🔎 UNIDENTIFIED Rocks From the River

[ToddsPoint]

I made it out to the river yesterday. It was a beautiful day! I went to a spot I hadn’t been to in 30 yrs. I forgot how long of a walk it was to get there. It was the site of an old gravel pit that was abandoned in the 60s. I found two nice rocks in about 15 min and I was finished. I couldn’t carry anymore than the two so I headed home. I put them on the rock saw when I got home. The first one is basalt porphyry.

The second one is a metamorphic and I think it’s unakite. It doesn’t have much green like unakite so I’m not positive.

I reduced it to a preform that I can carve a pipe from. Neither piece is showing any cracks which is pretty amazing for rocks carried here by the glacier from Canada.

 

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[opalboy]

I love the fact that you find it, cut it shape it, and document it. Thank you!

 

[ToddsPoint]

It’s finally warm enough to work in my shop in the barn. I’m making some cabs from these rocks I just got. Igneous rocks polish fairly good, but nothing like agate or other microcrystalline rocks. You usually get a small amount of porosity on the finished surface. I expect some on these.

 

[ToddsPoint]

Mounting the blank so you can grind it is called “dopping”. There are several methods. I’ve tried dopping wax and hot melt glue. Both ways fail often and the blank falls of the stick. This time I’m using gorilla glue. I have no idea how to get it off the stick after it’s polished.🤔 An acetone soak might do it.

 

[ToddsPoint]

Several days ago I found these rocks and I’ve finished my first cabs. I love rocks but unworked rocks don’t do much for me. Something has to be made from them to be interesting to me. Time to look for some new ones.

 

[CreekSide]

Several days ago I found these rocks and I’ve finished my first cabs. I love rocks but unworked rocks don’t do much for me. Something has to be made from them to be interesting to me. Time to look for some new ones.View attachment 2198690

Came out nice looking

 

[Limitool]

That sure looks interesting to me.... Wish I was your neighbor cause I'd be over all the time...!

 

[LauraLou56]

That sure looks interesting to me.... Wish I was your neighbor cause I'd be over all the time...!

Agree!

 

[LauraLou56]

These are gorgeous, love seeing the method and process. Nice work!

 

[ToddsPoint]

I picked up 4 small rocks on my trip last week and put them in my fanny pack. I had forgotten about them. I cut them open yesterday and 3 were duds. The 4th one was interesting. I thinks it’s just the usual grey flint we have but this one had some unusual colors added in.

The cold weather returned and drove me back inside. As soon as it warms back up I’ll see if I can make a cab from this last piece.

 

[ToddsPoint]

I polished the 20x15mm cab and this is how it came out.

Hard to believe this crummy looking little rock had that much beauty hidden inside. Cutting and polishing is just the next step when collecting rocks.

 

[robertk]

I polished the 20x15mm cab and this is how it came out.

Wow! That's amazing!

 

[opalboy]

Love those colors! Almost looks like d bone!

 

[russau]

Gary ,you truly have a artistic eye ! Great work !

 

[DizzyDigger]

Hard to believe this crummy looking little rock had that much beauty hidden inside. Cutting and polishing is just the next step when collecting rocks.

Could you let a wannabe rookie know what kind of gear is required to cut the rocks and polish them into what you call "cabs"?

Been looking for a new hobby, and I'd certainly enjoy working with the rocks that way. Plus, my wife likes to make jewelry, and she could make some great necklaces with stones like that.

 

[ToddsPoint]

Could you let a wannabe rookie know what kind of gear is required to cut the rocks and polish them into what you call "cabs"?

Been looking for a new hobby, and I'd certainly enjoy working with the rocks that way. Plus, my wife likes to make jewelry, and she could make some great necklaces with stones like that.

I polished rocks without good tools for quite a while. I was too poor to buy good equipment. That changed a couple of years ago and I decided to get the tools I needed. I bought a 16” Highland Park slab saw and a smaller 10” saw. Then I bought a 6” cabbing machine. If you limit yourself to smaller rocks, you could get by with a 10” saw and the cabber. A 6” saw is too small. Don’t bother with those.

These are the machines I now have. I’m very happy with my choices. All three do a great job. By the way, “cab” is short for cabochon.