mworb
off to a rocking start
Member since June 2011
Posts: 11
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Post by mworb on Nov 12, 2011 16:15:46 GMT -5
After shaping and smoothing to 1500 I put a Welo opal into my Diamond Pacific MT-4 Mini-Sonic Vibrating tumbler with 3000 grit Vibra-Dry compound to begin polishing it. After 24 hours the opal has a milky fire left only in the middle as if my big opal became a tiny opal encased in very thick clear plastic! I had cleared using the Vibra-Dry with Diamond Pacific with the suggested polish sequence being 3000, 14,000, 50,000 after shaping the stone. It was supposed to run for three to five days at each step. What happened and what can I do to fix the stone? It was the only stone in the tumbler and it was new compound. This was a very valuable stone and I'm dumbfounded. Thanks :help:
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Post by christopherl1234 on Nov 12, 2011 18:40:47 GMT -5
Welo opal is a funny stone sometimes. I have never and will never put an opal in any kind of tumbler, especially Welo. Not only is Welo sensitive to heat but it is also sensitive to vibrations!!
Welo opal has also been known to lose it's fire when exposed to moisture. I have had this happen to me once only to have the fire reappear after a few months. My stone when from a clear stone full of fire to a milky looking stone with the fire barely visible underneath. After a few months the stone cleared back up and the fire reappeared.
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rockhound97058
freely admits to licking rocks
Thundereggs - Oregons Official State Rock!
Member since January 2006
Posts: 760
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Post by rockhound97058 on Nov 12, 2011 19:23:34 GMT -5
Sounds like reverse hydrophane - In Oregon especially from Opal Butte some opals are pure milk white - if you stick it to your tounge it feels like it sticks... If you drop these opals in water and let them soak - over night they turn into a clear blue hyalite opal. Extract it from the water and let it sit, and it will dry out and turn back white.
Interesting stuff
Jason
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