dreamrocks
fully equipped rock polisher
I got lucky this morning and was able to post this no others since
Member since November 2018
Posts: 1,232
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Post by dreamrocks on Mar 26, 2020 14:35:01 GMT -5
Yes please don’t keep us in suspense we all would like to see how to do that then I can check my rose quartz. I though you need a special pin point light source like Gia sells for around $70.00
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dreamrocks
fully equipped rock polisher
I got lucky this morning and was able to post this no others since
Member since November 2018
Posts: 1,232
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Post by dreamrocks on Mar 26, 2020 14:41:37 GMT -5
Pinpoint Incandescent Flashlight
$64.95
Used for spectroscope testing and to inspect gemstones for phenomena.
Usually ships in 1 business day.
Eligible students can enter code STUDKIT to receive a discount on one order of this product.
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Post by joshuamcduffie on Mar 26, 2020 14:51:52 GMT -5
Pinpoint Incandescent Flashlight $64.95 Used for spectroscope testing and to inspect gemstones for phenomena. Usually ships in 1 business day. Eligible students can enter code STUDKIT to receive a discount on one order of this product. STUDKIT - I like a discount but I don’t need a kit for that. |
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RWA3006
Cave Dweller 
Member since March 2009
Posts: 4,640 
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Post by RWA3006 on Mar 26, 2020 15:00:22 GMT -5
Pinpoint Incandescent Flashlight $64.95 Used for spectroscope testing and to inspect gemstones for phenomena. Usually ships in 1 business day. Eligible students can enter code STUDKIT to receive a discount on one order of this product. STUDKIT - I like a discount but I don’t need a kit for that. Haha, good one. Years ago I worked at a hardware store and a lady came in and asked for a stud finder. Without missing a beat, I said my wife was the best one around. Whoosh, it went right over her head and I proceeded to help her find one and get her on her way. ETA, sorry for the derail. |
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Post by Starguy on Mar 26, 2020 15:01:58 GMT -5
RWA3006 MsAli NDKI’m kind of partial to these little guys. Coast G10. Purchased for around $10. They’re small enough to carry in a pocket. When I see polished rose quartz, I just pick it up and shine the light on the surface. I look for one of the legs of the star then follow it until it crosses another leg. That’s the star. I’ll attach a photo of one of the legs. As with any star material, the star can be non-uniform if the stone is not round.  
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dreamrocks
fully equipped rock polisher
I got lucky this morning and was able to post this no others since
Member since November 2018
Posts: 1,232
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Post by dreamrocks on Mar 26, 2020 15:03:35 GMT -5
I have check every where to but that pin point light but it’s only sold through them.
I was going to buy a desk top spectrometer with stand and fiber optic incandescent light with pin point light source from gemstone press.
However as the old saying goes “ you snooze you lose” reason is the company making the spectroscope and light went out of business now they only place I have found that kit or light was from overseas.
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RWA3006
Cave Dweller
Member since March 2009
Posts: 4,640
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Post by RWA3006 on Mar 26, 2020 15:07:55 GMT -5
Starguy Thanks. What kind of luck would be expected if the light were shined at rough rose quartz? Do all stones need a polish to identify asterism? Thanks
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dreamrocks
fully equipped rock polisher
I got lucky this morning and was able to post this no others since
Member since November 2018
Posts: 1,232
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Post by dreamrocks on Mar 26, 2020 15:16:04 GMT -5
Sorry to say but that or about any light will work on a polished stone but never for checking rough. A good star on a polished stone does not need a light source on the other hand cutting, sawing rough then making a cab that shows a star in the right orientation is a hole different ball game.
There is a trick to orientation I found that seems to work ok is wetting a piece of rough then rotate the cubed rough then looking for eye or star with light shinning on it, dry and mark it with out losing the spot. Look at all sides pick the best star or eye.
The old way calls for oil, pin point light source by making a hole in card board then looking down through the hole where rough is placed over light then rotating the stone
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Post by Starguy on Mar 26, 2020 15:18:02 GMT -5
RWA3006 It’s a little tougher with rough rose quartz but it can be done. It’s hard to see a star but you can recognize a leg. If it has a leg, it will have a star. I have a piece of rough that I can see legs on. I’ll try to get a picture of it. Here is a rough piece of star rose quartz. You can see the leg near the end of my thumb. Asterism is easier to identify on garnet and corundum. 
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RWA3006
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Member since March 2009
Posts: 4,640
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Post by RWA3006 on Mar 26, 2020 15:28:29 GMT -5
Now you guys did it! For the next hour I'll be feverishly going through my pile of rose quartz with a flashlight.
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Post by Starguy on Mar 26, 2020 15:33:21 GMT -5
That’s funny RWA3006. There could be worse things than looking at rocks. |
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NDK
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Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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Post by NDK on Mar 26, 2020 15:51:15 GMT -5
Thank you Starguy, that's simple enough 👍 |
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wpotterw
spending too much on rocks
Member since September 2016
Posts: 446
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Post by wpotterw on Mar 26, 2020 16:10:13 GMT -5
RWA3006 MsAli NDK I’m kind of partial to these little guys. Coast G10. Purchased for around $10. They’re small enough to carry in a pocket. When I see polished rose quartz, I just pick it up and shine the light on the surface. I look for one of the legs of the star then follow it until it crosses another leg. That’s the star. I’ll attach a photo of one of the legs. As with any star material, the star can be non-uniform if the stone is not round. I have a piece of rough Rose Q that is supposed to be star. Planning to toss it in the first tumbler load after we move and see if it really is. Will try your method first... |
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gemfeller
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Member since June 2011
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Post by gemfeller on Mar 26, 2020 16:24:56 GMT -5
The old method of orienting asterism in rose quartz was to cut a cube, then to carefully grind it into a sphere. The star would become visible under a flashlight beam with application of a light oil or something similar. Then the apex of the star was marked on both sides and the sphere cut in half to create two matched star stones after final sanding and polishing. Here are a couple of links that might be of interest: www.nordskip.com/rose.htmlquartzpage.de/rose.html |
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Post by Starguy on Mar 26, 2020 17:18:00 GMT -5
gemfellerThanks for the links. Both articles are very interesting. Did you see the picture of the garnet crystal I cut in half? Garnets are pretty crazy the way their asterism presents.
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Post by fernwood on Mar 26, 2020 17:30:58 GMT -5
dreamrocks Very interesting list. I had no idea so many different rocks could have stars.
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dreamrocks
fully equipped rock polisher
I got lucky this morning and was able to post this no others since
Member since November 2018
Posts: 1,232
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Post by dreamrocks on Mar 26, 2020 17:48:40 GMT -5
That as good as I could take the font is pretty small
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gemfeller
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Member since June 2011
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Post by gemfeller on Mar 26, 2020 18:59:54 GMT -5
dreamrocks, I tried using Star Refractol on several pieces of rough quartz I know will star, but no luck -- so far. It was a quick-and-dirty test and I'll try again. I may try a tiny drop of honey next. Lack of results may be due to the fact that star rose quartz usually displays epiasterism: stars show only via transmitted light, not reflected light as with star sapphire etc.(diasterism). That's probably why they're so hard to photograph.
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dreamrocks
fully equipped rock polisher
I got lucky this morning and was able to post this no others since
Member since November 2018
Posts: 1,232
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Post by dreamrocks on Mar 26, 2020 19:09:23 GMT -5
dreamrocks, I tried using Star Refractol on several pieces of rough quartz I know will star, but no luck -- so far. It was a quick-and-dirty test and I'll try again. I may try a tiny drop of honey next. Lack of results may be due to the fact that star rose quartz usually displays epiasterism: stars show only via transmitted light, not reflected light as with star sapphire etc.(diasterism). That's probably why they're so hard to photograph. Another problem is not every piece will have a star or eye. Its like comparing rocks that fluoresce from the same location some do and some don’t |
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