sticksinstones
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since February 2012
Posts: 117
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Post by sticksinstones on Mar 7, 2012 14:39:01 GMT -5
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herchenx
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2012
Posts: 3,360
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Post by herchenx on Mar 7, 2012 14:48:29 GMT -5
Wow that is amazing! Is there a reason you avoid malachite?
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Post by FrogAndBearCreations on Mar 7, 2012 15:03:56 GMT -5
its toxic, you need to take precautions when working it!
that is one beauty of a chunk of rock
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rockingthenorth
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2012
Posts: 1,637
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Post by rockingthenorth on Mar 7, 2012 16:03:58 GMT -5
That is a super duper rock thank you for showing it
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unclestu
Cave Dweller
WINNER OF THE FIRST RTH KILLER CAB CONTEST UNCLESTU'S AGUA NUEVA AGATE
Member since April 2011
Posts: 2,298
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Post by unclestu on Mar 7, 2012 17:05:13 GMT -5
Yea John, When you work with that material your skin starts to turn green. You think it is just the dust from the grinding so you don't pay no mind. However when you wake up you find that the green coloration has spread all over your body. Even your hair. The only parts that don't turn green are you eye whites and teeth. After the change in pigmentation is complete the effect progresses to the skeletal and nervous system and it has been recorded where victims have experienced profound changes in hight and speech. Iit is believed that this was what created the first leprechaun ;D ;D ;D Top of the morning to ya and to all have a happy St Patty's day Blarney Stu
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Post by kk on Mar 7, 2012 17:14:59 GMT -5
Dang, that's a beauty.
Never seen that leafy growth before, find that more interesting than the rings. Thanks for showing.
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Post by helens on Mar 8, 2012 21:09:14 GMT -5
What a unique specimen! I've seen quite a bit of malachite, but never with the plumes either!!
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surreality
starting to spend too much on rocks
is picking up too many rocks at the beach again
Member since January 2012
Posts: 217
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Post by surreality on Mar 9, 2012 10:12:08 GMT -5
That is a seriously stunning piece! ...you keep posting things that make me wish even harder that winning lottery ticket would finally appear.
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Post by Toad on Mar 9, 2012 11:33:48 GMT -5
Incredible. Never seen the like.
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rockhound97058
freely admits to licking rocks
Thundereggs - Oregons Official State Rock!
Member since January 2006
Posts: 760
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Post by rockhound97058 on Mar 9, 2012 20:40:29 GMT -5
Love Malachite as collector pieces and this is a sweety. I have only worked a couple pieces over the years due to the toxicity.... The plume type is rare to see... I have one medium sized unpolished slab in the collection that was givin to me as a gift... Great stuff!
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Post by beefjello on Mar 9, 2012 20:54:11 GMT -5
WOW!!!
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Post by paulshiroma on Mar 9, 2012 23:12:54 GMT -5
Outstanding piece. Thanks for posting the photos!
Stu, Stu, Stu ... LOL!
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Post by tntmom on Mar 9, 2012 23:55:42 GMT -5
Thank you for showing us this! I am really enjoying the amazing pieces you share!!!
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jason12x12
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2011
Posts: 798
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Post by jason12x12 on Mar 10, 2012 9:25:47 GMT -5
Sure glad you are here posting all these choice primo stones. We all need our jealousy bone tickled now and again and after seeing that one Im jealous.
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,688
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Post by Fossilman on Mar 11, 2012 17:46:26 GMT -5
Freakin' AWESOME!!!!! No two ways about it! Is it the copper in it that makes it toxicity???
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sticksinstones
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since February 2012
Posts: 117
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Post by sticksinstones on Mar 11, 2012 17:52:11 GMT -5
Yeah, that copper dust will make you sick in a hurry. I've worked smaller stones on a diamond genie but I wouldn't work a specimen out of this stuff. I've got some really nice rough I thought about cutting though. I think if you keep the dust in suspension you're fine.
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,688
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Post by Fossilman on Mar 11, 2012 18:01:34 GMT -5
I still have my H2S suit and mask(oxygen fed),when I worked with poison gases in the oilfield...I bet that would help do the job....Also some type of water system to keep the dust in place!
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meta99
has rocks in the head
Ohio Flint Ridge flint
Member since October 2010
Posts: 540
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Post by meta99 on Mar 11, 2012 18:58:39 GMT -5
I'm always surprised by any one rock taking on some poisonous/toxic mystique. First it is the copper in malachite or it's the asbestos in tiger eye...
I think we all should remember that any rock dust can be toxic or a sufficient irritant to cause illness and disease. That is why we cut wet and when we cut dry, we do so in well ventilated areas.
Sue
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sticksinstones
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since February 2012
Posts: 117
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Post by sticksinstones on Mar 11, 2012 20:04:56 GMT -5
There's nothing particularly mystic about malachite and I'm not one to take much of anything on common belief. If you have cut a lot of it and had no ill effects then great. But if you'd like to actually read an MSDS for malachite dust, here's one: www.naturalpigments.com/msds/msds_420-20.htmThe part you might want to pay attention to is this: Prolonged or repeated skin exposure may cause dermatitis. Prolonged or repeated exposure to dusts of copper salts may cause discoloration of the skin or hair, blood and liver damage, ulceration and perforation of the nasal septum, runny nose, metallic taste, and atrophic changes and irritation of the mucous membranes. It's the affect on your blood and liver that make it unique among other silica stones you might cut, and it's the reason many in the trade won't cut it. Copper is a heavy metal, and like almost all of them, they are picked up by your blood stream and even very small amounts can have dramatic impacts on your health. I know several commercial lapidaries that cut and polish a lot of stone and none of them will polish malachite. The one fellow I know that tried it described being able to taste it for several day sand feeling ill for about as long after having been exposed to the dust (he did it naively in the early part of his career). But like I said - if I were just cutting a few cabs with a good water cooling system to keep the dust from going airborne I wouldn't worry about it. That's just not the sort of work I'm doing...
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grayfingers
Cave Dweller
Member since November 2007
Posts: 4,575
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Post by grayfingers on Mar 11, 2012 20:26:35 GMT -5
Prolonged or repeated skin exposure may cause dermatitis. Prolonged or repeated exposure to dusts of copper salts may cause discoloration of the skin or hair, blood and liver damage, ulceration and perforation of the nasal septum, runny nose, metallic taste, and atrophic changes and irritation of the mucous membranes. Sounds like the side effects for those drug commercials on TV... Bill
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