|
|
Post by Tweetiepy on Oct 1, 2005 14:07:14 GMT -5
I've had this batch going since the 1995 it seems - Its a mix of Canadian amethyst, kinda local quartz, serpentine, pet wood, agates (brazilian & lace) & various other stuff. Here is the complete batch - 3# bbl - lotsa pellets - still turned out kinda crappy (maybe my expectations were too high - I used the Lortone grits)  Amethyst - yummy  Here are some close-ups - this one's got a cool pattern - like a spiral of some sort    Pet wood  Moonstone? -Can you see the fire within?  Remember those apatites? Here are two that survived...  Thanks for looking  |
|
rollingstone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2009
Posts: 236
|
Post by rollingstone on Oct 1, 2005 14:28:55 GMT -5
They look pretty darned good to me ... nicely rounded, nice shine, I don't see what you don't like about them?
The moonstone is rather chipped, but that's supposed to be very tricky stuff to tumble, so not to worry. And yes, I see the flashes!
|
|
|
|
Post by Cher on Oct 1, 2005 14:43:35 GMT -5
Looks like a pretty nice batch to me too Tweet, but I know what you
mean. Sometimes you just expect it to be extra somehow. That's a
great shot of the fire in the moonstone.
Cher
|
|
|
|
Post by Cher on Oct 1, 2005 15:01:16 GMT -5
Hey Tweet, what's the pretty aqua/teal one in the first pic,
just to the right of the amethyst? It's very pretty.
|
|
|
|
Post by krazydiamond on Oct 1, 2005 15:36:24 GMT -5
not totally disappointing! you got a few real nice pieces and some well shaped, well polished stones in that batch.....and that moonstone kinda looks like that piece of "vietnamese jade" i posted recently...hmmm...i wonder?
that one piece of amethyst with the perfect chevron (5th pic) is my pic of the litter.
KD
|
|
|
|
Post by Tweetiepy on Oct 1, 2005 16:33:04 GMT -5
Thanks guys, I should say I'm dissapointed because I was expecting a much better shine - when you look at the rock, I see little "patterns" on the surface kinda like it,s not completely smooth - bothers me. I ot a lot of chips too and bad finishes that don't show up due to my bad photography skills
Cher, that's amazonite, it's fantastic - that one shone very well - I have some other pieces that I'll try to cab tomorrow at my class!
|
|
|
|
Post by Cher on Oct 1, 2005 17:10:53 GMT -5
Amazonite huh? Ok, another to add to my wish list. If you
don't mind me asking Tweet, where did you get it?
|
|
|
|
Post by Tweetiepy on Oct 1, 2005 17:38:33 GMT -5
I *ahem* got it from my club president - they got it from collecting trips around here - I'm not sure where, I can ask
|
|
|
|
Post by Cher on Oct 1, 2005 18:36:41 GMT -5
Hey Tweet, know where any of these places are? Canada * Northwest Territories o O'Grady Lake area + Stargazer Claim CanRockhound v.3, n.1 * Ontario o Hastings Co. + Bancroft District # Monteagle Township * Hybla o MacDonald mine No reference listed o Woodcox Mine No reference listed * McCormack Mine (North and South) Ref.: Geological Survey of Canada Miscellaneous Report 39. * Plunkett Mine Ref.: Geological Survey of Canada Miscellaneous Report 39. * Thompson Mine Geological Survey of Canada Miscellaneous Report 39 * Watson Mine GSC misc. report 39 o Nipissing District + Mattawan Township # Mattawan * McMeekin Amazonite occurrence Geological Survey of Canada Paper 70-50. o Renfrew Co. + Eganville # Berger Amazonite occurrence Geological Survey of Canada Paper 70-50 + Lyndoch Township # Quadeville * Beryl Pit Rocks and Minerals For The Collector: Ottawa to Northbay, Ontario; Hull to Waltham * Québec o Papineau Co. + Portland Township # St-Pierre-de-Wakefield * Evans-Lou Mine No reference listed * Leduc Mine Got this info at mindat.org, here's the link, scroll down, some of the names are clickable. www.mindat.org/show.php?id=184&ld=1&pho= |
|
|
|
Post by Tweetiepy on Oct 1, 2005 18:55:18 GMT -5
Hey Tweet, know where any of these places are? Canada + Bancroft District # St-Pierre-de-Wakefield * Evans-Lou Mine * Leduc Mine Got this info at mindat.org, here's the link, scroll down, some of the names are clickable. www.mindat.org/show.php?id=184&ld=1&pho=Holy canoly Cher you've been busy! I've left those that I've heard of - although I've been carpooled to some of them so I don't know EXACTLY where they are but I've heard of them or I've been there Evans Lou or Mine Leduc is where the amazonite may come from So many mines ro visit, so little money to pay for gas!  |
|
|
|
Post by Alice on Oct 1, 2005 19:39:24 GMT -5
disapointed?
Tweetie, they look great!
I especially like the amethyst that's 2 toned... kind of chevron shaped.
|
|
tinman
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since May 2005
Posts: 197
|
Post by tinman on Oct 1, 2005 20:40:41 GMT -5
I would say you are a pick person you did great on that batch
Tinman
|
|
|
|
Post by rockds on Oct 1, 2005 21:33:55 GMT -5
Humm, I'm new at this and have yet to finish a batch but I would be very pleased with my efforts if I have my stones looking that good. Thanks for sharing
Robert
|
|
|
|
Post by LCARS on Oct 1, 2005 23:42:16 GMT -5
Tweety, I've had problems with fine lines showing up on my white quartz but have yet to do another run...
If you are using the "new" Lortone 4-stage compounds, I would say you are safer blaming those over anything you did or didn't do. Don't be so hard on yourself. If you followed tumbling protocol & selected your ammo correctly there isn't much else you can do but let 'em roll!
I used what was left of my old compounds when i first got my tumbler, following the guides I had read on tumbling & all three batches came out really nice.
As soon as I bought a new 4-stage kit my results have gone downhill & I haven't changed my technique.
What I would recommend is putting the ones you are not happy with back into pre-polish & use cerium oxide or titanium oxide to polish them instead of the alox powder that Lortone is trying to push as "polish".
When I used the old style polish on my beach glass it came out super sparkly after only three & a half days!
When I tried the same thing with the "new stuff" I had nothing but a light frost after a week & a half!
After posting on here about my problems, I followed the ever wise advice of the members, went out & bought another brand of polish and have been waiting for another chance to settle the score with that beach glass ever since.
I restarted my aborted beach glass polish run two days ago & I just popped the drum open to have a peek this evening... Well, GUESS WHAT?!?!
THEY ARE NOW TAKING A SHINE! WOOHOOOO!!!!
(I figure one more day or two & they're finally done!)
It was the compounds I was using & not my fault after all! I feel relieved & gratified!
I'm convinced the new Lortone compounds are CRAP!
If you want the good results, buck up for the better compounds and you won't be disapointed!
|
|
SteveHolmes
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2009
Posts: 1,900
|
Post by SteveHolmes on Oct 2, 2005 2:08:35 GMT -5
Tweet,
What you talkin' bout "WILLIS?!?" They look Shiny and Purrty to me. Don't be so hard on yourself. WOoo-Hooo, I didn't use GREAT! Thanks for sharing some pics of your stuff.
Steve
|
|
|
|
Post by creativeminded on Oct 2, 2005 9:40:42 GMT -5
I think they turned out great.
Tami
|
|
stefan
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
|
Post by stefan on Oct 3, 2005 13:47:53 GMT -5
Tweet- Why the dissappiontment? THe pix are great- The rocks look like they took a great shine- the pits- well I did'nt see any but sometimes the pits just go with the territory! I think your being too hard on yourself! Oh and that mmonstone- ACES!!!! love the fire- I would be so tempted to cab that one!
|
|
