Today I was blessed with the privilege of being able to interview the man who discovered and mined the world famous Owyhee Picture Jasper. This afternoon I met up with Bruce Markus of Nampa Idaho and talked rocks. Not just any type of rocks but Owyhee Jasper. The conversation started off with a few stories of him exploring in the Owyhee Mountains back in the 1960’s in his VW Bug. That’s right Bruce used a Volkswagon Bug to go everywhere in the rugged Owyhee’s. Bruce was explaining to me that the discovery of Owyhee Picture Jasper was just a stroke of good luck.
 
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Ashwood Oregon’s famed Rockstock is kind of up in the air this year. I spoke today to Cathy Friend of Friends Ranch in Ashwood this afternoon and received some bad news. Darrel Friend which was one of the main organizers of Rockstock passed away on January 29, 2009. Cathy did mention that maybe a few of the ranches would open up but no definite answer as of yet.
 
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The first official field trip of the rock hound season was to Grave yard Point. Which is in far eastern Oregon almost in Idaho about 2 or 3 miles from Homedale Idaho. The material that we were after was of coarse the famous Graveyard Point Plume Agate. The day started off very early as my friend Tony was coming to pick me up at 6:15 so we could be at the Ion truck stop just outside of Marsing Idaho by 7:30. The group was very large, I would have to say that there must have been at least 40 vehicles in the convoy. The first trip of the Rockhounding season always has a huge turnout.
 
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Alright I figure that it’s about time I ask everyone “What would you like to see covered” at 1rockhound.com? Would you like to see more Field Trips, Lapidary Work, Rockhound Equipment Reviews, or maybe places to get the best deals online for Lapidary and rock hound related supplies.

I’m just curious what you as the reader wants so that I can make this site that much more informative and interesting. Or let me know what I need to improve on “Please Be Nice” just joking be honest.

So please leave your comments below and I will try to guild this site in the direction you the reader wants, not just what I think you want.

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Last week I purchase a used 10 inch Lapidary Rock Saw from a local pawn shop. That’s right a pawn shop, it’s not very often you see lapidary equipment in these places. To start with I’m not sure what the manufacturer of this saw is. My friend Tony has a exact copy of this rock saw which is a Lortone ST-10 and it is the common Lortone blue. As you can tell it is not blue, but more a green gray which makes me think it is a Star Diamond or Reytech saw.
 
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