Collecting Cool Rocks! Minerals, Crystals, Fossils, Geodes, etc.

[CHlCKEN]

Oh yeah, I didn't even hesitate. lol!

I’m a true mastermind, finally able to get back at you!

 

[CluckNDoodle]

I’m a true mastermind, finally able to get back at you!

Finally? It didn't even take you 24 hours! You're a professional con artist I tell you! Lol

 

[janiedoe]

I'm another of the "I like that! I'll put it in my pocket!" club. All of these are from around our pond. If anyone can identify some of them, I'd be delighted.

 

[CluckNDoodle]

You have some really nice rocks in your pond! You have some that looks like red veined jasper, or milky quartz with red veins, some marble can also have this appearance. The brick red ones also look like a type of jasper. It can be really difficult to identify some stones especially without location but doing hardness tests at home can help to narrow it down for you!

You can determine the hardness by testing whether a metallic mineral will leave a mark on paper, or if not, whether it can be scratched by a pocket knife. The tests for hardness for nonmetallic minerals are whether it can be scratched by a fingernail, a copper penny, a pocket knife or a piece of quartz.

I believe there are also hardness test kits you can buy. These are all at home methods to help determine what stones you have!

I can identify some stones easily by looking at them but I'm better at specimen pieces than I am with tumbled stones because growth habits give a lot away as far as what you have.

 

[janiedoe]

You have some really nice rocks in your pond! You have some that looks like red veined jasper, or milky quartz with red veins, some marble can also have this appearance. The brick red ones also look like a type of jasper. It can be really difficult to identify some stones especially without location but doing hardness tests at home can help to narrow it down for you!

You can determine the hardness by testing whether a metallic mineral will leave a mark on paper, or if not, whether it can be scratched by a pocket knife. The tests for hardness for nonmetallic minerals are whether it can be scratched by a fingernail, a copper penny, a pocket knife or a piece of quartz.

I believe there are also hardness test kits you can buy. These are all at home methods to help determine what stones you have!

I can identify some stones easily by looking at them but I'm better at specimen pieces than I am with tumbled stones because growth habits give a lot away as far as what you have.

I was considering buying a tumbler but I read an article on sanding and polishing that sounded like something I might try.
I'm just looking for a new hobby. (I'm in the process of retiring. I sold my business, so I'm now on a fixed income and need something inexpensive to enjoy.. because these chickens are not cheap.)
I've always loved picking up rocks. Lol. So this seems perfect. I'm a reader too, so I've been looking for some good books on the subject.
I love this thread! I was just about to start one asking if anyone could help identify rocks when I saw yours. Thank you!
Here is a little purple rock (top one) that I found today.

 

[CluckNDoodle]

I was considering buying a tumbler but I read an article on sanding and polishing that sounded like something I might try.
I'm just looking for a new hobby. (I'm in the process of retiring. I sold my business, so I'm now on a fixed income and need something inexpensive to enjoy.. because these chickens are not cheap.)
I've always loved picking up rocks. Lol. So this seems perfect. I'm a reader too, so I've been looking for some good books on the subject.
I love this thread! I was just about to start one asking if anyone could help identify rocks when I saw yours. Thank you!
Here is a little purple rock (top one) that I found today.
View attachment 2464541

Rock collecting is definitely one of my favorite hobbies, right up there with my chickens!

I have a rock tumbler and a flat lap. Tumbling stones is a slow process, a lot of people don't realize that it take at least a month from beginning to end and you will need 4 stages of grit to polish them so there is some expense involved. Of all of the lapidary equipment and hobbies, tumbling is definitely the most cost effective though!

Lortone is the most recommend rotary tumbler but I started with a less expensive model from Harbor Freight to make sure I enjoyed tumbling and I've been happy with it. The double barrel Harbor Freight rotary tumbler is less expensive than the single barrel Lortone and Harbor Freight always has discount coupons as well. I wouldn't expect it to last as long as a Lortone but I thought it was worth mentioning. National Geographic also sells less expensive models and my friend has had her National Geographic one for years and it's still running strong. Whatever you do, don't get the yellow barrel National Geographic tumbler, I had mine for a month and returned it. It was terrible! I couldn't even open it without my husband's help, lol.

 

[janiedoe]

I was just looking at the harbor freight online. I was wondering if it was any good. So thank you!

 

[Egg Snatcher]

Grey agate.
View attachment 2445774

Wish we had fossils and not just shells!

 

[CluckNDoodle]

Wish we had fossils and not just shells!

Shells are awesome too! I bet you could find some fossils near you if you know where to look!

 

[Egg Snatcher]

Shells are awesome too! I bet you could find some fossils near you if you know where to look!

Missouri I think only has on Dino. I do collect skulls, and bones