buckwheat69
noticing nice landscape pebbles
How do we get out of here ??
Member since July 2008
Posts: 96
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Post by buckwheat69 on Jul 12, 2008 17:11:06 GMT -5
Here is a pic of a sapphire i found gem mining (paydirt) in GA was gonna tumble it. to see under all that crud any suggestions??   ooppss thought i rotated that sorry but you can get the idea also have this little baby not sure what this one is or what to do with it  ant suggestions |
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lparker
fully equipped rock polisher
Still doing too much for being retired!
Member since March 2008
Posts: 1,202
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Post by lparker on Jul 12, 2008 17:36:55 GMT -5
I'd suggest finding a rock club near you that has diamond grinders and polish a window in it. I'm pretty sure that once it has a polished face on it, you will add it to your "it's a nice rock" collection. It's been my experience that "gem mines" don't let very many gem quality rocks through their fingers.
Lee
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oldgrouchy
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since August 2006
Posts: 240
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Post by oldgrouchy on Jul 13, 2008 9:00:39 GMT -5
Voice of experience-it is almost imposible to tumble sapphires. I tried it with some from Canton. NC using everything imagineable including diamond and gave up.
The second item pictured apprears to be staurolite or a fairy cross.
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buckwheat69
noticing nice landscape pebbles
How do we get out of here ??
Member since July 2008
Posts: 96
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Post by buckwheat69 on Jul 13, 2008 10:24:34 GMT -5
But will the tumbler remove all the crud on the outside so i can see the stone for what it is (big one)??
I have a few pounds of them and i dont want to shape them only looking to clean the crud off to see the inner gem.
I figured due to hardness that they wont tubler or polish to a high shine.
im sure the inner is better on the eyes then the dirty driveway gravel it looks like now
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Post by Lady B on Jul 13, 2008 10:31:07 GMT -5
That looks like a six point sapphire - deserving of a cut and polish.
Sapphires and rubies can be tumbled - they are rated at 9 on the Mohs Scale so you will need to tumble for a LONG, long time. But your particular sapphire deserves more than just a tumble. That looks like a six point sapphire - deserving of a cut and polish.
It is not unusual to find a nice one in the digs of NC and GA - and there are quite a number of gemologists in those states who would be happy to help you decide on the best cut. I would definitely check for more info with your local Rock Club or contact M.A.G.M.A. and check with their members re: who could best give you help with that nice sapphire.
Lady B
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buckwheat69
noticing nice landscape pebbles
How do we get out of here ??
Member since July 2008
Posts: 96
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Post by buckwheat69 on Jul 13, 2008 11:26:05 GMT -5
I planned on haveing a few oof them cut. i have a lot ranging from pea size to this one and every where in between. figured i can tumble them to get the crude off and see what inside to then determine whick ones gave good color and all. so i can pick the one i want cut. as it is now they all look like gravel.
will tumbling them for cleaning take forever like you say?
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Post by Lady B on Jul 13, 2008 14:27:24 GMT -5
If all you want to do is get some of the matrix out of the way, go ahead and tumble your sapphires and rubies with 60-90 grit for about two weeks - BUT be selective. Stones that seem to have a nice defined shape, like the one in your photo, will lose their crystalline edges in a tumble. My hubby and I have tumbled many of the hard stones we found in NC for just two weeks so we could get a sense of hidden beauties. Unfortunately, we were so new that we didn't know we would lose those defined edges along with matrix when we first tried.
Now, because experience makes a great teacher, we know better. We are careful to not tumble any that look like they should be cut first - even if we are tempted to just try to remove some of that outer covering. (If you have access to a good wet grinder, you can polish the end surface to get a peek at the underlying stone.)
Both the conundrum group and the beryl group can be tumbled with great results; but you are looking at initial stretches of 4 to 8 weeks minimum in 60-90 before any advancing to upper levels should be considered.
I also took advantage of the hardness of some of my small conundrums to help reduce matrix on some of my harder agates by mixing them together for the first two weeks in 60-90. But once out of 60-90, don't mix the hardness groups or else be prepared to say good bye to the "softer" stones! ;D
Lady B
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lparker
fully equipped rock polisher
Still doing too much for being retired!
Member since March 2008
Posts: 1,202
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Post by lparker on Jul 13, 2008 19:06:57 GMT -5
If you want, mail it to me & I'll polish one end for you. If it looks like it will star, I'll dome that end. Send me a PM for my mail address.
Lee
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