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Taogem
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« on: February 09, 2008, 12:54:57 am » |
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I have a little bit of this rough on the way. It is really beautiful. Not like the African banded. Apparently it is a bit rare. I am very excited to get a chance to cab some up.  |
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Taogem
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« Reply #1 on: February 21, 2008, 01:16:39 pm » |
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Received some of this today. I am not sure, but believe the mine also has Chrysocolla within it too. I think that is what the blue is.  |
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seth
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« Reply #2 on: February 21, 2008, 02:15:31 pm » |
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The blue color you see is azurite.
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Taogem
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« Reply #3 on: February 21, 2008, 03:02:52 pm » |
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The blue color you see is azurite.
I wonder if I might try to mix it in with a Malachite cab? |
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seth
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« Reply #4 on: February 21, 2008, 03:40:29 pm » |
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That would look wild if done right mixing the colors. I am not sure from the picture if the azurite is locked in quartz. You may have to watch for undercutting. That material is not all malachite so you may want to try a small test stone. There also seems to be cuprite in it. The more minerals the better chance it will have to be cut very careful. If it is silicated well then you will have no problem.
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Taogem
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« Reply #5 on: February 21, 2008, 03:50:10 pm » |
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I remember being told that it is best cut with the grain for best results. If I remember that correctly. I should probably get a hold of the guy and ask again to make sure.
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seth
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« Reply #6 on: February 21, 2008, 04:35:19 pm » |
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You should stay with the fans of malachite sprays but this not always the case. The top stone to me would not be sliced. I would grind off to shape cabs. You could slice it in half but I would not risk it.
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Taogem
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« Reply #7 on: February 21, 2008, 06:30:49 pm » |
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Even the larger of the two is almost too thin to try and slice it down the middle. Yes, they both are going to have to be ground down as they are. May be some extra waste as a result. This is an example of how I would like to see the Azurite look. Just sort of leave a bit in the center like this. I had to post this one unfinished and wet just so I could show how I wanted to sort of mix the two on the same cab. I am having a problem while sanding or polishing. The Malachite turns black. No matter what I try and do to it, short of using the finest (400) of my diamond wheels, it turns black. Not sure what to do about it. I did not have this problem with the last and only other piece of Malachite that I have worked with.  |
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Taogem
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« Reply #8 on: February 22, 2008, 03:28:58 am » |
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The black can be easily seen in this pic...   |
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Taogem
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« Reply #9 on: February 22, 2008, 12:02:33 pm » |
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Steve from the Nugget Shooter said the following:
"My best guess on the black mineral is tenorite. It's copper oxide and very common, esp with chrysocolla but I've seen it with malachite also. Not sure if that's going to help you though. Tenorite is very soft and short of stablization- I don't see a way to polish it. Maybe there is but I doubt it."
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Taogem
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« Reply #10 on: February 23, 2008, 02:17:53 am » |
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Anyone here have a thought on how I might be able to work with the copper oxide so that it does not turn black on me? Am I going to end up throwing this one in with the rest of rock that need to be stabilized? Ralph is going to be checking on a pressure cooker so the two of us can try and learn with the stabilizer I purchased. Maybe I will be able to save some of these things that I have purchased online only to find out they need to be stabilized :  |
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Taogem
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« Reply #11 on: February 24, 2008, 04:41:36 am » |
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After cutting it the copper really revealed itself. You can see the black that is the copper oxide. About 90% copper and 10% malachite !   |
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seth
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« Reply #12 on: February 24, 2008, 07:59:02 am » |
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Man I am sure glad I did not buy any of that. For the price per pound that material should be top grade.
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stonesthatrock
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if you ever get the stablization down i sure would like to know how to do it. I have a ton of chrysocola in my front yard with the most beautiful blues. The down side is its too soft to cut or polish.
ty
ralph and mary ann
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Taogem
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I sent a piece to Seth. Lets wait and see what he comes up with. I thought was going to be stabilizing a few weeks ago. I know it is a small thing, but have not purchased a pressure cooker yet. It is required as part of the process using the type of stabilizer I purchased. Just another thing on the list. |
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