jhaddad8
off to a rocking start
Member since December 2012
Posts: 13
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Post by jhaddad8 on Dec 3, 2012 0:34:47 GMT -5
I found a really nice looking rock which I think is mostly tremolite during the summer and am wondering if anyone has tried putting tremolite in a tumbler. I am new to tumbling and am wondering for any advice. If I cant tumble it, what could I do with it?
Thanks, James
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Dora
spending too much on rocks
Member since September 2012
Posts: 252
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Post by Dora on Dec 3, 2012 3:22:13 GMT -5
Hello James and Welcome! Yes tremolite can be tumbled. I have one from South Africa that I bought already tumbled. You could find some nice examples at Google images, just type "tremolite tumbled". *** The important thing to know is that it is a type of asbestos and very toxic if inhaled. So if you want it polished the safest way is to do it by tumbling it. Tremolite’s hardness is 5-6 (Mohs), but it could vary depending on what other minerals are in the rock. If you are new to tumbling you could find some tumbling tutorials here: Rotary tumbler tutorial forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/index.cgi?board=tottumb&action=display&thread=36488Vibe tumbler tutorial: forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/index.cgi?board=tottumb&action=display&thread=29369“If I can tumble it, what could I do with it?”Well, even if it is safer while tumbled it could still be dangerous to wear it in any way. You could have it on display, sell it at eBay, trade it with someone for another rock, give it to a collector, etc. Well, good luck with whatever you decide to do!
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jhaddad8
off to a rocking start
Member since December 2012
Posts: 13
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Post by jhaddad8 on Dec 3, 2012 14:24:55 GMT -5
Thanks, Ill let you know how it turns out.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 3, 2012 14:29:10 GMT -5
*** The important thing to know is that it is a type of asbestos and very toxic if inhaled. So if you want it polished the safest way is to do it by tumbling it. Very toxic? Why is it toxic. It is not a poison. Dangerous to wear? Why? Asbestos dust is dangerous if inhaled. Dangerous only if the particles are in a specific size range, and then only for long term occupational exposure. Wikipedia tells us: So reason should tell us rare hobby contact with even the dry dust is not very dangerous and to claim it is very toxic may be irresponsible. The concept of it being dangerous to wear is not even close to reality. If this were the case the residents of Nob Hill in San Francisco would not exist. I am told Nob Hill is a giant deposit of serpentine and the very act of living there would have killed them already!! Perhaps Kris will expand on this Nob Hill knowledge. Regarding the query from the OP. Anything you want is a reasonable answer. I recently made a sphere out of tremolite from Wrightwood, CA. It did not polish well, so will make another attempt tomorrow night. You could also make a display piece, carve it into a sculpture, make a cabochon, polish the entire piece for display, sell it, barter it.... What did you have in mind??
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Dora
spending too much on rocks
Member since September 2012
Posts: 252
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Post by Dora on Dec 3, 2012 19:06:33 GMT -5
“The fibrous form of tremolite is one of the six recognised types of asbestos. This material is toxic and inhaling the fibers can lead to asbestosis, lung cancer and both pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma. Fibrous tremolite is sometimes found as a contaminant in vermiculite, chrysotile (itself a type of asbestos) and talc.” en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tremolite“When dust-size particles are inhaled, the crystals penetrate into the lung tissue by piercing the walls of the alveoli. Once the particles penetrate the lung tissue, they stay in the lungs permanently. There is no way to remove them. Eventually these crystals will cause a scarring of the lungs, called asbestosis, or cause a cancer of the lining (pleura) of the lung, called mesothelioma. Both of these diseases are currently incurable and both are terminal.” www.scn.org/~bh162/asbestos2.htmlThe responsible thing to do is to give a warning, everybody is free to believe what they want, and do as they please.
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Post by johnjsgems on Dec 3, 2012 20:33:18 GMT -5
I've never heard of tremolite. Is it the same thing as actinolite? I personally believe most lapidary materials can safely be worked wet. If you are concerned buy a really good resperator mask and use ventilation.
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Post by geoff on Dec 4, 2012 7:10:47 GMT -5
If its toxic, what's the LD-50?
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Post by geoff on Dec 4, 2012 7:40:34 GMT -5
"No clinical signs were observed which could be attributed to the ingestion of tremolite. Also, the ingestion of 1% tremolite in the diet for the lifespan of the rats did not affect survival. In fact, survival of both male and female rats ex- posed to tremolite was almost identical to that of the control groups. The survival of the rats (control and exposed) in the current studies compares favorably with that in other long-term studies in the NTP program (Haseman, 1983). At 112 weeks of age (average age of rats at the end of a typical 2-year study), the percentages of rats alive in the current studies were as follows: male control, 65%; exposed male, 71%; control female, 72%; exposed female, 70%. In reviewing 25 NTP feed studies, Haseman (1983) found an average 66%of control males and 73% of control females alive a t 112 weeks of age."
TOXICOLOGY AND CARCINOGENESIS STUDIES OF TREMOLITE (CAS NO. 14567-73-8) IN F344/N RATS (FEED STUDIES)
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Post by johnjsgems on Dec 4, 2012 9:23:11 GMT -5
OK, so don't eat it? Or is it safe to eat?
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Post by geoff on Dec 4, 2012 10:04:19 GMT -5
Eat it all you want. Just like every other type of Asbestos, don't breathe the fibers. In wet working, the biggest risk is accidental ingestion through splash, spray or improper hygiene. Not breathing dust.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 4, 2012 10:33:04 GMT -5
I've never heard of tremolite. Is it the same thing as actinolite? I personally believe most lapidary materials can safely be worked wet. If you are concerned buy a really good resperator mask and use ventilation. I believe tremolite and actinolite are on opposite ends of a series of minerals with Nephrite somewhere in between. With regard to it's supposed toxicity: A) the OP did not indicate he has the "fibrous or asbestos form" but I think it likely that because he wants to polish it, he does not. He can correct me if I am wrong. Doesn't matter. B) According to dictionary.com the adjective toxic is defined as And since we have learned from another member that lifelong oral ingestion of a diet with 1% tremolite and the rat's lifespans were not altered we can safely say tremolite is not a poison and therefore NOT TOXIC. Wikipedia has it wrong in using this adjective to describe this mineral.... In fact, I illustrated in an earlier post that hobby exposure is not likely to cause the known effects that asbestiform minerals can cause. That takes long term occupational exposure. I wish to apologize to the OP for his thread going south. Because I myself have recently wet cut and polished non-asbestiform tremolite with no toxic effects he is welcomed to contact me for what I have learned.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 4, 2012 10:33:36 GMT -5
I found a really nice looking rock which I think is mostly tremolite during the summer and am wondering if anyone has tried putting tremolite in a tumbler. I am new to tumbling and am wondering for any advice. If I cant tumble it, what could I do with it? Thanks, James Could we see a picture of this stone?
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jhaddad8
off to a rocking start
Member since December 2012
Posts: 13
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Post by jhaddad8 on Dec 15, 2012 0:23:17 GMT -5
Thanks for all the help. Here are pics of a small piece of what I have. I hand polished part of one side. I have a much bigger piece sitting out in the garage. Attachments:
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