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Post by hermatite on Nov 4, 2004 10:56:06 GMT -5
For halloween we were walking through a pumpkin patch and apple orchard...under a tree I found this hunk of what I think might be petrified wood. I banged it with another rocks and it didn't break like old wood...I can scratch it but it doesn't crumble.  So I slabbed some of it. (I'm home with strep throat and rock sawing doesn't seem to play me out too much).  But the slabs are easily broken. Did I cut them too thin? or is it possible that this wood isn't petrified and is just going to turn to mush in the tumbler? I don't know how to tell. Please help! P.s. it seems to have pretty nice banding...I hope you can make it out (again...apologies for the photo). |
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Post by BearCreekLapidary on Nov 4, 2004 11:02:46 GMT -5
Hey Herm, If it is in fact petrified wood ... it may be a poor specimen. Some petrified woods do not offer much in the way of being used in tumbling/jewelry. It all depends on how the wood was replaced with  Highly agatized pieces are great for such uses ... where other pieces may have been replaced by calcite or some other mineral ... which basically leaves them as specimens. Unless you are cutting your slabs at less than 2mm - 3mm ... they should be just fine. Not all petrified wood is created equal ... some are agatized, some are jasperized and some are even opalized and yes, some are just specimens ... due to their physical properties. I hope this helps, John |
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Post by hermatite on Nov 4, 2004 11:05:09 GMT -5
Thanks bear!...do I just dump it in the tumbler and see what happens? Or is there some test I can do? I tried asking the stone what it was, but it was like talking to a ROCK.  |
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Post by BearCreekLapidary on Nov 4, 2004 11:17:54 GMT -5
Hey Herm,
I have always looked at the stone and been able to make a decision from there. I guess it comes with years of field experience.
I look for a glossy exterior, and see if the stone is the same composition all the way through. Does it have any concoidal fractures on it (shell like ripples that start on the edge of a chip and radiate outwardly)? If it has this type of chip fractures on it ... it is generally good enough to use for tumbling/jewelry. But, if the physical composition of the stone is dull and breaks/fractures with no distinguishable charachteristics ... it is probably not suitable for such purposes.
I hope this helps,
John
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Post by BearCreekLapidary on Nov 4, 2004 11:19:43 GMT -5
Herm, I hope you are feeling better. I mean you get to stay home and cut rocks ... you should be feeling much better ;D Seriously ... I hope you get to feeling better soon John |
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Post by hermatite on Nov 4, 2004 11:32:55 GMT -5
LOL thanks...I play out easily...it's saw a slab, rest, look at the slab, rest, take pic of slab, rest... kind of a drag but hey, people in the world are really sick...I'm not complaining. Thanks for the advice. I think it might be just a mediocre piece, but what the hey, I'll chuck it in the tumbler and see what happens.
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Post by BearCreekLapidary on Nov 4, 2004 11:46:20 GMT -5
Hello Herm,
Sounds good to me!
Take care and get to feeling better,
John
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Post by krazydiamond on Nov 4, 2004 13:49:24 GMT -5
yeh, i'd give it a shot, they look like nice pieces.
get to feeling better soon, Herm,
KD
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deepsouth
fully equipped rock polisher
He who rocks last rocks best
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,256
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Post by deepsouth on Nov 5, 2004 0:46:23 GMT -5
Hi Herm , get better soon , but not too soon or you have to get back to real work haha.
Yes , just throw the pieces in the tumbler. That's the only way to find out if they are any good. We all do get some nice surprises by trying our luck.
Enjoy
Jack
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Post by hermatite on Nov 5, 2004 9:44:00 GMT -5
Funny story...I was talking to my husband about the slab..."But HOW do I know if it's really petrified and not just old wood?" I was fretting. "I thought maybe there's some scientific test I could do but I can't seem to think of anything. I've been wracking my brain all day."
And my husband says (and this is why I love him) "Did you try seeing if it'd float?"
LOL DUH! No that never even occurred to me. It sinks like stone...it must BE stone. God...to think I wasted all day thinking about this.
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Post by Cher on Nov 5, 2004 10:59:55 GMT -5
Aww Herm, strep throat is the worst! Hope you feel better soon.
Cher
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Highly agatized pieces are great for such uses ... where other pieces may have been replaced by calcite or some other mineral ... which basically leaves them as specimens.
