Rock Identification: A Gift from an Amateur Rockhound

[@gregderksen1996]

Holy moly! we can definitely tell these rocks have found their way to someone who will appreciate them and will give them a forever home! Thanks for the endorphin rush lol! i foresee much polishing in Ariel’s future.😆

[@AgateAriel]

Thank you!! Yes there are so many beauties that I’m so excited to tumble! I’ll make sure to document it all too! 😊

[@ecks_marks_the_spot]

Thank you. I'm learning so much.

[@AgateAriel]

I'm so glad!

[@jcouch1993]

I'm so jealous! Those are some nice pieces, especially the jaspers

[@AgateAriel]

Thank you!! I was pretty excited!

[@hosannamcbride1337]

Could you imagine taking all that time searching for these and then just giving them away? I love you Ariel but I’m not that nice!

[@CityRockhounding]

Wow, what an amazing gift, this rock community really is the best out there. So many wonderful pieces, love the variety, colors, size and banding. Thanks for sharing these awesome pieces.

[@AgateAriel]

Agreed I was in total awe at their collection! So much variety and beauty!

[@austintorvund1]

Wow. I need your organization in my life!

[@kylaabegglen1275]

Such an awesome gift!😍 Those Lake Superior agates are huge! I love the jaspers, especially the dark red oolitic, the banded and the big ones. Can't wait to see some tumbled up. Thanks for sharing!✌🤠

[@AgateAriel]

Agreed they will look so awesome tumbled and thank you!!

[@patriciamckean4186]

Goodies, omg! Presents!!!!

[@mitchgillilan]

Holy smokes!!! That was fun to watch. Seriously giant agates and all very high quality! Love them all, and the fossils and jasper were really spectacular too! My only gripe is that the lighting was a bit dark and flat, would of been really cool if you had them under a better lamp, but still amazing and thanks so much for sharing!

[@AgateAriel]

Thank you! And yes I have been trying to figure out a good lighting situation for a while now! This was me standing to the right of my patio windows, lights in the room on, a lamp to my left, and a ring light over top! I’m almost wondering if the patio window is dominating the lighting making it look dark a flat. Let me know if you have any ideas!

[@MNpicker]

Oh my!! Very nice👌

[@AgateAriel]

Thank you! 😊

[@GREEKEXPLORERS]

Nice video!! Thank you for sharing!!

[@AgateAriel]

Thank you! 😊

[@kismatkepathar267]

Beautiful

[@AgateAriel]

Agreed!

[@briancurtis6022]

This is a VERY useful and informative video! Thanks for doing it. I love hearing the tips of what details to look for in identifying specimens and distinguishing different species. What are the key markers you use to separate, say, agates and jaspers from cherts? Glad to see you have a helpful furry assistant (grin).

[@AgateAriel]

Good question! Agates are (almost) always translucent, jaspers and cheers are very very similar, the only difference would be the coloring (chert is usually more gray) and chert also fractures slightly more flaky!

[@963ag]

I have been an avid fossil collector since childhood - more than 50 years! Unfortunately, through the years I have had most of my collection lost and stolen ... But lately I have rekindled my previous fervor for rocks, minerals, fossils and semiprecious stones. I have a much smaller collection of about 40 pieces and am trying to identify and catalog everything - not just "trilobite" but the species : Calymene, Elrathia, etc. I have a bunch of brachipods and gastropods I found in the desert, and even with books and the Internet I can't identify them. I also want to learn how to use a tumbler and start polishing - I never did that in the past.

[@anthonyparson7135]

Great collection and lucky you! I do have to say though as I've collected a lot of jasper that 16:22 is actually not a paint agate but gem quality Mary Ellen Jasper. I can see where you thought it was an agate because it's very gemmy like one, and the tight banding pattern is nice but those are the whorls of stromatolite jasper.

[@AgateAriel]

You know I was wondering! Thank you for helping out! I plan on tumbling it and hope it brings out all its beautiful bands and coloring! 😊

[@IvanLopez-zh3xz]

Cool!!

[@AgateAriel]

Thank you! 😊

[@diabeticinthewild]

A broken heart agate. Neat.

[@AgateAriel]

Right it was such a cool one!!

[@kirbycraft9325]

The first one that you thought was a painted agate might also possibly be a Mahogany Obsidian.?. I can't say for certain, but I have a couple of pieces I found last season, and I believe they are. The main reason is the fractures are REALLY distinct. Second, is the unusually brighter red color and sheen, brighter than most red jasper even, but I'm an amateur too, so I can't say positive. Kind gift.

[@AgateAriel]

I will definitely have to take a closer look! Thank you for the suggestion! 😊

[@johngross5224]

The one with the round"holes" in it, if it was found on the coast it's most likely a razor clam holes. You find em a lot on the coast of southern California. But they can also be where a nodule feel out of host rock or where a few grains of sand spun around in the crack of a rock in a river or stream. The last one isn't as common. I'm also no expert these are just from my personal experience

[@AgateAriel]

Awesome! Thanks for the info! These were all found in Minnesota I believe 😊

[@lakeescapeii2539]

What do you do with the drewsey quartz? Did I say that right? Lol..... do those get tumbled or cleaned in a certain way?

[@AgateAriel]

I typically leave those raw because tumbling them with ruin the druzy-ness of them! You can clean them like normal however, I just wouldn’t aggressively scrub them or anything! 😊

[@vance7354]

Since you are the Agate Queen I thought I would ask you, do have any tips or tricks for tumbling Mexican Lace Agates? I have a Pound of them on the way and I want to make sure I do them right since I actually bought these. Living in NW Ohio, I dont really have access to many good rockhounding places and you can only collect so much Quartz and Granite. I have found a Few cool rocks but nothing super special, they just look cool to me so im happy with that.

[@eflatux0382]

Nice video 👋🎊🎉💎

[@AgateAriel]

Thank you!!

[@Maximosgrats]

The bones are from a goat in greece can find it everywhere

[@crazyshelly2628]

I don't understand why anyone would give an amazing collection like that away! Especially after all the hours he had to have put in finding everything! The only reason I would give a collection like that away is if I found out I was dying.

[@guymcdonald1240]

HATE lives at this site.

[@adon5202]

Subbed, I loved it!! Best subs provider -> P-R-O-M-O-S-M!

[@AgateAriel]

Thank you!