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Author Topic: question about cabbing kyanite  (Read 1001 times)

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ileney

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question about cabbing kyanite
« on: February 22, 2020, 08:55:13 PM »

Hi, I got some rough blue kyanite and was thinking of cabbing it. It looks awfully full of mica or something fibrous that splits it into very thick sheets, almost. Does this stuff normally get stabilized, or could this mean it just isn't high enough quality to cab? Thank you for any information!
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Slabbercabber

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Re: question about cabbing kyanite
« Reply #1 on: February 23, 2020, 04:36:00 AM »

Kyanite comes in many purities.  Some of it is so flaky that it will come apart in your hand.  Other times is is relatively easy to cab.  Your success will depend on the sample you have.  I've not tried stabilizing it but I see no reason why not.
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rocks2dust

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Re: question about cabbing kyanite
« Reply #2 on: February 23, 2020, 09:06:01 AM »

I know rocks such as ruby in kyanite get stabilized, but hadn't heard of kyanite itself benefiting from stabilization (filled after shaping and sanding, perhaps, but not stabilized). Its cleavage and difference in hardness depending on the axis being cut already make it a problematic material. Kyanite can form as clusters of individual, needle-like crystals. It occasionally is found as larger, facetable/cabbable individual crystals. Are you sure that what you suspect are inclusions aren't thin crystals, or parts of the crystal itself that are splitting off? Or are there actual inclusions and porosity that would even make stabilization possible? Like Slabbercabber said, it depends.
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ileney

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Re: question about cabbing kyanite
« Reply #3 on: February 23, 2020, 01:02:33 PM »

Maybe this is that too flaky stuff. It is way flakier than the slab of ruby in kyanite I have, which didn't need to be stabilized and looks nothing like it. below is a bad picture. It's actually much bluer in color, but you can see how flaky it is.
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