NevadaBill
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2019
Posts: 1,332
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Post by NevadaBill on Aug 8, 2019 13:29:44 GMT -5
OK, I was on the California coast about 9 months ago, and was on a couple of the beach regions between Big Sur, and all of the way past Jade Cove, and a few areas all of the way down to the Elephant Seal migration spot.
I am not saying exactly where I picked this up, but I think based on the lookup recently it might be typical Big Sur Jade, in either the Jadeite, or Nephrite.
Here is a dry look:
Here is a wet look
I didn't realize that there were so many clubs, organizations, and interest in the local amongst enthusiasts, some dedicated to the little rock. This one is about a baseball sized.
Some will say outright that it is Nephrite, because they are for some reason motivated to. And looking at it, I would guess that too.
Problem is, I have been tumbling this little guy in my 12 pound tumbler for 10 weeks not, in 46/70, along with 6 and 7 hardness rocks, and this rock has not change one bit. Frustrated, I pulled it out.
Here it is in the background, next to a Colorado River green rock that was softer, and tumbled out fine over 10 weeks or so.
This prompted me to beat up on it some and find out what it was.
But honestly, I cannot scratch the outside with a knife. It does leave the residue of the steel knife on the tone however.
Another Dry pic:
Another Wet pic:
I am not sure how I will polish it. Because even the suspect parts of the rock which I would have thought would have worn down by now, have not changed.
Other rocks that lived with this one for 10 weeks have mostly all changed, and moved on.
I don't know.
Any Big Sur Jade folks around? Opinion?
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NevadaBill
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2019
Posts: 1,332
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Post by NevadaBill on Aug 9, 2019 9:36:02 GMT -5
Also, I should have added a question to this post. I am kind of stuck trying to figure out how to shape the rock and polish it. It is mind boggling to me that nature actually shaped this hard substance through the many, many years. Who knows how long it has been a rock.
I really want to make a paperweight or something out of it like the other one. I kind of like the rock just the way it is. But don't know. Would it take 6 months or a year maybe to polish it? Does that sound reasonable?
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pizzano
Cave Dweller
Member since February 2018
Posts: 1,390
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Post by pizzano on Aug 9, 2019 10:44:34 GMT -5
Also, I should have added a question to this post. I am kind of stuck trying to figure out how to shape the rock and polish it. It is mind boggling to me that nature actually shaped this hard substance through the many, many years. Who knows how long it has been a rock.
I really want to make a paperweight or something out of it like the other one. I kind of like the rock just the way it is. But don't know. Would it take 6 months or a year maybe to polish it? Does that sound reasonable? It's just me.........but I'd carefully slice it in half, diagonally.......I understand you like it "as is".......no better way to get to the "heart" of it's nature......and you could have "two" that could be wheel/cab polished as "paper weights"........?
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Post by MsAli on Aug 9, 2019 10:55:54 GMT -5
Also, I should have added a question to this post. I am kind of stuck trying to figure out how to shape the rock and polish it. It is mind boggling to me that nature actually shaped this hard substance through the many, many years. Who knows how long it has been a rock.
I really want to make a paperweight or something out of it like the other one. I kind of like the rock just the way it is. But don't know. Would it take 6 months or a year maybe to polish it? Does that sound reasonable? It's just me.........but I'd carefully slice it in half, diagonally.......I understand you like it "as is".......no better way to get to the "heart" of it's nature......and you could have "two" that could be wheel/cab polished as "paper weights"........? Kind of the way I was thinking too I do like it as is, but I would like to see the inside
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Post by Rockoonz on Aug 9, 2019 23:46:20 GMT -5
Jade is kind of unique in that not only is it hard, it's tough. I have some black WY jade that someone tried to tumble. Tried to.
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NevadaBill
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2019
Posts: 1,332
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Post by NevadaBill on Aug 13, 2019 11:40:26 GMT -5
Thanks for the suggestion pizzano. If I get brave, I will try that. I asked my wife, and she said no last night, so no it is for now. It is a good idea though, and I might do that. I want to see the slab too. I put it on the grinder the other night to remove a rough portion of the rock, and found that even though I as able to take it down, that it came down in a very odd way. It was actually chipping small rock chunks off of the rock, rather than actually grinding it. Ultimately I was grinding it down, but there were little small chips or little chunks breaking off from the section also. Not like other rocks I've grinded. But I was able to smooth down the section some. I might try tumble finishing it some time. Being really hard, it could take shine... eventually.
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gemfeller
Cave Dweller
Member since June 2011
Posts: 3,775
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Post by gemfeller on Aug 13, 2019 13:56:04 GMT -5
NevadaBill, chipping while grinding doesn't seem like jade to me. Do you have a 10-power loupe or a microscope? Both nephrite and jadeite have a fibrous, felted structure that makes them so tough and resistant to chipping. It's quite apparent with magnification. That toughness, along with color, is what made both types of jade -- nephrite especially -- stand out to stone-age people. Hammers and axes made of nephrite outlasted other types of stone that fractured easily in use.
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pizzano
Cave Dweller
Member since February 2018
Posts: 1,390
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Post by pizzano on Aug 13, 2019 18:15:34 GMT -5
Thanks for the suggestion pizzano . If I get brave, I will try that. I asked my wife, and she said no last night, so no it is for now. It is a good idea though, and I might do that. I want to see the slab too. I put it on the grinder the other night to remove a rough portion of the rock, and found that even though I as able to take it down, that it came down in a very odd way. It was actually chipping small rock chunks off of the rock, rather than actually grinding it. Ultimately I was grinding it down, but there were little small chips or little chunks breaking off from the section also. Not like other rocks I've grinded. But I was able to smooth down the section some. I might try tumble finishing it some time. Being really hard, it could take shine... eventually. You have mentioned that the stone is very hard and now, after grinder application, it chipped in small chunks rather than being sanded granules.........curious the hardness of the grinding wheel....? I'm not sure what you use as a grinder, or your'e using a cab type wheel. But I've resorted to using diamond faceting discs on a two speed bench grinder (I'm a very low expense, practical application kind-of guy). I have an assortment of 60/80/90/120 hardness disc's that work nicely for rough grinding & shaping. I haven't ran into (so-far) a stone to hard that hasn't submitted to the application......but some have played hell on the disc's. In your case, since the material fractures rather than sands, I'm wondering just like you, what the heck it is. In cases where I've ran into an agate that was "chipping" and not sanding, I stepped up to a lighter hardness disc and patiently worked over the spot needing attention............over and over again........reducing pressure, increasing water saturation and adjusting motor speed from high to low continuously (only have two speeds), until I find the combination that starts reducing volume without fracturing. I'll retract my "slicing" idea now that you've determined that the stone seems to be "brittle".........I fear unless you have a very good hand and precise cutting equipment, that stone would end up in several pieces rather than two halves......!
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NevadaBill
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2019
Posts: 1,332
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Post by NevadaBill on Aug 15, 2019 17:34:21 GMT -5
NevadaBill , chipping while grinding doesn't seem like jade to me. Do you have a 10-power loupe or a microscope? Both nephrite and jadeite have a fibrous, felted structure that makes them so tough and resistant to chipping. It's quite apparent with magnification. That toughness, along with color, is what made both types of jade -- nephrite especially -- stand out to stone-age people. Hammers and axes made of nephrite outlasted other types of stone that fractured easily in use. Thank you gemfeller. I don't really know. I was able to grind down the section (like grinder, it is just that the section has an odd patch that looked kind of granular, and I ground it off, and some came off in little brittle chips. I might have a picture of this.
I will post when I get back in town and have access to pictures and stuff on my network. It might be a couple days.
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NevadaBill
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2019
Posts: 1,332
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Post by NevadaBill on Aug 15, 2019 17:35:45 GMT -5
Actually Pizanno, I probably described this wrong and confused some people. I will repost. Not sure how I confused this but my wording does not make sense apparently.
I'll respond when I get back to town and have internet (something I have neighther of right now, where I am staying).
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Post by rockpickerforever on Aug 15, 2019 17:52:47 GMT -5
I probably described this wrong and confused some people. Not sure how I confused this but my wording does not make sense apparently.
There's a lot of that going around, apparently. I've been having problems communicating verbally lately. I form the words in my brain, and understand what it is I am trying to say, but is just comes out all wrong! I visited with my older sister today, and she said the same thing has been occurring with her.
It's a conspiracy, I tell you! The Pernubians have been bombarding us with mind scrambling waves!! No wonder everyone is going crazy!
Has this been happening to anyone other than Bill, myself and my sister?? I'm too young to be loosing my marbles! Oh, I lose words, too.
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Post by rmf on Aug 15, 2019 19:00:38 GMT -5
NevadaBill Assuming you were not grinding with 30 grit wheel Jade should not be brittle since it is fibrous. That is why it is sometimes hard to polish. the images #1, #2, #3top, #4 and #5 all look like a brecciated chert/agate of some type. This I would expect to be more brittle.
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NevadaBill
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2019
Posts: 1,332
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Post by NevadaBill on Aug 17, 2019 11:21:02 GMT -5
Thanks folks. I am going to put this on the back burner until I slab, polish, or cab it. Until then, it is just an ugly, unknown rock which I don't have time to focus on.
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