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Post by marielouise on Feb 10, 2012 22:19:08 GMT -5
Hello all, I live in North East Texas-- have collected rocks most all my life -- mostly just for grins and giggles. As a kid growing up in New Mex. , and Az., my brothers and I wandered around exploring desert and mountains . Dad's job moved us quite often so we covered lots of ground, many of the rocks we picked up back then were sold to a rock shop owned by friends of my parents . Just recently began to wonder what they looked like inside and what they are really called. I have some fossils-- fern leaf imprint, creepy crawlies , etc., and various petrified woods and such other odd ball things that caught my eye.
I don't recognize all the different types of stones -- mainly know the geodes , agates , malachite . have petrified wood encrusted with black crystals --very pretty. As a child we had books on rocks and others on fossils , long time and a few years in between was to busy with living to give it much attention.
Anyone wanna share your favorite book to identify and learn from?
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Post by rockshine on Feb 11, 2012 15:43:45 GMT -5
Books are so confusing, especially books on minerals, unless the author is from you area, and illustrates using rocks from your locality. I prefer the grab-point-say method, where you grab a local rockhound, point to a rock and say, whattizit?
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Post by eechler on Feb 12, 2012 9:15:58 GMT -5
Depending where you live in North East Texas you might find an active mineral club. They can be a great source of information.
Did you ever go after the East Texas Palm Wood? When I lived in the DFW area I was always told that the areas where played out, or Posted.
I agree with Rockshine books can be confusing.
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Post by Craig on Feb 12, 2012 19:18:39 GMT -5
Hello and Welcome to the site!!!!  Craig |
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Post by mikeyrocks on Feb 17, 2012 0:19:25 GMT -5
Hi marielouise and welcome to this Dirty Bunch... ha ha ha. As mentioned try to locate rockhounds in your area and check about local rock, gem, mineral clubs. As for reading....just go through the posts and pictures on here, where people ask about what they have found. It is a great source of information and you can even ask questions.... you cannot do that in a book. Have fun!
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Post by marielouise on Feb 19, 2012 1:34:48 GMT -5
Thanks for the warm welcome!!! As for any local rock hounders -- nope-- most folks just look at me as I am weird.Ok so they are right!!!
I live in a very rural area..
Ed , I have some local pet wood. Its a long narrow piece-- light tan on the outside with darker streaks but snow white inside --no visable grain --- but a few black spots, scattered here and there no pattern to it. We did slice off a piece while palying around with the saw the other day. Could that be palm wood? I know years ago we found some in N.M . --small piece --- it was white and I don't recall any grain or tree ring type markings. I am closer to Texarcana than DFW area and yep everything is posted but have friends who don't mind if I wander around as long as I close the gate and don't bother the livestock. Haaa
I will check around for some type rock --mineral club in the phone of the larger towns nearby. I agree the pick up and point and ask is the best way.
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Post by eechler on Feb 21, 2012 7:45:51 GMT -5
marielouise - Texarkana is a nice area. Should be easy to jump up to some of the locations in Arkansas. Try to pick up the book that the guide book on collecting locations that Arkansas Geological Survey use to sell it would be a great resource.
I will take some pics of the palm wood that I picked up about 12 years ago in a Rock Shop in Arlington, TX.
Use to collect fossils on a Ranch West of Fort Worth. Still got a bag of heart urchins. Last time I heard the Ranch is falling victim to urban sprawl.
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Post by marielouise on Feb 22, 2012 2:53:04 GMT -5
Ed, we like this area ! And I did ask my older brother, hes a bit more knowledgeable on rocks than I am and he thinks this is palm wood. He thinks the black spots might be the fibers that are in palm wood-- so we plan on slicing it the other way later on this week.
Ohhh yes urban sprawl in the entire DFW area is horrendous.
Soon as the weather clears up some here bouts we plan a trip up into Ark. Been there many times , hubs ran a search on computer today looking for likely places .
Looking forward to seeing those pics of your palm wood.
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Post by eechler on Feb 23, 2012 18:32:52 GMT -5
Can't believe it my wife is going to be flying down to DFW in June with out me. - well, I do have to confess - I will be up in Maine for a week at the Poland Mining Camps over the same period of time.
I did not for get about the Pics I will try to get to them this week end.
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Post by mikeyrocks on Feb 25, 2012 1:48:47 GMT -5
Hey marie....As far as the palmwood it is a simple material to identify. Also somewhat common in the area you are in. Most of the East Texas/Louisiana material I have dealt with is a very light tan or sandy color to a medium tan in color. The most sought after is the reds or darker pieces leaning to a reddish orange. When cut across the grain or tree you will only see dots (no rings whatsoever), the dots are normally just a slightly darker tan or a slightly lighter tan.... maybe 1/64 to 1/32 of an inch in diameter. They will be evenly spaced apart from one another. When cut broken along the length of the piece/tree it will show as lines instead of dots. Often the texture on the outside of a piece shows evidence of that long running fiber that made up this material. If you are seeing irregular orbs without a regular pattern, then you could be seeing the root of the palm. The outside original bark pattern of diamonds on the outside is rare to see.
Generally it is highly agatized, quite hard and cuts beautiful cabachon stones for jewelry.
I will attempt to post a few photos of cut stones and some rough as well. Most of the root material comes from California or Indonesia. My favorite specimin is a Louisiana chunk which has the imprint of a molar in it..... I almost cut this before I recognized what the imprint was.
Happy hunting in your area....just take some pics of what you find. The good folks here will help with identification. Have fun! cheers......mikey
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Post by CrossfireBusiness on Feb 25, 2012 1:59:41 GMT -5
bet uve seen more rocks than a book can say //
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Post by eechler on Feb 28, 2012 10:42:39 GMT -5
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Post by Craig on Feb 29, 2012 14:12:33 GMT -5
Very Nice Ed, Thanks for sharing Craig |
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Post by marielouise on Mar 2, 2012 2:57:44 GMT -5
Thanks Ed for sharing! Mine looks nothing like that. not that many dots in mine. The rock saw is under going some rehab work now so be awhile before we can slice more .
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