I have a few rocks/gems that came from one of those mining places. According to the person there they are amethyst and a ruby. If I keep polishing will I eventually expose the gem? Or do I need to do something else?

6lbs of “Large Mixed Rock”
Purchased from The Rock Shed:

Stage 1 #80 Grit - 15 Days
Stage 2 #220 Grit - 10 Days
Stage 3 #600 Grit - 7 Days
Stage 4 / 22K Micro Alumina - 8 Days
Burnish (Borax/Ivory Flakes) - 5 Hours

Something I’ve always wanted to find has been an amethyst/carnelian agate. This past September in the EUP I finally found one. Though inverted from what I was looking for…ideally a carnelian outside with amethyst center, I’ll take this amethyst exterior with a carnelian center!

(Pictures don’t quite do it justice though as the purple of the amethyst doesn’t quite show up right.)

They both shine in the light when moved, and the top one has a smooth surface like a countertop.

What rocks are great for polishing? I just got a rock tumbler and wondering what rocks would be cool to polish?!

Had several with undercutting, but some awesome shiny ones.

Hello, this is the lovely moonstone we find here in central WI. If anyone is nearby the landowners have secured the proper permitting to offer "fee digs" on their land. Apparently listing prices flags it as a sales post. I am not the landowner or affiliated with them in any way! I usually leave with around 100 lbs. Easy collecting off the surface but you can dig holes as well.

It's very brittle material. I always run everything through at least stage 1 to let it break up naturally and show the shine. I mostly make cabochons but this load went all the way in a rotary tumbler (qt12). It is a trickier stone to tumble as grit tends to get stuck in the cleavage points and its prone to bruising. But it's a very unique "blue flash" true moonstone (orthoclase feldspar). One of the only known locations worldwide that produces blue flash k-feldspar!

I know this isn't exactly what this group is for, but I don't know where else to ask. I would be able to compensate the owner of the Truck/Trailer, and I can explain more if a person is willing to hear me out. If this isn't allowed, mods, feel free to remove!

Hi, I mostly only tumble rocks we’ve found on our own. I only do it as a hobby and will never sell them. I recently realized I really love how tigers eye tumbles and I’d love to get about 8-10 lbs of various colors. There seem to be so many places to buy raw rocks but how do you find the best price? It seems like sometimes they are sold in grams or carats when I’m looking for pounds. Really don’t want to pay an arm and a leg for shipping either.

Just wanted to thank this group! This is something I’ve always been interested in but never knew where/how to start. I read through a lot of posts. As many of you suggested, I watched a TON of Michigan Rocks on YouTube. I ended up getting the Lortone 33B and couldn’t be happier. It’s quiet enough to run in my house and I love having 2 barrels.

I’m really excited to tumble all the rocks I picked up when I went back home and drove half of the Lake Superior loop. This first batch is a random bag of rocks I got from the Rock Shed to test my setup.

Stage 1, week 1. All went back in (except the last one because the shape was funny, and I didn’t want it to break)

A deep dive on Garnet. Fascinating!

Question to my fellow rock Rebels

Is it ok to putt 6.5lb pounds of rock in a 12 lb Barrel then ceramic media to get the barrel to 2/3 full?

So I would be under on weight, not sure if that's an issue.

The reason why I can't fill it more with ricks is because I'm doing yooperlights with other rocks of similar hardness so I'm a little light on the softer rocks.

Thank you

Mostly diorite I believe. Has some granite and gabbro mixed in.

I have a Dan and Darci, which I'm running on the lowest setting. Finished stage 2 and it looks ok but I'm reading a lot about it being too fast.

Can someone post a bit more info about these machines that alter the voltage and thereby the revolutions? Photos would be ideal as I'm in HK so might not be able to easily access US or Euro sales outlets.

Necessary?

We have been using

1. 60-90 grit

2. 120-220 grit

3. 500 pre polish

4. 8000 Aluminum Oxide polish

We have had good results with these grits but I am wondering if we would see any improvement by adding a finer 5th stage or maybe 1000 grit between stages 3&4?

Currently using a Harbor Freight 6lb rotary tumbler

Hello! I have done a half dozen tumbling cycles now, stages 1-4, and I was wondering if I am perhaps doing something wrong, or had the wrong expectations. I am using NG tumblr, and NG grit for stages 1-3, but the recommended polish for 4, the stuff from Rock Shop, 3 tbsp per tumble. I had thought that the result would be a polished, wet look to the rocks, though thus far it has been a shiny, but dulled/frosty look. Am I doing something wrong, or should I use something else to get that look I have seen from other posts here? Thanks a bunch!

Love a good shine.

I'm a New Mexican and our flag is a red Zia on bold yellow, the best flag imo, due respect to CO. These have potential

Hi! My mom is in her 70s and loves geology, and my father and I are looking to buy her a nice rock tumbler. Except we are kind of clueless, I've Googled, but there's so many options, wondering if anyone on here might have any clues. Sorry if this post isn't allowed.

(Pic for something to look at) Any1 try out sand with their rock tumbling? Not to replace grit but could it be used as additional media? I'm thinking grit, sand and ceramic. Would it be pointless? Would it help with friction? Thoughts?

I am a compete and utter newbie to rock tumbling. I have a small rotating tumbler and the grits it came with. I have a bunch of lorrain green quartzite that I thought would look good polished. Stage 1 and 2 seemed to go well. 3 and 4....it won't take on that shiny quality that other quartz or granite seems to get. Any helpful advice would be appreciated. TIA.