Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[vitzitziltecpatl]

Have been meaning to ask this for about a year now - hope someone has the answer.

Slabbed some estate Chrysocolla, and it turned the oil blue. Rough was from an old rock shop and didn't have typical dyed appearance. It was consistent color all the way through and didn't appear to be reconstituted. That oil still has a pale green-blue color. Has anyone else ever had this happen?

The color looks like some of the collection basins I've seen at copper mines, so I've been concerned about what might be in that oil. Haven't put any of that oil back into any of our saws and haven't sliced any more of that rough, but the rough is so pretty I'd like to do more.

My first thought was "Tidy-Bowl" but the rough just doesn't look dyed... .

[olgguy]

I am using KIngsley North "Lubri-Kool" super light weight mineral oil, water clear. Cut good number of  Arizona Chrysocolla slabs with Malachite and Tenerite and the oil is now Emerald Green. Welcome to the club!

[lithicbeads]

I just ground a bunch of malachite azurite for a potter to use in a glaze and it has high staining power in liquids. I think if the malachite has very low or no silica it creates  a very strong color.I have never cut a big piece in a saw.

[vitzitziltecpatl]

Wow, Olgguy, if I had that chunk I wouldn't care what color the oil turned...!

Thanks to you both for chiming in here. Guess the Chrysocolla in Quartz type rough I usually cut just doesn't have a high enough concentration of the good stuff in it to stain the oil.

I'll just be more cautious whenever I do "recycle" this oil. Old friend of ours got really sick from Malachite years ago, but he was dry-grinding without taking precautions. Don't think I want to be breathing it suspended in an oil mist.

[olgguy]

That is one good thing about this oil, very low mist. But I don't hang around while it is running. I also have that piano hinge top on my HORIZONTAL 18" and I keep a rubber backed throw rug on top to catch any escaping mist. It also cuts down the noise.

[mirkaba]

Lots of rocks discolor the oil. My oil is currently black from Bear Canyon nodules. Malachite gives me a God-Awful headache so I don't even mess with it any more.