lithrick
no posts
Member since July 2006
Posts: 0
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Post by lithrick on May 6, 2006 13:12:35 GMT -5
Greetings, Earthlings;
Here down in the ridges of South-Central PA, there are a lot of nineteenth/very-early-twentieth century blast furnace sites. A by-product of the iron producing process is slag, and to this day it lays around former furnace sites, especially just downstream, sparkling like jewels in a wishing well.
This slag is glassy, and resembles obsidian and goldstone. It often is full of fractures, impurities, and gas bubbles, but due to the large amounts of it that were produced, one can easily find many solid, beautiful pieces. The slag is usually greenish-gray, green, almost black, or sometimes blue. It is usually a solid color, but many pieces exhibit interesting banding and swirls. If I had the equipment, I would post pictures for you.
Due to my limited budget and resources, I am currently stuck struggling with two 8oz. tumblers. These can do a fine job, but I've got a lot of learning to do.
In the meantime, I am dying to know what potential all this slag has as rock tumbler/polish stone. Therefore, I would like to prepare a package or packages of it and send it out to someone (or "someones") who would like to try working with something new and different, and has the expertise and equipment to make it work.
Yes, there's a catch (several of them). See the following conditions:
>You must be an experienced tumbler with good equipment and excellent past results.
>You must be able to and do post pictures of the slag in its various stages of working to our forums.
>You must be good at examining potential tumble stock and know how to work with it. For example, should it be heat treated? Should it be knocked into smaller pieces or can it be thrown in the tumbler as is? Should it be slabbed? In general, what method or methods in working with the rock(in this case, the slag) will yield the best results?
>You do not need to send me back any of the completed samples. They will all be yours to keep and/or do with as you please.
I can warn you about one thing; some of the slag has a little of the pig iron in it, and these pieces will make a horrible slurry and ruin any batch of stones. When I choose pieces to send out, I'll try to avoid the pieces that appear to be contaminated with the pig iron.
Any takers?
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Post by Cher on May 6, 2006 13:34:35 GMT -5
I'd be interested, I've always wanted to try glass but we don't have anything like that around here. I found a bluish green piece of glass in Lake Superior and tumbled that, it turned out beautiful. Can you cut this stuff on a saw?
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Wannarock
off to a rocking start
Member since April 2006
Posts: 9
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Post by Wannarock on May 6, 2006 17:43:39 GMT -5
Here's a photo of "Leland Bluestone", a slag that was the by-product of the foundry at the Leland Dam, Leland, Michigan. A lady I talked to there used it in lamp shades.  Jim |
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Post by Cher on May 6, 2006 18:01:40 GMT -5
Ooooooooo how pretty, what nice colors.
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inflight22
has rocks in the head
Member since January 2006
Posts: 710
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Post by inflight22 on May 6, 2006 19:28:29 GMT -5
I would love to see what someone like Cher could do with this stuff.
jj
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KG1960
has rocks in the head
Member since August 2008
Posts: 512
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Post by KG1960 on May 6, 2006 21:38:57 GMT -5
I wouldn't mind trying a little bit. One question - does a pocket knife blade scratch it? I sent you a PM.
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inflight22
has rocks in the head
Member since January 2006
Posts: 710
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Post by inflight22 on May 6, 2006 21:48:44 GMT -5
Everyone remember that Rick has to use the local library computer, so give him time to respond. He always does!
jj
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raptor686
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since January 2006
Posts: 89
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Post by raptor686 on May 7, 2006 0:07:54 GMT -5
Thankyou !!!!! You dont know how long Ive wondered what this stuff is laying all over where I live in "PA". Now I see, lol. Im down creek about 1 mile from 2 giant old iron furnaces. Ill enter this experiment as well - You dont need to send me any, I have access to alot of it. Gonna chunk up a batch and see how it goes. LithRick is right, its pretty stuff, and like glass. Chips and breaks like Obsidian. Its probably not super hard, but should be hard enough to tumble, and it should take a super shine. Ill post some pics too, before and afters. Lets see what the RTH experts can do with this stuff  ( that doesnt include me, I still have no patience to do it right lol) |
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KG1960
has rocks in the head
Member since August 2008
Posts: 512
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Post by KG1960 on May 7, 2006 15:17:07 GMT -5
No problem if a reply is not quick in coming. What else does one learn from rock tumbling but patience?
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lithrick
no posts
Member since July 2006
Posts: 0
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Post by lithrick on May 8, 2006 17:29:58 GMT -5
Great!
I'm excited to hear that we've got a few folks interested. I believe I can provide both Cher and kg1960 with some good samples.
Cher, you asked if this stuff can be cut with a saw. I apologize, as I really don't know. I believe that different pieces of it would respond differently. I would guess that the better consolidated pieces probably could be sawn. The more brittle, pocked pieces may just explode and send splinters of glass flying.
Wannarock posted a nice picture of some of the blue stuff. As you can see, it is often marred by gas bubbles/pock marks, but it is still pretty. Like I said, I'll try to gather the better, more obsidian-like pieces.
Kg1960 asks if it can be scratched with a knife blade. Once again I apologize, as I don't know. I'll test a few pieces and let you know. Again, I'm betting that certain pieces will resist scratching better than other pieces.
Raptor686, your welcome! Have fun with it; nothing like trying something new and different, eh? Good luck!
I'll be in touch you folks who have requested some. I'm looking forward to going slag hunting and fulfilling your requests! Thank you!
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Post by Cher on May 8, 2006 18:27:48 GMT -5
That's really neat, I can't wait to see it. I'm thinking if it's obsidian like it should cut with the saw, I know obsidian does but I will keep in mind what you said about the bubbles. This is very generous of you to offer collecting some for us, thank you.
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raptor686
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since January 2006
Posts: 89
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Post by raptor686 on May 8, 2006 19:05:08 GMT -5
Just a warning LOL. I already hurt myself messing with this stuff. I found it to be exactly like obsidian inside, and I was hammering a big chunk ( safety glasses on), and a piece broke and wedged between the main rock and my finger on the hammer handle. Lets just say there was alot of blood and a slice to the bone in my finger. Soooo, be careful, it is glass that is as sharp as razorblades. Did find some really nice colors though  I have a few hunks that were almost pure black with swirls of green from the outer layers mixing into the pure center. I call it PA Picture Slag. Some of the hunks I busted were not glasslike at all, but almost exactly like a very dense Jasper... pastel green color. I will throw that in too, it was neat. Warning #2... Dont use your nose while sawing. Pew !! Not sure what all is in this , but its Sulfury. Will update further later... nursing my finger  After almost passing out, and getting light headed, I realized it wasnt ER worthy, but it still is a big cut. Again, be careful as always. |
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Joy
having dreams about rocks
Member since September 2005
Posts: 69
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Post by Joy on May 9, 2006 1:59:55 GMT -5
Greetings!
I had a few larger pieces of multi-color slag that I cut on my Workforce tile saw and then made into freeform cabs on a Genie. They turned out really nice. It is similar to obsidian in terms of hardness and grinding/polishing. I don't know about tumbling. Sorry...I don't have a digital camera to post pics.
I'd like to buy some more pieces of multi-color, preferrably 1.5" and up to cut & cab. If anyone has some to sell, please let me know...LET'S MAKE A DEAL!!
regards, joy
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lithrick
no posts
Member since July 2006
Posts: 0
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Post by lithrick on May 9, 2006 12:27:07 GMT -5
I just read Joy's message, and I had another fellow PM me about collecting and selling him some blue pieces. It just occured to me that because I am employed by a historical research/compliance archaeology firm(though only part time), there are strict ethical guidelines that were laid out to me that I must adhere to. Selling the slag might be likened to me finding and selling Amerind artifacts... absolutely taboo! I'll have to consult with my employer before I start charging anybody for the slag.
In the meantime, Joy, don't worry. There is such a huge quantity of this stuff lying around the old furnace sites that it is not considered taboo to collect it and share it with others. I'll try to get some to you too, one way or the other. Either way, it'll be enjoyable for me and hopefully for you too.
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lithrick
no posts
Member since July 2006
Posts: 0
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Post by lithrick on May 11, 2006 12:57:04 GMT -5
For kg1960: I've tested a good piece of the slag and a knife will not scratch it. Typical of much of this stuff, this piece looks good, smooth, and solid on the outside (and has an unusual, neat, deep purple color). Closer inspection reveals a number of internal fracture lines. Just part of the game when working with this stuff.
raptor686 is right; this stuff can slice you open in a heartbeat. Do be careful. Also, there is a certain "industrial smell" that comes out of this stuff when heating, cutting, or grinding it. It's kind of a neat link to the past.
I E-mailed my employer a couple of days ago, but as of yet have gotten no response on the ethical concerns I have. In the meantime, I will continue to gather slag and get it ready for transport. Ye-haw!
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lithrick
no posts
Member since July 2006
Posts: 0
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Post by lithrick on May 15, 2006 15:43:44 GMT -5
Allright, then!
Yesterday was a great day of slag gathering. I now have a half-decent stock of samples from which to begin preparing sample packages to be sent out to ya'll. I've PM'd the appropriate folks to let them know where things stand.
On the way back from the slag gathering spot, my friend and I came across a medium-sized (4 to 5 feet long) black rat snake laying across the dirt road. We decided to try to coax it off the road before it got itself killed. Of course, it didn't know that we were trying to help it, and it got very mad. It decided to seek cover... under my truck! We tried to coax it out from under the truck, but it decided to just crawl up into the truck's framework. Just great! At that point, we had a third passenger whether we wanted it or not.
We were very concerned for the snake's wellfare. Riding around on the underside of a vehicle isn't the best environment for a snake, and certainly isn't safe. I had to check under the hood several times before starting the vehicle, to make sure it wan't laying on the engine or anywhere near the belts or the fan.
Finally, about four hours later, it came slithering down from out of the back bumper as I was unloading groceries. It was headed for a busy intersection; things had gone from bad to worse! I put the groceries back into the truck and did my best Steve Irwin impression (which isn't very good), and picked the snake up and carried it a block and a half away to the thin strip of woods along the river that runs through Huntingdon. Though it made a couple feeble attempts at biting me, it rode out the short trip pretty well. I was greatly relieved when it slithered off to safety.
That was an amazing experience. They are beautiful animals, and it was a great honor to be able to actually handle one, and to save it. By the way, yes, I felt fear! My heart was pounding as I carried the snake along. Afterwards, though, it was nothing but a great adrenelin rush!
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Post by Cher on May 15, 2006 16:43:56 GMT -5
Ewwwwww any snake that's big enough to crawl up under a truck is way toooooo big for me. Quite an experience though, if you enjoy that kind of thing. *smile* Just not into snakes.
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lithrick
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Member since July 2006
Posts: 0
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Post by lithrick on May 16, 2006 14:03:55 GMT -5
I should have mentioned right away... black rat snakes are not poisenous. Had that been a poisenous snake, I would never have tried to handle it.
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lithrick
no posts
Member since July 2006
Posts: 0
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Post by lithrick on May 17, 2006 16:33:50 GMT -5
I did receive a reply from the operations manager at my employer yesterday. She said I had a really good eithics question and she wasn't really sure of the answer. Perhaps some of the other hierarchey there can figure it out.
She tended to think that since it is/was a waste product, there should not be a problem with collecting it for profit. Still, she wasn't sure.
Hhmmmmm.....
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wades
starting to spend too much on rocks
Gottfried Reiche (1667-1734)
Member since February 2006
Posts: 202
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Post by wades on May 19, 2006 13:43:12 GMT -5
I did receive a reply from the operations manager at my employer yesterday. She said I had a really good eithics question and she wasn't really sure of the answer. Perhaps some of the other hierarchey there can figure it out. She tended to think that since it is/was a waste product, there should not be a problem with collecting it for profit. Still, she wasn't sure. Hhmmmmm..... When questions like this come up in the future, remember: It is always easier to get forgiveness than permission. Now that you've asked for permission, it's too late! |
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( that doesnt include me, I still have no patience to do it right lol)
After almost passing out, and getting light headed, I realized it wasnt ER worthy, but it still is a big cut. Again, be careful as always.
