|
Post by fernwood on Oct 15, 2021 4:27:22 GMT -5
|
|
gemfreak95
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since February 2020
Posts: 112
|
Post by gemfreak95 on Oct 15, 2021 12:17:59 GMT -5
With that flash, is this true moonstone or labradorite? Also, what does the borax bath do? I usually just add it to keep my slurry from foaming up.
|
|
|
Post by fernwood on Oct 15, 2021 12:23:18 GMT -5
it is called Wisconsin Moonstone. wgnhs.wisc.edu/minerals/anorthoclase/Formula: (Na,K)AlSi3O8 Triclinic Description: Anorthoclase is a high-temperature solid solution series found in certain volcanic and plutonic rocks. MARATHON COUNTY: Coarse microperthitic anorthoclase showing a schiller “moonstone” occurs in a quarry in pyroxene syenite in the Stettin pluton just north of Stettin Road in the SE sec. 14 T.29N. R.6E. Xls. up to 35 cm. long occur in this pluton. At last report, the quarry is water-filled, hazardous and posted “No Trespassing”. It should be avoided unless permission is granted by the owner (LaBerge and Myers, 1983; Myers et al., 1984; Falster et al., 2000). Since then, it has been found in a couple more locations in Marathon County, WI.
|
|
gemfreak95
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since February 2020
Posts: 112
|
Post by gemfreak95 on Oct 15, 2021 14:45:28 GMT -5
Gotcha. Please forgive my ignorance.
|
|
|
Post by fernwood on Oct 16, 2021 3:07:57 GMT -5
Gotcha. Please forgive my ignorance. No problem. Many have never heard of it before.
|
|
Brian
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2020
Posts: 1,507
|
Post by Brian on Oct 16, 2021 8:35:44 GMT -5
I love seeing that color come through! It looks like those are going to turn out very nice.
|
|
|
Post by greig on Oct 16, 2021 10:19:06 GMT -5
Since you have multiple colours, I wonder if this could be termed "rainbow moonstone"?
I do like the flash of colour(s) in your tumble. Funny thing is I would have called these stones peristerite, as the host looks like albite to me and not K-Spar. However, there is much confusion in this regard, but who really cares? The rocks are beautiful.
|
|
gemfreak95
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since February 2020
Posts: 112
|
Post by gemfreak95 on Oct 16, 2021 19:06:16 GMT -5
Since you have multiple colours, I wonder if this could be termed "rainbow moonstone"? That's what I was wondering, and what caused the moonstone/labradorite question, since high-quality labradorite is often marketed as "rainbow moonstone".
|
|
|
Post by fernwood on Oct 19, 2021 4:06:22 GMT -5
Here is part of an article, describing how the WI Moonstone formed.
The moonstone has been found in small pits and quarries and also in farm fields where masses weather out and get frost-heaved to the surface. The weathered masses of coarse cleavable feldspar may at first not look too interesting, but at the right angle the moonstone effect can be seen. The feldspar has two change and bounding capacity, so fit readily in the same niches in the feldspar. But sodium and potassium aren’t enough alike. If the feldspar cools down slowly, to below 400 degrees C, the feldspar structure contracts in size, and sodium and potassium are no longer good interchangeable fits. The homogenous anorthoclase splits on a fine scale into intergrown potassium feldspar and albite. Sometimes the bands of alternating minerals are coarse enough to see. Other times they are microscopic. If they are just the right size and spacing, they scatter the light that penetrates the various layers in the mineral – producing the moonstone effect, or schiller. The only anorthoclase that is truly not a mixture is that which cools very rapidly, such as in lava flows, so the separation cannot occur, and the mineral is frozen into its high temperature form. The material at Wausau cooled slowly, so isn’t, strictly speaking, anorthoclase anymore, but an exsolved mixture.
The crystalline structure controls the orientation of these exsolution bands, hence the effect is seen better on some surfaces (the {010} cleavage for example) than at others. This is one reason why shaping the rough stone takes such skill. Other challenges are the weathered nature of some of the stone, and exploiting the cleavage directions inherent in the feldspar.
|
|
Uriah
starting to shine!
Member since August 2021
Posts: 38
|
Post by Uriah on Oct 25, 2021 15:27:16 GMT -5
Gotcha. Please forgive my ignorance. I thought it was Labradorite as well We're still learning.
|
|
illusionist
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since August 2017
Posts: 137
|
Post by illusionist on Oct 30, 2021 14:38:28 GMT -5
Beautiful! This has been on my radar to tumble as well!
|
|
LazerFlash
Cave Dweller
The more they over-think the plumbing, the easier it is to stop up the toilet.
Member since September 2021
Posts: 548
|
Post by LazerFlash on Oct 30, 2021 14:43:31 GMT -5
Very good progress so far. Can't wait until the final product 'reveal'.
|
|
LazerFlash
Cave Dweller
The more they over-think the plumbing, the easier it is to stop up the toilet.
Member since September 2021
Posts: 548
|
Post by LazerFlash on Oct 30, 2021 14:45:03 GMT -5
And, enjoyed the geology lessons!
|
|
kyoti
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2020
Posts: 542
|
Post by kyoti on Oct 31, 2021 13:35:41 GMT -5
Thats a really nice looking material! I love the flash. I had never heard of it before reading this post.
|
|
|
Post by fernwood on Feb 22, 2022 4:08:50 GMT -5
I did an oops. Skipped photos of step 2 (120-220 SIC). But, remembered to write down the date 11-15) they went into 3 400 SIC). I had used Dremel and files to shape some for cabs, including girdles/domes after step 1. Finally was able to do a clean out yesterday. Was very happy with results. On 11-15 I had already lost lot of volume. Did the 500 SIC with a ratio of 60% new tumbling plastic pellets and 40% rocks in a 3 lb. barrel. I think this ratio might have prevented them from becoming nothing. I normally do not leave rocks in that stage for more than a few weeks maximum. I was trying to get some photos of the flash in these, but camera was not cooperating. The color is off on the photos with the gray background. There are some tinies, ring sized ones I did not photograph. All are in a baggie with water until Spring. I want to put them in the Lot O then. Thanks for looking.
|
|
|
Post by RickB on Feb 22, 2022 6:09:20 GMT -5
The moonstone is really coming along great Beth. I'd like to see what your finger looks like after the final polish stage.
|
|
|
Post by fernwood on Feb 22, 2022 6:15:24 GMT -5
The moonstone is really coming along great Beth. I'd like to see what your finger looks like after the final polish stage. Ha, ha. I was hoping no one would notice that.
|
|
|
Post by rockjunquie on Feb 22, 2022 6:40:26 GMT -5
Those last few are amazing. Are they all like that in the proper lighting?
|
|
|
Post by fernwood on Feb 22, 2022 7:13:44 GMT -5
Those last few are amazing. Are they all like that in the proper lighting?
About 70% are. Some I thought would have no flash do, after some tumbling. Even the tiny ones have flash. The biggest problem with these is that they spent many years in buckets outside. The outer layer is iron stained. Once that is tumbled/ground off, the rocks display their beauty.
|
|
brybry
Cave Dweller
Enter your message here...
Member since October 2021
Posts: 1,204
|
Post by brybry on Feb 22, 2022 18:59:07 GMT -5
The moonstone is really coming along great Beth. I'd like to see what your finger looks like after the final polish stage. Ha, ha. I was hoping no one would notice that. Lol, first thing I noticed. Rocks are looking 👍
|
|