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Post by shortesmooth on Jan 22, 2004 0:56:59 GMT -5
I just got a grab bag of rocks off of ebay. It is said to contain emerald, ruby, and sapphire. They are in jus mined form. It's a half pound of them mixed. How would I go about tumbling these. I don't even have a tumbler yet, but I hope to buy one soon. I've never done this before and I thought it might be cool to try. It would be really cool to find even a teeny tiny precious stone among the bunch. Any suggestions would be most greatly appreciated. Thank you.
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llanago
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,714
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Post by llanago on Jan 22, 2004 1:29:57 GMT -5
I ordered a lb bag of emeralds and rubies from ebay too. I figured, if nothing else, it would be fun. I also just ordered a tumbler.
I bought a 40# bag of sapphire gravel from the Sapphire Mine in Helena, Montana a few months ago. I have gone through maybe 10 lbs of it and have found a bunch of sapphires, some pretty big ones too. Fixed up a small bag of them for a Christmas present for my girlfriend and she found quite a few also.
Don't think I have found any that are really worth anything, but it sure has been fun So, I figured $16.00 for a bag of emeralds and rubies, was a pretty inexpensive and fun way to spend some time.
I plan to tumble some of them and to use the others rough on a crafts project I have in mind.
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RiverOtter
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2004
Posts: 339
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Post by RiverOtter on Jan 22, 2004 10:00:59 GMT -5
If you look back a couple pages on this board there is another thread about tumbling rubies, sapphires and emeralds. It's fairly long with lots of info. I have some of each also but mine are not mixed. I am in the process right now of tumbling the matrix from the emeralds. So far most of it has been removed. I do know that everyone that has messed with these will tell you the same thing, rubies and sapphires are extremely hard and take alot of patience when tumbling. It takes alot more time to tumble these than say quartz to get them to come out nice.
Otter
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llanago
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,714
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Post by llanago on Jan 22, 2004 10:40:33 GMT -5
I found that thread and there is lots of good info. Seems everyone was really pleased with the results they got with the emeralds.
I am really anxious to get my tumbler and gems so I can get to tumbling.
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Post by shortesmooth on Jan 22, 2004 17:03:33 GMT -5
Thanks for the postive replies on my thread everyone. I'm kinda excited about my first tumbling prject. I hope to get it started soon.
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Post by sandsman1 on Jan 22, 2004 21:26:51 GMT -5
i have some emeralds in now think i charged them twice so far alotta the black is goin see alotta nice dif green colors comin out anybody tell me if the gray green rock is emerald too i have some pretty big pieces of that but its still dull so i can only see through on the edges so far ok seeya-s ---john
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Post by puppie96 on Jan 23, 2004 1:02:20 GMT -5
John -- I'm new to tumbling and working my way along with emeralds and saphs. I had some ems that had gone all the way through polish and had shined up fairly well. However, I took some of them that had dull spots or irregularities and put them in with a batch coming along behind them. Interesting result. There is a big piece of rock with a nice smooth surface that had actually taken some shine -- but it was gray. Lo and behold, the gray is going away noticeably and revealing GREEN underneath! The same is true of some others that were white -- now there is green coming out. Even some pieces that looked totally like gravel (brown, not black like the usual) also seem to have some green inside. So my observation is the obvious one -- toss them back in and keep them running, see what happens. I've moved ahead too quickly with the saphs and rubies and keep backing them up. Although they also take longer, it seems that you just have to keep going and going until suddenly you are down to a good surface with good color. It's like peeling layers off of an onion. BTW, I'm doing the emeralds in a vibratory tumbler -- I go back and forth between it and barrels -- the advantage to the vibe is that with the frequent recharging required, you get to take a good look at your stuff more often and get a better feel for how it's moving along. Even with the vibe, these puppies take a long time.
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Post by sandsman1 on Jan 23, 2004 20:27:59 GMT -5
thanks for the info puppie ill give um a run through again when i get enuff i took acouple out that i liked and put the rest back in 60/90 ill wait till they catch up and put them all back in 60/90 see what happens ok seeya john
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shorty
spending too much on rocks
Member since December 2003
Posts: 392
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Post by shorty on Jan 23, 2004 22:40:14 GMT -5
hi llanago its shorty here do you have the address so i can order some sapphire mix sounds like a good deal. thanks shorty ;D
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Post by sandsman1 on Jan 23, 2004 22:52:47 GMT -5
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llanago
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,714
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Post by llanago on Jan 26, 2004 16:20:23 GMT -5
Shorty, I got the sapphire mix from the Spokane Bar Sapphire Mine in Helena, Montana. It's a 40 lb bag and I have no idea what all might be in it. I need to drag it out again and start "mining". I also ordered a bag of emeralds and rubies on ebay from this guy cgi6.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewSellersOtherItems&userid=minerungems&include=0&since=-1&sort=3&rows=50They look like some pretty nice stones. More emeralds than rubies, but the rubies are bigger. Got some nice size emeralds too. Can't wait to get my new Lortone tumbler and start them tumbling.
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shorty
spending too much on rocks
Member since December 2003
Posts: 392
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Post by shorty on Jan 26, 2004 17:48:44 GMT -5
hi all i looked at the two sites. now i hafe to decice witch i want to go with.. thanks alot MIKE
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Post by puppie96 on Jan 27, 2004 2:43:25 GMT -5
Hi, I've used both FranksMineTours and MineRunGems and have gotten nice stuff from both. Franks ships so fast he must get his orders telepathically or something.
I've got a big batch of emeralds going now and a bunch of nice stuff is popping out. Material from Western North Carolina minerals (ebay auction) and Frank's.
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shorty
spending too much on rocks
Member since December 2003
Posts: 392
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Post by shorty on Jan 27, 2004 13:14:10 GMT -5
;D hi all i thault i would try franks.. the one POUND GEM PACK. MABY ILL GET SOME GOOD STUF .THANKS FOR THE ADVICE.. MIKE
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llanago
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,714
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Post by llanago on Jan 28, 2004 12:56:01 GMT -5
I got my grab bag of emeralds and rubies and will start tumbling them soon but got a question.
I don't have enough of either one to fill up my 3 lb# barrel with just one type ( don't think), so 1) can I mix the two together and tumble them; and 2) if not, what kind of rock can I add with them to give me a full barrel, or 3) is it even necessary to have a full barrel?
Another question. I also have a bunch of smaller ones, emeralds esp., that I want to use rough on a craft project. All the emeralds in the package are varying shades of green already and really don't have a lot of junk on them. These smaller ones I would like to just put a bit of a shine on. How would I go about doing that without wearing them completely away?
llana
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Post by puppie96 on Jan 28, 2004 18:52:12 GMT -5
Hi Llana -- I'm new too. These are good Q's. I hope some of the old timers will give opinions too. Here are mine:
TEXT
I have put them together for the rough grind -- actually, the harder corundum probably helps take the matrix off the emerald faster. I have kept them separate when moving to further grinds.
TEXT
I've wondered about this too...what I've been doing is holding out the pieces like you are describing and putting them in with the batches I'm running during the later stages. Matter of fact, I'm doing this today with a batch I've got in prepolish. Since I'm using a vibe tumbler for these, which requires more recharging than the barrel, it's possible to run these small stones for 12 hours, wash everything down and have a look. Based on past experience I think 12 hrs. in prepolish should do the job, then I'll move these ahead to polish with the others. I think it ought to work -- like you, I am really trying not to grind away good gemstone!
Please keep us posted on your results.
pup
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Post by puppie96 on Jan 28, 2004 18:55:42 GMT -5
OOPS. I was trying to quote parts of your message and italicize them. Now I see what I goofed up. Hope the message made sense.
Coincidentally, my member status just got upgraded! Whoopee!
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llanago
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,714
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Post by llanago on Jan 28, 2004 21:15:21 GMT -5
Thanks puppie.
And, yes, I understood - although I did wonder what that *text* stuff was all about.
It will be a few days before I can put them in and I am sure the waiting will drive me nutty than I already am!
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Pdwight
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2003
Posts: 619
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Post by Pdwight on Jan 29, 2004 23:09:27 GMT -5
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Post by puppie96 on Jan 30, 2004 4:30:12 GMT -5
I tried to look but got an error message. Phooey.
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