These Stones are Amazing! Hunting, Cutting, & Polishing Gorgeous Wyoming Banded Iron & Aventurine!

In this one, we head to a spot on our way to Kemmerer, WY to hunt for some fantastic banded iron! These amazing rocks consist of dense bands of hematite and are fantastic stones for cutting, cabbing, and polishing! We found some phenomenally colorful specimens and were even pleasantly surprised to find some beautifully vibrant green aventurine! After our hunt, we head back to the shop to cut and polish some specimens! I hope you all enjoy, and I will have another one out soon!
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• Highlights!
Looking for some other fantastic rockhounding and fossil hunting channels to watch? Well check out any of these phenomenal channels for more treasure hunting content!
Wild Kyle: Wild Kyle: / @wildkyle
Paleocris: / @paleocris
Pulitzer Opal: / @pulitzeropal
Ozone Fine Art-Ventures: / @ozonefineartventures
406 Findings: / @406findings
The Rogue Rockhound: / @theroguerockhound
Du5tin Finds Rocks: / @dustinfindsrocks
Michael Van Dyke: / @michaelvandyke
Rockhounding Adventures: / @rockhoundingadventures
Agate Angler: / @agateangler
World of Rockhounds: / @worldofrockhounds
Montana Rock Mom: / @montanarockmom
Gravel Bar Hopper: / @gravelbarhopper
Marlaina Atkins: / jmrlsatkins
Rockhounding Life: / @rockhoundinglife
Agate Enchantment & Rock Wizardry: / @agateenchantmentrockw...
Currently Rockhounding: / @currentlyrockhounding
Katydid Rocks!: / bigskyartworks
Agate Dad: / @agatedad
Quest for Details: / @questfordetails
Rookie Rockhounding: / crazycrazysillyfresh
Mamlambo: / @mamlambofossils
Michigan Rocks: / jugglerguy1
#rocks #lapidary #wyoming

[@randysanders3511]

My favorite videos are the ones that go from finding to polishing 😊

[@donnabeaudin9114]

Wow! So pretty! My favorite is the big rock you.cut that looked like wood. Thanks Theo!

[@northernrocks543]

You should check out Wyoming Stone Ranger. He collects a lot of this stuff and he has a lot of really nice pieces. He also does rock trades. I have done a coupe of rock trades with him and have received some really nice pieces from him. He also has green aventurine. I am like you I love banded iron to, and it does take a really nice polish. Great video!

[@rockersfromaz3001]

You have a rock that is sitting there behind what you are showing that looks like a snail! With how brilliant you are at carving and shaping, you should really turn that rock into a snail :)

[@deniseview4253]

I know that feeling that once you start finding beautiful pieces you just can’t stop! Lol They are gorgeous patterns. I’m sure when you get can, polishing and slabs done they will be so beautiful!!

[@shirleyvowell9563]

O my Stars!!🔊 I'm crying I am so thankful because I got to watch this stunning video! God as blessed you with skill and wisdom! I pray special blessings over you...that God will continue to use you to share with persons whose ability to get out and have such wonderful is handicapped. You are awesome, and we pray God will continue to use you. We have subscribed..and love your videos🙏🙌😻🥇🥇🤗

[@largent45]

That stuff is gorgeous! I've always liked the banded iron formation from Michigan and I had received some from Canada, but I had no idea that Wyoming had some too! And this stuff from Wyoming is a lot .ore colorful than the Michigan stuff and the banding is tighter. And I live the dots! It makes me wonder if it's put under a microscope, would those dots turn into cubes of hematite? I think it requires a trip to Kim's place! This was a fabulous video! And you are mandated to do a cut and polish of the aventurine at some point soon too! That green is so rich! Way different then the Yellowstone stuff! Just do it! Lol! Thanks Theo, for putting a little sparkle and bling, in my morning! ❤

[@judymarkel8029]

You make me look at rocks differently😊

[@RockyMountainBear]

😆 Wyoming banded iron is so friggin cool. It looks like natures Damascus Steel.

[@TinasTimelessTreasures]

That banded iron is fabulous ! Knife handles and pistol grips would be Amazing! Thanks for sharing .

[@bigmoney3405]

I have been watching your channel for about 3 years and I dont comment much but I really enjoy your videos and your style! I just need to tell you that the lighting in your shop seems different, cant really see the banded iron as the lights wash all the color out, is this just me or??? Anyway Theo you are one 0of my faves!!!

[@offyarocka]

Awesome spot to go hunting in 🤯🤯🤯 That rock with the chatoyancy may very well be tiger iron, not to be mistaken for tiger eye 🤔🤔🤔

[@nicolepinkham4241]

I love the Wyoming Stone Ranger’s videos! Ever heard of him? He also turned me on to the banded iron. He finds some AMAZING jaspers, agates, and aventurine too. Unfortunately, I will have to wait til spring to actually go find some myself. But I was super excited to see that you made a video on banded iron now too! Thanks so much! Every little bit helps us all get through the snowy winters until we can get out and rockhound again!

[@patriciamckean4186]

Nature is helping with rain to spot the beauty. Lovely colors.

[@kellyharper367]

Old disabled house bound dusty rusty rockhound here: Yo, Theo... enjoyed this video! Happy Holidays to you, Alexis, and the 4 leggers! Season Greetings to all my rock buddies out there!!🎄🎄🎄

[@anniegironne8444]

Beautiful rocks and the result from the polish, wow! Curious to see what you could find from Kim's microscope on your chatoyant rocks 😮

[@theresabraddock9310]

Looks more like scattered crystal needles than chatoyant. Hard to tell but it's very cool!

[@kengeohegan6854]

I picked up a fair amount of banded iron in Wyoming this past summer and have tumbled a couple of batches. The jasper is a bit softer than the hematite, so it tends to undercut just a bit. I may try very soft (plastic) tumbling media to reduce the effect. Also, bended iron tends to make a horrific brown mess of tumbler barrels--be prepared!

[@janehelbert7551]

You answered my question!

[@Nikkisavage100]

Its fantastic !

[@laurafolsom2048]

I’m running out of room for rocks in my house! It’s an addiction. Thank you for the videos! ❤ I will be restricted during winter months but I’m looking forward to spring already. I don’t do lapidary work but I sure appreciate it, maybe in the future?

[@lovefaith1794]

Loved this video Theo & all you do😊

[@greatnorthernviews3052]

Your channel is awesome I look forward to seeing more your knowledge is great. You always find great rocks😊

[@jforce91]

The chatoyant crystal in the BIF is quartz thats replaced actinolite/tremolite. you had it right the first time- its tigers eye.

[@savagesquirrel9828]

The wavy lines and the fish scale ones are my favs. I wonder why it doesn’t rust? Thanks!

[@kastah]

Those rocks was special yes. Very nice colors and patterns. That shimmer, must be a type of Mica, do`nt you think

[@CedarStoneCreations]

Really want to find myself some banded iron! Cool stuff.

[@Katepuzzilein]

Fun fact: Banded iron is semi-biological in origin. The oceans two billion years ago were full of dissolved iron because there was no free oxygen yet. Then life evolved photosythesis and for millions of years the oxygen that was produced as a waste product immeadeatly reacted with the iron to form hematite that sedimented out to form banded iron formations. The oxygen only went into the atmosphere after all the iron was consumed

[@keithcunningham7925]

Man I love that banded iron we get some here in Michigan but nothing like that very cool

[@Whateverhasbeenmynameforyears]

That flash you were asking about at the end looks to me like a feldspar.

[@beefmelt]

I collected a lot of the wyoming banded iron and it tumbles awesome. Theo, you gonna love it.

[@jennifershipp2599]

Such beautiful pieces. Can't wait to see some cabs. 😊

[@sandmaker]

Love the trip, the rocks, the polish. Cut, cut cut. Banded iron, always pleases. I haven't found any big pieces, but I have found some in the desert near Calico, CA. Happy hunting.

[@luket.s.4577]

The crazy shatoyant crystal structure is also seen in granite

[@jimmycaperton8948]

Those would make some nice beads

[@lorrik.7341]

I have several large banded-iron jaspers in the tumbler right now that I picked up at Lake Superior. You are right, that iron is very shiny and very beautiful once polished.

[@Doxymeister]

I also think the banded-iron is beautiful. If I were considering getting some cabs to make jewelry, should I seal it before setting it, to keep the iron from rusting? I've never used it, but it's so pretty and I think it would especially make good jewelry for men. Just concerned about it rusting.

[@laurafolsom2048]

Yay! Morning!

[@JnVrockhounding]

I totally agree with you. Bif is so pretty and I love it. I wish I could find it where I live. I have a slab or two but want a bug chunk. Thanks for the show.

[@RockyMountainBear]

12:52 gosh, that big one almost looks like a meteorite with those regmaglypts looking patterns on the outside. Have you tried dipping banded iron in acid? Basically acid etching to bring out the pattern a little more on your finished cabs.

[@michaelbearss371]

Awesome! MI has some good banded iron too.. in the U.P.

[@wyomingadventures]

Good thing you did this before we got a bunch of snow now. Hoping to get down there next spring. Sorry I missed some of your videos. 2 month trip. I love Wyoming banded iron. Watch out for the 🌵😜. Nice finds Theo! Really want to know what the yellowish one is. It's so cool! 😊

[@kevinanderson9335]

Awesome video Theo, thank you for sharing. Super shiny even before polished. I have never seen hematite look like this, If we are ever in that area I will keep my eyes open. :-O

[@tanekarnes5260]

Would love to see you in a video cab or carve some of the colorful stones. Bet would be beautiful.

[@lilalightandlove421]

Oh man Theo, love your videos and process. I always wonder what to do with the amazing rocks I find. Keep the videos coming man!

[@donnal.hanrahan2824]

It’s beautiful ❤

[@brianjohnson3974]

Looks like the same as what u find in Tennessee. The coating on your rocks is pyrite..

[@jayburkhart1781]

some of that almost looks like petrified wood with iron running thru it. at least some of it does to me. your so lucky bro

[@user-hz2xl4co9u]

Was wondering what red material was. Saw few specimens in different forms. The flat plate I saw, would have made good base possibly for project.

[@tassia1954]

It's beautiful but I don't know why it's called hematate because it's from Greek αιματίτης which means from blood (αίμα)means blood!love you from Greece!!!

[@BubblePuppy.]

Theo - Does the polished hematite end up getting oxidized/rusty?

[@Rocktwister]

the banded iron in Oklahoma will not polish for me, just turns the water yellow lol. should have seen the mess I made with the tumbler lol. your stuff is beautiful as always!

[@wyomingadventures]

Theo do you think it's possible to tumble this material in a tumbler? You did amazing job on the banded iron! I mean in a rotary tumbler. Maybe that's what you did. Just wasn't sure.

[@dianaanthony2981]

I have one of those yellow chatoyant rocks and IDK what it is, either.

[@janehelbert7551]

Have you tried tumbling the banded iron?

[@a3skywarrior929]

Don't have big pieces in Indiana wow

[@doubledragon9530]

Do you think what you are seeing in the chatoyant layer might be mica?

[@Amanda-yf7vj]

Awesome!!! Where in Wyoming were you?

[@isapluschke3643]

I’m I mistaken but like of looks like fossilized wood? But darker then I’ve seen before.

[@leslyeschoenhuth1107]

I can understand being side-tracked by the colors & Chatoyancy. Hope you found enough to work on & try to Tumble..

[@SusanLind-Kanne-dc1rx]

Are the ones with a lot of iron in them from meteorites?

[@user-wf8bk4sl6r]

Can you please tell me where in Wyoming you found these rocks? I'd like a couple for my collection. 😊

[@sbmiller7477]

Love your video. Where in Wyoming are you able to find the banded iron?

[@GalaxieMama]

Do you where a mask when you’re polishing?

[@Mrjoshuasjourneyzzz10420]

Take a small piece and send it to a lab!!!!