montagieu
starting to shine!
Member since March 2008
Posts: 28
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Post by montagieu on Mar 27, 2008 8:59:21 GMT -5
Good morning all, Here are some before and after pics of some ??breccia??. They have been in the 60-90 grit for 6 days. There was a lot of whole grit left at the bottom, proving that this is a fairly soft rock. It appears to have tumbled nicely with just a few vugs. I don't know how it will take to the final polish stage, but I like the looks of it so far. Very good patterning. If anyone has a better idea of what this type of rock is, please let me know. Before the tumble......  A well patterned piece of rough.  A bucket o' rocks after 6 days in the 60-90 grit.  Here I picked out a few of my favorites.  Hope the pics turn out all right for everyone viewing. I took the last two pics in my garage using a flash from my camera. I like to use natural lighting, but that's not always available! -Montagieu |
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DeanW
has rocks in the head
Member since December 2007
Posts: 721
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Post by DeanW on Mar 27, 2008 10:12:00 GMT -5
I'd tend to call those you have a 'picture jasper' or rhyolite. Brecciated jasper, like Stone Canyon or Parkfield material in California is pretty different from that. Typical brec. material consists of more odd-shaped pieces re-cemented back together (ok, that's a lame way to describe it but that is all my brain can come up with right now).
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Post by bobby1 on Mar 27, 2008 10:57:16 GMT -5
Usually that material is soft and grainy. When you squirt a dry piece does the water bead up on the surface or soak in? If it soaks in, chances are it won't polish very well.
Bob
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montagieu
starting to shine!
Member since March 2008
Posts: 28
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Post by montagieu on Mar 27, 2008 11:42:48 GMT -5
When squirted with water, the rough soaked it up pretty fast. Still soaked up water pretty quick after the 60-90 tumble. I just put it in the 12-220 grit last night and will check again in a few days, if it hasn't fallen apart by then.
-Montagieu
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Post by deb193redux on Mar 27, 2008 15:38:40 GMT -5
You may still get a high-satin shine. Very glassy shine is unlikely if the water does not bead up. Still, a fine wel patterened batch!
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller 
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,494
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Post by Sabre52 on Mar 27, 2008 19:36:48 GMT -5
OK, I've seen that material in Texas and eastern New Mexico and it was called caliche though not true caliche which is sort of a white carbonate crust found on desert stones. I believe it's a layered formation of limestone that, in some cases, is somewhat silicified so it resembles wonderstone or picture jasper but is generally softer....Mel
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montagieu
starting to shine!
Member since March 2008
Posts: 28
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Post by montagieu on Mar 27, 2008 20:02:51 GMT -5
OK... it is time for me to reveal my sources.
I travel a lot to the Oklahoma Panhandle for my job. The road I take to my work site runs parallel to a railroad track. One day I pulled over to "inspect the tires" at a RR crossing and found that rock being used as ballast underneath a RR crossing sign. I grabbed a handful because of the patterning and took it home with me. There.... now everyone knows my secret.
I think I will continue the tumble and just see how it turns out.
Thanks you all for the input so far.
-Montagieu
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Post by Titania on Mar 28, 2008 7:27:29 GMT -5
Those look pretty good, so far! I think it'll be an interesting experiment, even if they won't polish to a high sheen. You've really got nothing to lose.  |
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