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Post by MyNewHobby on Feb 16, 2009 19:43:24 GMT -5
Am sitting here at work winding down at the end of the day and I decided to look up some MOHS.
This past week I added a small batch of Chrysocolla to a 60/90 tumble.
This weekend I checked the batch and all the stones had rough textures on the surface. I think they also lost more surface then the others over a longer period of time.
Now I check to see the MOHS (did this back asswards) is only 2.0-4.0 ...
Should I have set these aside, not put them in the 60/90 and waited for the 120/220 batch?
Help!!! (as always)
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Post by akansan on Feb 16, 2009 20:00:14 GMT -5
Chrysocolla itself is very soft. However, the matrix it is in is usually quartz based which is hard - 7.0ish. So the real question isn't about the Chrysocolla itself, but rather what the host rock is.  |
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rallyrocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2005
Posts: 1,507
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Post by rallyrocks on Feb 16, 2009 20:28:40 GMT -5
Yeah that is not very often found to be good tumble material, because of the big differences in hardness it is highly prone to what we call "undercutting"
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Post by MyNewHobby on Feb 16, 2009 20:49:31 GMT -5
Okay ..... just got home and checked the tumbler.
They have lost a lot of mass, but I think the smoothing may help them to look pretty decent.
I will set these aside and wait until I have a full batch to be smoothed of the same material.
I feel bad .... they are really pretty ..... very bright, almost flourescent (sp?) greens ... with a few that had red speckles I think. Mind you .... I received a lot more of them ... I just feel like a murderer again.
Julie
as always ..... thanks to all
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navi
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2008
Posts: 229
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Post by navi on Feb 16, 2009 23:29:23 GMT -5
I just feel like a murderer again. uh...........AGAIN?!?!?!?! :nono: |
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Post by Jack ( Yorkshire) on Feb 17, 2009 1:04:07 GMT -5
I Use Zam and a buffing wheel to finish them off
Due to their softness I never get a good shine on them you might think about doing that later ?
Jack
Yorkshire UK
PS
"He who never made a mistake, never made anything"
A quote from my old principle at college
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MikeS
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2009
Posts: 1,081
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Post by MikeS on Feb 17, 2009 10:30:27 GMT -5
I wouldn't let it get to ya too much....unless you reduced them to powder, I wouldn't consider them "ruined". You'll just have a few smaller finished specimens is all... |
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Post by frane on Feb 17, 2009 10:37:13 GMT -5
It's all about trial and error. You never progress without a few casualties and you will get there. I pull batches all the time to wait for others of the same hardness. Sometimes, when they are supposed to be the same, the won't be so you just check and pull as needed.
Fran
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Post by MyNewHobby on Feb 17, 2009 13:10:46 GMT -5
Frane .... as always you make me feel better (and you other guys too) ;D
Jack .... thank you .... there are a couple that are larger enough to where I wouldn't buff my fingers that I can try to buff tonight - YAY!!!
Gonna have to find some ZAM or equivalent ...
Drama set aside ... the other rocks that are in the stage 2 are really looking pretty darn good if I say so myself ...
Okay .... back to the web work ....
Thanks again as always
Julie
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