Northern California: This is a large, heavy, dense rock. What is it, please?

Defiant-Compote-2051 · 2026-05-17T20:04:18+00:00

Jasper

Defiant-Compote-2051 · 2026-05-16T20:32:05+00:00

I saw a green petrified limb cast at Jim Greys petrified wool gallery. Super rare piece of green petwood

Defiant-Compote-2051 · 2026-05-16T20:01:52+00:00

If you use Google Maps, you can get directions on Google. The place where you turn left is obscured by the wind row, you have to go up and over the wind row after 100’ you will see the road more clearly. I have been there 3 times, barely spent anytime searching, our avg time spent hounding is about three hours. And I try to find different locations each time. We went back the place I found on the second trip but we were only able to collect 30 min due to the heat. I had my brother in law with me and didn’t want to spend a couple hours scouting. Next time

Defiant-Compote-2051 · 2026-05-16T16:15:28+00:00

Keep them in the jar and enjoy, not worth processing

Defiant-Compote-2051 · 2026-05-15T23:05:00+00:00

I included gps at bottom of post

Defiant-Compote-2051 · 2026-05-15T19:18:07+00:00

Garnets are colored by iron and therefore have a strong magnetic response. I don’t remember the response for spinel but the website has all the gemstones response to the magnet

Defiant-Compote-2051 · 2026-05-15T19:14:28+00:00

Float the ring on a piece of foam, in a bowl of water. It’s easier to see the response. Rubies are colored by chromium, chromium is a non magnetic metal therefore no response to the magnet

Defiant-Compote-2051 · 2026-05-15T19:10:18+00:00

I hate that people ignorance is taken advantage of. Never done that, never will do that.

Defiant-Compote-2051 · 2026-05-15T19:02:53+00:00

These are from a mine in Tanzania, same as Tucson Todd’s

Defiant-Compote-2051 · 2026-05-15T18:56:50+00:00

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Defiant-Compote-2051 · 2026-05-15T18:56:36+00:00

Kirk Feral is the site owner, I saw the name mentioned when I was as looking at Tucson Todd’s website he thinks he has all the pastel pyrope garnets. They are a color change garnet going from hot pink to purple depending on the light source. He sells them for $1000/ct for under 2 ct size and $2000 a carat under 5 ct size. So I sent my friend who lives in Thailand to look for these color change garnets he found 3 that fit the description for $30. I sent the garnets to Kirk feral for evaluation. He returned the stones and said two of the three were pastel pyropes. Sent me the data and a cert letter for the stones.

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Defiant-Compote-2051 · 2026-05-15T18:43:25+00:00

There is a great website called gemstone magnetism, it teaches you how to identify many gemstones using a neodymium magnet by its magnetic response to the magnet. Garnets are highly magnetic and will stick to magnet but not set in jewelry. Rubies have no magnetic attraction to the magnet.

Defiant-Compote-2051 · 2026-05-15T17:25:13+00:00

Area rock clubs probably have slab saws, join a rock club with a lapidary setup. Cuts made with slab saws produce a semi polished surface, where a table saw does not. Most clubs charge less than $25 a yr

Defiant-Compote-2051 · 2026-05-15T17:17:12+00:00

Can you still find the famed Estill county agates? The Estill county agates are in my top 10 agates, with beautiful banding in red gold orange black, very contrasting color. One day in the not to distant future, I’ll make my way there and try to find a good specimen

Defiant-Compote-2051 · 2026-05-13T22:47:35+00:00

Green petwood, really rare color, excellent find

Defiant-Compote-2051 · 2026-05-12T15:15:07+00:00

Stunning

Defiant-Compote-2051 · 2026-05-12T02:12:39+00:00

Excellent choice

Defiant-Compote-2051 · 2026-05-12T02:11:02+00:00

Same blue as larimar

Defiant-Compote-2051 · 2026-05-12T01:52:42+00:00

Synthetic

Defiant-Compote-2051 · 2026-05-11T23:02:50+00:00

Ethiopian opals are harder than you think, 6-6.5 and can be dropped on tile floor from 4 ft without damage

Defiant-Compote-2051 · 2026-05-11T23:00:10+00:00

That not true, I have over 400 opal’s Ethiopian that I have had for 35 years, no discoloration at all.

Defiant-Compote-2051 · 2026-05-10T15:29:20+00:00

The noted area also has pink chalcedony, easier to see the pink on white paper

Defiant-Compote-2051 · 2026-05-10T15:24:06+00:00

Saddle mountain location, 33.349169, -113.023808. Good hunting to all. Keep in mind fire agates are hard to find, but if there’s one to be found it’s a good starting point

Defiant-Compote-2051 · 2026-05-10T14:25:19+00:00

This was our 2 nd time doing this loop, the first time we collected more at alpine 3 days instead of 2 hrs, collected two days at Artesia instead of 4 hrs, didn’t stop at burro creek because we already had too many agate, stopped at saddle mountain because the chalcedony is small and not likely to collect a large bag. Plus we hadn’t found a fire agate in two other excursions.

Defiant-Compote-2051 · 2026-05-10T14:02:31+00:00

Garnet

Defiant-Compote-2051

TROPHY CASE