Why I LOVE Cutting rock- Part Two!

Today, I finally got to do a little rockhounding myself and while most of these are Vickie's, the last one is MINE (and it's worth the wait!).

Lets start with a really nice piece of jasper:

Actually, looking at it now, it looks like possibly carnelian- great colour and patterning. Vickie says she has dibs on the end piece but I'll get at least 4 more.

Now here's a really interesting little piece of amethyst that has been brecciated (broken) by quartz:

Don't know how this will be to work but it sure looks spectacular.

Then there's this little gem with plume and great fortification agate sections:

It looks awesome backlit:

And if you like red, you'll love this one. In person, the plumes are even nicer and I can't wait to polish it:

And now for the piece de resistance! The light was really flat and at first all I saw was the globular black hematite on the surface.

One end looked interesting- the other not so much so I decided to cut across to make the interesting end more manageable on the saw. I guess I chose a rather fortuitous spot:

So now this end looks interesting too and #1 daughter has already claimed a slab with the druzy (I think I'll get two). Back to the interesting end. In cross section it isn't much:

But oh boy, when I cut in the other direction- BAM!:

The fortification pockets are amazing and I can't wait to polish it. Don't know what will happen to the patterning as I cut slices but there is still fortification on the other face.
I may actually have to barricade myself in the rock house because it appears that several family members want a piece and they never get around to paying me!

So if you want to see some interesting jewelry made with spectacular local rock come on by! I'll be locked inside the rock shop.

Why I LOVE Cutting Rock

First off, apologies for not posting for a while. I have been busy on a few "projects" and we're putting in a new patio so life is a bit, shall we say, hectic!

But today, while I toiled away in the rock shop, Vickie went on a little "expedition" and came back with some beauties. They were so nice I decided, being the wonderful husband I am, to drop what I was doing and cut a few for her. Yeah, that's it- for HER (heh,heh).

I apologize in advance for the quality of the pics since I was outside, in high wind and sun and they were drying out but here's how they came off the saw:

I love the offset in the veining in the piece on the left. Here's another:

Interestingly, both upper and lower surfaces are green! Then of course, there was this beauty. First a view from the top.

Lots of nice fortification here and now the cross section:

And here are close ups:

And here's a gorgeous little piece that Vickie already has plans for:

Love that glassy dark area in the middle. Last, but not least, Vickie found a nice, large piece (about 1 foot by 6 inches) of "bling": (amethyst)

I'm really tempted to crack this open and see if there is any cavity behind the crystals but if I ruin it, I fear that Vickie might crack me open!

Visitor traffic is definitely picking up and I've sold so many of my bait bags filled with tumbled rocks that I've had to make more. Fortunately, I don't see myself running out of raw material anytime soon!

So now you know why I LOVE to cut rock and if you're in the neighbourhood, come on by and see some. It's even better in person!!

Lots of Great Stuff Happening!

New Hi-Tech blades have been installed on all 3 saws and have descended into some kind of cutting frenzy.
I will try to post more pics on the weekend but here's a little "teaser".
This is a rock that Vickie found and she wanted me to cut it. I didn't really want to because it didn't look too hot on the outside:

But here's how it came off the saw (this is why I LOVE cutting rock):

There are some really nice flames in this agate as well as pockets of fortification and the odd crystal druzy so this is going to be a lot of fun to polish up and shape into some cabochons for pendants.

I should be able to get about 4 pieces 4 cm x 3 cm and will try to post a pic of at least one finished piece.

The number of visitors is picking up and several pendants have gone to new homes this week (which is bad news for me since I have to make more and that seriously cuts into my "sit on the deck and drink a beer" time)!
Hope to see you soon.
Cheers!