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Deer Creek 07/12/09 (JG Page 10)
| Jade Gallery Page 10 Deer Creek 07/12/09 Eureka! |
When it comes to the stuff on Deer Creek, I no longer draw a line between the hydrogrossular garnet (HGG) and the jades as they seem to comprise a series within the metasomatic/serpentinization reaction zone (rodingization), and are very similar in appearance, so whatever I note is just an "educated" guess. Chances are that both are represented in the stones.
Always Under Construction
but done until further tests and cuts are added
but done until further tests and cuts are added
EUREKA! | ||
 Normal is a Myth |
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| Here in these photos are 22 "varieties" of jade found in a single outing (1 to 3 of them are probably not jade, but you get the idea) Varieties or "Types" are noted below, including ones not pictured above. |
This trip started out as the second attempt at recovering the Jade Stele, but thunder and rain showers forced a scuttle, as well as the fact that it would take more than just my brother and myself to get the boulder up the step trail out of the creek and into the vehicle. We did confirm that we can get the boulder easily to the trail, and got it through the hardest area on the creek. So we re-ditched it, and I spent the rest of the day hounding on the creek. Around 2pm Aaron (Retiredoldfogee) showed up and we searched the creek together for a few hours before heading about a mile up the NF of the Stilly to check out one of his favorite spots on the river. (see NF Stilly JG 2.0 pg1 for that part of the trip)All in all, a very good haul. Btw, I left nothing behind this trip!!!
~Zeke
| Urban Jade | ||
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| The day before this trip, my family (wife and son) and I, went out widow shopping in downtown Bellingham. We hit this one shop ("Alladdin's Bazzar", I think) where I found a few boxes of rocks (it was an antique store of sorts...a permanent bazzar). Most of the rocks were just the scrapes of an agate cutter, and a box of "snow flake obsedian, poor quality), but amongst the junkite there was this beatiful green botryoidal jade piece. The rocks had no price on them, so when we checked out they threw it in for free. How's that for urban rock-hounding? I also got an old green 6-sider for my dice collection. |
Pictures link to Photobucket slide-show of the stone, see note on Page 1
 HelloRock | Type 1 (HelloRock Thread) This is a thoroughly translucent cobble of either jade or HGG...jade is the most likely answer. It does seem heavier than nephrite, so it might be jadeite, if so, confirming the rumors. Aaron's right that the pictures don't do it justice. In person it seems to glow. And to hold it in your hand, you know you have something special. The only faults I find with this rock are the fractures that seem to run through parts of it and I'm not to fond of the greyish areas. I have found another cobble of almost the exact same stuff, 'BandedBeauty' (or look on page 7). It too is heavier for it's size than known examples of nephrite. |
 Eureka! | Type 2 I actually past this one by several times as I was hauling rocks, dismissing it every time. The greens are very translucent in an opaque whitish matrix, which may be jade or rodingite. This may be a breccia jade, or garnet??? The "Eureka" moment was when, once home, I realized I had a much larger example of the same material from Pilchuck Creek, 'LeftBehind' (or look on page 5) The only discernible difference being that this one had been broken relatively recently, and so wasn't as heavily weathered on one side. If I had a saw and cut the one from Pilchuck, I would have realized sooner its quality. It may be that the green areas differ in color a little between the two pieces, but without cutting into the Pilchuck one I don't know for sure. This is a great case study in how great jade can hide, and the reason why I put so much effort into these galleries to help others identify the Washington jade. Another example is 'Window' (or look on page 8) |
 ClassicCobble | Type 3 This is the kind of cobble I think of when I think of jade cobbles. The classic light rind with green jade underneath, showing through on resent fractures or "windows". This illustrates why I picked up those other stones with "white" rinds. It is worth the effort to look at this slide-show in detail to note the "tells" on this cobble. It is heavy and the fracture areas exhibit the classic "waxy" luster (and "feel"). The rinds of this particular color always seem to be just as hard as the inner jade. I won't bother to link to the other white rind stones, but check out some on the Pilchuck Page. 6 lbs |
 BlueOrbs | Type 4 One of the last finds of the day on Deer. This one was buried but for one area, barely showing one of the "orbs". I've noticed that I have a lot of good luck paying attention to the stones that are just poking out of the creek bed. The BotBoulder is of similar jade. This one is sort of a cross between the BotBoulder and the Jade Stele. This piece, and the BotBoulder, weather to look very similar to the all prevalent (what I take to be) green-schist all over the creek, which makes detecting these jade hard. You could spend your entire day banging on the green schist to no avail. In a way it reminds me of Pilchuck's weathering patterns with similar green boulders everywhere, with the similar identification problems. To add to the confusion, the schists and whatever, also seem to have botryoidal looking weathering patterns on a lot of them (an illusion). A helpful give away are the slightly softer (in some areas) of the black. Likely serpentinite. Whereas the schists are of uniform hardness, and colors. But then there's the diopside, which also really mimics the look , as well as mimicing the look of botryoidals. Compare with 'Blues and Browns' on page one from Pilchuck. 21 lbs |
 WGOpaqueBoulder | Type 5 A large specimen of the Opaque (or sub-translucent, maybe?) "metasomatic"-like jade, with awesome patterns. What more to say? I will get approximate weights for all these boulders and cobbles eventually (my scale disappeared). 23 lbs |
 BotBoulder | Type 6 Botryoidal Boulder (see BlueOrbs above). The blacks are definitely softer here. This one was left behind by another hound, I found it clean along the shore of the recently exposed creek bed amongst muddy rocks. There were quite a few boulders so placed along the way. Left behind for it's size (too big to bother with?), the hound didn't know any better, or they scratched it in a soft area and took that as proof of being just serpentinite, or they know something I don't (like maybe it's a neat but worthless jade...who knows?) Maybe I left it behind on my last trip like I believe I did with the one below, 'LeftBehind2". 19 lbs |
 BlueTaffyHeartBreccia | Type 7 New descriptive term: "Taffy Jade" "What it feels like I would imagine a lump of taffy feels like to hold in your hand before it has been pulled or aerated....soft, waxy and heavy." This piece has the white, hard "self-edges" that are breccia into the blueish jade. Compare with the 'Ram'sEye Jade' on Page 1, first stone in the galleries. Although the jade is of a different color, they both originated as a lenses, apparently along a reaction zone. Similarly, it is related to the "EasterEgg" serpentinite...both from Grandy Creek. |
 BlueTaffyPiece | Type 7 (not in collage) See above, this one is greener. |
 LeftBehindBoulder  The Fracture | Type 23 (not in collage) 88 lbs Another case of jade being left behind. This one obviously because of it's size. I believe they dug it out of the bottom of the creek like I did with the Stele and ditched it around where the Stele was (I found it during my first attempt at the recovery of the Stele). From about where I saw the other holes in the creek bed I figure they had carried it several hundred feet before hiding it in the sand under a piece of wood on a wooded gravel bar island. I left it behind that trip (and the next trip)...because of it's size, I was tired from digging out and moving the Stele from the creek bed (the next trip was because I was alone as far as adults were concerned). This trip, I decided that if they really wanted it they would have been back for it by now, as all you need to get it out is to pack it out it in a backpack and have someone there to help you up. You have to put the backpack on sitting down, and without help, there is no way you will stand up! My brother actually volunteered to haul this one out for me after we ditched the Stele. I think he saw it as an opportunity to "condition" himself further for some backpacking trips he plans to go on soon. One of those is likely to be one I plan, and I plan to look for jade in bedrock either around Deer, Finney, or Grandy creek, but need safety buddies. As for this rock, its sub- to translucent, greyish-green to greenish grey, creamy whites, spotted, mottled with bands of the white and with some "chromium green" spots. The orange is paint from something it rubbed against during transit...my dolly I think. One area has a brand new fracture on it, no doubt from the hounds, that shows its waxy luster very nicely, as well as it's fracture type (splintery-uneven) You'll have to watch the slide-show for that treat!...Nevermind, I put it up here... I'll try to get a weight on this one, but it will have to wait! And a reminder, you can view each photo in Photobucket in it's original size plus zoom by going to the "mainview" (upper right corner), clicking on the picture of your choice, choosing what options you will. I'd zoom for you, but that's more trouble than interest warrants. BTW: The pick is 16" long. If this was your jade...sorry;-) |
 LeftBehind2 | Type 8 Very Similar to the one above, but with greater translucency, and nicer greens, and the color mix-up in this one is intense. I found this one as described above for the 'BotBoulder', but I'm fairly sure I was the one who left it behind on the last trip. I remember feeling like I lost a really great one on top of a boulder, and that is where I found this one. You know, you start wandering away from your bucket or what ever, already have your hands full of rocks...just thought you were going to take a break from hounding and have a smoke or drink of water, but end up waddling away with an arm full of rocks for half an hour, having to set rocks aside where you're sure you'll find them again on the way back, but you never do. Yes, I must have left it behind, because it's too nice for anyone else to have (unless they did exactly what I described above). |
 Chade | Type 9 This is a sub-translucent cobble of "chade"...that is, a chert-like jade...but not chert. The green inside is nicer than the brown rinding on the faces (the tells are the recent fracture edges.) In a way, the jade inside is very similar to the 'ClassicCobble' above. I guess this is a "classic" too! :-) 7 lbs |
 BrownBot | Type 10 Brown Botryoidal jade. Not a very nice display piece, but That just means I won't feel bad cutting into this one just to see the patterns and possibly good color inside. Of course you notice the serpentinite is also brown (the dark stuff that is usually black) And of course, it is softer than the light jade areas. I had such great luck last trip finding botryoidals, that I am surprised at how poorly I did this trip. I was looking for this all day, but only found it at the last, and poor quality at that. I believe, in fact, that this was the last rock of the day. I guess 'BotBoulder' counts as something though.. |
 BroadLeafBoulder | Type 24 (not in collage) This stuff again. Pretty rock, sure, but jade? I am leaning away toward HGG. But the green crystals seem more like actinolite, and pieces such as the one below, seem a mix of this stuff plus HGG (and opaque jady stuff). 16 lbs |
 EyeVeinCobble | Type 13,16,17? Type 25!!!! (not in collage) "DeerStuff" I've written plenty on this material, and see above. The amount of the opaque jady material in this piece is nice. Actually, I'll write more. That stuff is similar in appearance to the 'BandedBeauty' material (link above under 'HelloRock'), only less translucent. Sub-translucent is closer to the truth I believe. A closer look at this rock shows it to be a more translucent variety of the "deerstuff". 14 lbs |
 Fin | Type 11 If you have followed these galleries, you will remember other black rind jades. The right side of this one shows the internal green (see slide-show) There was a bit of controversy over this one when I found it as Aaron noted that it seemed too light to be jade. But now I know why that was. I had just shown him the 'HelloRock', which is likely jadeite, and since the heft of a rock in the hand is subjective, we were fooled. That, and this is nephrite and has a tapered shape, giving the illusion of being bigger than it actually is. It is heavy for it's size, just not as heavy for it's size as the jadeite. The green inside is likely a better, brighter color than is evident on the relatively recent fractures...which are still weathered none-the-less. There should also be decent translucency. The black rind melds nicely into the green, leaving little black spots. |
 BandW | Type ? (not in collage) Just wishful thinking, maybe. I like the patterns on this one, but the dark 'black' areas (actually kind of green) can be scratched (just barely) and the rest of the stone doesn't present anything else to offer hope for it. So, to the saw with it!....... |
 BumpyCobble | Type 8 and 17? (not in collage) This should be a nice jade or HGG? to cut, with lots of patterns and translucency. 8 lbs |
 MOJ1 | Type 12 "Metasomatic" opaque jade "Metasomatic" here is an unscientific descriptor. As I've noted before, it is just that it "feels" like rodingite...something you pick up after a while. This one has an area (on the left there) that is like type 17 'Candy' below or the veins of opaque in many of the 'DeerStuff' stones. Many of these are patterned green and white, but this one has a fairly large solid green mass. |
 TableJade | Type 13 Translucent 'DeerStuff' This is the more translucent 'DeerStuff", perhaps a mix of Type 16 and Type 8...and maybe that represents a HGG and Jade mix. Notice the dark grey or black area on the left...rodingite tell? Or just more jade or hgg as it is a bit translucent too. 8 lbs |
 BandWandG | Type 14 This one is a proof-of-concept specimen. I should have called it PandWandG, as it is purple, not black. No soft areas, and the greens show some translucency. So I pose the question again...purple jade? Or purple rodingite (HGG maybe) with a jade (White and Green) ribbon? |
 WhiteHere | Type 15 I believe that even the white here is jade. It's all the small clues and similarities with other finds that cause me to believe this is jade, even though the proof is not strong, but I'm a bit of an optimist. The entire stone appears to be somewhat translucent. |
 WhiteOval | Type 16 Opaque 'DeerStuff' This is the more opaque 'DeerStuff' with an interesting white 'oval' knob. I lean more toward HGG/Rodingite on these, but what do I know? These seem to be the most common on the creek, often mixed up with type 8 translucent material, or mostly solid opaque veins. |
 1stShotRock | Type 13? (not in collage) If you remember on page 8, the 'chip and the block', then you recognize this material. A cross between type 8 and type 16 with a vein of the grey jade. |
 2ndShotRock | Type 13? (not in collage) Very little of the rodingite like stuff, nor any greys, but it does have an opaque white area. |
 aCobble | Type 13? |
 Candy | Type 17 "Candy" This appears to be a loose piece of the opaque white and greens from within the 'DeerStuff" that often has veins of it. |
 Clearly | Type 13 (not in collage) This is pretty much just like the 'TableJade' above. |
 Clouds | Type 22 Maybe a stretch here, but I love the way this rock looks. The mass of it is a greenish, hard black. The white coats also have translucent greens along the edges. Compare with 'InTheHole' JG v2.0 Deer Creek pg 1 Which gives me a lot of hope and proof that this is jade. |
 DeceptiveOne | Type ? (not in collage) Too weathered to tell. The tells are two-fold. To the left is a window and in the middle soft black serpentinite...indicative of weathered out jade. I have little doubt that there is good jade inside this rind. |
 GreenSpottedWhite | Type 24 (not in collage) See 'BroadLeafBoulder' above, but this one has bigger, albeit less, of the green "crystals". |
 HGGRon | Classic 'DeerStuff" rodingite (HGG). Notice the black (or deep purple) on the left...indicative of rodingite. It's pieces like these that cause me to label those greens and white HGG, but, as you can tell by all the variations, it's hard to draw the line on many of these stones as clearly as I do for this one. Of course the "look" and "feel" of rodingite may be an illusion...I just don't buy that argument as I've seen way too many perfect examples of rodingite on deer with the specks of this green in the white. |
 LittleSurprise | Type 18 Surprisingly nice opaque jade here, with a little patterning with the black/dark greens. Compare with 'GoingToCut' JG v2.0 Deer Creek pg 1 |
 MetaJadePebble | Type 5 (not in collage) |
 MetaPurpleBot | Type 19 Is this actually a botryoidal purple (and green) jade? Its hard, except where you would expect it to be soft serpentinite...just like a botjade. The "bubbles" aren't well defined, but on the showing face here you can clearly see a large sheared bubble. Very curious. I guess a good explanation would be diopside. |
 MetaPurpleCobble | This is not jade at all, but I include it in the hopes it will shed some light on the whole purple jade or rodingite or HGG. Here's the deal with this one. It's purple and greens...metasomaticy...but soft. It's the "but soft" part the flummoxes me. I have on past pages posted purple rodingites and other purple stones...none were soft. Is this purplish serpentinite? Not attracted to a magnet...but being purple more than green, that might be expected. It's a mystery to me right now.....Why I didn't think soapstone???? That seems a likely answer. |
 Nice | Type 20 The spray bottle found this one for me. Not much to it, but wonderful translucent green. The brownish areas might brighten up if ground down to be translucent white or grey. I love the black line in it too. Type 20 rocks! You have got to see the slide-show to appreciate the quality of the green color...if only it were bigger. |
 WGG3 | Type whatever :-) (not in collage) Whites, greys and greens...translucency. "WGG's" are fairly common, more examples on page 8 I believe and '1stShotRock' and 'BumpyCobble' above seem to fit the pattern as well. And HGGRon. |
 BBB1 | Type 21 Red, Black, Brown, Botty Jade I found exactly the same stuff on Pilchuck Creek, 'RonBot (Or look on page 6). |
 BBB2 | Type 21 (not in collage) See above, but lots of black jade here. |
 BotFrag | I believe this is like the other botryoidal fragments on page 8. Saw fodder. |
 OneBot | One botryoidal bubble (top). |
 SerpBot1 | A little circle of (whitish) botryoidal jade in or on serpentinite. |
 SerpBot2 | Another little bit of botryoidal jade. Worthless of course. |
 aSmallOne | Type 25 or 16 but mostly Candy...The whole "type" thing has run its course. You get the point already. |
 BlueMid | A little study in weathering... |
 QuartzyEgg | Maybe like "Clouds" above (Type 22). I like this rock no matter what, it is neat. I do not think it is quartz though. I really think it is jade;-) |
 FlatColors | A curiosity. A HGG? Hmmmmmmm |
 GreenStoneQuartz | I picked it up, I am going to keep it until I decide it is jade or I am a fool. I am sure though that if it were bigger, I would not have picked it up and brought it home....but see the type 22s |
 PebbleOne | A little piece of the candy. |
 RockRock | Probably just a rock... |
 Slice | Type 23 This is just like the "LeftBehindBoulder" above, but small. |
 SmallAndJunkie | A type unto itself...actually kind of nice material. but it looks like it will fall apart if anything comes close to cutting or grinding it. |
| Green Mountain, Black Cloud  Green Mountain, Black Cloud |
Thus ends my Jade Gallery v. 1.0. Here after I will create galleries by creek, segmented by trip...and not so much junkite unless it is more informative;-) Back to my Profile On to Jade Gallery v.2.0
~Zeke
gamaliel114 |
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| Started By | Thread Subject | Replies | Last Post | ||
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| retiredoldfogee | Zeke finds the most amazing specimin ever from Deer Creek | 8 | Jul 14 2009, 7:23 AM EDT by gamaliel114 | ||
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Thread started: Jul 13 2009, 12:46 AM EDT
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OK, I had to make this announcement. Wish I was the lucky one, but Zeke earned it big time. He found the most gorgeous huge clear garnet or Jadeite transparent stone, with internal waves of glowing neon green flowing through it, like imperial Jadeite. I don't know what it is but it was so special I wanted too steal it from him. Sorry Zeke, I won't be able to sleep tonight thinking about that gorgeous gem. I've never seen anything so beautiful in a gem in my entire life in person. Congratulations!!! Your the man!
Aaron |
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