Charoite's mineral collecting chat.

[Cypress]

You know with some basic lab equipment you can create quite a few of these minerals in a garage lab. An understanding of the industrial processes and the chemistry involved doesn’t hurt either.

Obsidian would be easy to make. Once you make it you can easily convert it to Franklinite by heat treating it.

I’ve made synthetic rubies from beer cans. That was kind of fun as the first step of the two step process is a reverse Bayor Process. Had a lot of fun. It started with my machinist brother in law asking me if it was possible to make rubies from beer cans. I told him I’d look into it. Next time I saw him I told him it was possible. So after drinking some inspiration we picked up some chemicals we needed from the hard ware store. Then we picked up some graphite welding rods at local welding shop and before the day was done and fueled by beer by golly we did it.

For intangible and aesthetic reasons, I like knowing that natural obsidian comes from real volcanoes, natural diamonds are a piece of the earth's mantle, and natural iron meteorites are a piece of the core of an ancient planetesimal.

Creating chemical equivalents in the lab just is not the same for me.

[Doc Dutch]

Since the election madness ended and many showed interest in this reprieve topic, I decided to continue it here.

Do you drill holes in rocks or glass? My wife wants to set up a rig for cutting holes in glass for stained-glass projects. She has a dremel, but a stand would be better. I'm also thinking maybe just a small tabletop drill press would work.

Any ideas? Recommendations?

[Charoite]

Do you drill holes in rocks or glass? My wife wants to set up a rig for cutting holes in glass for stained-glass projects. She has a dremel, but a stand would be better. I'm also thinking maybe just a small tabletop drill press would work.

Any ideas? Recommendations?

I believe you need a special bit for and prep for glass but I'm no expert on glass. I'm pretty sure you need to use something to make sure the glass doesn't break under pressure just like the reasoning behind tile saws.

[Mott the Hoople]

Do you drill holes in rocks or glass? My wife wants to set up a rig for cutting holes in glass for stained-glass projects. She has a dremel, but a stand would be better. I'm also thinking maybe just a small tabletop drill press would work.

Any ideas? Recommendations?

Yea you can drill more precise holes in glass with a bench scale sandblasted.

[Mott the Hoople]

For intangible and aesthetic reasons, I like knowing that natural obsidian comes from real volcanoes, natural diamonds are a piece of the earth's mantle, and natural iron meteorites are a piece of the core of an ancient planetesimal.

Creating chemical equivalents in the lab just is not the same for me.

In terms of the end product I can understand that though with some, like gem grade synthetic rubies, depending on the process used are of superior quality and lower cost than natural rubies.

Which really isn’t my point. I’m just saying creating them in a lab, even a garage lab, is fun to do.

[Charoite]

Some new acquisitions after getting my check.

Moss Agate rough 1lb 5.7oz

[Charoite]

Cheetah Jasper 354 grams

[Charoite]

A grade Blue Lace Agate rough 178 grams.

[Charoite]

Charoite rough 275 grams.

[Charoite]

Amphibole Quartz 28 grams.

[Charoite]

Orange Selenite 118 grams.

[Charoite]

Purpurite 36 grams.

[Charoite]

Astrophyllite 55 grams

[Charoite]

Iridescent Goethite 84 grams.

[Charoite]

A rare mineral only found in the Dominican. 22mm Larimar sphere.