april
off to a rocking start
Member since November 2018
Posts: 9
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Post by april on Nov 12, 2020 16:02:25 GMT -5
I brought some nice rocks from Turkey this time, still wondering how they let me through the customs White ones turned out to be too soft. I was hoping it was quartz, but they are easily scratched by a steel nail.. still wondering what they are. So, after some hardness testing here are my 2 barrels (going through stage 1 now). Mostly jasper, as I understand. A couple of black ones are magnetic, but hardness 7 it seems...
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thecrystalisle
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since October 2020
Posts: 142
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Post by thecrystalisle on Nov 12, 2020 17:03:41 GMT -5
love the green one with the white spiral
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rockhoundmn
noticing nice landscape pebbles
Member since November 2020
Posts: 75
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Post by rockhoundmn on Nov 12, 2020 21:01:17 GMT -5
These are so pretty! Thanks for posting pics, I'm yet to do my first batch and can't wait.
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kyoti
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2020
Posts: 542
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Post by kyoti on Nov 21, 2020 8:40:36 GMT -5
That's a nice selection of rocks you have there. The white ones could be marble or limestone. They should react to vinegar if they are.(They'll fizz) The blackish ones could be magnetite or possibly hematite. Hematite is usually less magnetic. (Kinda weird for iron ore right? ) I really like the pale purplish banded rock on the upper right of the first picture.
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april
off to a rocking start
Member since November 2018
Posts: 9
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Post by april on Dec 13, 2020 16:20:10 GMT -5
That's a nice selection of rocks you have there. The white ones could be marble or limestone. They should react to vinegar if they are.(They'll fizz) Thanks for the advice! They sure fizz in vinegar like crazy)) Now that means little to no chance to get them polished in rotary tumbler, right?
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april
off to a rocking start
Member since November 2018
Posts: 9
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Post by april on Dec 13, 2020 20:52:15 GMT -5
Second batch, rocks without major defects, after stage 3... 1 more week to go. Any help on identification is much appreciated! Especially interested what the bright red translucent one on the bottom is.
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Post by jasoninsd on Dec 13, 2020 21:22:30 GMT -5
April, those are another great batch of rocks!
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kyoti
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2020
Posts: 542
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Post by kyoti on Dec 14, 2020 8:10:30 GMT -5
Second batch, rocks without major defects, after stage 3... 1 more week to go. Any help on identification is much appreciated! Especially interested what the bright red translucent one on the bottom is. They're looking great! Many of them look like they're either quartz or Jaspers. The bright red one that's translucent could be an agate or carnelian. I haven't tried to Tumble limestone in a rotary tumbler yet but mine did just fine in the vibe tumbler. Just start them off in 120 /250 grit instead of coarse grit. They round very easily, so you may not have to run it for a full week on the first stage. Just check it midweek to see.
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april
off to a rocking start
Member since November 2018
Posts: 9
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Post by april on Dec 24, 2020 3:38:05 GMT -5
Finished the polish stage last week, but it didn't turn out as expected... Some rocks didn't get any shine on them, some others have little shine, some jaspers got real nice (but too few). Also, some of the rocks chipped during the process, so I think I either put too little cushioning (use plastic pellets), or there were some types of rocks that shed particles and ruined the rest of the rocks (or both)... Will post the pics later this week.
Need advice on which rocks to remove from the polishing stage next time.
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kyoti
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2020
Posts: 542
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Post by kyoti on Dec 30, 2020 9:20:02 GMT -5
Some cherts and jaspers are just plain cranky and only take a satin polish. I've noticed my limetone travertine usually goes for a semi gloss or satin finish as well. One thing someone here told me was to make my polish stage smaller and with much more media. It cuts down on chipping and cracking. Basically fewer rocks to bang against one another. I also use Ivory soap shavings and that helps a lot. Learned the trick from greig 's MeMiner videos.
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