Another great day of rocks

[Bruce]

Yes, it's been a good day to play with rocks!

 

I started thinking about how long I've been picking rocks up off of the ground, and what all led me to start doing more than just sitting them on a shelf.  I looked through some old rocks today and found the two rocks that probably mean more to me than any other rocks I have.  They may not be the shiniest, coolest, or most valuable ones I have, but it's their history that is important to me.

Anyone else have rocks like that?

Here are the two rocks:

The first:  I simple colonial coral fossil that I found when I was a kid.  I've packed this rock around for decades.  It was the first rock that I picked up and kept.  It's been with me all these years.  It's crazy to think I still have it.

The second:  A simply unassuming piece of honey calcite.  Why is it important?  It was the first time I picked up a rock, and thought "I wonder what this would look like if it was polished?"  It was the rock that led me into lapidary arts. 

These two rocks are special to me, not for their monetary value, but for where they have led me.

And that was just the start of the day...I'll add more in the following post.

[Bruce]

So, after that, I was inspired to go outside and do a little work.  I didn't have a whole lot of time today, but I did some rough shaping on a few stones.  Still need the finish work, but they're started.

1.  Chrysocolla
2.  Sodalite
3.  Llanite
4.  Tiger Iron 

[Bruce]

...and as if that wasn't enough of rocks for the day, I got to stop at my local rock shop and pick up some new material to work with.

1.  Rhyolite
2.  Snowflake Obsidian
3.  Rhodochrosite
4.  Aquamarine and Beryl

[Bruce]

...more new material:

5.  Honduras Opal...Doesn't have a lot of opal showing, but something new to play with.
6.  Unknown...Anyone have any ideas?   


So yes, it's been a great day of rocks. 

[vitzitziltecpatl]

Yep. Looks like a pretty great day, alright. Love that Chrysocolla.

Question about your Llanite. Did the rough have small internal fractures? Not like long cracks running all the way through it, but random little short hairlines?

Nice variety of rocks you've got going there. Keep 'em coming... .

[Ranger_Dave]

I have to get some of that tiger iron.

Rocks can bring back memories and have a lot of emotional value. My father died when I was 4 years old. I have the remains of his collection. They're not for sale at any price.

[Bruce]

Yep. Looks like a pretty great day, alright. Love that Chrysocolla.

Question about your Llanite. Did the rough have small internal fractures? Not like long cracks running all the way through it, but random little short hairlines?

Nice variety of rocks you've got going there. Keep 'em coming... .

Yes, there are some.  You can barely see them.  Like you said, they don't run all the way through.  Most are maybe a couple millimeters or so.  I have another large piece of rough that I've haven't cut or looked at too closely.  I'll look at it and see if it was the same internal fractures as well.

[vitzitziltecpatl]

Thanks. Don't have much experience with Llanite. Have read it's a type of granite, or a close cousin. The little fractures seem more like "uncemented" spaces between granules in the rock to me. Maybe a common characteristic of this rough.

Would be nice to hear from someone who has more experience with this rough. There could've been a member on here who had some of this on their property at some time in the past.