Charoite ?

[liveoak]

I honestly thought it was amethyst, until someone who keeps changing their name, talked about the layers separating & being soft.

Which made me realize what it probably is.

Beautiful colors & figures, if I can learn how to tame it.

I think I got it in a box from roy a while back.

Looks like someone tried to pour some kind of resin on it.

On my preform, I soaked it for awhile in diluted epoxy.

It's interesting how you can see the layers.

And it definitely wants to peel apart , when you start grinding it.

My initial problem was that I THOUGHT it was harder then it is, and I lost a couple of pieces to the hard wheel.

But I think it weighs in around Mohs 4-5 . Except like I said, it seems like it's formed in layers that want to separate.

Maybe it's just low grade & the better stuff doesn't ?

Patty

 

[rockjunquie]

Yup, that's charoite. I have had very hard, easy to cab stuff and then the kind that comes apart at the seams. Last one I did, a backed it and that helped.

[liveoak]

Thanks, Tela, rockjunquie

It's funny stuff.

When I search on-line you can see that when the rock is cut differently (the opposite way to the layers) it might be more stable, but the iridescence with the layers is really beautiful.

Now that I know what it is & how soft it is, I'm hoping that my stabilized dopped pre-form lives through grinding

Patty

[drocknut]

Hope your preform lives through the grinding and polishing process.

[liveoak]

Jul 20, 2022 14:05:28 GMT -5 drocknut said:

Hope your preform lives through the grinding and polishing process.

Me Too

Thanks Diane,

Patty

[hoolligan1938]

The color and the layers are very nice indeed. I hope it stays together and you can finish polish. Please let us know how it comes out.

Jim

[liveoak]

Thanks Jim, hoolligan1938
If I can get it done, I'll happily post it.

Patty

[hummingbirdstones]

Patty, it's not that hard to cut.  It's just soft so start with a higher grit wheel and take your time.  

[liveoak]

Thanks for the encouragement Robin, hummingbirdstones.

I'm going to give it the old college try.

I got misdirected thinking it was amethyst and blew the earrings

Possible they will just become different than planned & much smaller

Still learning here.

Why is it that the most beautiful stones are the most difficult to work with

Patty

[hummingbirdstones]

Jul 20, 2022 18:50:56 GMT -5 liveoak said:

Thanks for the encouragement Robin, hummingbirdstones .

I'm going to give it the old college try.

I got misdirected thinking it was amethyst and blew the earrings

Possible they will just become different than planned & much smaller

Still learning here.

Why is it that the most beautiful stones are the most difficult to work with

Patty

Because if it was easy, everyone would do it!  

[liveoak]

Jul 20, 2022 19:38:03 GMT -5 hummingbirdstones said:

Because if it was easy, everyone would do it!  

And that would ruin the challenge of it

Patty .... moving onward through the fog........

[roy]

Jul 20, 2022 11:47:42 GMT -5 liveoak said:

I honestly thought it was amethyst, until someone who keeps changing their name, talked about the layers separating & being soft.

Which made me realize what it probably is.

Beautiful colors & figures, if I can learn how to tame it.

I think I got it in a box from roy a while back.

Looks like someone tried to pour some kind of resin on it.

On my preform, I soaked it for awhile in diluted epoxy.

It's interesting how you can see the layers.

And it definitely wants to peel apart , when you start grinding it.

My initial problem was that I THOUGHT it was harder then it is, and I lost a couple of pieces to the hard wheel.

But I think it weighs in around Mohs 4-5 . Except like I said, it seems like it's formed in layers that want to separate.

Maybe it's just low grade & the better stuff doesn't ?

Patty

 

that will need stabilized but when done be one of the best out there ! that pattern is world class

[liveoak]

Thanks roy , yup I did just that with some thinned epoxy, hopefully cab to show off soon, if I'm lucky :-)

Patty