NMRockhound
starting to shine!
Member since October 2004
Posts: 48
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Post by NMRockhound on Oct 24, 2004 0:17:31 GMT -5
Here's some samples from a batch of obsidian I tumbled a while ago. The material came from a place in northern Arizona called (appropriately) Obsidian Tank. Lots of big chunks of obsidian all over the place. Some of the material has a subtle grey banding (visible in a stone in the upper right part of the picture and possibly a couple others). This was actually my first batch of obsidian. Not the easiest stuff to work with, but most of the batch escaped without chips and fractures. Enjoy! - Robert  |
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Post by puppie96 on Oct 24, 2004 2:07:34 GMT -5
They look great! Thanks for posting, I've got a batch in polish right now and it will be great to have a comparison.
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Post by rockyraccoon on Oct 24, 2004 3:28:17 GMT -5
one of these days i'm gonna try some obsidian - your's are great!
kim
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rollingstone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2009
Posts: 236
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Post by rollingstone on Oct 24, 2004 3:45:06 GMT -5
Great stuff! Looks remarkably like polished hematite, given its metallic lustre.
Sounds like you collected this yourself...was this at a fee-for-collecting site, or a free collecting site?
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HarryB41
has rocks in the head
Member since September 2004
Posts: 605
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Post by HarryB41 on Oct 24, 2004 6:02:20 GMT -5
Beautiful stuff!! I have caught the bug and just had to do a search and found this website: www.swxrflab.net/swobsrcs.htmI think I will start thinking of next Spring and Summer and see if I can get a vacation together and go looking for rocks.  Harry |
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phoenix1647
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2013
Posts: 186
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Post by phoenix1647 on Oct 24, 2004 8:30:30 GMT -5
Nice shine on those. I am trying to work a batch of Apache Tears and am having a little problem tetting them to shine. I have then in the last stage right now and am hoping for good results. Did you do anything special to get such a shine on yours?...
Pho
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llanago
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,714
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Post by llanago on Oct 24, 2004 8:52:00 GMT -5
Those are so pretty! Great shape and shine! One of these days I will finish this batch I have. Hope they turn out as nice as yours! llana |
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Post by sandsman1 on Oct 24, 2004 11:27:29 GMT -5
hey rob looking good---- great shape and shine
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Post by Cher on Oct 24, 2004 13:51:27 GMT -5
Oooo Robert, those are really nice. Do you use a rotary or a vibe? Dang, I think I need to go to Arizona ... obsidian, apache tears, isn't that where turquoise comes from too?
Cher
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Post by Toad on Oct 24, 2004 13:59:21 GMT -5
I agree with rollingstone, looks a lot like hematite. Very nice.
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NMRockhound
starting to shine!
Member since October 2004
Posts: 48
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Post by NMRockhound on Oct 25, 2004 17:42:20 GMT -5
Thanks for all the kind comments about the obsidian. I did collect the material myself and it's a free site.  It’s in Mitchell’s “Gem Trails of Arizona” book. I used a rotary tumbler, but if memory serves me right, I had to run the batch through two 60/90 charges. After polishing, I burnished for a day or so using 1-2 tablespoons of Ivory shavings. I think the metallic appearance has to do with the lighting that the photo was taken under. They don't look that way in real life. It's amazing how difficult it is to take a photo of a handful of shiny black rocks.  - Robert |
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Post by krazydiamond on Oct 25, 2004 17:55:18 GMT -5
NM, what did you use for polish? i used Tin Oxide on my first (and prabably only) batch of obsidian....it's tough stuff to get right....nice job on that batch!
KD
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It’s in Mitchell’s “Gem Trails of Arizona” book. I used a rotary tumbler, but if memory serves me right, I had to run the batch through two 60/90 charges. After polishing, I burnished for a day or so using 1-2 tablespoons of Ivory shavings. 
