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Year: 2018

Small Pocket Yields Amethyst and Smoky Quartz Geodes and More

Small Pocket Yields Amethyst and Smoky Quartz Geodes and More

By /October 14, 2018 /1 comment /Rock Finds

A small but rich pocket, recently uncovered on ‘the Carver’, is yielding an amazing number of geodes and nodules. The nodules contain banded blue and gray agates and many contain amethyst and smoky quartz crystals found within geodes (hollows) within the nodules. One large geode has a spectacular void with a sparkly druzey cavity. This pocket, which is still being explored, has yielded hundreds of nodules and geodes, some as small as a finger nail, some exceeding 17 pounds in weight. On one particular hunting foray, the pocket yielded blue, gray, and white banded agate nodules of the following weights: 17.6 pounds, two at 13 pounds each, 8.2 pounds, two at 3.4 pounds each, and 2.7 pounds. On another rocking foray, an astounding quantity of medium-sized nodules was recovered. I am in the process of cutting and polishing many of these nodules, although with the number involved the task will […]

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Geologically Significant: New Amethyst Agate Geode Find

Geologically Significant: New Amethyst Agate Geode Find

By /October 14, 2018 /1 comment /Geology

A 16+ pound amethyst agate geode found on ‘the Carver’ has recently been cut into 3 pieces, and polished. The geode rind is purple amethyst and approximately 1 1/2″ thick in most places. This thick amethyst rind encircles an approximately 5 1/2″ x 2″ crystal-filled hollow center. The amethyst crystals in the geode center are covered with a secondary surface mineral crystallization of a yellow/beige color. Even more interesting, the yellow/beige mineralization layer coating the amethyst is, in places, coated with a gray/black crystallization layer apparently involving a third type of mineral (I am seeking expert assistance to identify the mineralization involved). The gray/black mineralization layer appears to have intruded into the geode through the rind of the geode, into its center. This intrusion is visible on the photos shown.   Amethyst Agate Geode Slice A Amethyst Agate Geode Slice B   This specimen is geologically significant because it was […]

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NEW Article in Rock and Gem Magazine, August 2018

NEW Article in Rock and Gem Magazine, August 2018

By /July 29, 2018 /1 comment /News

As promised, here is the article, just published in the August 2018 edition of Rock and Gem Magazine, entitled “The Unicorn Scepter and Yellow Agates.” Click on the magazine scans below to check it out!

CITRINE SCEPTER AND YELLOW AGATES from 'The Carver' featured in Rock & Gem, August 2018

CITRINE SCEPTER AND YELLOW AGATES from ‘The Carver’ featured in Rock & Gem, August 2018

By /July 29, 2018 /0 comments /Geology

The August 2018 edition of Rock & Gem Magazine will feature an article and photos by me entitled “The Unicorn Scepter and Yellow Agates.” In September I will publish this article here at the website. The photos referred to and utilized in the article can be seen and enlarged here in this posting. These photos show the citrine scepter and the incredible diversity of the yellow agates which are featured in the Rock & Gem article. Some featured images: Slideshow of images included in the Rock & Gem article

Stalk Aggregate from 'The Carver'

Stalk Aggregate from ‘The Carver’

By /July 29, 2018 /1 comment /Geology

Ugly name that almost no one has heard of! Enjoy the photos and read Report: Stalk Aggregate Agates if your day is so dull that a stalk aggregate agate might add some spice to it. These two different specimens were found on ‘The Carver’ in early 2018.  No other specimens of the stalk aggregate agate have been found to date on the ‘The Carver’.

Giant 'Carver' geode resembles Swiss cheese

Giant ‘Carver’ geode resembles Swiss cheese

By /July 29, 2018 /0 comments /Cut Rocks

This geode was found on ‘The Carver’ in 2017.  It was too large to be cut by my 20″ diamond saw, so I turned to my good Alpine friend, Gordie Sandborn, who has a really huge diamond saw.  Gordie cut it with ease.  It is hard to describe because it is so unique.  I hope you enjoy the photos of the cut and polished geode.  Keep checking with the website as an even larger ‘Carver’ geode has been cut for me by Gordie.  It is unbelievable!

Interesting Stuff from "The Carver" Texas Agate Field

Interesting Stuff from “The Carver” Texas Agate Field

By /June 23, 2018 /0 comments /Geology

I am finding lots of sagenitic agates and sagenitic material in the nodules, geodes, and vein agates from ‘The Carver’ agate field.  When cut, the sagenitic material appears as radiating needle-like inclusions often resembling a star burst or sun flower.   So what is sagenite?  Technically, it is not a type of rock but an inclusion appearing in a rock specimen.  Sagenitic agate is a radiating needle-like structure encased in a quartz or chalcedony nodule, geode, or vein agate. Please see the sagenite article and more photos in the complete report.

New Bracelet: The Bloodstone

New Bracelet: The Bloodstone

By /May 3, 2018 /0 comments /Bracelets

The Bloodstone, a green mossy red plume agate–and a new find from ‘The Carver’. This stone is very difficult to identify because it has the clear look of bloodstone, eg., green with red inclusions. Yet under magnification, the green portion of the stone closely resembles a green mossy agate with red plume-like inclusions. It came from very fractured material which dictated the shape of the finished stone which I have included in a new sterling silver cuff bracelet. This is #29 produced. Check the shop for more views of this unique stone and bracelet.

New Bracelet: West Texas Mountain Sunset

New Bracelet: West Texas Mountain Sunset

By /April 28, 2018 /1 comment /Bracelets

The last of the three new bracelets has just been completed: West Texas Mountain Sunset. This is a geode slab from ‘The Carver’ agate field in West Texas. I designed a unique cuff bracelet to highlight the beautiful sunset scene depicted in this stone. The peak is a crystalline geode center bounded by a deep red banding and surrounded by orange and gold citrine which gives the appearance of a twilight sunset. This bracelet, #32, is available in the Shop. Enjoy!

New Bracelet: The Strawberry

New Bracelet: The Strawberry

By /April 28, 2018 /2 comments /Bracelets

Here is the second new bracelet: The Strawberry. This is a carnelian (red quartz) geode cross-section from ‘The Carver’.  It has a white crystalline center which contrasts beautifully with the red carnelian. This bracelet, Cuff Bracelet #31, is available in the Shop, so be sure to check it out.