Saskrock
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2007
Posts: 1,852
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Post by Saskrock on Jan 19, 2010 1:52:37 GMT -5
I have a couple of pieces of tiger's eye and before I start cutting can someone help me out with this.
As I understand it tiger's eye is quartz in asbestos. First of all is this correct? Second does this pose a larger health risk when grinding because of the asbestos?
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Post by johnjsgems on Jan 19, 2010 2:03:12 GMT -5
Tiger eye is an agate pseudomorph of asbestos. The asbestos was replaced by agate. Only hazard is the normal silica dust hazard.
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Post by tkrueger3 on Jan 19, 2010 13:02:07 GMT -5
Yep, what John said about the silica dust - and - the danger of biting the tip of your tongue when the piece you're working on cracks! Tom
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Saskrock
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2007
Posts: 1,852
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Post by Saskrock on Jan 19, 2010 18:20:07 GMT -5
good to know thanks.
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riverbendlapidary
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2006
Posts: 1,058
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Post by riverbendlapidary on Jan 19, 2010 18:44:04 GMT -5
I have seen some tiger eye that was not completely replaced and was rather fiberous - watch that stuff. If you are working with good, solid tiger eye there should be no problems. Just work wet and use the same caution you would with agate or jasper.
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docharber
has rocks in the head
Member since October 2008
Posts: 693
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Post by docharber on Jan 28, 2010 21:54:37 GMT -5
I was reading something this past week - maybe in a recent "Rock and Gem"- about tiger eye and the article commented on the controversy surrounding the microcrystalling structure asand actual minral content of tigereye. Apparently the content may well concsist of intact chrysotile asbestos in quartz- not asbestos totally replacedf by quartz. At any rate, keep it wet and dispose of sludge where it won't be picked up and dispersed widly and there shouldn't be a problem.
Mark H.
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