realrockhound
Cave Dweller 
Chucking leaverite at tweekers
Member since June 2020
Posts: 4,483
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Post by realrockhound on Jan 7, 2024 14:05:27 GMT -5
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Post by MsAli on Jan 7, 2024 15:00:44 GMT -5
One of my favorites
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Post by pebblesky on Jan 7, 2024 15:13:27 GMT -5
Beautiful!
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Post by stardiamond on Jan 7, 2024 16:53:13 GMT -5
A favorite and messy to cab.
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realrockhound
Cave Dweller
Chucking leaverite at tweekers
Member since June 2020
Posts: 4,483
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Post by realrockhound on Jan 7, 2024 17:36:17 GMT -5
Have a box full of this crap. No clue who Colorado Steve is 😂. I thought it was my dad at first, then realized a bunch of different material had Colorado Steve on it. So assuming some trade stuff my grandpa did with this guy.
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Post by stardiamond on Jan 7, 2024 17:50:13 GMT -5
The material is becoming more difficult to find and more expensive. I prefer it to the Indonesian. I look for distinct plumes in clear agate. You could sell that slab for more than $50 and some sellers would ask $100. I sold this cab for $65.  |
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realrockhound
Cave Dweller
Chucking leaverite at tweekers
Member since June 2020
Posts: 4,483
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Post by realrockhound on Jan 7, 2024 17:59:35 GMT -5
The material is becoming more difficult to find and more expensive. I prefer it to the Indonesian. I look for distinct plumes in clear agate. You could sell that slab for more than $50 and some sellers would ask $100. I sold this cab for $65. I don’t know a lot about the material. However a quick Google search has lead to realize it’s “rare” all things considered |
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Post by pebblesky on Jan 7, 2024 22:17:31 GMT -5
The material is becoming more difficult to find and more expensive. I prefer it to the Indonesian. I look for distinct plumes in clear agate. You could sell that slab for more than $50 and some sellers would ask $100. I sold this cab for $65. Nice cab! |
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Jan 7, 2024 22:59:45 GMT -5
Oooh, that's yummy!  |
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Post by jasoninsd on Jan 9, 2024 22:32:43 GMT -5
I saw these on my phone the other day...but seeing them on my laptop really makes them pop! Another great "find" my friend!  |
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ThomasT
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2022
Posts: 616
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Post by ThomasT on Jan 9, 2024 23:12:00 GMT -5
Only problem is that material breaks down over time here in the humid southeast unless its sealed.
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realrockhound
Cave Dweller
Chucking leaverite at tweekers
Member since June 2020
Posts: 4,483
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Post by realrockhound on Jan 10, 2024 0:09:57 GMT -5
Only problem is that material breaks down over time here in the humid southeast unless its sealed. I have no clue how long it’s been in the boxes. But it’s dry out here. This stuff is solid. |
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gemfeller
Cave Dweller
Member since June 2011
Posts: 4,059 
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Post by gemfeller on Jan 10, 2024 21:01:14 GMT -5
Here's a full plume Nipomo Marcasite I cut some time back. Stuff of this quality is very hard to come by these days and I can't bring myself to put it up for sale, though I think it might be worth a a dollar or two.  Re: Stability, over time the material generates sulfuric acid when exposed to air and moisture, which in many cases results in the stone crumbling. IMO the "secret" to help prevent that degeneration is to cut only pieces that consist mostly of marcasite trapped in chalcedony. That, and polishing, seem help keep the cabs more stable. This stone shows no indications of instability though it's been cut for several years. But I have a couple of trays of slabs that give off a strong sulfuric acid stink whenever I point my nose in their dirrection. |
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Post by Son Of Beach on Jan 10, 2024 21:06:58 GMT -5
Here's a full plume Nipomo Marcasite I cut some time back. Stuff of this quality is very hard to come by these days and I can't bring myself to put it up for sale, though I think it might be worth a a dollar or two. Re: Stability, over time the material generates sulfuric acid when exposed to air and moisture, which in many cases results in the stone crumbling. IMO the "secret" to help prevent that degeneration is to cut only pieces that consist mostly of marcasite trapped in chalcedony. That, and polishing, seem help keep the cabs more stable. This stone shows no indications of instability though it's been cut for several years. But I have a couple of trays of slabs that give off a strong sulfuric acid stink whenever I point my nose in their dirrection. I'm about the furthest thing from an expert and have been casually watching this conversation, but would a doublet be an option to help preserve the degeneration of Marcasite? |
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gemfeller
Cave Dweller
Member since June 2011
Posts: 4,059
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Post by gemfeller on Jan 10, 2024 22:16:50 GMT -5
Son Of Beach I don't think so unless the face material is stable to begin with. I've read some people have coated cabs to prevent air and moisture from attacking the material but I don't know what they used.
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Post by 1dave on Jan 11, 2024 14:59:47 GMT -5
I believe clear spray paint would do the job.
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Post by stardiamond on Jan 11, 2024 16:49:07 GMT -5
I live in a relatively low humidity area. I keep my NM slabs inside. I had one small piece of rough that was outside and corroded. I've made dozens of cabs and they stay bright and shiny. The 100k paste leaves some coating even after being wiped off.
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Post by Son Of Beach on Jan 11, 2024 19:25:39 GMT -5
I believe clear spray paint would do the job. Dave I meant to pick your brain about something else. I saw somewhere in an old thread a long time ago you mentioned using wax to fill vugs when tumbling.
Well I tried that in last weeks batch as a test with regular candle wax, and none of the wax remained.
Is there another kind of wax you would recommend?
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Post by jasoninsd on Jan 11, 2024 21:17:38 GMT -5
I believe clear spray paint would do the job. Dave I meant to pick your brain about something else. I saw somewhere in an old thread a long time ago you mentioned using wax to fill vugs when tumbling. Well I tried that in last weeks batch as a test with regular candle wax, and none of the wax remained. Is there another kind of wax you would recommend?
Have you tried these?  |
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Post by 1dave on Jan 11, 2024 22:46:29 GMT -5
I believe clear spray paint would do the job. Dave I meant to pick your brain about something else. I saw somewhere in an old thread a long time ago you mentioned using wax to fill vugs when tumbling. Well I tried that in last weeks batch as a test with regular candle wax, and none of the wax remained. Is there another kind of wax you would recommend?
No, I have never tried it - just a suggestion I got from another rockhound. |
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Nov 15, 2024 17:44:51 GMT -5
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