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Techniques for CollectorsExposing Garnets

26th Jun 2012 19:45 UTCJesse Donaldson

Hi all,


I'm looking for advice on how to best expose the garnets(?) in the attached rock.

Ideally, I'd like to remove enough of the matrix to expose buried garnets and display nicely formed crystal faces.


The matrix seems to be pretty soft (< 4), but abrasion with a rotary wire brush is still awfully slow going, and "feels like" it could damage the edges of exposed crystals. I'm not sure how to best remove the matrix without damaging the crystals. I have a few ideas, but thought I'd ask around before wrecking my specimen. :-)


I'm considering:

* Sandblasting with walnut shells

* Vibratory tumbling with walnut shells

* Splitting off layers of the matrix with a chisel or knife


This came from a stream in Windsor county, Vermont, USA.



Thanks for any suggestions!

Jesse

26th Jun 2012 21:14 UTCAlfredo Petrov Manager

Air abrasion with glass microbeads will work much faster than walnut shell.

27th Jun 2012 01:28 UTCDavid Sheumack

Jesse,

This video clip might give you a few ideas for preparing your specimen.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCHZRm2Ux0Y&feature=autoplay&list=UUk2L8I6ZZGod8Q3DuDSC7-g&playnext=1

27th Jun 2012 16:22 UTCJesse Donaldson

Thanks for the ideas.

I'm a bit worried that sandblasting with glass beads might damage the crystal edges, but I'll give it a try if I have trouble with other methods.


The youtube video was definitely useful (although the first one that came up was about offroad vehicles -- had to go back one).

I recently picked up an old dental electro-mallet, which might be just the thing to let me delicately chisel away the matrix.



Regards,

Jesse
 
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