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Duskrequim |
Uncut agate?
Mar 30 2009, 11:51 PM EDT
I am just curious if anyone has a link to pictures of rough uncut geodes that tunred out to be agate.. I am trying to familarize myself better with what I need to be looking for when searching for Agate (in KY dont find many that show visable agate so cant tell from that).. I am trying to keep from picking up to much junk rock that isnt agate or anything at all... (pretty back straining and I cant seem to get a clear image in my mind of what to look for) any help would be greatly appreciated.. thanks
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TallTomSr |
1. RE: Uncut agate?
Mar 31 2009, 12:43 AM EDT
Geodes tend to be shaped like a ball for the most part but not always. tho most do have a oval shape to them. they may be elongated. Rough geodes are hard to identify when you are first starting out. practice and familiarization with your area will help.Tom Do you find this valuable? |
dbsagates |
2. RE: Uncut agate?
Mar 31 2009, 12:56 AM EDT
"I am just curious if anyone has a link to pictures of rough uncut geodes that tunred out to be agate.. I am trying to familarize myself better with what I need to be looking for when searching for Agate (in KY dont find many that show visable agate so cant tell from that).. I am trying to keep from picking up to much junk rock that isnt agate or anything at all... (pretty back straining and I cant seem to get a clear image in my mind of what to look for) any help would be greatly appreciated.. thanks"I got to say if you ever figure out the answer to your question you will be able to retire early. It might be helpful to look over different photos of agates in the rough or what would be a natural uncut agate. There are several posts on here and threads that may help you by going over. As for fairburn agates yes there is some ways to familarize ones self to help in looking for those gems. Some of the times in looking for agates you don't see the full blown pattern stairing up at ya. Here in Western South Dakota we are faced with prairie agates or picture rocks, (water agates) they look good and have the colors but dont have the sharp fortifications of the famous fairburn agate. A true Fairburn is pretty much matrix free (host formation) it is pretty much a solid agate meaning the pattern pretty much occurs around the entire rock. Getting back to your question as for Fairburns look for the waxy surface ones refered to as "frogs skin" its usually a rusty brown colors or shades of grays. In looking for the ones that everyones missed the rock needs to either be damp or turned over. If you have ever seen our agate beds you will understand what I am talking about. Millions of agates on every hill side, that have been looked over for 75 years. The next best way and the easyest is to either wet the rocks or go after or during a rain and look for agate patterns, this requires a good eye or knee pads to get right down there and look. It may strain the back but it will get used to it. Good Luck DB B Do you find this valuable? |
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dbsagates |
3. RE: Uncut agate?
Mar 31 2009, 1:01 AM EDT
Oops Geodes why didn't I see that oh well a agate is an agate right!
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aubreyreynolds9@gmai |
4. RE: Uncut agate?
Mar 31 2009, 9:40 AM EDT
| Post edited: Mar 31 2009, 9:45 AM EDT
I have hunted agates for decades - all over the country. Most agates have a weathered exterior that hides the beauty. Some have a rind of host rock. I have hunted along the Cumberland collecting the sedimentary agates. Kentucky agate generally does not look like agate (full of colors and patterns) on the exterior. Generally it looks like a ball or egg shaped cauliflower. There is no way to be 100% sure you have a great agate or a so so one. That is part of the fun. It is a little like a present - sometimes it is more than you expected . Sometimes you are disappointed. Thundereggs , Texas plume , Paint Rock, Tennessee Agate, Kentucky Agate, Nebraska Blue Agate, Brazilian agate are all hidden by the exterior.I know of no sure way of knowing what the interior will look they. Jake sent me some Washington Thundereggs from Naches Creek. They looked like Tan footballs (nothing special) . He also sent bright red Lucas Creek (no question about the rocks being agate). But when I cut the eggs open, they were far more interesting than I had anticipated.. The t-eggs were bright blue with horizontal bands (typical of T-eggs). Experience will help you to discriminate. There will come a time when you will easily tell a Kentucky agate from a common rock. That will not take long. But even after years there will be surprises. One of my most beautiful Cumberland agates looked like hundreds of junk agate around it. Toms idea of carrying a rechargeable dermil to remove a little rind was a good ideal. Some hounds whack a little off with a hammer to see if it worth hauling out, I do not recommend this. Lot's of great agates have been distroyed this way. I get up your way from time to time. Maybe we could hunt together? Bill Do you find this valuable? |
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aubreyreynolds9@gmai |
5. RE: Uncut agate?
Mar 31 2009, 9:52 AM EDT
The best link on the WEB is the University of Nebraska, It is the most extensive collection of agates any where. http://snr.unl.edu/Data/agatepageintro.aspYou can also Google Kentucky Agates on the images and see scores of pictures of cut and uncut agate. I will post some pictures of Kentucky. Bill Do you find this valuable? |
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aubreyreynolds9@gmai |
6. RE: Uncut agate?
Mar 31 2009, 9:54 AM EDT
The Nebraska link has hundreds of pictures and descriptions of agates from around the world.Bill Do you find this valuable? |
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Duskrequim |
7. RE: Uncut agate?
Mar 31 2009, 2:22 PM EDT
Thanks for the link and info.. I been trying to get a good idea about what is difference between 1 rock and another... I like rocks period so I want to grab anything that looks nice.. My biggest issue is I cant tell if a round rock is a geode or a rock.. Thats my dilema I have found.. My first KY agate I found so far didnt look like an agate in fact I thought it was a large fossil of a shell because of its shape and exterior.. Nothing typical.
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aubreyreynolds9@gmai |
8. RE: Uncut agate?
Mar 31 2009, 2:25 PM EDT
"Thanks for the link and info.. I been trying to get a good idea about what is difference between 1 rock and another... I like rocks period so I want to grab anything that looks nice.. My biggest issue is I cant tell if a round rock is a geode or a rock.. Thats my dilema I have found.. My first KY agate I found so far didnt look like an agate in fact I thought it was a large fossil of a shell because of its shape and exterior.. Nothing typical."Google images on Kentucky Agates. There are scores of pictures of rough. I will get around to posting pictures. Sorry about not posting, I am having a busy work day. Bill Do you find this valuable? |
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havermap |
9. RE: Uncut agate?
Mar 31 2009, 8:11 PM EDT
These are some pics of geodes and other rock I picked up last summer near Louiville. I think the geodes look rather like potatoes and often the same tan color rind. I think they are stained from your mud.http://cash-and-treasures-wiki.travelchannel.com/album/5711/South+IN+Spring+%2708 Pam[ Do you find this valuable? |
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Duskrequim |
10. RE: Uncut agate?
Mar 31 2009, 9:26 PM EDT
Those were some nice pics... I really have to get my pics added... I have some absolutly strange rocks that just seem weird.. I will post them as soon as I get enough time to do it.. (going on vacation in couple days to a beach (hope to get some nice shells).....
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