.
The third picture is of a sterling feather cuff bracelet which is actually a (William Holland) Silver 2 project that my instructor, Will Smith from Tennessee, let me make in Silver 1. As told to me, Silver 1 is for learning and Silver 2 is for projects which has project packets. If you scrap a piece, you have to buy another whole packet. But all went well with this one.
Will drew out a pattern, I followed it and the darned thing turned out great...am really happy with him as an instructor. He sends you home with all kinds of goodies and divuldges all of his secrets. Best Class I ever took....that was at the beginning of this month.
On another note, does anyone know of a source for cinch mount wire? I have exhaused my resources and there are others out there who have too....any help is appreciated. The company that made it went out of business five or so years ago (as told to me) because of too much "green"? Politics? Or is it that it is too expensive to make to eek out a profit???
Thanks for any help,
Audie01
It's name is "Rich Man Poor Man-Both Dead" and the expo is for their celebration of death held every year...that is why such a mecabre appearance.....here take a look:
view link
Now it doesn't look so bad, eh?
The pendant touts 6mm Peridot, 4mm Garnet faceted gemstones with 14/20 gold filled, sterling silver wire and a sterling silver plate (with a dead looking) patina.
The third picture is of a sterling feather cuff bracelet which is actually a (William Holland) Silver 2 project that my instructor, Will Smith from Tennessee, let me make in Silver 1. As told to me, Silver 1 is for learning and Silver 2 is for projects which has project packets. If you scrap a piece, you have to buy another whole packet. But all went well with this one.
Will drew out a pattern, I followed it and the darned thing turned out great...am really happy with him as an instructor. He sends you home with all kinds of goodies and divuldges all of his secrets. Best Class I ever took....that was at the beginning of this month.
On another note, does anyone know of a source for cinch mount wire? I have exhaused my resources and there are others out there who have too....any help is appreciated. The company that made it went out of business five or so years ago (as told to me) because of too much "green"? Politics? Or is it that it is too expensive to make to eek out a profit???
Thanks for any help,
Audie01
