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Techniques for CollectorsPrepping Graves Mtn. Lazulite

23rd May 2016 17:37 UTCPatrick D'Elia

01675000016040835764380.jpg
Hello all,


I recently purchased a piece of Graves Mountain lazulite in quartzite with a bunch a crystals in matrix. There are a few well-exposed crystals on the specimen but it looks like there are many more that are mostly hidden within the matrix (see picture). Is there any way to prep the piece to show off more of the lazulite or would it be too risky? I'd hate to damage the visible crystals on the piece.


Thanks for the help!


23rd May 2016 18:08 UTCJolyon Ralph Founder

I think it'd be too risky

23rd May 2016 19:17 UTCDon Saathoff Expert

Patrick, I agree w/ Jolyon. Quartzite is both hard & tough & never breaks in any logical way. Any acid that would have any effect on the quartzite would also destroy the lazulite (and you, if you got any on your skin (HF)). Best leave it as is.....


Don S.

23rd May 2016 20:31 UTCHenry Barwood

Different areas of Graves Mountain have hard and soft quartzite matrix. Some is granular and can be removed with picks to expose nice lazulite crystals. Unfortunately the areas that had that sort of material are essentially buried about 20-30 feet deep now. Careful use of a vibrotool can sometimes expose nice crystals in fairly hard matrix, but it is a lot of tedious work!

24th May 2016 02:06 UTCDoug Daniels

I'd go with the majority - leave it be. The quartzite matrix is likely going to be quite tough (even tho there may be some "soft" areas). If you feel you really, really have to try to expose more, perhaps using a Dremel tool with diamond bits (probably a lot of them) would work. With a heck of a lot of patience. And, the result may not look very pretty.
 
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