rockinronda
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2023
Posts: 224
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Post by rockinronda on Feb 22, 2024 1:31:28 GMT -5
They have similar hardness I believe, however the Black Tourmaline crystal’s smooth outer skin is missing and the inside seems brittle and crumbly like a broken charcoal. Or else it is just particularly brittle in this area (Hogg Mine, GA)? Is this normal? Will they wear at similar rates you think, cause similar hardness, and tumble ok or will the tourmaline just abrade away? I would love it to tumble well and have this super shiny Smoky black spotted stone at the end 🫠 I could gamble with one piece I suppose and put it in my next batch 🤔 What thoughts and or experiences can you share with me?
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SirRoxalot
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2003
Posts: 790
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Post by SirRoxalot on Mar 5, 2024 22:09:48 GMT -5
I'd throw a couple in with a batch of quartz and see what happens. If the tourm is super crumbly, don't get your hopes up.
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khara
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2022
Posts: 1,979
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Post by khara on Mar 6, 2024 17:01:33 GMT -5
If you have multiple pieces I’d do a test piece in the tumbler to see how it goes. Don’t suppose you have a cabbing machine or flat lap that you could use to test out how they respond to grinding?
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rockinronda
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2023
Posts: 224
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Post by rockinronda on Mar 10, 2024 17:01:40 GMT -5
Nope…not yet…Just starting out, have a rock tumbler, dremel w/shaft and trim saw.
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stefan
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Mar 13, 2024 16:52:52 GMT -5
Just from a couple tries with Black Tourmaline (from China) and all I end up with is little black gritty crude in the bottom of the barrel. It did not hold together at all and was a waste of time and grit.
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rockinronda
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2023
Posts: 224
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Post by rockinronda on Mar 13, 2024 17:40:03 GMT -5
We shall see! Threw a cpl test pebbles in my latest batch…which is just a reworking of my first batch…I took them all the way through to final polish, got some ceramic media, got some better grit, got some better polish and was like welll, they could come out even better now I have better stuff. So back in they went!
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quartzilla
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2020
Posts: 1,240
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Post by quartzilla on Mar 15, 2024 2:40:08 GMT -5
If the black tourmalines were Frozen ( solidly locked in a matrix of feldspar/quartz ) when formed they will not tumble good. Only tourmaline from pockets/vugs will tumble well. A good way to tell if a tourmaline will tumble is if one end or another is “”balled”, looking like the ball part of a ball and socket. Generally only colored tourmalines form in the pockets but there are exceptions of course.
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rockinronda
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2023
Posts: 224
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Post by rockinronda on Mar 15, 2024 17:58:01 GMT -5
That’s some cool and appreciated info, thanks so much!  |
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rockinronda
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2023
Posts: 224
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Post by rockinronda on Mar 23, 2024 11:26:28 GMT -5
Well, it did exactly as expected, unfortunately  The black tourmaline just tumbled right out. Not even a trace left in the bottom of the barrel.  |
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quartzilla
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2020
Posts: 1,240
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Post by quartzilla on Mar 24, 2024 10:24:41 GMT -5
It’s really hard stuff to tumble. Even when I’ve ran bigger chunks that are black and solid it has tiny little pits in it. I’d look for some good quality tourmalinated quartz, basically a rutilated quartz but with the tiny black needles running thru the ice cube clear quartz instead of the reddish/brown rutile. The quartz will take the west and tear and you will get to enjoy the tourmaline inside!
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rockinronda
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2023
Posts: 224
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Post by rockinronda on Apr 1, 2024 15:43:01 GMT -5
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titaniumkid
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2023
Posts: 499
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Post by titaniumkid on Apr 1, 2024 22:07:29 GMT -5
What do you plan on doing next?
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rockinronda
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2023
Posts: 224
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Post by rockinronda on Apr 2, 2024 15:36:13 GMT -5
Well I’ve got all 3 tumblers going on course rn, a very small collection gathering for stage 2, a bunch of rough 30+lbs waiting in line. This barrel is my rework and black tourmaline, the other 2 are yellow citrines and Hogg Mine material (Rose, Smoky, White Quartz). I’ve got some sphere preforms, waiting on the unpowered spindle to get here for that. I wanna make some hearts, not sure how to make them all uniform (jig or stencil/template?). Cut or carve?
Long and short of it, got some decisions to make and more rocks to play with ^_^
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titaniumkid
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2023
Posts: 499
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Post by titaniumkid on Apr 2, 2024 19:02:23 GMT -5
Well I’ve got all 3 tumblers going on course rn, a very small collection gathering for stage 2, a bunch of rough 30+lbs waiting in line. This barrel is my rework and black tourmaline, the other 2 are yellow citrines and Hogg Mine material (Rose, Smoky, White Quartz). I’ve got some sphere preforms, waiting on the unpowered spindle to get here for that. I wanna make some hearts, not sure how to make them all uniform (jig or stencil/template?). Cut or carve? Long and short of it, got some decisions to make and more rocks to play with ^_^ So many plans! It's nice seeing people's updates. The quartz is shaping quickly. Do you think you will you keep running these tourmaline/quartz in coarse grit, or will you compromise on the round shape and handle them with kid-gloves to help preserve the tourmaline? |
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rockinronda
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2023
Posts: 224
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Post by rockinronda on Apr 2, 2024 20:19:29 GMT -5
So many plans! It's nice seeing people's updates. The quartz is shaping quickly. Do you think you will you keep running these tourmaline/quartz in coarse grit, or will you compromise on the round shape and handle them with kid-gloves to help preserve the tourmaline? I think these smaller ones are holding up pretty well. I don’t see any undercutting happening. If I see any of that starting to happen I will def move them on. |
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The black tourmaline just tumbled right out. Not even a trace left in the bottom of the barrel. 
