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Post by oceangirl73 on Jul 2, 2012 19:46:44 GMT -5
I'm very very new to this rock hunting  . I was hoping you all can direct me to an Internet database that I can look up my find(s). I'm in Wyoming right now and can't take two steps without picking up a cool rock. After seeing the incredible photos here on the site I realize that my rocks are just run of the mill rocks, but still fascinating to me non the less. What I'd like to ID is one I fished out of the Torrey river up in the Wind River Basin( NW Wyoming ). I do have the Smithsonian Handbook of Rocks and Minerals by Chris Pellant on order. But I believe this to be a fossil...? I hope I'm posting this in the right section. I do not know how to post pictures but here is the link koala26sswoopwoop.blogspot.com/2012/06/rocks-cool-cool-rocks.htmlThanks for your feedback! Erika |
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Post by oceangirl73 on Jul 2, 2012 19:49:47 GMT -5
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Post by mikeyrocks on Jul 3, 2012 0:05:12 GMT -5
Hi Oceangirl and welcome to this terrific group of Rockhounds.
Going back and reading the older postings where people are seeking help in identifying material is a great way to learn more; I have found it is quite helpful to me.
Earlier this year I acquired a used copy of Simon and Schuster's Guide to Rocks and Minerals an affordable and very good helpful
guide. Photo and printing quality are good....an item like this is a good place to start.
If you are near populated areas there you might ask about rock shops and shows or college campuses where materials can be seen with its description. All good places to learn more.
Soon to travel across southern WY on I-80 to Rawlins and up to Casper, Gilette and on to the Black Hills. I am currently researching what is available in Wyoming and the list has some nice material in it. You are in a fine place to be rockhounding from what I am seeing. Wyoming is well known for it's Jade's both various greens and outstanding black; these are found in the central area of the state . The state also has vast amounts of fossils and they are abundant in the southwestern area of Wyoming.
So enjoy your finds and discoveries....show us some good photos of your finds. You will find there is a wealth of knowledge among the good people here.
Have fun.....mikey
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Post by oceangirl73 on Jul 3, 2012 13:32:05 GMT -5
Thank you for your reply. I am hooked with the rock hunting, though i spend half my time on a boat, dont know what kind of rock hunting there is in the caribbean.
I realize now I should of done a lot more research before posting here. I clearly did not give you enough info or it is such a throw away rock you wish to not hurt my feelings ;D.
I found a check list for identifying what type of rock it could be, maybe I will also find one for determining if it is a fossil or not.
We do have a friend who is an Associate Dean at University of Texas, maybe he can get me in good with the geology dude, but we will not be back in Texas until October. Hopefully by then I will of learned a little bit more of this facinating world.
Anyways, thanks for your time. I hope you don't mind if I pop in now and then with some rudimentary questions.
I have one now in fact( sorry!)
I saw a picture of a large 5lb rock, the poster mentioned oiling it. What do you oil your rocks with, do you sand them? Or use a polishing cloth? On the smooth non-porous ones of course.
Thanks again, I am really learning a lot from your forum!!
Erika
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Post by leonardo on Jul 3, 2012 16:24:52 GMT -5
May not find alot of cool rocks in the Carib. but there is alot of treasure ships that have never been found....Maybe arappaho who is on this site alot can ID it. Good Luck and have a rockin good time...Leonardo
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Post by arappaho on Jul 3, 2012 20:24:51 GMT -5
HA! Thanks for the shout out Mr. Da Vinci,  , but I'm afraid I'm not going to be much help with that rock. Very neat stuff, tho. Those platelets trapped in the clear, whatever :  , are so well formed. They do kindof look like fish scales or something. First thing would be to figure out what the clear "whatever" is. Quartz/Agate or something else? My first guess would be something along the lines of agate, like the Graveyard Plume Agate from the Owyhee River valley not too far west of Wyoming in Oregon. But the included plate pieces are just so well formed it really doesn't compare. Here's a close-up pic of some of the inclusions in the GYP. Or maybe it will come later. ;D Anyway, when you find out what it is come on back and let us all know, oceangirl. Very curious. Maybe someone else on the board will know. I feel pretty sure the light blue rock pictured on your blog page is an agate. And I was wondering why a girl from Wyoming would have "oceangirl" as her handle. Thanks for answering that. Seems you get around. You should have a great rock collection in no time! Joe Attachments:
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Post by oceangirl73 on Jul 3, 2012 23:02:48 GMT -5
Thanks everyone! Cool to think I have an agate, though just about everything I pick out of the river I am convinced is unique and run back to the RV to show my husband my" big find". ;D
I had to laugh at myself when coming back from town today, the first thing I did was check to see if someone took my big beautiful rock I have sitting in front of the RV, I was convinced someone stole it... Is there a senility that comes with rock hunting? Though it IS one mighty cool rock, do they make padlocks for rocks :-).
Anyways, thanks for the encouragement! We are heading into the Badlands, SD next week so I'm reading as much as I can about identifying, what to look for, and how to use a rock pick. I gotta youtube that one! I haven't struck a rock yet, my pick should arrive by Friday and my Smithsonian book on Thursday.
Cheers,
Erika
PS
This was my first trip to Wyoming. I'm in LOVE. We will spend our winters in the Caribbean and summers in Wyoming. Life is good.
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Post by oceangirl73 on Jul 4, 2012 23:00:58 GMT -5
 Well as it turns out my husband caught up with an old friend of his today, who happens to be one of the leading geologists for the Wind River Mountains. ( ain't that a kick in the pants!). So we went through all my uh er " finds". So, the rock I posted here is limestone ( I'm really good at finding limestone with flecks of mudd that were pressed down over time (510 million years), the official name is Flat Pebble Conglomerate. so out of my 20 or so rocks: Two accidental really cool finds are a gastrolith!! And a fossilized sand ripple. Will try to post a picture if not will post the link to our blog with the picture. Cheers and thanks again!! Erika 8/28/2012 Update, I tried to post pictures now that we are back in internet land but it didn't take so if you are interested, the rocks are posted here at Our blog koala26sswoopwoop.blogspot.com/ |
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, but I'm afraid I'm
, are so well formed.