[Jewelry making - Article 00101] - Re: [Orchid] Alum Pickle

[John Burgess]

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    G'day Terry;  As you seem to have enjoyed growing crystals, perhaps
    you might try and get some Chrome alum  (chromium potassium
    sulphate) and make a saturated solution which looks black but is a
    deep purple.   The crystals of this are exactly the same shape as
    those of your alum (potassium aluminium sulphate). so if you take
    the most perfect of the chrome alum and grow it on a fine thread, 
    then immerse it in a saturated solution of alum, you can grow a
    crystal that is transparent with a dark purple core.   about 50
    years ago I grew such a combined crystal  about an inch across  to
    show some young lads that the shape of a crystal is wholly dependent
    upon it's atomic structure. Try some of the other things, like copper
    sulphate.   But that won't grow on an alum crystal it has the wrong
    structure 

-- 
Cheers for now,
John Burgess;   johnb AT ts.co.nz of Mapua, Nelson NZ


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