bchapman
off to a rocking start
Member since December 2012
Posts: 6
|
Post by bchapman on Dec 30, 2012 18:23:27 GMT -5
Can you tumble rocks with gems embedded in them? I will try to post a photo in a bit, I have rocks that are covered in garnets and other stones, is there a different procedure to tumble them? I am getting a Lot-O Tumbler.
|
|
blackout5783
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2011
Posts: 248
|
Post by blackout5783 on Dec 30, 2012 19:26:29 GMT -5
It depends on what you're trying to go achieve. You'd most likely be dealing with mixed hardnesses which means different parts of the stones will grind down at different rates. If your garnets are embedded in something soft, you might open up your tumble and find that you have nice individual garnets with no matrix left!
|
|
bchapman
off to a rocking start
Member since December 2012
Posts: 6
|
Post by bchapman on Dec 30, 2012 19:40:08 GMT -5
Front of rock Attachments:
|
|
bchapman
off to a rocking start
Member since December 2012
Posts: 6
|
Post by bchapman on Dec 30, 2012 19:40:39 GMT -5
Back of rock Attachments:
|
|
herchenx
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2012
Posts: 3,360
|
Post by herchenx on Dec 30, 2012 21:15:09 GMT -5
Garnets are much harder than whatever that matrix material (looks granite-like)
If you are going for "evenly smooth and shiny" you will probably be disappointed. Your best bet would probably be hand-working it on a diamond wheel or flat lap.
Garnets will chew up just about everything else, so unless you are trying to free them from the matrix I'd try something different.
|
|
bchapman
off to a rocking start
Member since December 2012
Posts: 6
|
Post by bchapman on Dec 30, 2012 22:03:06 GMT -5
Thanks, I will do as you suggested, I found them while hand sanding a rock, I started seeing a few, then more and more, I have one better so far it has greenish gems and garnets together, in quartz and rock
|
|
herchenx
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2012
Posts: 3,360
|
Post by herchenx on Dec 30, 2012 22:09:17 GMT -5
If you have a place to collect these you may be onto something special. Finding gem pegmatites in granite is pretty cool and if you get decent gems can be something worth some money. Given this is a river rock you may be able to some prospecting, find out where they come from and possibly even find the source to stake a claim if the land is public. I don't know a ton about all that but I know some folks out west here who prospect, claim and mine and all that on a small scale.
|
|
bchapman
off to a rocking start
Member since December 2012
Posts: 6
|
Post by bchapman on Dec 30, 2012 22:38:51 GMT -5
Our family just bought the land in NC, the river is on the property, I sampled from three places and brought back 6 -- 5 gallon buckets of material I will be separating and cleaning for a long time...I have it seperated by size and rinsed off now to scrub away thanks for the info
|
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,564
|
Post by jamesp on Dec 31, 2012 3:37:25 GMT -5
If your property is any where near Franklin county you may do very well with garnets.That area is also famous for it's rubies and sappire.A large creek in north Atlanta has many redish purple garnets in a compressed mica. Like John said,you may be fortunate and find the upstream source.The green gems may be beryl,tourmaline,sappire.If there is crystal form it may help ID the stuff.Enjoy
|
|
herchenx
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2012
Posts: 3,360
|
Post by herchenx on Dec 31, 2012 13:36:09 GMT -5
ah there's James. Ben - James is the guy who I mentioned in my PM who seems to have an invention for every type of rock situation. James, Ben has what appears to be gem pegmatites in granite and he is looking for a way to at least expose and perhaps polish the embedded gems, or potentially remove them from the granite matrix. Do you have any experience with this or have any ideas? I've already been postulating on ways to do this, but I don't have any real experience and may be doing more harm than good
|
|