PROGRESS REPORTS (The Project)

This area will be updated as we complete various tasks in our Multi-Million Dollar Project.

Completed Tasks - thus far:

• June 2007  -  Design preparation.

• July 2007  -  Sorting first 3 tons of Montana Agate to be used for Tumbling and Crushing.

• July 2007  -  Prepped Driveway and Sidewalk for 1/2" layer of crushed and polished Montana Agate.

• July thru Present  -  Completed 16 of the 20" Montana Agate Panels.  We will be using 40 of these panels, as well as two large crosses, specially designed and built by Joe Love.

• September 2007  -  The Giant Tumbler finished and working hard to grind and smooth 1,500 pounds of Montana Agate with each batch.

• October 2007  -  The Rock Crusher and Generator put into service.

• January 2008  -  The Security System is nearly completed, and will have several cameras with continuous monitoring.  The system will be fully functional within the next few weeks.

• January 2008  -  Montana Agate Mailbox, Panels and Cross mounted and lighted.

• November 2008 - The project is really starting to take shape with the addition a 2nd Joe Love original Cross (shown top right of this page) and  New Colorful Center Panel.  We've added photos of the latest additions HERE.

• January thru April 2009 - Finished crushing several tons of Montana Agate with our custom-built Rock Crusher.

• June 7th 2009 - Added large Eagle with over 6,000 Montana Agate Cabochons embedded on it.  Also added decorative areas around trees with over 2 tons of crushed Montana Agate.  (Please see the photographs below)

A few of the Problems we have encountered:

• Gathering Large amounts of Montana Agate.

• Finding Agate that is good enough quality for Joe Love to use.  Joe is very discriminating about using good quality stones for the items he creates.

• Construction and Fine-Tuning Giant Tumbler number One (Two more to come online).

• Working out the proper amounts of grit, time and water to properly grind the Agate. (For example adjusting the amounts of Garnets used in the grinding process.)

• Getting a Generator powerful enough to power the Rock Crusher, Tumblers, and Rock Sorting Table.

• Building trailers strong enough to move our heavy, custom built equipment.

• Keeping the Crusher going.  Montana Agate is extremely hard material.