rocknewb101
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2022
Posts: 1,368
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Post by rocknewb101 on Jun 26, 2023 7:51:15 GMT -5
 Love these colors - blues/greens - anyone have any idea what this is? Soft stone - was able to shape on 260 electroplated disc - isn't taking a great shine, but expected that  This one started out looking great until I got it shaped (also on the 260 disc) then all kinds of cracks showed - big bummer. anything I can do, or should have done differently to avoid/fix this?  Was going to enter this into the competition, but 1. forgot to take before pics and 2. not really sure I got the girdle correct - still seeing missed scratches and the doming seems weird (below).   This last is just a cute pic of a bottle of littles that I brought into work for my little display stand  Spent quite a bit of time on the slant cabber this weekend. Did these and shaped some preforms for the next time. Would welcome any suggestions. thanks!! |
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Jun 26, 2023 9:40:50 GMT -5
The first one is kaleidoscope agate, not to be confused with kaleidoscope jasper. It is obviously not an agate. Has a bunch of different minerals in it including different colored fluorite and chrysocholla. I don't remember what the matrix is anymore. Maybe someone else could help on that.
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realrockhound
Cave Dweller 
Chucking leaverite at tweekers
Member since June 2020
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Post by realrockhound on Jun 26, 2023 9:41:30 GMT -5
Second one looks like a type of dendritic opal. If that material works anything like regular opal, you need to keep it cool (lots of water) and keep it moving. Otherwise it heats up and can crack, etc… But I’ll let the real opal cutters chime in, as my experience with opal is very limited.
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Post by rmf on Jun 26, 2023 10:21:32 GMT -5
#1 is quartz with Chryscolla (could include azurite too) & Malachite & Iron staining.
#2 I want to know what that is but the dendrites are pyrolusite. How hard is the rock?
#3&4 Montana agate
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rocknewb101
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2022
Posts: 1,368
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Post by rocknewb101 on Jun 26, 2023 11:12:09 GMT -5
The first one is kaleidoscope agate, not to be confused with kaleidoscope jasper. It is obviously not an agate. Has a bunch of different minerals in it including different colored fluorite and chrysocholla. I don't remember what the matrix is anymore. Maybe someone else could help on that. Ahh! I've not heard of this before. It's really pretty - wish it polished better - maybe I'll give it another go. Looks better in person than the picture shows. Thank you! Second one looks like a type of dendritic opal. If that material works anything like regular opal, you need to keep it cool (lots of water) and keep it moving. Otherwise it heats up and can crack, etc… But I’ll let the real opal cutters chime in, as my experience with opal is very limited. Ah! I wasn't quite sure. Thank you! I noticed the cracks early on, but kept hoping I might be able to shape them out I always use lots of water on the discs..Thank you!! #1 is quartz with Chryscolla (could include azurite too) & Malachite & Iron staining. #2 I want to know what that is but the dendrites are pyrolusite. How hard is the rock? #3&4 Montana agate Thank you! Definitely see metallic bits in there...Not sure on the hardness of #2 - I didn't scratch first. will try the backside of it when I get home. I've never seen Montana with red in it. Pretty cool. Thank you!! |
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realrockhound
Cave Dweller
Chucking leaverite at tweekers
Member since June 2020
Posts: 4,495
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Post by realrockhound on Jun 26, 2023 11:25:58 GMT -5
Just wanted to note you’re cabs are coming along nicely by the way. Seeing lots of great improvements. Keep up the good work.
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rocknewb101
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2022
Posts: 1,368
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Post by rocknewb101 on Jun 26, 2023 13:36:49 GMT -5
Just wanted to note you’re cabs are coming along nicely by the way. Seeing lots of great improvements. Keep up the good work. Thank you! I appreciate that! non-round are giving me a bit of an issue - that girdle looks like it's missing a corner, but it's really not. Assuming the dome is not great and that's why it looks that way. I'll keep on keepin' on |
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realrockhound
Cave Dweller
Chucking leaverite at tweekers
Member since June 2020
Posts: 4,495
Member is Online
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Post by realrockhound on Jun 26, 2023 13:55:35 GMT -5
Just wanted to note you’re cabs are coming along nicely by the way. Seeing lots of great improvements. Keep up the good work. Thank you! I appreciate that! non-round are giving me a bit of an issue - that girdle looks like it's missing a corner, but it's really not. Assuming the dome is not great and that's why it looks that way. I'll keep on keepin' on You’ve probably already been doing this but if not. Set the preform on the table, then take a pencil and set the pencil up against the edge of the preform. You can then either rotate the stone, or move the pencil around the stone, giving you an even girdle line to work with. That should help take of that issue with the dips that make it look uneven. |
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rocknewb101
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2022
Posts: 1,368
|
Post by rocknewb101 on Jun 26, 2023 14:09:26 GMT -5
Thank you! I appreciate that! non-round are giving me a bit of an issue - that girdle looks like it's missing a corner, but it's really not. Assuming the dome is not great and that's why it looks that way. I'll keep on keepin' on You’ve probably already been doing this but if not. Set the preform on the table, then take a pencil and set the pencil up against the edge of the preform. You can then either rotate the stone, or move the pencil around the stone, giving you an even girdle line to work with. That should help take of that issue with the dips that make it look uneven. Believe it or not, I actually do this lol...I think when I'm trying to create the dome I move the stone too close, or go over the girdle line - mainly because my eyesight sucks and I can't always see. Sometimes I'll put on my optivisors and get real close. |
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realrockhound
Cave Dweller
Chucking leaverite at tweekers
Member since June 2020
Posts: 4,495
Member is Online
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Post by realrockhound on Jun 26, 2023 14:17:43 GMT -5
You’ve probably already been doing this but if not. Set the preform on the table, then take a pencil and set the pencil up against the edge of the preform. You can then either rotate the stone, or move the pencil around the stone, giving you an even girdle line to work with. That should help take of that issue with the dips that make it look uneven. Believe it or not, I actually do this lol...I think when I'm trying to create the dome I move the stone too close, or go over the girdle line - mainly because my eyesight sucks and I can't always see. Sometimes I'll put on my optivisors and get real close. I feel that. It definitely makes it harder on a flat lap to see that girdle. |
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