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Post by Bluesky78987 on Oct 14, 2012 10:47:54 GMT -5
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Deleted
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Member since January 1970
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Post by Deleted on Oct 14, 2012 16:33:22 GMT -5
I have to say that is not actinolite. Actinolite has the sprays of crystals. That looks like serpentine type stuff. Similar chemically with different crystal structure.
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Post by Bluesky78987 on Oct 14, 2012 16:35:13 GMT -5
Oh. Cool. Thanks. Different than other serpentines I have seen. Will see how it cuts.
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Post by NatureNut on Oct 14, 2012 17:46:17 GMT -5
Antigorite?
If so, it cuts like butter, works great, and should take a decent polish.
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Post by rockpickerforever on Oct 14, 2012 20:50:24 GMT -5
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Post by Bluesky78987 on Oct 14, 2012 20:57:58 GMT -5
Yes, Interesting! That picrolite looks exactly like it. It has a peculiar structure. We'll see if it will cab. Which way do you vote I try first? With the grain, or across it?
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Post by rockpickerforever on Oct 14, 2012 21:07:09 GMT -5
If it's like mine, I'd venture you go across the grain. The stuff I have is pretty flaky, and cabbing it would probably be harder than herding cats. Jean
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Post by Bluesky78987 on Oct 14, 2012 21:26:11 GMT -5
Sounds good. Will try that first.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 17, 2012 13:54:39 GMT -5
picrolite seems good. The images I found include chrysotile, which looks kinda tiger-eye'ish. These are all amphiboles and thus chemically related to actinolite!
Don't breathe the mist from cutting this material.
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Post by Bluesky78987 on Oct 17, 2012 13:56:50 GMT -5
Ok. Thanks Scott.
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Post by rockpickerforever on Oct 19, 2012 17:39:42 GMT -5
I was cutting some slabs yesterday, and was already covered with oil, so I thought, what the heck? I'll go ahead and cut a couple slabs of picrolite while I'm at it and see how it does. Susan, turns out that the flaky exterior is not a factor. You can cut with the grain, or across it, as it does not go into the rock. I didn't have any problems whatsoever with that. It has some nice shades of green. It is very soft, kind of like cutting gypsum or calcite! User finer grit wheels, and a very light touch. Keep in mind, it will absorb saw oil, so you may want to soak it in water (so it doesn't soak up as much oil) for a while before cutting it. Or, you can do what I did, and use hot water and a degreaser to get it out after it's cut. DOH, I didn't even think about it absorbing the oil... Exterior of one of the bigger hunks: Larger slab: Smaller slab (this is the one that got cabbed): And a couple shots of the cab: Not quite done, but here's a couple shots of the one cab I've started. Will take better pics when I finish it, and get them posted (busy this wekend, may not be until next week). All in all, some pretty cool stuff. Definitely the softest thing I've ever worked to date. Jean
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Post by Bluesky78987 on Oct 19, 2012 17:43:17 GMT -5
Cool! Great pics Jean! I'm glad to hear that directionality isn't really an issue. I love soft stones -- Serpentine (my local kind) is my current favorite, but Rhodochrosite is up there too. We'll see how this goes, I have it in the pile to cut tomorrow.
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Post by Toad on Oct 19, 2012 22:11:52 GMT -5
Looking great.
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,685
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Post by Fossilman on Oct 20, 2012 12:04:28 GMT -5
Awesome.......................The green really "POPS"!
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metalsmith
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
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Post by metalsmith on Oct 21, 2012 15:51:42 GMT -5
Presume you've been handling the rock and dealing with the residues as hasardous?
I don't want to dampen anyone's fun, but hopefully you'll be aware that actinolite is a recognised carcinogenic asbestos.
It looks beautiful. I hope it was safe!
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Post by Bluesky78987 on Oct 21, 2012 21:58:00 GMT -5
Yeah, we know. Somebody always has to post that in any thread about any Serpentine sequence rock, or Bumble Bee, or a couple others. No worries though.
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