sford13
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since September 2009
Posts: 119 
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Post by sford13 on Mar 12, 2010 14:07:02 GMT -5
Ok I have seen these real shinny almost metalic looking rocks. In looking at some pictures I believe that they are Hematite. Looking for people who have tumbled this and their experience and how hard it is to get good results. Also looking for a good source for rough.
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Post by superioragates on Mar 12, 2010 15:23:39 GMT -5
My only experience with it has not been good...BUT...I didn't know any better and I tumbled it with agates, so it got beat all to hadies. All I know is it is a softer stone....wait for mel to pipe in here, cuz he's an expert when it comes to rocks!
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Post by rockmanken on Mar 12, 2010 16:12:13 GMT -5
Hematite will leave a MESS. It is black, but leaves a brown mess. I don't see why it won't tumble. I have cabbed it. Messy, messy, messy. Also, it is heavy.
Ken
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Post by Donnie's Rocky Treasures on Mar 12, 2010 17:12:41 GMT -5
I tumbled it accidentally once, but only once. I thought it was something else. When I opened the tumbler after first grind all I could see was one big red mess. So I took out all the offending stones and they are still sitting waiting to be finished by themselves. They tumbled just fine though & showed promise to look nice once they were done. I just haven't wanted to mess with them again yet.
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Post by rockrookie on Mar 12, 2010 17:53:13 GMT -5
i have done single rock combination ( jasper / Hematite ) & tigereye/ hematite with real good success.
---paul
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Post by roswelljero on Mar 12, 2010 19:18:40 GMT -5
I was tumbling jaspelite (jasper & hematite) with other jaspers and agates until I noticed silver streaks on them. I suggest you tumble hematite by itself unless you like little silver streaks on everything.
Later,
jeri
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snuffy
Cave Dweller 
Member since May 2009
Posts: 4,319
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Post by snuffy on Mar 12, 2010 19:35:21 GMT -5
I've tumbled hematite mixed with other stones with good results.If you fill a barrel with just hematite,it may be too heavy. I've got the best results with what I bought from Bergs rock shop,bright silver.Other hematite I've tumbled just didnt have the good silver color. It is a messy looking slurry with it. Another thing the best I remember is that I took them out after a few days of coarse because they were already rounded for the next stage,didnt want them to disappear.
snuffy
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MikeS
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2009
Posts: 1,081
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Post by MikeS on Mar 13, 2010 15:16:58 GMT -5
I've tumbled hematite plenty of times...I run it in a coarse stage in my rotory with agates and jaspers, then a medium, fine, polish and burnish in a vibe. It always turns out great. If yours are getting beat up, I'd first suggest making sure your tumbler is at least 2/3 of the way full, and add some of those plastic tile spacers you can get at any hardware store to help cushion the stones a bit. Hematite is heavy, and if it is crashing around in the tumbler, it is going to get beat up and so are the other stones with it....  |
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