thejonesman
off to a rocking start
Member since February 2009
Posts: 9
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Post by thejonesman on Feb 4, 2009 17:05:36 GMT -5
Hello,
Is is okay to tumble moonstone and jasper together? or should I keep them seperate?
Andy
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Feb 4, 2009 17:40:47 GMT -5
Hi Andy,
It looks like moonstone has a hardness of 6-6.5 and jasper (quartz) is around 7. So, if that holds true for your jasper, the moonstone will get smaller and the jasper will take a shine. Try to do a hardness test and see if they are actually the same hardness; if so, they can be tumbled together.
If you're unfamiliar with Mohs hardness tests, you can search here or on the web. There are common household items that can be used for most of the tests.
Hope that helps,
Chuck
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller 
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,496
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Post by Sabre52 on Feb 4, 2009 17:42:33 GMT -5
Myself, I'd tumble them separately. Different hardness and characteristics. The jasper is tougher and harder and is less likely to crack or cleave when knocked about in the tumble. Also it kinda depends on what you're calling moonstone. There are several moonstone beaches along the Pacific coast and the moonstones there are not feldspar but rather whitish to golden yellow agate nodules which would tumble fine with jasper. True moonstone is feldspar which is much more delicate than jasper. If you did want to try it anyway, I'd make sure the jasper pieces were quite small to avoid heavy knocking together while tumbling....Mel
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thejonesman
off to a rocking start
Member since February 2009
Posts: 9
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Post by thejonesman on Feb 4, 2009 17:52:19 GMT -5
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Rogue Trader
freely admits to licking rocks
"Don't cry because you are leaving, smile because you were there."
Member since December 2008
Posts: 839
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Post by Rogue Trader on Feb 4, 2009 19:43:54 GMT -5
I'm not contradicting what the others have posted, but, I would tumble them both together. That way, for the impatient tumblers out there there would be one set of stones ready faster than others.
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Post by frane on Feb 4, 2009 19:45:09 GMT -5
Oh, I have some of that. it tumbles fairly well with labradorite but still seems on the softer side. Expect to loose a lot of mass and check it after the 4th or 5th day. I have not completed mine because I lost so much volume in the tumble. I would say transfer to the 120-220 grit after the first 5-7 days to try to cut down on that. I ran it 10 days and recharged the course at 5 days and that was just too much for it. I am waiting for some other softer stones to catch up in there tumble so I can finish them together. Hope that helps.
Fran
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Post by johnjsgems on Feb 4, 2009 19:52:42 GMT -5
Listen to Mel. And you could tumble it with labradorite or other feldspars but not jaspers/agates. It is funny to me that there are no moonstones on Moonstone Beach. Like Mel said they call the light colored beach agates there "moonstones".
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thejonesman
off to a rocking start
Member since February 2009
Posts: 9
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Post by thejonesman on Feb 5, 2009 13:40:15 GMT -5
thanks for the extra info guys - all good stuff- - what a great community this is....
Well I intended to start the moonstone last night. But, my daugther who gets to choose the next batch picked out the Apatite [ also from the rock shed]. We started that last night on 60/90 - But i just went to the rock shed and read that I should start on the less 120-220 [ooppps]- . So I will change it over this evening....which i am sure to the joy of my daugther since we get to play with the rocks again so soon...
Thanks again
Andy
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