An attempt at tumbling fluorite

Way to go rockfrog! The colors are outstanding in those pieces!

I think it's commonly just called iridescence, and I think it has something to do with the fractures in the stones. I have a tumbled citrine and a few amethyst tumbles that display the same rainbow effect but much smaller than these fluorites. With those I always thought it had something to do with light reflecting off quartz's conchoidal fracturing. I'm not sure if fluorite can have true conchoidal fractures in the same way most quartzes do on their surfaces (at least I've never seen one on the surface of a fluorite) since fluorite has distinct cleavage planes naturally while quartz has no cleavage. However, Wikipedia describes conchoidal fracture as "a fracture that does not follow any natural planes of separation" which I think can definitely happen inside of fluorite while it is being tumbled 
But yes I believe the rainbow effect is called iridescence (anyone feel free to correct if wrong). It's a bit difficult to research since there are ways to make stones iridescent unnaturally 

Thanks, I'm impressed myself. I was nervous to do the entire tumble in a rotary tumbler (I do not own a vibe yet) since most tutorials I saw had them finish in a dry polish in a vibe. The Rockshed's instructions said it could be done in a rotary or a vibe but they also recommend a dry polish. I've never done a dry polish and didn't have anything to test it on so I just went with what I knew how to do, a normal wet polish. Seemed to work just fine. I think my main mistake was not adding enough cushion in the beginning stages which probably could've prevented a few of the fractures, by the last stages I had all of the cushion I owned in there, a mix of ceramic and plastic pellets. Of course, you have to start with good stuff to end with good stuff, you can see a large fracture in a piece I got in the picture of the rough (2nd row on the very right). I'd love to live in a place where I'd be able to self collect fluorite, no matter the quality, the only thing I've self collected is pet wood

They look good, I like the purple ones.

Ian

Hi Rockfrog

Did a great job only hope mine turns out as good as yours. Thats my next batch to go in.
Have you ever tumbled orchid calcite? I'm thinking of checking my #1 barrel again (tigers eye) and move it on. I have florite and Labradorite, orchid calcite and sodalite, rose quartz and amethyst and a bunch more waiting in line to put their shiny party dresses on. Thanks

Nursetumbler

Hi rockfrog

I found a post from March 9, 2011 from learn2turn. He stated that when calcite disolves it turns into calcium and CO2. He stated that the higher the PH the less Calcite (CaCO2) dissolves. He stated adding baking soda to the tumbler to increase the PH may slow or stop the quick breakdown of the calcite. Weeellllll...... what do I have to loose. I already bought the stupid stuff and NO ONE said anything to me that it cant be tumbled. Well tell me it can't be done I am going to try. I think I'll start it with stage 3 AO baking soda and lots of porcelain fill. Then polish it dry with ground corn cob and AO polish. Wish I could figure out the program to post photos because I'd post start to finish photos. 🤞 Maybe calcite should be dry polished in ground corn cob 🤔

You did better than I would have expected! Congratulations!