johnnymac1969
starting to spend too much on rocks
I Like A Rolling Stone
Member since January 2016
Posts: 139
|
Post by johnnymac1969 on Mar 14, 2016 20:59:15 GMT -5
Hello all,
Every time I check on a Stage 1 barrel, I find myself thinking of new questions to ask you all. Here are my latest..
- I recently started tumbling Coquina Jasper and Leopard Jasper. Which one, or both, are turning my slurry into a dark red color and extremely frothy?
- I also started tumbling Turritella in a separate barrel. The MOHS scales says 6.5 - 7, but it seems much harder than that. After nearly 2 weeks of 46/70, they have barely changed at all. Is that typical of this rock?
- Lastly, everything I have read says to remove any rocks smaller than a ¼" in each stage. How important is that, especially for Stage 1? I was thinking the tiny rocks (smaller than a ¼") would be good for Stage 1?
Thanks for any and all input! John
|
|
|
Post by Jugglerguy on Mar 14, 2016 21:36:14 GMT -5
I've never read that you should move rocks smaller that 1/4 inch. I always leave my smalls in until they disappear.
I've never tumbled any of the stuff you listed, so I can't help with them. Are you checking your barrels more than once a week? I only open mine at the weekly clean out time.
|
|
|
Post by captbob on Mar 14, 2016 21:50:17 GMT -5
I'm gonna guess that it's your Coquina Jasper turning your slurry red and frothy.
Coquina Jasper is actually a limestone with fossil shells embedded in it. It is pretty soft on the Mohs scale, like maybe a 3-4. Limestone would explain the frothy part.
Your Leopard Jasper, are you meaning leopardskin jasper? (I've never heard of just leopard jasper) If so, that's actually a rhyolite, but most folks call it jasper. Much harder than your Coquina Jasper more like a 6-7 Mohs hardness.
Not so sure these rocks are going to tumble well together. That Coquina Jasper is going to wear down much faster.
Can't help with the Turritella, I have a bunch but haven't played with it yet.
Keep the smalls in the tumbler unless you want to save them before they wear away. If you remove them, other smalls ought to be added.
|
|
johnnymac1969
starting to spend too much on rocks
I Like A Rolling Stone
Member since January 2016
Posts: 139
|
Post by johnnymac1969 on Mar 14, 2016 22:43:55 GMT -5
I've never read that you should move rocks smaller that 1/4 inch. I always leave my smalls in until they disappear. I've never tumbled any of the stuff you listed, so I can't help with them. Are you checking your barrels more than once a week? I only open mine at the weekly clean out time. My Lortone instruction manual says to discard anything smaller than ¼" and so does the "Modern Rock Tumbling" book. I check them every 4-5 days. Mostly because I'm a still a curious newbie, but also because I sometimes find that the grit is completely spent after 4-5 days. Turritella looks AMAZING when properly tumbled and polished, it's my newest favorite rock! It's made of 40-60 million year old sea snail shells that once were in a salt water lake in western North America.
|
|
johnnymac1969
starting to spend too much on rocks
I Like A Rolling Stone
Member since January 2016
Posts: 139
|
Post by johnnymac1969 on Mar 14, 2016 23:07:02 GMT -5
I'm gonna guess that it's your Coquina Jasper turning your slurry red and frothy. Coquina Jasper is actually a limestone with fossil shells embedded in it. It is pretty soft on the Mohs scale, like maybe a 3-4. Limestone would explain the frothy part. Your Leopard Jasper, are you meaning leopardskin jasper? (I've never heard of just leopard jasper) If so, that's actually a rhyolite, but most folks call it jasper. Much harder than your Coquina Jasper more like a 6-7 Mohs hardness. Not so sure these rocks are going to tumble well together. That Coquina Jasper is going to wear down much faster. Can't help with the Turritella, I have a bunch but haven't played with it yet. Keep the smalls in the tumbler unless you want to save them before they wear away. If you remove them, other smalls ought to be added. The eBay seller I bought the "Leopard Jasper" from called it just that. After a quick Google search, I found that it is more commonly called "Leopardskin Jasper"… thank you for that info. As for the Mohs scale, the Leopardskin Jasper is actually wearing down MUCH FASTER than the Coquina. After 2 weeks of 46/70, Ive removed about a dozen Leopardskin for Stage 2 and zero Coquina. Get tumbling on your Turritella… that stuff is fascinating (but takes forever and a day). And I will start ignoring the ¼" rule Ive been reading… you guys are the best! Thank you!
|
|
tkvancil
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2011
Posts: 1,547
|
Post by tkvancil on Mar 15, 2016 11:38:14 GMT -5
You can keep using the 1/4 rocks for smalls. An overabundance can slow things down though. I once loaded a barrel with about 50% 1/8th to 1/4 inch pieces and the rest 3/4 to 2 inch rocks. Reasoning was more smalls = more grinding. In this case too many smalls gummed everything up and I wasted some grit and a weeks time.
Hardness isn't the only measure of how well or how long it takes to tumble. For example I recently started some batches of Jasper and Agate which are both mohs 7. After 8 weeks of taking out good ones I have about 10 pounds of jasper (desert & picture) ready for stage two. As for the agate (mostly Lakers) I have a little less than 5 pounds ready for stage two. I always spend a good amount of time on turritella, could be a "tough" rock indeed.
|
|
|
Post by Peruano on Mar 15, 2016 15:34:46 GMT -5
Turitella can be hard, or at least the black matrix in which the beasties are embedded can be hard. That said its worth mentioning that it can be variable too so if you start out with a slab or particular shape, it may or may not endure without some part wearing or eroding out faster than the rest. That is particularly obvious to me when I slab it and then throw it in the vibe to polish the slabs. Onward with the tumbling. Tom
|
|
johnnymac1969
starting to spend too much on rocks
I Like A Rolling Stone
Member since January 2016
Posts: 139
|
Post by johnnymac1969 on Mar 15, 2016 16:35:57 GMT -5
Thanks guys, great info!
|
|
johnnymac1969
starting to spend too much on rocks
I Like A Rolling Stone
Member since January 2016
Posts: 139
|
Post by johnnymac1969 on Mar 15, 2016 22:27:01 GMT -5
Social experiment… I bet my new "headline" will get a lot more views/responses now.
|
|
|
Post by captbob on Mar 15, 2016 22:37:03 GMT -5
Which question(s) are you still looking for an answer to?
|
|
|
Post by Pat on Mar 15, 2016 23:21:21 GMT -5
You win! You are correct. I cannot answer ANY of them.
|
|
|
Post by Toad on Mar 16, 2016 5:22:08 GMT -5
I've never read that you should move rocks smaller that 1/4 inch. I always leave my smalls in until they disappear. I've never tumbled any of the stuff you listed, so I can't help with them. Are you checking your barrels more than once a week? I only open mine at the weekly clean out time. Ditto to everything said here.
|
|
Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,711
|
Post by Fossilman on Mar 16, 2016 10:26:21 GMT -5
They have all been answered-LOL.....As for the Turritella,they are a tough cookie! Just as baculites and other similar fossils,they are tough!They will beat the heck out of agates(believe it or not)!! They take a while to tumble.....Don't tumble them with other rocks either-you will wish you hadn't.... I also leave all my tumbling sizes in the tumbler till they disappear too..I don't remove anything...I have a batch of granite gravel I use as a filler,its going on it's seventh round...LOL
|
|
|
Post by broseph82 on Mar 16, 2016 11:37:20 GMT -5
The Coquina (elephant jasper, script stone, etc) is the bleeder. It will bleed crazy all over the wheels also. Leopard skin jasper (which indeed is a rhyolite and soft) does not bleed red. Tumbling is all trial and error. good luck!
|
|
scottyh
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since November 2007
Posts: 181
|
Post by scottyh on Mar 19, 2016 0:54:16 GMT -5
Agree with the above comments... I always keep the smalls in as they are great grit carriers. I have tumbled leopard skin jasper before... It will come out great but you will need to keep an eye on it as it can have soft spots which pit.
Cheers Scott
|
|