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Post by akansan on Feb 24, 2008 19:44:46 GMT -5
Some of you may remember when I purchased this as Owyhee Sunset Jaspet from West Coast Mining on ebay. It was a little over a year ago, I think: I finally got around to slabbing it about a month ago: So, here comes my questions. How hard of a stone should Owyhee Sunset be? This stuff is a lot softer than I imagined anything labeled Owyhee. I was having problems with flats on the 1200, and the 3000 was still causing some slight misshaping to occur. Additionally, I haven't been able to get a high shine on these things. They have a dull shine, but nothing outstanding: And the wax from the dop leaves an oil stain on the back of the cab. I'm afraid to polish the backs on these for fear of altering the shape of the actual stone! So, is this Owyhee Sunset that just isn't as silicified, or is it something else? I still really like it, but I'd like it better if I could get a good polish on it. :-\
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,487
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Post by Sabre52 on Feb 24, 2008 21:01:03 GMT -5
The problem with all of the silicified sediment type jaspers is certain pieces can vary in hardness and composition. Some are well silicified and fine grained while others are less silicified and have coarser grain or are more porous like the wonderstone group of rhyolite rocks. I have some Owyhee Antelope Jasper with the same problem. One piece will be hard and takes a mirror polish while the next is softer and satin finish only. I've even got some Biggs which is famous for it's hardness and fine grained structure which is porous and softer in sections. Just the nature of the beast.....Mel
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Post by Cher on Feb 24, 2008 21:02:50 GMT -5
I think the cabs are beautiful Rhonda, especially the round one.
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Post by creativeminded on Feb 25, 2008 8:25:27 GMT -5
Sounds like it frustrated you a bit, however, you still turned out some georgous cabs. Tami
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Post by deb193redux on Feb 27, 2008 0:15:37 GMT -5
The slabs and rough I have seem harder than you report. But I had one unknown slab that I thought might be Sunset Jasper, and it is a little more grainy/chalk-like, maybe like chickentrack.
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Post by Titania on Feb 27, 2008 7:49:58 GMT -5
Despite the difficulties, those sure are some pretty cabs.
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Post by akansan on Feb 27, 2008 8:27:56 GMT -5
Thanks for the comments on the cabs! deb193 - this isn't grainy like the chickentrack. In fact, that was one of the reasons it surprised me! It even passes the "stays wet long" test...but then I didn't try the "shows water discoloration for xxx time" test. Granted, I don't know if that is a test or just an interesting fact on this particular rock! If I submerge these slabs and pull them back out after about 30 minutes, the slab stays discolored - has that looks wet look - for about another ten minutes. You can see the color variation in the slabs above and the cabs - the slabs had been submerged. They're fresh from their finish-cleaning-the-oil-off bath. I have some hope that the lower half of the rock appears to be just a touch harder (the circle versus the oval or square) then the upper half. It throws a couple design ideas I had out the window, though.
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