richardh
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2016
Posts: 391
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Post by richardh on Dec 29, 2016 1:54:20 GMT -5
I decided that I wanted to torture myself a little and started looking through the rough for sale over at The Rock Shed and the Turritella Agate caught my eye.
Has anyone tried tumbling this material? If so how difficult is it to get shiny? I had some fossil Jasper that looked sort of similar that I have never been able to get shiny.
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osuguy0301
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2015
Posts: 203
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Post by osuguy0301 on Dec 29, 2016 7:49:51 GMT -5
I had some Turritella agate that came in my mixed bags from the Rock Shed. I threw it in with everything else and it came out pretty good. Because it was some of my first tumbles, I wasn't patient enough to let them shape properly but they did come out with a nice shine on them. I ran them start to finish in a rotary tumbler.
Jake
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Post by orrum on Dec 29, 2016 8:13:56 GMT -5
It shines and shapes very well. The rough has a pitted problem in my experience that is on the outside. The inside is where the good is. Avoid Brown matric, IT'S Muddy Stuff. Why is this typing like that? Anyway if slabbing you have to orient it to get more shells laying on their side otherwise it's just round rings of white outline.
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,456
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Post by Sabre52 on Dec 29, 2016 9:01:03 GMT -5
Yep, it takes a good shine. As orrum said, use the inside parts that are good and black. Exteriors tend to be more brown matrix and much more porous or pitted. Admittedly, it does take a good long run in coarse to shape but it is an interesting stone and makes tumbles that the kids love. If you ever slice any before tumbling or cabbing, cut through the black sections parallel to the top and bottom of the vein for the best shell patterns. You get less cuts but the results are well worth the trouble....Mel
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richardh
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2016
Posts: 391
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Post by richardh on Dec 29, 2016 9:48:39 GMT -5
Thanks very much for the feedback. I'll put it on my wish list.
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mikeinsjc
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2010
Posts: 329
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Post by mikeinsjc on Dec 29, 2016 17:22:39 GMT -5
Just took some out of my 40lb barrel this morning. You may have to run it through the coarse grind for two cycles to smooth it down, but I polish it right along with agate and wood. Lots of this stuff around. Would not pay more than $3/lb for it.
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napoleonrags
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2015
Posts: 474
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Post by napoleonrags on Dec 29, 2016 21:18:24 GMT -5
I like the stuff, but it's kind of smelly.
It's very textured: so I've never have been able to get it perfectly smooth, aND it rolls longer in the first stage.
It's a nice rock though. I give most of my rocks away to students, and when I have a few torts in the mix they're always picked.
There's a good place in Wyoming to collect it. I need to get more.
Gather no moss Colin
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Post by pghram on Dec 31, 2016 23:01:02 GMT -5
I have tumbled it but if memory serves me correctly it was from the gemshop. It's a fun tumble.
Peace,
Rich
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