Roger
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2013
Posts: 1,487
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Post by Roger on Dec 7, 2014 11:45:37 GMT -5
Can anyone help ID this? I had a hell of a time photographing it and still do not have the colors right. I picked up a pile of "miscellaneous" copper mineral rough specifically for this piece. I should have photographed the rough but didn't think about it at the time. There several shades of greens & blues a lot like turquoise, a few flecks of something metallic, and the entire thing is very "quartzy". The stone is also a lot more dense than the chrysocolla and azurite I have worked with in the past. Working it on the low grit wheels the water would occassionally turn black, though mostly it ground white. I stopped polishing it at 8000, but decided I am going to see how much further I can take it. I think it may take a glossier shine. Any ID help is appreciated. Thanks! Roger
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jf23
having dreams about rocks
Member since November 2014
Posts: 73
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Post by jf23 on Dec 7, 2014 23:33:12 GMT -5
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Post by tntmom on Dec 8, 2014 1:19:58 GMT -5
The black messy metallic stuff is probably Tenorite. The copper ores are such a mix of minerals but I would guess this is mostly Chrysocolla in Quartz with Tenorite. The darker blue probably Shattuckite and the green is Malachite. I didn't see any red in your piece but if you find some that is also semi metallic and is called Cuprite. Chrysocolla can be chalky to completely silicified gem silica. Your quartz content is nice because it makes this stone so much easier to work!!! Gorgeous cab!
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Roger
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2013
Posts: 1,487
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Post by Roger on Dec 8, 2014 7:43:47 GMT -5
No - it wasn't nearly that crystalline. Nice minerals though!
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Post by orrum on Dec 8, 2014 9:37:42 GMT -5
My experience polishing copper minerals and turquoise is that you can actually dull the shine by going up to high in grit. I do bedt with a worn out 600 sc belt followed by sapphire powder on a buff and then Zam on a buff. Lots of time a cab works one way and the next doesn't so who knows!
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