mnblarneystone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Minnesota Rock Lover
Member since February 2011
Posts: 110
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Post by mnblarneystone on Sept 16, 2012 19:54:47 GMT -5
:help:
Hi Gang,
I don't get over here as often as I would like to... Way too many irons..bla...bla...bla... You all know...
I don't want to be a "Name Dropper" but many of you all know Marie Frazier/Kerg... She is a good friend of mine. She sent me over here a couple of years ago, recommending you all as a great reference body.
Here is my dilemma....
I bought a small piece of rough calsilica at a rock show. It has not been stabilized... Can it be worked NOT stabilized? And if not... Is it possible to stabilize one small 6 ounce piece myself.... and lastly... If it would be cost prohibitive to do it myself... materials and equipment investments... Can anyone point me in the direction of someone that processes turquoise or the like, who can do it for me pretty reasonably??
Thanks in advance!!
Terri
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hand2mouthmining
spending too much on rocks
Purveyors of California Gem Rock
Member since September 2011
Posts: 495
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Post by hand2mouthmining on Sept 17, 2012 1:54:01 GMT -5
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,455
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Post by Sabre52 on Sept 17, 2012 9:42:25 GMT -5
Terri: As far as I know, rainbow calsilica is very like travertine when unstabilized. If it's not pitted, vuggy or fractured, it should work up fine on the wheels if you handle it like travertine and don't let it get too hot on the polish pads. It will fracture if you get it too hot too fast on the pads. Not too sure about color retention without being stabilized but if the rock is fully saturated with the coloring agents, I'd think it would work up OK.....Mel
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Don
Cave Dweller
He wants you too, Malachi.
Member since December 2009
Posts: 2,616
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Post by Don on Sept 17, 2012 10:05:39 GMT -5
So have the "miners" of this stuff finally dropped the pretense that it's a natural stone?
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Post by FrogAndBearCreations on Sept 17, 2012 10:10:31 GMT -5
I recently saw a chunk of "rough" that had a bottle cap lodged in it LOL! this was on ebay and its kinda hard to say its a "totally natural stone" with a soda bottle cap in the midst of the layers this is a by produce of the tile industry in Mexico and now with that bottle cap picture its a clincher! think of it along the same lines as fordite
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mnblarneystone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Minnesota Rock Lover
Member since February 2011
Posts: 110
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Post by mnblarneystone on Sept 17, 2012 10:19:01 GMT -5
@ Kris and Mel, Thanks so much!!
The piece looks solid, and I will try to cut it. If it doesn't go to powder or crumble on the saw.... I will decide what to do next.
Since I only sell rough, and do not finish it myself.... YET anyway, I wanted to be sure of what I was selling to people.
Your hints and insight have been very helpful.
Thank you!!
Terri
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mnblarneystone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Minnesota Rock Lover
Member since February 2011
Posts: 110
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Post by mnblarneystone on Sept 17, 2012 10:30:13 GMT -5
Hi Don, and frogandbear, For my purposes.... I am going on the premise that it is in the realm of Fordite. I saw it at the show, and found a small solid looking piece, and decided that I could afford to play with a small piece of it. Mel from Yuma & Spokane.... LOL!! A prehistoric Bottle Cap?? From the CRUSTACEOUS period I guess..... Terri
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Post by FrogAndBearCreations on Sept 17, 2012 10:42:46 GMT -5
I bought several slabs of it years ago and thought it too good to be true for a natural occuring stone with such bright layers of color I had to stabilize the stuff I have too, they are small one or two cab wonders
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Post by phil on Sept 17, 2012 12:11:05 GMT -5
As rainbow calsilica is the dried slip from pottery and tile makers in Mexico, perhaps you could fire it in a pottery kiln to get it hard and stable.
Usually they just impregnate it with a resin soak and etc, just like stabilizing turquoise chalk. A 6 ounce chunk would be cost prohibitive to stabilize, the costs of the resin, hardener, time in the ovens, etc just wouldn't be worth it. 20 pounds is about the minimum most stabilizers will consider, and some 100 or more.
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