FINAL RESULT Mookaite heat treated at home

[captbob]

[jamesp]

Feb 21, 2017 18:40:43 GMT -5 captbob said:

On occasion the dogs in the show ring have done this on the judge. Even hiked a leg when judge wasn't paying attention.
Makes for an awkward moment.

[jamesp]

Video on heat treating with a simple camp fire.

Done it before, is easy. Best done on a calm day so fire will burn slowly.

Forest fires can heat treat large quantities of surface chert over large areas.
Forest fire heated this Savannah River bryozoan chert that was close to the surface.
Must have been 10 acres of exposed rock, most of it was over heated.
The reds greens, deeper colors in general are due to heat.
www.flickr.com/photos/67205364@N06/8397817577/in/album-72157632569773602/

Basic camp fire heat treatment.
Basically bury rocks under 2-3 inches of sandy soil and build a slow camp fire over them. Walk away. Come back in two days to uncover.
Toga outfit optional.

[jamesp]

Pat

You could probably put some rocks in a coffee can and then cover with dry sand and cook them on the stove.
I do it on the wood stove, reliable, hot and cheap.

you would have to run your stove burner for a long time. 3 hours at high is demanding on your stove top element.

Electric stove:

3 hours at low
3 at 3
3 at 4
3 at high
Then go down
2 at 4
2 at 3
2 at low
turn off

That is a bit fast of a heat treatment yet a long time to run your stove to burner.
The rocks at the bottom may crack. Better to put 3 inches of sand in the bottom.

[Pat]

Thanks, jamesp. I think I'll stick to sand-in-the-pan toaster oven.

Want to try cooking other dull stones, making them more attractive.

[jamesp]

Feb 24, 2017 15:50:57 GMT -5 Pat said:

Thanks, jamesp. I think I'll stick to sand-in-the-pan toaster oven.

Want to try cooking other dull stones, making them more attractive.

Yes. Most dull yellow and orange and light brown agates will change for the better. Moss agates are not the best to heat. Banded agates are great. and chert.

Looking forward to the chef's offerings...

PS Use the hottest settings on your toaster, I think broil is the hottest. Maybe that is the top burner. Me not a (food) cook.

[traincrafter]

Oct 17, 2012 11:22:41 GMT -5 @wampidy said:

You really need to be careful when heating stone with a torch. The heat of the entire stone needs to go up at the same time. Hot and cold areas can send missiles flying. That is why the oven is best because the whole stone is heating at the same time if the stone is not too big. Like Daniel said, putting it in sand is best because the temp goes up slower, therefor heating the inside of the stone at the same rate as the outside. It takes a lot longer though.
Jim

[whyofquartz]

Great, now i have to heat treat Devine Chocolate Agate and hope it doesn't melt. good thing I like to make big, hot, long, fires.

[ncboxorox]

Oct 16, 2012 23:43:55 GMT -5 mohs said:

I think it might be

cause i cook my steak on a slab of pet wood
hickory, of course
gives it a nice ancient smoked flavor

might try a slab of mookite
mookite steak with a side of baked chryschola potatoes

That is just cool! Hahaha