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Post by accidentalprospector on Jan 5, 2024 7:24:40 GMT -5
Hello folks. I'm posting to show some magnetic rocks that I cut with the help of a club's saw when I was back home. I'll preface this by saying I'm currently deployed to Iraq, so I don't have any access to professional equipment. I know getting back home to a cab machine with this material will be the true test. I had a family member mail me the little scrap slab cut from my unpolished book ends I had cut right before the deployment. I just have some diamond pads and NatGeo grit to work with during guard shifts. I've made a cab or two of other material, so I'm not the worst in the world when it comes to polishing rocks, but I know I have a lot to learn. I'm not completely sure what the silvery looking spots are in this magnetic rock, as it doesn't break up like pyrite when you pick at it and seems harder. I've also left other specimens in undiluted muriatic acid for over 2 hours and it seems unaffected. Anyway, what my real question relates to getting a higher polish/sheen on slabs and potential cabs of this iron rich rock. When it's wet, it really looks like a starry night and I have some names ready for it, should I end up working up a bunch of cabs to sell or something. Due to its composition, is there not much hope in polishing it more to a mirror finish? In one picture, when dry, you can still see the reflection of the lights in it. I took it to 3000 grit while using the different types of NatGeo grit I had. P.S.: This is the first time I've been on a forum that didn't have a direct upload button from the phone ao I followed the steps as best I could and made some kind of album. It was the only way I could see to post a link. I hope this works.        |
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dshanpnw
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since December 2020
Posts: 1,158
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Post by dshanpnw on Jan 5, 2024 8:13:33 GMT -5
Thank you for your service! Stay safe. I'm guessing the magnetic rock is magnetite and I think it polishes similarly to hematite the other iron rich rock. They might not get that superb mirror polish but they look fantastic when done. I would love seeing photos of those slabs whenever you get around to it. Starry night cabs sounds perfect.
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Post by accidentalprospector on Jan 5, 2024 8:20:22 GMT -5
Thank you for your service! Stay safe. I'm guessing the magnetic rock is magnetite and I think it polishes similarly to hematite the other iron rich rock. They might not get that superb mirror polish but they look fantastic when done. I would love seeing photos of those slabs whenever you get around to it. Starry night cabs sounds perfect. Thanks I appreciate that. There's always someone out there working harder, though. Did the link at the top show the pictures? I can't quite tell if it's working. |
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dshanpnw
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since December 2020
Posts: 1,158
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Post by dshanpnw on Jan 5, 2024 8:34:31 GMT -5
it did not work.
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Post by rockjunquie on Jan 5, 2024 9:25:41 GMT -5
And, welcome from Virginia! Thank you for your service!
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Post by chris1956 on Jan 5, 2024 9:42:34 GMT -5
Welcome from Missouri.
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Post by accidentalprospector on Jan 5, 2024 9:59:27 GMT -5
And, welcome from Virginia! Thank you for your service!
You just saved the day. That Coiudinary was giving me fits though it was probably all my fault. @all Thank you for the support and we'll wishes. We do our fair share out here hut there are plenty of other MOS's that do more. I just wanted to preface that to explain why I can't currently use professional equipment right now.  |
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Post by jasoninsd on Jan 5, 2024 22:30:08 GMT -5
STAY SAFE!!  Good answers so far. I gotta say that's one heckuva cool rock!! |
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Post by jasoninsd on Jan 5, 2024 23:37:19 GMT -5
Could do a streak test on unglazed porcelain, like the underside of a toilet tank lid. Magnetite streaks black, hematite brown. Not sure what the silvery bits could be. That's weird...I always thought the brown streaks in my toilet were something else! LOL *Sorry...couldn't resist! LOL |
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Post by accidentalprospector on Jan 6, 2024 5:33:11 GMT -5
Could do a streak test on unglazed porcelain, like the underside of a toilet tank lid. Magnetite streaks black, hematite brown. Not sure what the silvery bits could be. When I was back home, it seemed like the outside "rind" gave a reddish brown streak and the black part inside gave a black streak though sometimes it was a mix of colors if i recall correctly. I'll have to do it again or get a rough piece from home sent my way. When I was trying to figure out what they were, I would break open the rocks with a concrete sledge. They're incredibly difficult to break and while I'm not the world's strongest man, I'm 6'1 and 215 and I spent many years swinging a hammer for a living lol. Upon breaking some of the smaller ones in half and placing them under the digital microscope, I've found interesting mineralization on the smaller and medium sized stones. There are 3 pictures of the same piece at different magnifications starting with the microscope lense in view. Welp...The actual digital photo may be too high resolution to send.       |
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