tumblee
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since March 2021
Posts: 154
|
Post by tumblee on Jun 23, 2021 23:27:46 GMT -5
Other than a landslide, are their certain rocks that should be avoided? Any dust from sawing can't be good as we all know, but wondering about handling slurry and medias that may absorb into the skin. Safety tips?
|
|
|
Post by Rockoonz on Jun 24, 2021 9:36:57 GMT -5
If you are working stuff by hand on saws grinders and sanders a good mask is a good idea, all the good stones are silica based and it's not good to breathe silica. As for tumbling, I wear gloves when dealing with it, but because a lot of the mineral content can stain skin and gets under fingernails. I can't speak to it from a place of medical knowledga cause I don't have much of that. I have learned that marble and calcite can be hazardous to tumbler barrels because it can gas off and pressurize the barrel, but I really doubt that absorption through skin will be an issue for most people. the reusable yellow dishwashing gloves are affordable though, and like I said it's good for rocks with hematite and whatnot. If you cut cabs keep the wheels wet.
|
|
reeniebeany
starting to spend too much on rocks
Rotary Only
Member since January 2020
Posts: 125
|
Post by reeniebeany on Jun 24, 2021 21:56:26 GMT -5
Mask and eye protection when sawing - flying shards are no fun. www.gemsociety.org/article/gemstone-toxicity-table/It has a lot of stuff that gets tumbled. I think some kind person here gave me the link. I still a n00b, so others here have more insight on the topic. Fwiw, I wear safety glasses, but end up yanking the gloves off in frustration. I have wide hands and short fingers, so it is hard to get anything that fits. If I were sawing or grinding I would wear gloves regardless, but for washing and managing slurry, etc. I don't.
|
|
|
Post by rmf on Jun 25, 2021 9:10:48 GMT -5
As you can see from the list reeniebeany listed above the big issue for lapidary is silicosis since most rocks we polish are silicates. However, there can be traces of other minerals that could be in what you are cutting like lead, arsenic, mercury, usually grinding in water or sawing in oil/water will keep these from being aerosolized. If you don't breathe it and don't eat it you should not have to worry. Note that polishing cabochons of Azurite and Malachite dry can also cause problems with copper carbonate dust. the lungs do not like this at all. Also avoid the dust of organics like shell (oyster, abalone, clam). I have never worried about gloves when washing my tumbler or grinding and sawing but you need to check out or know what you are working on. Know the chemical formulas for minerals before you cut.
|
|
gatorflash1
spending too much on rocks
Active in Delaware Mineralogical Society, Cabchon Grinding and Polishing, 2 Thumlers B's and a UV-18
Member since October 2018
Posts: 375
|
Post by gatorflash1 on Jun 30, 2021 13:30:14 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by rmf on Jun 30, 2021 13:42:50 GMT -5
Yes that is informative but Tigereye is not Asbestos/Tremolite as barclay said. Poorly replaced tigereye certainly has tremolite in it and I have a piece of nice tigereye that has asbestos on one end. Tigereye is "fossil" tremolite where the fibers and the space between them have all been replaced by silica (similar to petrification). You have the same fibreous structure preserved but the material is SiO2 and if good and solid has little if any tremolite left. this does not mean you should not be careful. I put a dash of soap in my water to make it wetter. Have not had any problems with dust.
|
|