[Jewelry making - Article 00431] - Re: [Orchid] Cutting Gem Silica

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    Hi Terry, Is your gem silica translucent blue or does it have other
    colors/mine rals and opaque? I only ask because to me and some other
    "old timers" know Gem silica as the blue ice like material.  I like
    it all ;-) I think there is an article on Quattro Quantum silica in
    the October, 2000 Rock & Gem Magazine. Also, if I remember right to
    be quattro quantum silica it has to have chrysocolla, shattuckite,
    dioptase and malachite in a quartz base. If your material has good
    silica it should polish OK. The problem with some stone that have
    several minerals of varying hardness they tend to undercut like
    malachite does sometimes in chrysocolla unless it's treated. Without
    seeing your material it is a little difficult to give much opinions.
    If your just learning cabbing, how about just smoothing a small area
    of a piece of rough, sand and polish and see how it goes? Don't cut
    it up yet and try a cab, just a face on the rough. And, are you
    using all diamond to cut and polish with?  If you like, email me a
    picture of your rough. Even a picture is not a good way to evaluate
    anything but it helps over none. 

Steve
http://topgems.homestead.com/

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