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Author Topic: Birthday beach experiment  (Read 2673 times)

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irockhound

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Birthday beach experiment
« on: July 15, 2020, 10:48:00 PM »

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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Felicia

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Re: Birthday beach experiment
« Reply #1 on: July 16, 2020, 10:39:57 AM »

Good stuff can turn up in the most unexpected places.
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Ryaly2dogs

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Re: Birthday beach experiment
« Reply #2 on: July 16, 2020, 07:04:54 PM »

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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hummingbirdstones

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Re: Birthday beach experiment
« Reply #3 on: July 16, 2020, 07:37:58 PM »

Really nice find!

Happy belated birthday!   :icon_sunny:
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Robin

irockhound

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Re: Birthday beach experiment
« Reply #4 on: July 17, 2020, 03:41:13 PM »

Thanks!
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ileney

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Re: Birthday beach experiment
« Reply #5 on: July 25, 2020, 05:09:37 AM »

Happy belated birthday! That looks like a nice birthday present to yourself!
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