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Post by holajonathan on Oct 8, 2021 14:40:51 GMT -5
Nothing great here, but a little Friday morning fun. The best is the rainbow "onxy" compliments of stephan . Fast and easy to cab. Polished well for a soft rock. These four cabs were polished through 14,000 diamond. No final AO polish yet.
Mexican "laguna" lace oddball -- from a colorful but horribly fractured slab. I cut out the most solid part and cabbed it. Goofy shape; pretty colors.   Kaleidoscope jasper The rant (skip if not interested in the quality of this material)Don't buy this stuff. The Oregon kind. A family business. I should have listened. Strike 1: Not as colorful as photos. Strike 2: Heavily fractured and uneven hardness in an unpredictable, maddening sort of way. Sometimes green is hard... other times soft. Same with yellow. The only (mostly) solid colors are orange/brown/red tones -- like the cabs below. They still managed to pit and undercut. Strike 3: Untruthful information from seller. I exchanged at least 10 messages with the seller (a family member) before buying. She assured me that this newer material did not have problems with uneven hardness or fractures. The rocks are amazing, I was told, super high grade, hard as nails, dripping with chalcedony, from her "personal collection." I asked all the right questions, got the answers I was looking for, but those answers simply were not true... The sad truth: There is not a good rock in the super expensive flat rate box of primo "personal collection" material. (I paid extra for "the best mined this year.") What I received is worth, at most, $1 a pound. They are all basically the same drab colors once you get through the surface layer. Nevertheless, in an act of delusional hubris, this mining family has identified and named something like 20 sub-types of their jasper, based on supposedly common themes in colors and patterns (most super rare, i.e., expensive.) They have developed an amazing amount of marketing gimmicks and machinations to peddle poor quality, drab rocks as $10-$20 per pound kaleidoscope-amazingness. Did I mention that I purchased from her "personal collection"? In conclusion: unrealistic photos, bad to cab, not very pretty, expensive, unsavory seller. AVOID. I've seen amazing photos of kaleidoscope jasper -- almost always wet rough or wet slabs. Very few photos of great cabs. Never seen an amazing polished slab. I wonder why? If you want some colorful jasper, get some Gary Green or Dead Camel. Both are somewhat similar, better quality (despite having their own quirks), and cost a lot less. End of rant. The Cabs
  Photos do not look terrible, but I tried really hard to get some decent cabs from this material. I carefully slabbed the rough trying to avoid fractures. I marked preforms on the most solid parts of the best slabs, even if those spots had boring colors / patterns. While cabbing, I used a light touch, and kept grinding the dome lower and lower looking for solid material. I spent a few hours on these very mediocre cabs with a flawed finish. Shown here with glare to highlight pitting and undercutting. Would hate to see what the rocks look like that didn't make it into her "personal collection."   Rainbow "onxy" (calcite?) -- Ending on a happier note. Thanks stephan !! Just like the real thing  |
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Post by hummingbirdstones2 on Oct 8, 2021 17:39:24 GMT -5
Thanks for the info. It's a real shame to hear about the Kaleidoscope Jasper.
We bought a bunch of that ten+ years ago. Some "flavors" simply would not take a consistent polish. Total write-offs. Other varieties would polish perfectly. Others were somewhere in between. Not a glassy finish, but what some call a "satin" finish. These were reasonably consistent, but not a high polish at all.
After that they started putting some incredibly colorful stuff up, but we never bought any due to the crazy auction prices people were paying.
We did find that people would buy (willingly - looking at the cabs in their hand) even the "satin" finishes because of the patterns and colors. We might still have one or two cabs from back then - all the rest sold, and I really need to cut some more.
The pieces in your photos here definitely don't have the color and pattern I would've expected even from a "lower grade" Kaleidoscope Jasper.
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Post by jasoninsd on Oct 8, 2021 18:22:17 GMT -5
I can see why you're pretty ticked off about the Kaleidoscope Jasper! Do you know the names of some of the other sub-types that they're peddling? I just looked at my supply of Rainbow Onyx... stephan being the same source...and was pondering using that for the monthly challenge as it has "Fall" colors. You got a really great polish on that one.  |
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Post by stephan on Oct 8, 2021 18:56:38 GMT -5
holajonathan Nice job on those, material notwithstanding on the kaleidoscope. I used to want some of that, but then when I read the mine owner's website, some red flags went off. Reports since then have been hit and miss (and I'm beginning to think that the glowing reports are written by the family). Glad you like the "onyx." I am surprised as well at how well it takes a shine for something so soft. hummingbirdstones2 yeah. By the time I became aware of it, I always thought the prices of kaleidoscope were insane jasoninsd That "onyx" stuff definitely has fall colors
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Post by holajonathan on Oct 8, 2021 19:32:37 GMT -5
Thanks for the info. It's a real shame to hear about the Kaleidoscope Jasper.
We bought a bunch of that ten+ years ago. Some "flavors" simply would not take a consistent polish. Total write-offs. Other varieties would polish perfectly. Others were somewhere in between. Not a glassy finish, but what some call a "satin" finish. These were reasonably consistent, but not a high polish at all.
After that they started putting some incredibly colorful stuff up, but we never bought any due to the crazy auction prices people were paying.
We did find that people would buy (willingly - looking at the cabs in their hand) even the "satin" finishes because of the patterns and colors. We might still have one or two cabs from back then - all the rest sold, and I really need to cut some more.
The pieces in your photos here definitely don't have the color and pattern I would've expected even from a "lower grade" Kaleidoscope Jasper.
I have very colorful pieces from the box, but the yellow is so soft in a lot of the slabs that I can dig it out with a screw driver blade. Other slabs have soft green. I haven't slabbed it all, but in a sampling of 4 rocks, all had soft areas / colors, not to mention the fractures. I cabbed the pieces shown here because they looked super solid. More of a test of the material than an attempt to make great cabs. Unfortunately, they failed the test. |
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Post by holajonathan on Oct 8, 2021 19:35:43 GMT -5
holajonathan Nice job on those, material notwithstanding on the kaleidoscope. I used to want some of that, but then when I read the mine owner's website, some red flags went off. Reports since then have been hit and miss (and I'm beginning to think that the glowing reports are written by the family). Glad you like the "onyx." I am surprised as well at how well it takes a shine for something so soft. hummingbirdstones2 yeah. By the time I became aware of it, I always thought the prices of kaleidoscope were insane jasoninsd That "onyx" stuff definitely has fall colors Do you remember where you got the "onyx"? Or where it is from? (geographic location) I am starting to like cabbing the softer stones as break from hard agates. The rainbow onyx you sent me polishes better than other similar "onyx" rocks I have tried (strawberry onyx, silver lace onyx). |
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Post by holajonathan on Oct 8, 2021 19:43:00 GMT -5
I can see why you're pretty ticked off about the Kaleidoscope Jasper! Do you know the names of some of the other sub-types that they're peddling? I just looked at my supply of Rainbow Onyx... stephan being the same source...and was pondering using that for the monthly challenge as it has "Fall" colors. You got a really great polish on that one. Some of their marketing puffery re the over 25!!!! varieties "We are still identifying the many varieties of Gem Rocks and are happy to announce over 25 easily identifiable varieties of rock have been located... The rarest Kaleidoscope Jasper is (Tapestry) that will knock your socks off, it is an organic type wood. A Candy Stripe variety that will leave you in awe with the sheen affect if cut at the right angle, experiment alittle with various angles when cutting...Kaleidoscope is identified by various sub names as so many of the deposits in this small parcel are unique, like: Blazing Flame, Floating Orb, The Purple Picture Jasper Kaleidoscope, Rhodestone Kaleidoscope Jasper, Candy Stripe, Mexican Cherry, Endeavor(C), Red flame, Christmas Tree, Gypsy Jasper Kaleidoscope(C), Angelic Picture Wood Jasper Kaleidoscope, Red Velvet, Psychedelic which is another organic type with various materials it gathered during solidification. just to name a few!!!" The Purple Picture Jasper Kaleidoscope? Angelic Picture Wood Jasper Kaleidoscope? I thought Royal Imperial Jasper was mouthful. |
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Post by holajonathan on Oct 8, 2021 19:47:17 GMT -5
Thanks for the info. It's a real shame to hear about the Kaleidoscope Jasper.
We bought a bunch of that ten+ years ago. Some "flavors" simply would not take a consistent polish. Total write-offs. Other varieties would polish perfectly. Others were somewhere in between. Not a glassy finish, but what some call a "satin" finish. These were reasonably consistent, but not a high polish at all.
After that they started putting some incredibly colorful stuff up, but we never bought any due to the crazy auction prices people were paying.
We did find that people would buy (willingly - looking at the cabs in their hand) even the "satin" finishes because of the patterns and colors. We might still have one or two cabs from back then - all the rest sold, and I really need to cut some more.
The pieces in your photos here definitely don't have the color and pattern I would've expected even from a "lower grade" Kaleidoscope Jasper.
As for the polish not being up to par for jasper, I think it's a silicified mud type of "jasper," not chalcedony and not of volcanic origins. The area around the Rhodes' mine is not known for chalcedony deposits. Some of the silicified mud type "jaspers," like Mookaite, take a great shine. Others, like Noreena, are hit or miss. I test polished a few little slabs (not the cabs I posted today) and most of them took a very respectable polish. That isn't really the problem with the material I've got. |
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Post by jasoninsd on Oct 8, 2021 19:48:10 GMT -5
I can see why you're pretty ticked off about the Kaleidoscope Jasper! Do you know the names of some of the other sub-types that they're peddling? I just looked at my supply of Rainbow Onyx... stephan being the same source...and was pondering using that for the monthly challenge as it has "Fall" colors. You got a really great polish on that one. Some of their marketing puffery re the over 25!!!! varieties "We are still identifying the many varieties of Gem Rocks and are happy to announce over 25 easily identifiable varieties of rock have been located... The rarest Kaleidoscope Jasper is (Tapestry) that will knock your socks off, it is an organic type wood. A Candy Stripe variety that will leave you in awe with the sheen affect if cut at the right angle, experiment alittle with various angles when cutting...Kaleidoscope is identified by various sub names as so many of the deposits in this small parcel are unique, like: Blazing Flame, Floating Orb, The Purple Picture Jasper Kaleidoscope, Rhodestone Kaleidoscope Jasper, Candy Stripe, Mexican Cherry, Endeavor(C), Red flame, Christmas Tree, Gypsy Jasper Kaleidoscope(C), Angelic Picture Wood Jasper Kaleidoscope, Red Velvet, Psychedelic which is another organic type with various materials it gathered during solidification. just to name a few!!!" The Purple Picture Jasper Kaleidoscope? Angelic Picture Wood Jasper Kaleidoscope? I thought Royal Imperial Jasper was mouthful. Thanks for posting those! I will make sure those are off the "to get" list! I guess the biggest question is whether it was ethically sourced?  (Because it doesn't appear to be ethically sold!) |
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Post by parfive on Oct 8, 2021 19:51:04 GMT -5
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Post by hummingbirdstones2 on Oct 8, 2021 21:57:47 GMT -5
Holy Crap! Followed a link in the RTH thread mentioned above.
No freakin' way!!! I can't think of a slab of anything I'd pay that kind of price for. Gold In Quartz, maybe... .
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Post by jasoninsd on Oct 8, 2021 22:24:02 GMT -5
Holy Crap! Followed a link in the RTH thread mentioned above.
No freakin' way!!! I can't think of a slab of anything I'd pay that kind of price for. Gold In Quartz, maybe... .
Heck they didn't even take the nub off that slab! Of course, I just saw this slab get sold on eBay the other day...and yes...it's a SLAB!  |
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Post by stephan on Oct 9, 2021 0:33:13 GMT -5
Holy Crap! Followed a link in the RTH thread mentioned above.
No freakin' way!!! I can't think of a slab of anything I'd pay that kind of price for. Gold In Quartz, maybe... .
Heck they didn't even take the nub off that slab! Of course, I just saw this slab get sold on eBay the other day...and yes...it's a SLAB! But is it ethically sourced? |
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Post by knave on Oct 9, 2021 4:56:22 GMT -5
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Post by rockjunquie on Oct 9, 2021 9:05:20 GMT -5
I bought a box of K, too. Awful stuff and slllllllow shipping. It's still sitting around somewhere. This was the best I could get out of it. |
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Post by holajonathan on Oct 9, 2021 11:38:44 GMT -5
I bought a box of K, too. Awful stuff and slllllllow shipping. It's still sitting around somewhere. This was the best I could get out of it. Thanks for sharing. Makes me feel better. The material I've got actually shines up pretty well. Not like a hard agate, but good enough to look gemmy. It is the random soft spots and pitting that drives me crazy. I don't find the soft spots until smoothing out the dome on the 220 resin wheel, because that's the first time I am applying any real pressure. By then I have already invested a decent amount of time into it. The pitting doesn't show up until the 1200 or 3000. I know those sort of problems can happen with any rock, but I've tried to make 4 K-scope cabs, and in each case the material did not show its flaws until I was at least a half hour into the process. Cabbing should not be so masochistic. |
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Post by hummingbirdstones2 on Oct 11, 2021 19:56:48 GMT -5
Pulled a couple of chunks out of our ten-year-old stash. Here's a 3000 grit "tester" from one of them.
This was quick and dirty - the surface still has a couple of spots that weren't completely worked out.
Wouldn't be my first choice for color, but the patterns and shine are okay.
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Post by knave on Oct 11, 2021 20:38:24 GMT -5
The story of finding the jasper on FB is totally dramatic and sadly kind of a turn off to me. Calling it a miracle and God had gently blessed the ground etc.
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller 
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,497
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Post by Sabre52 on Oct 12, 2021 6:54:39 GMT -5
Nice cabs but I can see why you are disappointed with the jasper. You sure the first one is crazy lace? Matrix and color scheme sure looks like a Dryhead agate to me.
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Post by Rockindad on Oct 12, 2021 10:05:26 GMT -5
Try tumbling it  . I picked up a MFRB at $5/lb. from the “she” on ebay you are refer to. I was guarded as I had read a bit about the material here before. Confirmed the pictures were accurate with the seller. I saved the images and referenced them on my desktop at home, two different phones and my work IPad. When receiving the material there was no doubt she had used an extremely healthy dose of saturation on her photos. Doesn’t quite fit with the “Blessed by the Lord” approach they take on some of their platforms like knave mentioned. Still roughing some out as it is somewhat neat. Being as friendly as possible I would call what we have a “low-yield” material. |
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. I picked up a MFRB at $5/lb. from the “she” on ebay you are refer to. I was guarded as I had read a bit about the material here before. Confirmed the pictures were accurate with the seller. I saved the images and referenced them on my desktop at home, two different phones and my work IPad. When receiving the material there was no doubt she had used an extremely healthy dose of saturation on her photos. Doesn’t quite fit with the “Blessed by the Lord” approach they take on some of their platforms like 
