|
Post by pegmatite on Aug 12, 2006 16:49:49 GMT -5
As Steve mentioned it's nearly impossible to select a single specimen as my favorite since each one represents much more than just a mineral specimen. Many are as significant to me for the memories they evoke as for the quality of the specimen themselves. The fluorapatite crystal specimen below (sorry the photo isn't better) is from the Strickland Quarry in Portland, Connecticut. I collected it as a young teenager with my dad in the mid-70's. We bushwhacked well over a mile to reach the quarry that day because the local police had been ticketing and towing vehicles parked along the street below the quarry. Today the quarry no longer exists, having been filled in and covered with a golf course. The primary crystal is only about 4 mm across, but to me it represents what a wonderful collecting site the Strickland Quarry was and what collectors lost to development.
|
|
|
Post by DixieMiner on Aug 12, 2006 22:06:39 GMT -5
My favorite specimen would have been the large smokey quartz crystal that i found about 10 years ago in a fault line. I now get to see it displayed at some gem shows after having given it to a special young guy who showed a great interest in it...... way to go Dylan! Thats why its my favorite now, it made another person happy.
|
|
|
Post by stevebarr on Aug 14, 2006 9:37:51 GMT -5
John D-
Thanks for that excellent energy drink you gave me the other day. It tasted just like almonds. What did you call it? Arsenic Boost, I think. I slept like a baby after I guzzled it down. When I woke up, all of my rocks were gone. I'm not sure if you got them, or Dylan did. Anyway, whoever has them, would you kindly send them back?
-Steve
P.S. Give 'em back, John....I have photos of you from the RoundUp that could end up on the internet and destroy any hopes you have of ever running for public office....
|
|
|
Post by stevebarr on Aug 14, 2006 9:42:33 GMT -5
Geode Pat - That's quite a collection of "gems" you have there. Just be careful when handling them. Some of them can be quite dangerous. When you are trying to identify the ones that could be the most trouble, it's fairly easy. The ones wearing hats in the photo are the ones you have to watch out for.
And, as you learned during the dance of the seven veils....the one wearing a hat and dark sunglasses is the one you have to be the most careful with.
-Steve
|
|
|
Post by JohnD on Aug 14, 2006 10:38:45 GMT -5
Steve, I can't imagine any pictures that you would have that would prevent me from running for public office, they'd probably get me elected. But I only run from not for public office. Dylan must have gotten your rocks, I only collect specimens And I haven't been in NC since the roundup, the state troopers keep meeting me at the NC line and won't let me back into the state.
|
|
|
Post by lee on Aug 22, 2006 18:33:29 GMT -5
It's time I learned how to post pictures on this board. As some of you know, while on a trip to Diamond Hill, a couple of years ago, I found a plate of skeleton crystals which reminded me of a mountain; thus I named it "The Mountain". This is by far the best specimen I have found at any location so I guess it is my favorite specimen. Now, if I can learn to post it's picture, y'all can see it and enjoy it's beauty. THE MOUNTAIN
|
|
|
Post by kap on Aug 22, 2006 19:33:29 GMT -5
Lee you done good! Who said you can't teach an old dog new tricks. :>)
|
|
|
Post by stevebarr on Aug 22, 2006 19:53:36 GMT -5
So Lee....what room of your house do you keep that in? And, which nights of the week are you usually out?
Just wondering, Steve
|
|
|
Post by lee on Aug 22, 2006 20:00:00 GMT -5
Steve:
The mountain stays on a shelf in our computer room. I had better not come home one day to find it missing - I now know who will have it.
|
|
|
Post by geodepat on Aug 22, 2006 20:24:36 GMT -5
;DSteve, it would look good on that shelf next to your smokey.
|
|
|
Post by stevebarr on Aug 22, 2006 22:44:06 GMT -5
Hmmmm....a great cluster of skeletal quartz from Diamond Hill AND a computer! I might just have to schedule a drive up to the Raleigh area sometime soon. What was your address again, Lee?
Anything you want from Lee's house while I'm there, Pat?
|
|
|
Post by geodepat on Aug 22, 2006 23:32:25 GMT -5
Why yes Steve you could grab me a slab of backstrap out of the freezer.
|
|
|
Post by sapphiregirl on Aug 26, 2006 19:13:57 GMT -5
Well now John, I could always sneak you in via way of Southill if the troopers stop you. And Lee that specimen does look like a mountain, I will have to get Donald to do his favorite piece from Diamond Hill and mine.
|
|
Noosh9057
Senior Member
Gold Member
Posts: 23
|
Post by Noosh9057 on Aug 29, 2006 10:16:43 GMT -5
thay all look great!!!!!!
|
|
|
Post by jimolson on Sept 11, 2006 15:02:00 GMT -5
One of my favorite JXR pieces:
|
|
|
Post by silverdig45 on Sept 12, 2006 11:11:55 GMT -5
That's a nice.... Jim... ... Lee I also like "The Mountain" .....
|
|
|
Post by stevebarr on Sept 12, 2006 11:46:34 GMT -5
I've already posted one "Favorite Specimen", but thought I'd post a picture of one that is a pretty close second. This is a cluster of large smokies that I unearthed in one of the dump piles at Diamond Hill. Unlike many of the other specimens found there, this one was covered with a dark black mud, and I almost tossed it away! It took about two weeks of soaking it in Super Iron-Out to get it cleaned up, but the end result was quite a nice little addition to my collection. I just thought some of you who haven't seen it before might like to check it out before you head down to Diamond Hill this weekend. Some folks who saw this photo when Rick first posted it thought that we had adjusted the colors to make it look better, but nothing could be further from the truth. The majority of the crystals are a nice dark smoky color, but the base is amethyst. I have it sitting in my cabin, and when I turn the light on above it, it looks blue from across the room because the amethyst shows through the tips.
|
|
|
Post by lee on Sept 12, 2006 13:09:33 GMT -5
Steve:
I think I took that picture and as I recall, the chunk of smoky crystals looks just as it is shown. That is one of the best looking clusters of Diamond Hill material I have ever seen. Even though there are clusters with bigger crystals, there are none with the deep color that it has. I'm sure it makes a nice addition to your collection.
|
|
|
Post by gronkus on Sept 21, 2006 19:23:41 GMT -5
Hey Steve,
I think you may have a serious problem! To have two large pieces like that in your house on display, I am very worried about the stress that this considerable weight is placing on the supports and foundation of your abode.
I think you really need some good samaritan to free you of this burden. In fact, this weight is so great it should be distributed far away, perhaps even to go so far as to remove one from the other by several states (we have to consider the effect on tectonics, you know). I "could" try and help you out when I visit your place in a couple weeks, and just hope that PA is in fact far enough removed to reverse the effects of these massive specimens.
;-) Just kidding of course - beautiful stuff !!!!
|
|
|
Post by stevebarr on Oct 11, 2006 10:38:40 GMT -5
As we all know, MAGMA members are infamous for the incredible feasts we have on most of our digs. People rave about Nancy's fish, Pat's side dishes, Ken's cakes, Ron's coffee in the morning, Leah's chicken salad sandwiches and her cookies. Everyone has their own personal favorites. So, I thought I'd post a photo of a special one that was at Diamond Hill last time we were there. It's called a "Sweetie Pie". Ken, can you make more of these? John D would like to take one home with him…..
|
|
|
Post by jewelonly on Oct 11, 2006 15:18:21 GMT -5
Hey Steve,
Interesting Sweetie Pie you are holding there. My real concern, however, is the post preceding the picture where Dave writes, I think you really need some good samaritan to free you of this burden Uh, have you checked your crystal inventory since Dave absconded, I mean, absented himself from your "abode"?
Just curious,
Leah (smiling)
|
|
bitterbrook
Full Member
Rats! Broke another hammer!
Posts: 17
|
Post by bitterbrook on Oct 16, 2006 9:26:26 GMT -5
When we were at William Holland last year, Gloria's Rock Shop in Young Harris had recently closed. The owners (great friends of WH) dumped truckloads of rocks behind the lodge, which students and instructors were able to buy for $1 a pound. I found some nice stuff, including a sweet little piece of Morrisonite rough, but my wife stayed out there most of her off-time all that week looking for a treasure. She saw this rock and just to be thorough, picked it up and turned it over: It doesn't look as good in the photo, but the layers in the agatized center are absolutely straight and well-defined. We had several offers to buy the rock for a tad more than $1 a pound that week. I commented that I could get an three incredible cabochons out of it, for a pendant and matching earrings. Death threats follwed...
|
|
|
Post by crystaldigger on Oct 24, 2006 15:21:07 GMT -5
wow, you guys have some nice stuff! I'll see what I can dig up - photographically speaking, of course - and see how ye olde camera does.
|
|
|
Post by crystaldigger on Oct 25, 2006 22:15:48 GMT -5
here's a pic of a really nice cluster of 3 herkimers that i like. I found it at the end of the day in one of those "ok I'll smash one more section of rockwall before I go home" modes.
|
|
GlennB
Senior Member
Posts: 29
|
Post by GlennB on Oct 26, 2006 18:25:07 GMT -5
Here are my best finds for 2006. It's been a great year. I picked these up scuba diving. Glenn
|
|
|
Post by jewelonly on Oct 26, 2006 18:34:44 GMT -5
"My, what big teeth you have there!" Glenn. Very nice!!
Leah (smiling)
|
|
|
Post by lee on Oct 26, 2006 18:48:30 GMT -5
Glenn:
You did a great job of posting your first pictures on the board. Your picture size is perfect and the color is great. It helped to have great subjects to show in your picture. The three giant meg teeth are great. You have come a long way from our teeth finding days when we screened in the creeks down east. Congratulations.
Lee
|
|
|
Post by indyme2 on Oct 27, 2006 20:04:39 GMT -5
Great finds Glenn. Rick and I have been waiting to see those teeth. Thanks for posting. We will be diving that location this Spring. I am looking at a scooter now and will give Rick some additional training for the dive. Check out the teeth Reese found in your spot. He is at Bermuda Triangle Dive Shop in Greenville, SC. He has some killer stuff too.
|
|
GlennB
Senior Member
Posts: 29
|
Post by GlennB on Oct 27, 2006 21:09:29 GMT -5
Jerry, Let me know when you go in the spring and I'll join you and Rick. I have to make a decision to go to Diamond Hill next weekend or try diving for more teeth. I haven't decided yet.
Glenn
|
|
|
Post by JohnD on Oct 28, 2006 15:51:35 GMT -5
Jerry, question on different teeth. The horse teeth that I and then all of us found. Do you have a species name for the horse and approximately how old would they be? Another question - about how long does it take an animal tooth or bone to fossilize?
|
|