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[irockhound]

I did this for the April cab contest.  As with a lot of Montana they can have a lot of fracture and VERY odd shapes to use the material between the cracks.  This one was a pointed fragment of the slab which made for some nice negative shapes in the cab which I love cutting.  Now I had an idea for the Cab contest.  I have had some more great luck and the Material I got from the realtor came thru again and I received the 2nd half of the old collection which was many totes of slabs and some more amazing rough.  I thought this:  >>>IF<<< the contest gets 7 entries or more within a calendar month I will select a nice slab of material and send it to a random participant (regardless of where they place in the contest) and of course I am not included.  I'll pay shipping too (within the US, if international entries I might need help depending on shipping cost).  I will start with May and will send a nice Palm Root Slab I will photograph the slab tomorrow.  Other slabs I will do in other months if this works out  is some palm fiber, Burmese Jadeite, Crazy Lace or maybe even some rough plumes.  Anybody game?  Again only counts if there is 7 or more entries to try and get people motivated.

[hummingbirdstones]

I love it!

[vitzitziltecpatl]

Yeah, that's a nice cab for sure!

Some of the prettiest stones I've ever seen were ring-stone sized Montana Agates. It really floored me when a vendor had some small ones at one of our shows a few years ago. Before that I'd only tried for larger, more scenic pieces when cutting Montanas.

Oh yeah - I also like the satisfaction you can get from a successful "salvage job". Sometimes Robin chuckles and asks me why in the world I'm cutting some little heel or piece that broke off from a slab. The piece you just posted is a great example of what's possible with pieces that many cutters would just toss in a scrap pile.

[Felicia]

Love montana agate. I'll have to get busy and do a cab, not Montana, something else.

[irockhound]

Okay here are the slabs (included extras) for the May cab contest.  Rule must be at least 7 entries in the calendar month, winner chosen at random from participants. So doesn't matter if you come in first or last in the contest, participating gives you the chance.  I will pay domestic shipping cost and contribute same amount towards international if that entry comes.  You will get these 4 slabs.  The small slab on the right has a fracture i marked but will still cut 2 cabs.  The small slab on the left is a thinner cut but for smaller cabs it will work fine and the colors are awesome.  Big slab measures 7.5" x 4.5" for scale.

If this post needs to be in the general forum for contest feel free to move it there.

Cheers, Steve

[ileney]

Wow! Those are sure pretty!

[Opal Mike]

Fantastic! I only have one Montana Agate (cut stone), I swapped with a guy in Ky years ago for an opal. I came home with a little box of stones from that trip all swapped for opal (doublets and solids)...I even swapped a nice stone for a fantastic large megalodon tooth.

Unfortunately I haven’t cut any Montana agate, or the other slabs on display here...they all look great! I would be interested to hear how you guys achieve your polish and what you cut this material on ( wheels etc)...

Love it all!

Mike

[Felicia]

Great slabs. Do you know what the fossils are? Interesting indeed.

[irockhound]

All Palm root the species - No idea.  The 2 red are probably Barstow/Yermo, the Tan/Orange last pic is Bakersfield/Edison, and the last looks more Redrock/Inyo's material

Mike, You would love Montana, It is a lot like good Jaspers in that if you avoid the fractures it always takes a perfect polish, hard to mess them up.