Theimage1's new book...

[Crystal Nebula]

Hmmmm... love to learn something new.
 Not only did I not know there was a lace variety, I didnt really consider the Agua Neuva I work with to be a Moss.

I think im confused now....


Orders book in confusion>>

Will have to call the mine owner and get this straight. Thanks!

[bobby1]

Ron,
I'm also interested in an autographed copy if possible.
Bob

[theimage1]

I will have about 2000 on hand when they arrive. I can't afford to put them on Amazon as they want the book at about 40% of retail and I get the honor of paying the shipping to them. If you want to use Amazon you need to plan on making something like 5000 copies to get the price low enough to compensate for their requirements. 5000 copies would cost something like 40-45 K dollars, a bit more than I budgeted.

I am currently working on the problem of setting up shipping cost on Paypal. The post office (in their infinite wisdom) will once again raise postage rates in May, and they are not certain what the rates will be. I think the book can be shipped using media mail (lowest cost but longest time), but there doesn't seem to be a category for it on Paypal.

I think I will end up opting for first class or priority mail.

[Taogem]

I will have about 2000 on hand when they arrive.

I think I will end up opting for first class or priority mail.

Sounds great  :)

[theimage1]

The lace I "miss refered to" was Laguna Crazy Lace not aqua nueva lace (my mistake) and it was new this year at Quartzsite. A typical crazy lace agate but with complete fortification structures similar to Laguna agate. Apparently found in the same general area as Laguna Agate.

Aqua Nueva Moss: moss is found in virtually all agate varieties and it is simply a structural characteristic. Thus there can be Brazilian agate moss, Laguna agate moss, etc. etc. I structured the book based on the physical characteristics of agate. Thus a section on fortification, plume, moss, tube, sagenitic, and "others". Plume and moss are kind of a continuum of space, one man's plume may be another man's moss, it's a call based on degree of organization. Moss and tube can often share a boundary as will as tube and sagenite. Tubes are often the result of sagenitic inclusions that have dissolved away. Many agates share more than one structure in the same stone.

Some plumes appear to be "braded moss" (look at Bloody Basin Plume agate), it is mainly moss structures that move in and out or higher organization patterns. When the colors and patterns get more organized they tend to call it a plume. There are other plumes that are totally different and are more dendritic in structure, hence the name plume is a bit of a catch all for a "resembled" organizational structure. (Typically "resembles" kind of a feather-like structure.)

I mention that the naming of agates (and jaspers) is hap-hazard at best and there is no official organization (group) that has put forth a standardized naming system for them. Unlike the animal and plant kingdoms where there are ordered tree-like structures of relationships and new materials can be place within the scientific framework, the agates and jaspers are free to call whatever you wish. Lapidary and hobby people have sort of filled in the naming structure and may actually have done more than others in defining it to a greater degree. Geologist/Mineralogist pretty much classify things only to the level of macro or micro crystalline varieties of quartz and leave it at that.

There has been no major scientific interest in agates and little in jasper. They are not significant economic species to have received funding for rigorous study. Thus they occupy peripheral interest at best. Some work is underway to use the oxygen isotope content of agate to better date surrounding rocks, but there is really no major interest in them outside of lapidary use. Jaspers get a bit more study but not based on their use as lapidary material rather how they form part of the sedimentation process especially in deep sea deposits.

This general confusion has lead to many species of rock being field identified as jasper because it has tended to have very broad definitions. (ie. any calcedony that is opaque.) Transparent or translucent calcedonies then must be agate. Although most jaspers do contain calcedony and they tend to be opaque, the definition is a bit too broad. Rhyolite rock and obsidian are a chemical continuum from micro crystalline to amorphous and contain at least 70% silica content. A jasper may have even less than 70% silica content depending on the secondary filler material, thus it can fall in the same general range as both rhyolite and andesite and both have often been mis-labeled as jaspers.

I am not claiming that I have cleared up the problem in my book, but hopefully I have pointed it out a bit more clearly and others with sufficient interest and stature may one day clean it up a bit more.

[Crystal Nebula]

 
 A beautifully composed explanation of agate varieties.

As you know the mine owner well, im told you are the highest of knowledge in the agate world, so I bow humbly.

 As per the mine owners employee's information, the Laguna lace is not found near the Laguna claims, but may be riding the name due to color and formation. supposedly a small amount of purple is found in the laguna lace....

 My own cabbing experience in this variety is limited to about 100 agua's, most of which I find tubes, which conform to your decomposed stick facts. Although a large amount of red and green plume exist in the matrix of said seam material, I tend to cut that away from the tube and layer formations. Agua moss it is. You are most correct. I generally referred to the agua areana as either seam, or nod(nodule), but that formation characteristic does little to quell the distance of dissimiliar internal formations present.
 
 I cant wait to study your new book, for Im sure to find a slew of information I can barely comprehend, scientifically, as well as lapidarily. Will defiantly place in the top of my collection of agate books.


 Unpatiently awaiting....
 

[The Polished Pebble]

Ron, the heaviest a first class parcel can be is 13oz. After that, it is either - priority mail, parcel post or media mail.

A consideration for $$$'s is that priority mail supplies are FREE! Boxes in assorted sizes & if you ask your postmaster nicely - free tape.

On parcel post you have to watch out for the "surcharge". I know it has something to do with the weight & size of the box - but beyond that I don't have a clue.

It would definatly be worth your time to package up 1 book the way you want it & then take it to your post office. Have them weigh it & price it out for all the different service levels. I personally HATE media mail.

Of course, you can get discounted postage if you purchase your postage online. Paypal or thru the USPS. And you get discounted Delivery Confirm that way too.

Connie

[Taogem]

I use to sell books by the hundreds online. It was not uncommon to sell 20 to 30 at a time wholesale. That type of weight justifies media. I would not use it either for a single book..

[akansan]

I'm really looking forward to this book - a guide to tradenames, rock types, etc. is probably the most requested thing that comes up on rock boards. :)

[Taogem]

I am really looking forward to have all that reference for Jaspers and Agates.. Especially the well organized images.. Going to be really nice.

[Bluesssman]

Ron, with all of the pictures and effort put into making this book, I am curious how long it took you to create it. What motivated you to make this book?

[theimage1]

Bluesssman look at the history on the earlier WEB site post, I think it's explained there in gory detail!

http://www.theimagebooks.com/

[Bluesssman]

Okay, Ron, it is the middle of April! The pressure is on. Any update on your book. No, I am not jumping up and down wanting my signed copy. I am just asking for everyone else!!!! ;D ;D ;D


Gary

[theimage1]

Some good news!

The books have cleared customs on the west coast, and are on US soil! They are likely somewhere in the western US at this time about to be put on or maybe already on a truck.

[Seth]

Great! I know how that import sweating goes. Should have no problems now. I clear my stuff myself through customs. Most people use a broker. How do you do it.