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Post by liveoak on May 31, 2023 10:51:45 GMT -5
I believe this is the first time that I was able to get a number of cabs done over a weekend like this.
Usually, if I'm lucky, I can one cab done & I'm happy enough for that.
Somehow, I guess I was holding my mouth right, or the stars were aligned or something, cause I got 5 done !
Michigan Copper My first try at grinding some with copper inclusions.(Thanks Tela !  ) I found it interesting how the copper wanted to "skate" across the wheel when it hit the copper inclusions.
Pretty cool stuff.
"Spider Web" Chrysocolla This one started out larger, but had soft areas ( of course the most beautiful color) that broke off during cabbing.
So it turned out a little smaller.
Chrysocolla Although I got this and the spider web from the same source that was digging it,
this one was so different, you'd think it was something else entirely.
Finally got a polish using Zam that looked OK to me.
Alabama Petrified Wood ( Thanks Jim  )
This stuff is really hard & polished up great. You can see it has lots of silica sparkles in it.
Nipomo Marcasite ( ID'd on ID thread- thanks guys)
This stuff was funky- it was bleeding grayish colored mud the whole time.
But it is interesting & it did polish OK.
I think I need to buy some silver wire for this one.
Thanks for looking,
Patty
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Post by rockjunquie on May 31, 2023 12:34:13 GMT -5
Beautiful! I like that first chrysocolla and the marcasite best, but James' pet wood is pretty cool, too.
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Post by chris1956 on May 31, 2023 18:13:49 GMT -5
Nice stuff! I have a couple large chunks of copper bearing rock (similar to yours) that I think I collected back in the late 70s on the Keweenaw Peninsula. Not sure any more which mine I got it from. We have always used them as book ends. But since I have been polishing rocks lately, I keep thinking I should saw off a chunk for some cabs.
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Post by liveoak on May 31, 2023 19:40:24 GMT -5
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Post by hummingbirdstones on May 31, 2023 20:55:23 GMT -5
Pretty cabs, Patty! Good on you for getting that many done in a weekend.  I'm with Tela. The first chrysocolla and the Nipomo are awesome. |
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Post by liveoak on Jun 1, 2023 6:21:41 GMT -5
Nice stuff! I have a couple large chunks of copper bearing rock (similar to yours) that I think I collected back in the late 70s on the Keweenaw Peninsula. Not sure any more which mine I got it from. We have always used them as book ends. But since I have been polishing rocks lately, I keep thinking I should saw off a chunk for some cabs. I was a little wary of grinding my copper inclusion slab, as it's really cool & I didn't want to screw it up, so I started with a cab off the side, that had less copper in it. So now I feel more confident to grind another one from further in on the slab.
It is cool stuff -and those book ends of yours are likely too big anyway.
Patty
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Post by liveoak on Jun 1, 2023 6:25:52 GMT -5
Beautiful! I like that first chrysocolla and the marcasite best, but James' pet wood is pretty cool, too. Pretty cabs, Patty! Good on you for getting that many done in a weekend. I'm with Tela. The first chrysocolla and the Nipomo are awesome. Thank you both, I'd agree the "spider web" (my term) Chrysocolla is my fav.
It almost felt like I was on vacation that I somehow got a couple of days on the wheels !
Patty
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Post by chris1956 on Jun 1, 2023 18:05:57 GMT -5
Nice stuff! I have a couple large chunks of copper bearing rock (similar to yours) that I think I collected back in the late 70s on the Keweenaw Peninsula. Not sure any more which mine I got it from. We have always used them as book ends. But since I have been polishing rocks lately, I keep thinking I should saw off a chunk for some cabs. I was a little wary of grinding my copper inclusion slab, as it's really cool & I didn't want to screw it up, so I started with a cab off the side, that had less copper in it. So now I feel more confident to grind another one from further in on the slab.
It is cool stuff -and those book ends of yours are likely too big anyway.
Patty
I have a question about the copper bearing rock. Once you have the cab finished, what is the best way to keep the copper from oxidizing? |
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Post by liveoak on Jun 1, 2023 18:50:29 GMT -5
Good Question Chris.
Having not cut any before I honestly hadn't thought about that.
Does the polishing compound possibly embed it in and help ?
I do have some wax that I use sometimes, to keep copper jewelry from oxidizing too quickly.
Also, I've seen slabs that had obviously been cut some time ago, and the copper inclusions still looked pretty bright - So I don't know.
Anyone else ?
Patty
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rockbrain
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2022
Posts: 3,172
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Post by rockbrain on Jun 1, 2023 21:26:44 GMT -5
Beautiful cabs! I have one little piece of agate with marcasite that I worked and I keep looking for more. I've been holding the cab to wrap with silver also. Interesting that the wheels skated across the copper inclusions. I read the other day if your cutting slabs and the copper inclusions get above a certain percentage of the rock that it can grab and stop your saw blade.
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Post by chris1956 on Jun 1, 2023 21:41:11 GMT -5
Beautiful cabs! I have one little piece of agate with marcasite that I worked and I keep looking for more. I've been holding the cab to wrap with silver also. Interesting that the wheels skated across the copper inclusions. I read the other day if your cutting slabs and the copper inclusions get above a certain percentage of the rock that it can grab and stop your saw blade. Hmmm. That is a good question. I have a piece of copper in rock where the copper is a solid one inch diameter and my roommate in college was able to saw it with a saw he had. Don't know what type of blade it was. Someone out there probably knows about cutting rocks with high metal content and what you need. Did a quick search on the internet but didn't find much. |
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