James
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2003
Posts: 876
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Post by James on Oct 5, 2003 1:45:04 GMT -5
I was considering tumbling some "mine-run" grade Australian Chrysoprase. Does anyone know how this rock will polish out?
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WilliamC
spending too much on rocks
Member since August 2003
Posts: 416
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Post by WilliamC on Oct 6, 2003 12:17:38 GMT -5
Greetings All, Hey James, I've never personally tumbled chrysoprase (yet) but it should take a very high polish and look quite wonderful when done. Chrysoprase is a form of chalcedony (includes agates and jaspers) and is basically just silicon dioxide, or quartz, but in cryptocrystalline form (randomly oriented crystals that are too small to be seen with a light microscope) with a little nickel to give it the green color. Even though it might look dull or waxy in its natural state (unlike crystalline quartz which lusterous or glassy) it will polish well. In fact, you may find some of it is translucent (most will be opaque) and those pieces would be worth faceting. Usually chrysoprase is considered too valuable to tumble and most you will see as jewlery will be cabbed. It must be nice to have some to tumble, lucky you Happy Tumbling! WilliamC
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James
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2003
Posts: 876
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Post by James on Oct 7, 2003 1:17:39 GMT -5
Thanks williamC. I havn't bought any yet but it's only $9 a lb of the lower grade stuff (Mine-run). I might pick some up. I've already bought about $300 worth of other rock. I think that will keep me busy for a while. Don't you think?
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Post by Noosh9057 on Dec 2, 2003 18:13:37 GMT -5
Well yes $300.00 of rock should keep you bizzy for a long long time.
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James
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2003
Posts: 876
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Post by James on Dec 2, 2003 19:44:25 GMT -5
Well actually, I think I'm up about $600 by now plus the stuff I found myself. As well the 10 lbs of very nice fire agate and blue aventurine WilliamC just traded with me.
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Post by Noosh9057 on Dec 2, 2003 20:37:13 GMT -5
Well that will really keep you going!!!!!!
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Noah
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2003
Posts: 102
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Post by Noah on Dec 2, 2003 22:41:25 GMT -5
meh...you can never have enough rock...*cackle*
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