Justme
starting to shine!
Member since March 2003
Posts: 38
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Post by Justme on Jan 12, 2004 23:18:18 GMT -5
What suggestions do you have for tumbling Coprolite?
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Trylobyte
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since October 2003
Posts: 101
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Post by Trylobyte on Jan 13, 2004 0:37:24 GMT -5
I'd add some Exlax in the polishing stage to make sure it comes out smooth...
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Post by docone31 on Jan 13, 2004 8:32:30 GMT -5
Coprolite, or dinosaur doo-doo, makes georgeous stones. The petrosky process, or mineralization transfer will show a diversity of materials. In some cases, the transfer will be incomplete and the tumble will be a mess. In other cases, the polished stones will be absolutely beautiful. There will be a myriad of bone fragments, phosphate deposits, and a diversity of colour. I use a lot of this to make jewelery. For the tumble, just tumble like agetized wood. I also use cerium oxide for the two week final polish. Cabachons turn out really dynamic and have an exotic appeal for jewelery. I also facet this product of nature. I have made rings for yuppies, or more politically correct, metrosexuals. They have me facet and emerald cut a piece of coprolite. They literally pay over 600$ for the stone alone, a 7mmX9mm. I mount the stone in a 14K ring and they take it into the office. At the staff meetings when they are correct, they take the ring off and pass it around. They tell their co-workers "when this smells, you lead". These pristine examples of modern corporate america pass by my shop, hold up the ring and proudly proclaim, "It still doesn't stink." I hope someday, they get a life. It should polish really well and be an unusual piece of lapidary. Good luck.
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Justme
starting to shine!
Member since March 2003
Posts: 38
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Post by Justme on Jan 13, 2004 22:35:13 GMT -5
Thanks Docone31. $600 a ring That is one way to support your hobby (and more). I had heard not to tumble it with agate. So what is the hardness of coprolite? I looked it up in my National Audubon Society Field Guide and Coprolite is not even listed.
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Post by docone31 on Jan 13, 2004 23:41:09 GMT -5
The stone alone is 600$, the ring is extra. I wish this is just an hobby, my wife and I run a shop three days a week, and fabricate five days a week. We have been doing nothing but working on jewelery for five straight years and I still do not know enough. I guess when It comes down to it, I can make some real good crap. A little pun there. I guess the mohs on the coprolite can be an 8, when I facet it, it is one of the hardest stones, much like aventurine. It is really slow. They really look good, but they are not worth the money. They are not clear like the emeralds or rubies I do, and when it is faceted, it is not like the main piece. A lot is lost, 55% and it is harder to see the colours. It comes out much more subtle, if that can be visualized. I cut one for the shop and set it under glass. That way everybody can see my crap. I even run an ad that emphasizes dinosaur doo-doo. No one hears it and the other vendors want to wring my neck.
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