A Blog About Stone Gathering, Tumbling and Polishing, and Rocks and Landscapes, from New Zealand – With Musical Interludes (john.tumblestone@gmail.com)
Alert Level Two, Wednesday 27 May – Stone 7, Black Veined Stone from Gemstone Beach
Stone 6 of Level Two.
Stone 5 of Level Two.
Stone 4 of Level Two.
Stone 3 of Level Two.
Stone 2 of Level Two.
Stone 7 of Level Two is large enough to need to be tumbled in my biggest barrel, the 12lb one. I picked it up from Gemstone Beach because of the pattern of dark veins apparent on one side.
Stone 7 of Level Two.
Stone 7 of Level Two.
The plainer side of Stone 7 of Level Two
Stone 7 of Level Two.
It could be a veined argillite, but I am unsure. The green-grey of the stone is very similar to the more common argillites in which fossil worm casts can be found:
Close-up of Stone 7 of Level Two.
Close-up of Stone 7 of Level Two.
Close-up of Stone 7 of Level Two.
What made me stop on the beach and pick it up was the distinctive black veins on one side of this stone:
Close-up of veins in Stone 7 of Level Two.
Stone 7 of Level Two.
Stone 7 of Level Two.
Close-up of a vein in Stone 7 of Level Two.
Close-up of veins in Stone 7 of Level Two.
Close-up of veins in Stone 7 of Level Two.
There are a number of small cracks and tiny rough patches in the stone, with a small chunk out of the bottom. Removing these by further tumbling with silicon carbide grit would have resulted in unpredictable changes to the surface pattern of the veins, and a smaller stone, undermining its visual impact.
Small chunk out of the bottom of Stone 7 of Level Two.
Retired Academic, male, living in the New Zealand countryside near Whanganui with his wife as well as Jasper the dog, Fluffy the cat, Dancer and Penny, the horses, and a shed half-full of stones. Email john.tumblestone@gmail.com.
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2 thoughts on “Alert Level Two, Wednesday 27 May – Stone 7, Black Veined Stone from Gemstone Beach”
What a beauty! Love it. Reminds me of Orepuki somehow. Might be because the black marks looks like tree branches.
What a beauty! Love it. Reminds me of Orepuki somehow. Might be because the black marks looks like tree branches.
The contrast between the black veins and the light grey background is quite effective.