Rock My World

Posted on March 9, 2014 by Mike

I have been polishing rocks, off and on, for forty years. During this time I have found some beauties. Many of these have been picked off the beach and arrive after years of tumbling naturally in oceans far and wide. They are mostly rounded and partially smooth. Then they spend four weeks in a tumbler with different degrees of grit, culminating with a polish for the last week. The results are often remarkable, and always surprising.

(click on image for added detail)

53 thoughts on “Rock My World”

j.h. white on March 9, 2014 at 8:43 am said:

I have a similar fascination…especially if the rocks have lived near water. It makes packing and moving a little heavy. LOL. The one above is amazing. Where did you find it?

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- Mike on March 9, 2014 at 8:55 am said:
  
  I believe that was found on the beach in Crescent City, California. Yes, they get heavy when hauled in bags.
  
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The Jagged Man on March 9, 2014 at 8:47 am said:

Amazing!

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- Mike on March 9, 2014 at 8:56 am said:
  
  Yeah, I have so many and found an easy way to shoot them. Thanks, John.
  
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  - The Jagged Man on March 9, 2014 at 9:04 am said:
    
    I was wondering how you shot this but the rock was more of a wonder than that. The details, layers and colors, well they rock!
    
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  - Mike on March 9, 2014 at 9:15 am said:
    
    It does rock and so do you. I shot this with an extension tube and the flash on the camera. On white mounting board.
    
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chrissyfaery36 on March 9, 2014 at 9:02 am said:

Wow! That’s absolutely stunning!! After seeing the Lapidary demonstrations at my local crystal show, I’ve been fancying buying a tumbler myself! I’ve picked up lots of Carnelian over the years from my favourite beach, which I’m sure would polish up lovely! ♥

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- Mike on March 9, 2014 at 9:05 am said:
  
  They would polish really well and if you can find them easily that is a big plus.
  Do it! And thanks for this comment.
  
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Emilio Pasquale on March 9, 2014 at 9:05 am said:

Beautiful. For a rock! What I would find interesting is to know what each color is. What mineral trace.

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- Mike on March 9, 2014 at 9:07 am said:
  
  That would be interesting but alas, I am without that knowledge. There are some great colors for sure. Looks like peach, apricot, yellow, red, pink, and grey to me.
  
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awax1217 on March 9, 2014 at 9:10 am said:

true beauty inside. Maybe we should put people in tumblers and see their inner beauty.

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- Mike on March 9, 2014 at 9:11 am said:
  
  Tea party folks, and you would find only ugly inside.
  
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  - awax1217 on March 9, 2014 at 9:34 am said:
    
    Right on.
    
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Amy Pinkrose on March 9, 2014 at 9:13 am said:

Wow. Incredible!!!!!

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- Mike on March 9, 2014 at 9:16 am said:
  
  Hi Amy. It is really pretty and is one of hundreds. Speaking of nice, thanks for this comment my sweet friend.
  
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  - Amy Pinkrose on March 9, 2014 at 9:27 am said:
    
    (blush) Thank you! You do know how to “sweet talk”. xx Amy
    
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arjun bagga on March 9, 2014 at 9:27 am said:

Fascinating!

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- Mike on March 9, 2014 at 9:29 am said:
  
  Arjun!
  
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  - arjun bagga on March 9, 2014 at 9:44 am said:
    
    don’t make me cry now 🙂
    
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sueslaght on March 9, 2014 at 10:10 am said:

Wow that’s amazing Mike! Where is this one from?

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- Mike on March 9, 2014 at 11:03 am said:
  
  I believe it was plucked from the beach in Crescent City, California, just below the Oregon coast.
  
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  - sueslaght on March 9, 2014 at 12:12 pm said:
    
    Looks like it should be from the coast of Morocco!
    
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  - Mike on March 9, 2014 at 1:32 pm said:
    
    I’ll have to take your word for that. I’ve not traveled as much as I would like. Canada, Mexico, Curacao once. And all over the States.
    
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ehkstream on March 9, 2014 at 11:06 am said:

very nice, great photo… a rock roller myself, keeping a couple of tumblers going these days. Off to the beach here on the central Oregon coast this afternoon, there has finally been enough wind and wave events to stir up the gravels some. Looking for that elusive 30 pound agate…

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- Mike on March 9, 2014 at 11:08 am said:
  
  Cool. Good stuff my friend. Good luck, happy hunting.
  
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Jet Eliot on March 9, 2014 at 11:12 am said:

I had no idea rocks tumbled for four weeks, very interesting…and beautiful.

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- Mike on March 9, 2014 at 11:47 am said:
  
  Yes, it is certainly a process. We do ours in the basement but we can still hear them throughout the house (muted and doable). Nice to hear from you and thanks.
  
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suzbolton on March 9, 2014 at 11:26 am said:

Wow, such a beautiful heart shaped rock! Love the colors 🙂

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- Mike on March 9, 2014 at 11:48 am said:
  
  Yeah, the colors are amazing and much like fingerprints and snowflakes, no two are alike. Thanks for this comment.
  
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natuurfreak on March 9, 2014 at 2:16 pm said:

really amazing

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- Mike on March 9, 2014 at 5:01 pm said:
  
  Hi Marylou, and thanks.
  
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67steffen on March 9, 2014 at 3:03 pm said:

I love finding rocks rounded by the ocean. I haven’t tried smoothing but my neighbor gave me some of his smoothed rocks–I like how they age outside. Nice post.

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- Mike on March 9, 2014 at 3:16 pm said:
  
  Thanks. I cherish rocks more than jewelery. Maybe that is because I can’t afford any 😉
  
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Pat on March 9, 2014 at 3:24 pm said:

I love rocks. This one’s a beauty.

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- Mike on March 9, 2014 at 3:38 pm said:
  
  Thanks Pat.
  
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George Weaver on March 9, 2014 at 4:23 pm said:

Wow, Mike. Is this the maiden voyage for the tumbling? This one is a real beauty! I can imagine your excitement when you see the results. This reminds me of a Japanese “mountain” drawing in color. It’s absolutely beautiful, and you’ve photographed it perfectly. A man of many talents, you. 🙂

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- Mike on March 9, 2014 at 4:42 pm said:
  
  Well, it’s the maiden post of my 40 years of tumbling rocks.
  Thanks for liking it. I never know with a new subject like this if there would be interest.
  It is one of my favorite rocks but they really all have a unique character. Speaking of unique characters, It is good to hear from you.
  
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Robin on March 9, 2014 at 4:33 pm said:

Oh wow! This is stunning. Such beautiful colors and patterns, and you photographed it so well. I am a collector of rocks (I think that’s why all my pockets sag), and would like to give tumbling a try someday.

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- Mike on March 9, 2014 at 4:43 pm said:
  
  I have rocks all over my house. I seldom come home without one, and most are not able to be polished and end up just laying about.
  Thanks, Robin.
  
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Son of Sharecroppers on March 9, 2014 at 8:19 pm said:

Very cool!

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- Mike on March 9, 2014 at 8:19 pm said:
  
  Nice! Thanks Dan.
  
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Tropical Flowering Zone/Maria on March 9, 2014 at 10:46 pm said:

I’d like to know how did you post process this image? I’d like to do this with my flowers.

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- Mike on March 9, 2014 at 10:53 pm said:
  
  Just bumped up the contrast a tad…
  
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LensScaper on March 10, 2014 at 2:23 am said:

Glorious colours, Mike

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- Mike on March 10, 2014 at 9:30 am said:
  
  Right? Hi Andy.
  
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stvrsnbrgr on March 10, 2014 at 6:12 am said:

Wow! I’m a beach rock fiend. Would love to see before / after pix of your tumbled rox.

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- Mike on March 10, 2014 at 9:30 am said:
  
  That is a good idea. Thanks.
  
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karenglosserdesigns on March 10, 2014 at 5:59 pm said:

Wow- this is spectacular! Very interesting to the jewelry designer side of me.
And a wonderful image, capturing the beauty. Thanks for posting!

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- Mike on March 10, 2014 at 6:05 pm said:
  
  Thanks a lot Karen.
  
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Judy on March 15, 2014 at 4:17 pm said:

I used to collect rocks of all kinds as a kid…still have shoeboxes of them stashed around! Always loved the one with brilliant color which would polish up to a wonderful shine. This rock of your is really vibrant!! Those reds!! The romantic side of me sees a heart, the macabre side of me sees soaked up blood. Ouuu!!

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- Mike on March 15, 2014 at 4:24 pm said:
  
  Let’s go with a blood soaked heart 😉
  Rocks are very cool and there is something spiritual about them.
  
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Meanderer on March 18, 2014 at 7:13 am said:

How beautiful. I like to collect such things but I tend to pop them on a shelf and almost forget about them.

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- Mike on March 18, 2014 at 9:27 am said:
  
  I have rocks everywhere, but the polished ones are in bowls. Thanks.
  
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