Spirityoda

My friend Jason on Tik Tok finished my Lake Superior agate.  He has put my stone in a video on his Tik Tok bio.  Video link:  

I think it turned out amazing.  I can't wait to get in the mail now.

20 hours ago, robinjojo said:

Yes, the shadow effect does appear in certain LS agates.  The banding needs to be really fine to create this effect that is caused by light shifting between the bands, creating a shadow movement as the stone is rotated.  I've seen rough Lakers with this feature, but they've been treated with mineral oil.  I don't do that with my specimens.  I used to, but I don't like slopping gunk on them - even dry they have an oily feel.

There's book dedicated to polished Lakers.  It might be out of print now.  It is The Other Lake Superior Agates by John D. Marshall.  Llao Rock Publications.  I have the second edition, 2006, signed by the author.  I checked online and couldn't find any copies available.  I highly recommend it for the enthusiast who is interested in delving into all of varieties of these agates.  It has some amazing photos. 

 

Here's another big Laker that I photographed today. This example has banding suspended in quartz.  It also has peeled banding, a feature that has sections of banding weathered away, creating a three dimensional effect to the pattern.  I must say the pattern of this stone has an almost organic nature to it.

Lake Superior agate

10cm x 9.5cm x 8cm; 912.7 grams

There are many books on Lake Superior agates on Ebay right now.  To poor right now to buy 1.  Maybe next paycheck.

That is cool.  Looks like an alien.  Interesting shape for sure.

Yup I feel that too.   I have not bought a coin in so long.   I recently have a new fondness for rocks and minerals. Agates especially.

2 hours ago, robinjojo said:

Here's one more possible person who does really nice stone finishing.  His name is Jeffrey Anderson, and he as been collecting agates and finishing them for decades.  Here's is his website:

http://www.sailorenergy.net/MineralMain.html

And here's a Malawi, Africa agate that I sent to him for finishing:

Malawi agate, Africa.

5.5cm x 4.5 cm x4 cm; 133.3 grams

That is so beautiful.  That red just pops out at ya.  Thanks for sharing it.

@robinjojo There is another cool feature my lapidary guy Jason pointed out to me on my stone he just finished.  It's call shadow casting on some of the layers bands.  If you tilt the stone 1 way you can see a shadow then tilt another way and that shadow disappears.  I forget the technical word for it ?  You might not be able to see that effect if the stone is raw.  I will take pics of it when it gets here to me.

59 minutes ago, Jeremy said:

It's fun to see some Lake Superior Agates here. People are quite agate crazy in my home state of Minnesota, where it's our state gemstone. I find them on gravel roads, in fields, rivers, even in bags of river rock at Menards. Mostly I just buy them these days, though. They're one of my favorite materials to cut and make jewelry with (my other hobby besides ancient coins). Here are a few LSA pieces I've made:

Those are amazing stones.  The jewelry is great too.  My favorite was/is the pendant.

13 hours ago, Paddy54 said:

Does anyone know or do any stone cutting? I have this beautiful 8.4 g piece of old turquoise slab. I love to have it cut. Years ago I had 3 friends who were Jewlers and stone cutters . Unfortunately 2 have passed the other is no longer working in thd business. 

I have a guy named Jason on Tik Tok from penn_lapidary that does an amazing job on my stones.  I recommend him to do your stone.  Here is his link:  https://www.tiktok.com/@penn_lapidary?_d=secCgYIASAHKAESPgo8FKdW8%2BfrG1bO5KbBLKtMxMd3fAIsAFnSX1whPZX55kkz30Sl5utxgPGxdI76Zrf4N0qsCWokffhFTtesGgA%3D&_r=1&language=en&sec_uid=MS4wLjABAAAATk4lgD1I0lAjuFsOjNu-vQNEyesI_z8dhF5_St3m7u-nYwskbqahaNMGX7PdEGSl&sec_user_id=MS4wLjABAAAATk4lgD1I0lAjuFsOjNu-vQNEyesI_z8dhF5_St3m7u-nYwskbqahaNMGX7PdEGSl&share_app_id=1233&share_author_id=6892895818858054662&share_link_id=d06bf189-06a6-468e-8f9d-4b13ff7cd041&source=h5_m&timestamp=1656154223&u_code=dfc6bl419m303k&ugbiz_name=Account&user_id=6892895818858054662&utm_campaign=client_share&utm_medium=android&utm_source=copy

He accepts PayPal too.  of which I used to pay him. Cost are all in the size, shape, and time put into it + shipping.  Seems like a lot, but once he is done with a stone...you tell yourself it was well worth it.  There are many steps into grinding and polishing.  1 of the parts of him grinding it and polishing it ...I was able to watch him do it in a live feed.  Better than TV.  lol

Its value to me is seeing it polished to see the total beauty of the stone.  I will not sell it.  I can appreciate your point of view on it.  My lapidary guy Jason from penn_lapidary on tik tok is done with the 1 I sent him.  It turned out amazing.  I will post pics of it when it arrives here in the mail.

#3

#2

I bought 3 more Lake Superior agates off Ebay I will have grinded  and polished...

Abe looks a little hungry...

Just bought these off Etsy.

Septarian from Madagascar, 2 (chevron) Amethyst pieces...

I will have a guy on Tik Tok cut and polish these 3 stones.

I have a new love for Nephrite Jade from Canada.  That green is so beautiful.

They  are all very nice.  My favorite was the Jade pendant.

I saw Tok Tok last night on my phone where the 1 guy had gold chain twice this size of the post above.  Made my jaw fall to the ground.

Just when you've thought you saw some "BLING" lol

Your....

Probably you could ask whatever and get it.   Never seen one like this 1.  So interesting looking.

20 hours ago, robinjojo said:

Thanks!  The Apache agate is very rare, one that I've owned since the early 1970's.  The patterns, with folded reds and yellows in translucent blue-gray,  are a hallmark of this type.  This agate has been off the market for many years, so the ones that do appear rarely are from old collections.  Many have been slabbed which I think takes away some of the three dimensional qualities.

Here's another Apache:

Apache agate, Rancho La Vinata, Ejido El Apache, Chihuahua, Mexico.

10.5cm x 5.4cm x 6.3cm; 569.5 grams

This example was mined, probably in 1995, as opposed to the one posted yesterday, which was a surface find from the 1960s, possibly earlier.

 

This is probably the most famous of the Apache agates, the "Hooded Owl" (not mine).

Those will just go higher in value as time goes by.  I saw some prices for the best ones on Ebay and Etsy for banded agates.  Nice ones start at $500.  Superior ones go from $900-1,400,  Some worth every dollar if you can afford it.

13 hours ago, robinjojo said:

Here are a couple of photos from today:

Apache agate, Rancho La Vinata, Ejido El Apache, Chihuahua, Mexico.

5.2cm x 6cm x 4cm; 219.2 grams.

 

Coyamito Agate, Rancho Coyamito Norte, Sierra Del Gallego, Chihuahua, Mexico.

6.2cm x 7.5cm x 6cm; 415.3 grams

 

Edit: Here's one more.

Luna Agate, La Mojina, Terrenates, Chihuahua, Mexico.

8.3cm x 7.5cm x 4.5cm; 414.5 grams

This agate was given the name Luna, not because of the spherical or eye patterns, but rather because the discovery of the deposit coincided with the launch of Sputnik I in 1957.

Those are very beautiful.  Especially that first 1 wow sweet.

2 hours ago, robinjojo said:

Cool Laker!

This is one that I've owned for many years:

Lake Superior agate, Minnesota

8.0cm x 3.5cn x 5.0cm, 304.9 grams 

 

Here's a Kentucky agate that was recently professionally polished. I call it the "Kentucky Twister" because of the abstract rendering of a descending or ascending funnel cloud.

 Kentucky agate, "Kentucky Twister".

12cm x 5.5cm x 5.1cm, 435.2 grams

Those are beautiful.  Have you thought of slicing the top photo 1 ?  or leave as is.

I just now bought this Lake Superior agate off Ebay.   I will have a guy named Jason on Tik Tok will grind it and polish it to make a very nice oval palm stone once it gets to me in the mail.  The color is beautiful to me.  It called to me and said "buy me" lol...

I just now became a $50 supporter.

Those are beautiful.  After having a fascination with "coins with insects" I too enjoy looking at the real insects.  So far I have only 2 in my collection.  A leaf insect and a scarab.  That is a U.S. quarter on the right to show you the scale.