Lapidaryforum.net
Rock Art => Cabochons, Intarsias, Cameos => Topic started by: irockhound on July 15, 2020, 10:48:00 PM
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Well it was by bday today so this morning I started by driving down to the beach. While parked there I was watching the waves and a jumble of Rock the highway crews made a berm out of. most of it is junk. I was looking at one piece that had some flakes that made it look more solid and maybe cuttable. I took a telephoto shot of the rock and looks like a Quartzite like material (pic 1). I took my heavy chisel since I didn't have a hammer with me and took a flake off the piece right where you see the orange in the center top of the stone. Why I had a chisel with no hammer well! I got home and ground the base flat. Then I had a lot to remove from the top but first created a general badge shape. No template just by eye. I found that the yellow coating on the outside of the rock was from Marcasite or pyrite going sulfur as when I cut it down I noticed all the specs were metallic. I took it up thru 14k and cerium on rough leather and it took a mirror shine. The rock was huge enough for several large spheres so next time down there I will grab it. One side is pink divided by a clear vein of agate and the other half is the white with the Marcasite/pyrite.
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Good stuff can turn up in the most unexpected places.
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Your instincts as a rockhound are impeccable. What a prize find! Gotta love the natural world, there is no end to the surprises when one takes the time to look.
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Really nice find!
Happy belated birthday! :icon_sunny:
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Thanks!
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Happy belated birthday! That looks like a nice birthday present to yourself!