- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Tumbling Puddingstones

I've found that using my rock tumbler with stage 1 grit, takes all the rough edges off my Puddings while leaving their...integrity, general shape intact.

 Tumbling usually takes just 2-4 days and they even pick up a nice shine. I don't feel that any further tumbling or polishing is needed.

QueenPuddin from Huron today

Here is the largest Pudding, with the heaviest amount of inclusions that I have found to date.

 I found her just north of Rogers City along with a few "pocket pieces", small Puddings.

 Whilst I find the vast majority of my Puddings at local businesses in decorative stone borders, there is something very special within these Lake Huron beauties. They have this light brown matrix and they just feel really good.

 I don't know, maybe it's the fabulous energy of the Lake, or that they have never been touched by human hands prior to mine. They feel refreshing, lite, invigorating and pleasing.

I didn't pluck this one from the Lake....Huron gifted me:)

What is Pudding Stone? A definition

Here is the definition of "Pudding Stone" from the book "Michigan Rocks & Minerals" by Dan R. Lynch & Bob Lynch:
 "Pudding Stone, like Michigan's granite, is another case of "foreign" rocks making their way south via the glaciers of past ice ages. Pudding Stone formed in Canada and is a type of conglomerate rock that has undergone metamorphosis; it has been greatly compacted and hardened due to pressure.
  It originally consisted primarily of gravel-sized pieces of jasper, chert and quartz, though after such intense hardening and cementing together, the quartz has actually become a variety of quartzite. The jasper and chert pieces are randomly sized and shaped and are generally quite limited in relation to the amount of quartzite.
 This metamorphosed conglomerate derives it's curious name from its appearance. Long ago, discoverers thought that the bright red jasper fragments resembled fruit and the dark chery looked like nuts, with the white quartzite being the "pudding" they floated in.
  It is this characteristic appearance that should be enough to identify it."

I really like this definition! It's straightforward and easy-to-understand. I'd recommend it for Michigan rock hounds.
 I think the definition helps me to eliminate some stones that I was erroneously calling Puddings. Such as this one;

I believe this to be a Conglomeration due to it's very prolific inclusions, no clear quartzite matrix and little actual jasper.

Today's Haul

The office building I go to, seems to have a never ceasing supply of Puddings. I have some scrubbing to do but here they are. The bigger ones are a hand size.

A closer view...love the pink peaches

Puddingstones with Brown "Chocolate Chip" Inclusions

Lipstick Puddings