gemfeller
Cave Dweller
Member since June 2011
Posts: 3,808
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Post by gemfeller on May 14, 2014 22:15:12 GMT -5
I know I'll probably die immediately from copper poisoning for merely mentioning malachite-cutting but I've cut a lot of it. The only thing I know for sure is that I've lived long enough to know I'm not going to die young. I don't want to minimize potential health issues involved but I don't think cutting the stuff in moderate amounts is going to kill anyone. At least it hasn't killed me and I've gotten much pleasure from working with it. I do pity the poor people in the Congo who fashion the material under very primitive conditions as a daily occupation. Many of them will sicken with metal poisoning as a result of just trying to make a living over many years' time. Anyhow, with that non-controversial intro (cough, cough!), here are a few Congo malachite pieces I've created: This one is a little wonky. I should probably have cut it as a shield shape and lopped off its little "ear" to make a separate cab. I may just do that. This round has a lovely pattern but I managed to chip it. I have a little repair work ahead but the stone will definitely be worth it. I really like the many patterns possible in malachite cabs depending on the direction the stone's cut. Here's a "stripey" triangle: I love bulls-eyes! This one's calm and laid-back and sort've elegant I think: Enjoy and please don't write me hate mail. The risk of cutting this stuff is all my own. Thanks for looking!
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Post by mohs on May 14, 2014 22:25:49 GMT -5
otherworldly fabulous! a little twilight zone
I had to laugh on your soliloquy Rick malachite kills but caution you may live to be a 120 and the price of malachite keeps going up..mostly
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deserthound
spending too much on rocks
Member since December 2013
Posts: 390
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Post by deserthound on May 14, 2014 22:27:21 GMT -5
amazing looking cabs, they dont come that nice, you did a very good job..i tip my hat to you..
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Tommy
Administrator
Member since January 2013
Posts: 12,683
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Post by Tommy on May 14, 2014 23:19:18 GMT -5
Those look real nice Rick!
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miander
spending too much on rocks
Searching for the shop of my dreams...
Member since November 2013
Posts: 407
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Post by miander on May 15, 2014 0:56:51 GMT -5
Beautiful cabs, I especially like the bullseye one!
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Post by rockpickerforever on May 15, 2014 6:09:02 GMT -5
They're all great, Rick. Yeah, the bullseye does it for me, too. Thanks for sharing your pics and story.
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bsky4463
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2013
Posts: 1,696
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Post by bsky4463 on May 15, 2014 7:56:39 GMT -5
Great looking cabs. Although I tidally real dig the free forms, I think the top one would be an excellent candidate to split into 2 stellar cabs. I really like the malachite with the funky swirls. Cheers
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Post by rockjunquie on May 15, 2014 17:47:44 GMT -5
Thanks for posting I love your rant. I just got a super sweet little chatoyant flowering malachite and chrysocolla slab and was feeling a little uneasy abt cabbing it. You made me feel much more relaxed- not to say that I won't wear a respirator, though. LOL! I love the bulls eye, too. But the first is really great- as is or as 2 stones.
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Post by beefjello on May 15, 2014 18:45:51 GMT -5
C'mon.. a little copper poisoning never hurt no one! That's a beautiful set!! Despite the 'wonky' shape of the first, I gotta say it's my favorite. Just has a lot going on.
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Post by snowmom on May 15, 2014 19:08:29 GMT -5
sweet eye candy. Loooove green! I really like the first one best.... they are all great!
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<'))))>< Fish
Cave Dweller
Gone Fishing
Member since April 2005
Posts: 1,841
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Post by <'))))>< Fish on May 15, 2014 19:13:43 GMT -5
nice
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kradz89
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since May 2014
Posts: 114
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Post by kradz89 on May 15, 2014 19:13:58 GMT -5
Malachite is beautiful! While we are stationed down here in the south west it is one of my goals to rockhound some malachite!
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gemfeller
Cave Dweller
Member since June 2011
Posts: 3,808
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Post by gemfeller on May 15, 2014 19:18:04 GMT -5
Beef, A.E. Housman wrote a delightful poem that touches on the topic of poisons. It tells the story of an ancient king who realized his rivals might try to poison his food. So he "inoculated" himself by consuming small and then ever-greater amounts of many different poisons.
"They put arsenic in his meat/And stared aghast to see him eat;/They poured strychnine in his cup/And shook to see him drink it up:/They shook, they stared as white's their shirt:/Them it was their poison hurt./--I tell the tale that I heard told./Mithridates, he died old."
If I keep cutting enough malachite and cinnabar I may be ready to go to Georgia and walk through the brush without the snake-proof Kevlar chaps jamesp writes about.
(Just kidding everyone -- be careful. It's just that I think some of these lapidary dangers are vastly overstated).
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adrian65
Cave Dweller
Arch to golden memories and to great friends.
Member since February 2007
Posts: 10,777
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Post by adrian65 on May 15, 2014 22:05:42 GMT -5
Beautiful cabs. Such special patterns in each of them.
Adrian
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Post by Rockhobbit on May 16, 2014 8:24:23 GMT -5
Love them! Very nice. Sheri
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Thunder69
Cave Dweller
Thunder 2000-2015
Member since January 2009
Posts: 3,102
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Post by Thunder69 on May 16, 2014 10:35:06 GMT -5
I am green :)with envy at how fantastic your cabs came out....beautiful work...John
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Post by washingtonrocks on May 16, 2014 11:15:50 GMT -5
Malachite is by far one of the most beautiful stones out there and definitely one of my favorites. Excellent work on those cabs!
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ash
spending too much on rocks
Prairieville, Louisiana
Member since July 2012
Posts: 361
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Post by ash on May 16, 2014 11:48:57 GMT -5
Very pretty stones and great work. There is never anything wrong with taking precautions when dealing with dangerous materials. you can handle anything if done right...Knowledge is power or should I say powah! Like those cabs, they gotz powah that the green lantern would envy! heh
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bentiron
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since September 2011
Posts: 85
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Post by bentiron on May 16, 2014 16:55:07 GMT -5
They're all very nice but that first one sure beats all the others out for me even if it is a bit odd shaped.
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gemfeller
Cave Dweller
Member since June 2011
Posts: 3,808
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Post by gemfeller on May 17, 2014 18:58:50 GMT -5
Thanks for your kind words everyone. I appreciate your comments.
As for the unusual shape of the first stone, I never forget you can always remove material from a stone but can never put it back once it's ground away. That caution comes mainly from years of cutting expensive precious opal, but I always try to retain as much natural beauty as possible in all stones. I also make jewelry and as I'm cutting I have a stream of possible design ideas running through my noggin. I had the notion that a companion stone of complementary-color could be cut to fill in that open space on the left and complete a jewelry piece in a pleasing shape. I'm still considering that.
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