livetolearn
off to a rocking start
Member since March 2024
Posts: 1
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Post by livetolearn on Mar 31, 2024 8:26:59 GMT -5
Hi! I'm new to the hobby. I bought a Nat Geo Hobby Tumbler back in January and loved it. Unfortunately it's been hard to get my hands on other, better tumblers, but I now also have a Mini-Sonic vibratory tumbler.
I live in the desert Southwest and have a whole yard full of landscaping rocks that I've been working my way through, and I've also tumbled some "coquina jasper" (i.e. cool looking limestone) with varied success.
My husband is a geologist, which is a tremendous resource to have at hand, but alas mineralogy isn't his specialty. He was pulling weeds yesterday and brought me in a few rocks he thought might tumble well, including something he thought might be obsidian. Upon closer inspection (and some googling), it seems that I now have a single Apache tear.
Is it worth tumbling? I know that they're easily damaged and shouldn't be tumbled with other harder rocks. Should I just plop it in the vibratory tumbler with a bunch of ceramic media? Has anybody ever tumbled a single rock before?
Also, any Apache people out there? Is it offensive to call a rock an Apache tear? Or do you know where the name might come from? Thanks.
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chris1956
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2022
Posts: 1,246
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Post by chris1956 on Mar 31, 2024 8:57:43 GMT -5
Welcome from Missouri. There are lots of people that can help you with the Apache tear questions. I haven't done anything with them but now have some that I will tumble at some point.
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Post by Peruano on Mar 31, 2024 11:26:05 GMT -5
Welcome. Its good to ask about the sensitivities of names but to my knowledge no protest has been lodged against using Apache Tears as a name. We certainly can understand that sad things were done to Apaches and other native Americans. It can be handled in the minisonic, but as suspected it would be best with other softish rocks. Do you have any travertine, other obsidian, or beach glass? Are you near Albuquerque where apache tears material is plentiful to help make up an adquate load. Some cushioning is appropriate; you don't want to bang them to hard. If at first you dont succeed, try again.
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Post by opalpyrexia on Mar 31, 2024 12:03:09 GMT -5
Welcome from Washington.
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Post by vegasjames on Mar 31, 2024 16:44:19 GMT -5
Welcome from Southern Nevada. Best to get more Apache tear to tumble it with since you need more rocks to tumble since they need to rub against each other. And it would be hard to get the same hardness. If you are near Southern Nevada, there are several places to find abundant Apache tear that yo could full the tumbler up with. There are previous threads on here on tumbling these stones. As for the name, there is nothing disrespectful about the name. It is part of a Native American legend. owlcation.com/humanities/apache-leap-the-legend-of-apache-tears I am part Apache, my grandmother being full blooded Apache and Cherokee, born on the White Cloud Reservation. So, I am very much in to Native American tradition and do not find the name offensive at all.
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titaniumkid
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since June 2023
Posts: 195
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Post by titaniumkid on Mar 31, 2024 20:56:11 GMT -5
Hi from Australia
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Post by liveoak on Apr 1, 2024 6:24:59 GMT -5
Welcome from NW Florida
Patty
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dillonf
fully equipped rock polisher
Hounding and tumbling
Member since February 2022
Posts: 1,595
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Post by dillonf on Apr 1, 2024 21:39:10 GMT -5
Welcome
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Post by jasoninsd on Apr 3, 2024 21:57:30 GMT -5
Welcome to the forum from South Dakota! How cool to find an Apache Tear like that!!
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