Location: Oregon

Discussion: Willamette Nat. Forest jasper?Reported This is a featured thread

Category: Discussion Forum / 5--Rock Hounding
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Oregonrockmom
Oregonrockmom
Willamette Nat. Forest jasper?
Sep 25 2008, 2:04 PM EDT | Post edited: Sep 25 2008, 2:04 PM EDT
I have been trying to find out if there is a type of jasper up above Sweet Home, OR, from the Willamette National Forest? Go to the photo gallery to see my photos of this river tumbled chunk my 10 year old found in the Middle Santiam (is that right?) River above the dam. What the hay is this? It has the classic lines and scenery like mountains, and feel quite heavy for a rock of about 5 inches long and 4 wide. Do you find this valuable?    
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TallTomSr
TallTomSr
1. RE: Willamette Nat. Forest jasper?
Sep 25 2008, 2:28 PM EDT | Post edited: Sep 25 2008, 2:28 PM EDT
I can't tell you what it is but it does have the appearence of Jasper. If you have a local rock club maybe they can help you identify it. It is a very interesting looking stone and I would love to see the inside of it.
tom Do you find this valuable?    
Oregonrockmom
Oregonrockmom
2. RE: Willamette Nat. Forest jasper?
Sep 25 2008, 2:35 PM EDT | Post edited: Sep 25 2008, 2:35 PM EDT
Thanks, I am in Gresham and also have a local group here, thought about joining. My daughter is anxious as she would like to believe she found something worth a lot of cash ;), but I just am curious as it sure feels like a "porcelain" jasper, like the Biggs stuff (heavy, dense and a fine granular feel). Guess I just assumed that we would only find jaspers in the drier areas of Oregon, not up there, but hey, it is a volcanic region so makes sense. Do you find this valuable?    

debaker
3. RE: Willamette Nat. Forest jasper?
Sep 25 2008, 3:08 PM EDT | Post edited: Sep 25 2008, 3:08 PM EDT
I'd ask Bea and Forrest Settle, with the Oregon City club. I'm a member there, even though I live about 2 hours north of them and have found them extremely helpful and knowlegeable. The pics look very much like a piece I had from a rock shop that used to be in Packwood. He called it Mt Rainier mudstone. It didn't polish well as it was full of little pin holes. By the way, if you want Settle's phone number, message me directly, ok?

Dan Do you find this valuable?    
Oregonrockmom
Oregonrockmom
4. RE: Willamette Nat. Forest jasper?
Sep 26 2008, 12:02 AM EDT | Post edited: Sep 26 2008, 12:02 AM EDT
Mt. Rainier mudstone.....I will look that up, but we were not near Mt. Rainier, is this just a name for it, or is it named due to it's being found there?

I know it seems sort of pocked, but it is worn down and has been in the river for a while, was not sure it that was the reason for its pitting. We were up in Quartz Creek, above Green Peter Lake, outside of Sweet Home (I have to correct myself from before, it was not the Middle Santiam River, my son corrected me). Do you find this valuable?    

debaker
5. RE: Willamette Nat. Forest jasper?
Sep 26 2008, 9:39 AM EDT | Post edited: Sep 26 2008, 9:39 AM EDT
As for the Rainier mudstone, I have no idea if that's just what it was called or where it came from. The guy I got it from called it that and I'd never seen anything like it before. It's ok, but at least mine won't take a high gloss polish.

Dan Do you find this valuable?