rocker1974
off to a rocking start
Member since November 2008
Posts: 2
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Post by rocker1974 on Nov 21, 2008 19:07:19 GMT -5
P.S. - The rock hardness is hard enough that only diamond coated blade, and diamond coated grinder, polishing tips worked. Other tips just got very hot, and chipped apart , bent, broke, or covered my stones in a metallic film, which might I add is a pain to get off, requires further grinding. This is my first cab. I have an idea of what it is, however, since I personally collected rocks from the locality, which is not well known to many, I'd rather ask the experts to find out what else it could be. Thanks, Aaron
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88pathoffroad
spending too much on rocks
Oregon ROCKS!
Member since August 2008
Posts: 305
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Post by 88pathoffroad on Nov 22, 2008 21:55:33 GMT -5
Could be diamond! Where'd it come from? Any type localities in that area? Test it for hardness, streak, acid resistance? Does it fluoresce?
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rocker1974
off to a rocking start
Member since November 2008
Posts: 2
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Post by rocker1974 on Nov 23, 2008 13:58:43 GMT -5
Hmmm, no diamond localities close by here in Washington. I'm fairly certain it is not hard enough to be diamond. It is probably between 6.5 to 7.5 in mohs hardness. A guestimate based on other rocks I am cutting. Somebody guessed Agate, however, it does not in my uneducated opinion look like it is quartz based. I guessed it was Jade, but frankly I wanted it to be jade because I jade hunt in a locality that has alot of jade, and I know how to find the green jade, however, I am lost as to how to identify white, red, yellow, or brown gem quality jade. I am attaching two more images of which are the rock it came from. The black stripes are actually silvery metallic dust mixed with the white. When cut the metallic stuff/shine shows. When cutting the dust is white. The blacker stripes are metallic gray/dark gray dust which also can contain metallic film (maybe iron or nickel - a high nickel content area which makes the green jade green). There is some quartz in the locality, however, it is fairly easy to identify by eye, and I have never seen the quartz in the area do what this stone does. Attached are some images for further assistance: Some of the stripes are actually transparent and clear: The square cut rock in the back:
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