Emerald
spending too much on rocks
Member since August 2004
Posts: 417
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Post by Emerald on Nov 8, 2005 16:52:18 GMT -5
I got the Picasso Marble from Ebay (AstroGallery) It's nice stuff, but I can't seem to get it to polish to a glass-like finish. Any suggestions?  I polished it with Tin Oxide on Leather.... On another note, I got about 2 lbs of "low-grade" fire agate for $7.00 from the auction while at the Silversmithing School. Managed to get one to show some fire....gonna set that one next! Pendant maybe? Oh...and I also got some gorgeous Palm Wood too! Still cutting that...not sure what I'll do with it. Boy it takes a nice shine... *changed Jasper to Marble* doh.... :-) |
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller 
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,504
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Post by Sabre52 on Nov 8, 2005 17:12:06 GMT -5
Howdy, If I'm remembering correctly the so called Picasso Jasper is actually a marble-type material and much softer than jasper and way harder to polish to a mirror finish. When I do Oxaca Travertine which is also more marble like, I get a good finish after going through all my diamond wheels and taking a long time with the final two sanding wheels ( You get lots of micro scratches in marble which have to be sanded out!) by using optical grade tin oxide on a hard leather pad that I've moistenen slightly with a spray bottle. Sometimes these marble type materials crack if they get too hot too so I also pay careful attention to how hot the workpiece is getting....Mel
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Post by jdennis on Nov 8, 2005 17:14:21 GMT -5
i love it i have a good size chunk of it myself, still polishing it, yours has more of a shine than mine so i think its awsome
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Emerald
spending too much on rocks
Member since August 2004
Posts: 417
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Post by Emerald on Nov 8, 2005 17:25:01 GMT -5
Thanks Sabre...I'm sure you're right! It may be called Picasso Marble...I have a tough time remembering names. It sure does act "chalky" which makes me think it's probably a marble like material....and yes, it is quite soft.
I think with the next piece, I'll wash the leather disc to be sure it's perfectly clean. (Also, my lapidary unit could use a bath. I may be getting contamination that's preventing a better shine.) Still it's rather pretty stuff.
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Post by krazydiamond on Nov 8, 2005 19:14:00 GMT -5
this stuff is VERY soft but i've managed a passable shine on the grinder....it doesn't tumble polish well at all.
very cool patterning, but messy to work with. wasn't Astrogallery the guy Sandsman had trouble with? anyway, looks like you got some good stuff, Em. nice heart!!!
KD
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gemmaster
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2005
Posts: 281
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Post by gemmaster on Nov 8, 2005 20:15:02 GMT -5
there is a picasso marble from utah soft carbonate 3-4 hardness at best. the picasso jasper is from mexico is a hard jasper, i got some of it and some munjina stone [from australia ]the munjina stone resembles rhyolite /wonderstone but some has wild patte rns gemcenter usa elpaso ,tx has it . the few pieces of the picasso jasper that was good had wild geometric patterns got only 2 or 3 small pieces like this out of 10 pounds, shipping suc ked over 16.00 out of gemmasterfor 20# of rock to ga.
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Post by rockyraccoon on Nov 8, 2005 22:49:37 GMT -5
emerald try the m5 polish from cyberrockhound.com - sands told me about it.
kim
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Emerald
spending too much on rocks
Member since August 2004
Posts: 417
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Post by Emerald on Nov 10, 2005 7:07:30 GMT -5
Thanks for the heads up Kim...
It is nice stuff even if it is soft...such a beautiful pattern in it and lovely colors.
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Emerald
spending too much on rocks
Member since August 2004
Posts: 417
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Post by Emerald on Nov 10, 2005 7:13:49 GMT -5
On another note, I did get it from AstroGallery, but I haven't had problems with him in the past. Only thing I don't like is that he pretty much only ships UPS and they are rather expensive. I'd prefer USPS.
He does get some seriously cool rough. I was gonna buy labradorite through him, but the bids got outrageous and I stopped bidding....then, out of frustration and alot of digging, I found a new resource for it. He won't sell less than 10 lbs ($5.50 off the top of the pile to $7.00 lb - hand selected) and they're HUGE chunks...so you need a big saw or alot of creativity to cut it. Breaking it up is a no-no. Let me know if you want his address and I'll private message it to you. I lost his web address, but have his email still. I won't post it on the site .....I hate spam bots!
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Post by creativeminded on Nov 10, 2005 13:04:31 GMT -5
Oh wow, that is beautiful. You did a great job.
Tami
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Emerald
spending too much on rocks
Member since August 2004
Posts: 417
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Post by Emerald on Nov 11, 2005 3:48:11 GMT -5
Oh...I just looked back on my records and Astrogallery did call it Picasso Jasper. Oh well...it's the softest Jasper I've ever seen/worked with if it is. Where's a geologist when you need one. :-)
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gemmaster
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2005
Posts: 281
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Post by gemmaster on Nov 11, 2005 5:38:04 GMT -5
On another note, I did get it from AstroGallery, but I haven't had problems with him in the past. Only thing I don't like is that he pretty much only ships UPS and they are rather expensive. I'd prefer USPS. He does get some seriously cool rough. I was gonna buy labradorite through him, but the bids got outrageous and I stopped bidding....then, out of frustration and alot of digging, I found a new resource for it. He won't sell less than 10 lbs ($5.50 off the top of the pile to $7.00 lb - hand selected) and they're HUGE chunks...so you need a big saw or alot of creativity to cut it. Breaking it up is a no-no. Let me know if you want his address and I'll private message it to you. I lost his web address, but have his email still. I won't post it on the site .....I hate spam bots! |
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gemmaster
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2005
Posts: 281
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Post by gemmaster on Nov 11, 2005 5:42:30 GMT -5
emerald, please send me add. of the labradorite seller you mentioned,this is one of my favorite gems. gemmaster. gemmastercomet@netzero.net will do something comparably helpful for you in the future . tuell /gemmaster
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