rocknrob
has rocks in the head
If Costco only sold slabs in bulk...
Member since May 2024
Posts: 615
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Post by rocknrob on May 25, 2024 12:01:19 GMT -5
I recently found an auction that had rough "Ellensburg Agate" listed so I pulled the trigger on a bunch of it for about $15/30gms. I've put 4 of the larger pieces in a photo for you below. It's rough material with bits of matrix in most of the pieces so making a solid Cabochon or polished clear jewelry item would be tricky. I'm trying to figure out what to do with it as it does have a really pretty blue color (I did a couple test tumbles on some smaller pieces and it keeps the blue color without the rhyolite). I would post the pictures but they are currently in Stage 3 and they are SUPER hard material 7+ for sure.  I would love it they were Ellensburg blues, a local rock shop that does rough rock recognition did say it looked like the material that comes out of Ellensburg, WA. I don't have the means to facet things but if these are E blue, it might be worth my while to get that Vevor faceting machine and give it a whirl. Does having matrix in a final piece detract from the beauty? |
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Post by pebblesky on May 25, 2024 14:58:56 GMT -5
Wow these sound quite expensive to me. How to you tell the visible difference of them from African Blue Lace Agates? Are they slightlhy a bit more purple?
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rocknrob
has rocks in the head
If Costco only sold slabs in bulk...
Member since May 2024
Posts: 615
|
Post by rocknrob on May 25, 2024 15:53:41 GMT -5
Wow these sound quite expensive to me. How to you tell the visible difference of them from African Blue Lace Agates? Are they slightlhy a bit more purple? Honestly it will be easier to really see if they are true E blues once I get some polished. I'm just stumped on how to approach doing that with matrix all over the rough other than "polish the whole thing and see what it looks like." I just know that it's a really hard material and it takes time on the flat lap on some experiments I did. I've got two dopped so we'll see what they look like. I had to do a bit of research on this since it's possible they could be a rare stone. My local gem club likes to call the stones "Ellensburg greys" as most of the really blue material is long since been extracted. It's something to do with the particles in the chalcedony that maintain a blue tone even after the matrix is removed. I've seen some of the more BLUE blues and they are quite stunning. These don't come close to that color but it's a very soft blue on most of them. I'll post the tumbled ones once they finish in a week and a half. I've seen some of the African blue, but only in slab form and the ones I've seen tend to lose their blue if removed from the rhyolite. However I do not profess to be an expert on the material. I'm encouraged that the rock shop said it's relatively confident that they are E blues. I'm skeptical since I bought them at such a low price. |
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khara
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2022
Posts: 1,980
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Post by khara on May 25, 2024 17:25:27 GMT -5
What about just free form grinding by hand to remove the matrix? Do you have a flex shaft with grinding bits? A cabbing machine probably isn’t going to allow enough detail. You could either take them all the way to polish via flex shaft grinding or just remove the matrix and then tumble polish for the rest and maybe vibe tumble to preserve as much size as possible.
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rocknrob
has rocks in the head
If Costco only sold slabs in bulk...
Member since May 2024
Posts: 615
|
Post by rocknrob on May 25, 2024 19:18:40 GMT -5
What about just free form grinding by hand to remove the matrix? Do you have a flex shaft with grinding bits? A cabbing machine probably isn’t going to allow enough detail. You could either take them all the way to polish via flex shaft grinding or just remove the matrix and then tumble polish for the rest and maybe vibe tumble to preserve as much size as possible. I do have a Dremel with a flex shaft. Hahahah, I bet by the time I'm done cleaning all this material I could probably go into amateur dentistry  . That's a good idea, probably would have to learn how to wire wrap and for sure I would have to clean up some of the voids left by the dremel by trimming them away. I've not tried to see what it looks like with matrix in/on the rock at it's polished amount yet but that'll be soon enough. I've got my loretone working on that one  |
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khara
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2022
Posts: 1,980
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Post by khara on May 25, 2024 23:32:48 GMT -5
I think I actually do have some Holly Blue that’s been tumbled and still has some matrix left on it. It’s not bad looking. Just a more natural look. They’d look good wire wrapped or even silver set. It’d just be a more rustic style.
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Post by jasoninsd on May 26, 2024 7:47:38 GMT -5
...it might be worth my while to get that Vevor faceting machine and give it a whirl. I'm a firm believer the slightest excuse to get new equipment fully justifies the purchase! And this is a dang good excuse! LOL |
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rocknrob
has rocks in the head
If Costco only sold slabs in bulk...
Member since May 2024
Posts: 615
|
Post by rocknrob on May 26, 2024 11:04:38 GMT -5
...it might be worth my while to get that Vevor faceting machine and give it a whirl. I'm a firm believer the slightest excuse to get new equipment fully justifies the purchase! And this is a dang good excuse! LOL Well it worked for a couple of home renovation projects... |
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. That's a good idea, probably would have to learn how to wire wrap and for sure I would have to clean up some of the voids left by the dremel by trimming them away. I've not tried to see what it looks like with matrix in/on the rock at it's polished amount yet but that'll be soon enough. I've got my loretone working on that one 
