TARBUTTITE, Broken Hill, ZAMBIA

Small thumbnail specimen imaged using Celestron Deluxe Handheld Digital Microscope - 44302-B

DRC 3.0 Update - Build 3.19 is Available

 I just released the latest update to Digital Rockhound's Companion Version 3.19

 Enhancement:
   -  DRC installer no longer requires a DVD
   -  Changed Updater to automatically download to DRC folder again.
   
 The Full installer and Updater has several improvements
  - No DVD required.
  - Street level GIS files have been removed.  There files were first added back in 1997 when DRC was an MS Access app.  Some might remember this version.  It had its merits, plus reporting was easy with MS Access reports.  I still miss that feature(sigh...) The streets GIS files were rendered moot a decade ago by Google Maps.
 - DRC Updater.exe is smaller.  Finally solved a 'free' hosting solution for files.  Its amazing in 20+ years of the Internet, it has become increasing difficult to host a file over 200MB. Every one wants to extract a fee for hosting.  Since DRC is a barely for profit operation, I choose not to spend any profits on site fees.

I'm not going to post a link for DRC installer or DRC Updater.  If someone cannot download DRC updater please email me at Gary.Kindel@gmail.com. Please include DRC in the message status/header.

DRC 3.0 Update - Build 3.18 is Available

 I just released the latest update to Digital Rockhound's Companion Version 3.18

 Bug Fix:
   -  Specimen / Fossil not added to labelqueue if ID_text is not a number
   - Specimen - Cannot remove MineID
 
 Enhancement:
   - Mineral specimen: Allow Specimen_ID to be changed.  This is initially an auto-number.

  This update also rolls out DRC 3.0 to anyone using DRC version 2.0 as a free update.

  

  You can download the using DRC 3.0 if you have version 3.0.16 or higher, otherwise, you must download it manually.   Download 

Fossil collecting at Hueston Woods, Ohio

At the end of June, I visited Hueston Woods state park and went fossil collecting. The first time I visited the park was 30 years ago when I was in high school. My memory of the collecting areas were vague as well as the park amendities. The park is located near Miami University of Ohio near Oxford, Ohio. A very nice little college town. The fossil collecting was very good, although I did not find any geodizd brachiopods with calcite I had collected 30 years ago. There were a few locations north of Oxford outside the park which I did not get to visit. There is brachipod thick horizon in the limestone which probably has these geodized brachs. After 30 years, this is still a great place to collect fossils. Great specimens can still be found! Links: http://visithw.com/things-to-do/fossil-hunting

DRC 3.0 Update - Build 3.17 is Available

  I just released the latest update to Digital Rockhound's Companion Version 3.17

 Bug Fix:
   Missing file DRCSearch.dll in update installer and full installer (from DVD)
   You get a error window when attempting to search your collection.

  This update also rolls out DRC 3.0 to anyone using DRC version 2.0 as a free update.

  

  You can download the using DRC 3.0 if you have version 3.0.16 or higher, otherwise, you must download it manually.   Download DRC_Update.exe

DRC 3.0 Update - Build 3.16 is Available

  I just released the latest update to Digital Rockhound's Companion Version 3.16

 Bug Fix:

• DRC updates in DRC.exe is working again!
• Added Run as Administrator for Windows 7 and Windows 8 users

  This update also rolls out DRC 3.0 to anyone using DRC version 2.00 as a free update.

  

  You can download the using DRC 3.0 if you have version 3.0.16 or higher, otherwise, you must download it manually.   Download DRC_Update.exe

BTW, DRC will not run on Windows Touch Tables using WinRT.  WinRT is a variation of Windows 8 but is not backwards compatible with Windows 7.

For Windows 8 / Windows 8.1

After you download DRC_Update.exe to your Windows 8 / Windows 8.1 workstation, you map have Windows SmartScreen appear and warn you about the file.

Click more info

Click run anyway

You will also get a Windows prompt, that DRC_UPDATE.exe is attempting to update your system, click Yes to allow it.

Geodes in Indiana

UPDATE: Recently visited area north of Bloomington, Inidana.
See: https://digitalrockhound.blogspot.com/2019/06/geode-hunting-near-bloomington-indiana.html

Map showing counties where geodes can be found in Indiana. Geodes can be found from in the southern third of the state. Popular counties to find geodes include Brown, Monroe, Morgan, Lawrence and Washington. and scattered on the ground.

(Map Generated by DRC 3.0)
Read more :

• http://www.ehow.com/info_8158449_geodes-indiana.html 
• http://indianastatemuseum.wordpress.com/2009/01/23/the-secret-of-geodes/ 
• http://www.gatorgirlrocks.com/state-by-state/indiana.html 

Geodes
 Bedford, Indiana Geodes containing barite, calcite, dolomite, marcasite, millerite, pyrite, quartz, & sphalerite occur in a layer of limestone exposed by the road-cut along State Route 37, approximately 10.5 miles north of Bedford (just south of the Monroe Lake exit).

• From http://igs.indiana.edu/ReferenceDocs/GeoNotes/GeoNotes_Geodes.pdf 

In south-central Indiana geodes can be found in the walls of road cuts and other exposures of rocks of the Harrodsburg Limestone and Ramp Creek Formation. For several miles on either side of this outcrop area, geodes are abundant along streams

DRC Updates

I have no idea why companies will allow people to share photos and videos but hate when you want to share files in general.  Anyway, this is the 3rd time Microsoft has done me wrong this way.

Well, DRC updates are broken. Apparently, 5/20/2014, Microsoft shutdown part of SkyDrive. DRC used http://skydriveapiclient.codeplex.com/ to download updates from my SkyDrive account.  I am looking at the best way to do this.  I post another update when I have this fix.

Sorry for the inconvience.

Current DRC update  3.14 can be downloaded from here:

DRC 3.0 Update - Build 3.14 is Available

Hi Everyone:

  I just released the latest update to Digital Rockhound's Companion Version 3.14

 Bug Fix:

• Corrected camera detection when single and multiple video feed devices are connected
• Corrected linkedTable list removing incorrect entry.

  This update also rolls out DRC 3.0 to anyone using DRC version 2.0 as a free update.

  

  You can download the using DRC 3.0 if you have version 3.0.7 or higher, otherwise, you must download it manually.   Download DRC_Update.exe

Steps to capture image from digital microscope using DRC 3.13

1) Plug in Microscope into USB port.  (The led lights turn on.)

2) Run DRC as administrator

3) Select Tools menu, image capture:

4) Image capture opens with drop-down populated with a list of digital video devices on your computer

5) Select your microscope:

6) Camera Tab, tab may turn dark and then display video feed

7) Click the camera icon and click on the image tab. (this is image capture from the video feed)

8) To save image, do the following:

 Opens mineral collection form to a specific record.

 - switch over to mineral collection form from image capture form.

 - Saves image to specimen currently displayed in Mineral collection.

 - Saves image as a new specimen entry to mineral collection and then opens mineral collection form.

When an image is saved to a specimen:

Image added as cover image:

Also added to the images tab for the specimen.

Sphalerite, Millersville Quarry, Portage Co. Ohio

Data exported from DRC 3.13 (c) 2014 Gary Kindel
ID:	2958
Mineral:	SPHALERITE
Mine ID:	151471
Mine:	Millersville Quarry
City:	Helena
County:	Portage
State:	OHIO
Country:	USA
Color:	dark red
Size:	1.25 (3) Perky
Description:	xls in limestone vug
Year Aquired:	2014
Price:	$3.00
Value:	$3.00
Vendor:	Diggin Ohio 2014 show
Notes:	http://www.columbusrockandmineralsociety.org/index.php/rock-show/2014-rock-show
Stored at:	Map 04 - Thumb Nails
Specimen Images

PYROMORPHITE: YangShuo Mine, GUANGXI CHINA

Data exported from DRC 3.13 (c) 2014 Gary Kindel
ID:	2964
Mineral:	PYROMORPHITE
State:	GUANGXI
Country:	CHINA PR
Color:	green
Size:	1.25 (3) Perky
Description:	xls
Year Aquired:	2014
Price:	$6.00
Value:	$6.00
Notes:
Stored at:	Map 07 - Perky Boxes
Specimen Images

Rockbridgeite from Mullica Hill New Jersey

DRC 3.0 Update - Build 3.13 is Available

Hi Everyone:

  I just released the latest update to Digital Rockhound's Companion Version 3.13

 Enhancement:

• Added support to use multple video capture devices, allow you to select which device you want to use.  This allows a webcam and a digital microscope to be connected at the same time.

  This update also rolls out DRC 3.0 to anyone using DRC version 2.0 as a free update.

  

  You can download the using DRC 3.0 if you have version 3.0.7 or higher, otherwise, you must download it manually.   Download DRC_Update.exe

Turtle Rock Concentration from Vermillion River, Lorain Co. Ohio

Testing a new feature, using DRC 3.11 to post images directly to blogger from my digital microscope.

Things needed:
- Digital microscope with standard windows video output.
  ( I'm using $40 Celestron 44302-D)
- DRC 3.10+ (soon to be released update 3.12 will make the process easier. Free update for DRC users!)
- Google Account
   * Picasaweb Account
   * Blogger Account
 
 I love creating my own software that I actually use!

Beuranite from Bachman Mine PA

Data exported from DRC 3.10 (c) 2014 Gary Kindel
ID:	2288
Mineral:	BERAUNITE
Mine ID:	167624
Mine:	BACHMAN MINE
City:	Hellerton
County:	Northampton
State:	PENNSYLVANIA
Country:	USA
Color:	Reddish brown
Size:	1.25 (3) Perky
Description:	prismatic xl sprays
Year Aquired:	2004
Price:	$0.60
Value:	$5.00
Notes:	Old Micromount Collection From NJ Purchased from EBAY.
Stored at:	Map 01 - Thumb Nails
Additional Mineral Species:		Description:
MATULAITE		White
Specimen Images

Dioptase and Wulfenite from Tseumb

Data exported from DRC 3.10 (c) 2014 Gary Kindel
ID:	1927
Mineral:	DIOPTASE
State:	TSEUMB
Country:	NAMIBIA
Color:	Green
Size:	1.25 (3) Perky
Description:	xls on matrix
Year Aquired:	2002
Price:	$0.60
Value:	$100.00
Notes:	Old Micromount Collection From NJ Purchased from EBAY.
Stored at:	Map 02 - Thumb Nails
Additional Mineral Species:		Description:
SMITHSONITE		pale blue-grey
WULFENITE		orange
Specimen Images