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[ILMSteve]

Picked up some sample pieces of a countertop material by Dupont called Zodiaq at a thrift store a few months ago. They call it Corian Quartz now. Mohs hardness of 7, same as quartz. It is composed of chips of natural quartz, binding resins and dyes.  Cuts with diamond saws, not carbide tipped saws like the original Corian.

Now that I'm hunkered down to avoid the virus, I have some time so I cut some up to make some guitar picks from it to sell or give away.

I tried a rough test pick on my guitar tonight and it adds some nice tone, very similar to some natural quartz picks I have made. It performed like any other mohs 7 pick with no visible wear or tear. One big advantage is that there are no fissures or cracks to deal with.

So how can I describe this? Can I call it "stone"? Man-made stone? Artificial stone? How would you describe it?

[Felicia]

Problem is the resin, doesn't seem like stone. Just wonder is the resin part as hard as the quartz part? Carbide isn't really used on quartz anyway, the new Corian may have a lot of that. Interesting problem. Call it a composite material?? At least it makes good picks, is it available in a lot of colors? Have fun with it.

[55fossil]

   Look at the standard used for all the man-made stones and resin filled stones like Turquoise. Rock and Gem has published dozens of Articles on impregnated and similar "manufactured" stones. The Colbaugh Process with Kingman Turquoise is a prime example. While it is called stabilized I would use a different word to describe it. If you are bored just google resin impregnation and such terms for altered or manufactured stones. Colbaugh is honest and proud of their products. Honesty is the key....  The GIA also has a lot of published articles on resin impregnation or stone that is ground up, swirled around with resin and dyes.

[hummingbirdstones]

I would call it enhanced stone, maybe.  I was trying to think of a term that was not deceptive but also didn't sound negative.

[ILMSteve]

Problem is the resin, doesn't seem like stone. Just wonder is the resin part as hard as the quartz part? Carbide isn't really used on quartz anyway, the new Corian may have a lot of that. Interesting problem. Call it a composite material?? At least it makes good picks, is it available in a lot of colors? Have fun with it.

Thank you and I agree, the resin did give me pause both for its being an additive and if it were truly a mohs 7. The resin seems every bit as hard as the quartz. Composite would be a good term to describe it.

It is available in many different colors but I have just a single color to work with for now.

It has an interesting translucence and the quartz that in on the surface allows you to look "into" it.  Kind of dimensional.

Here are a couple poor attempts at showing its characteristics.


20200502_182522A.jpg (98.48 kB . 800x1067 - viewed 881 times)


20200502_183827_HDRA.jpg (140.15 kB . 1024x1365 - viewed 850 times)

[ILMSteve]

   Look at the standard used for all the man-made stones and resin filled stones like Turquoise. Rock and Gem has published dozens of Articles on impregnated and similar "manufactured" stones. The Colbaugh Process with Kingman Turquoise is a prime example. While it is called stabilized I would use a different word to describe it. If you are bored just google resin impregnation and such terms for altered or manufactured stones. Colbaugh is honest and proud of their products. Honesty is the key....  The GIA also has a lot of published articles on resin impregnation or stone that is ground up, swirled around with resin and dyes.

Thank you. I will look at the GIA articles. I did not want to make the call on  my own. The ethics weighed on me.

[ILMSteve]

I would call it enhanced stone, maybe.  I was trying to think of a term that was not deceptive but also didn't sound negative.

Thank you. Enhanced stone has a nice ring. Almost like it is enchanted. It will be part of my "Picks of Destiny" series so the right adjective adds to the mystique.

[Felicia]

Attractive stuff. Interesting about the resin hardness. Never worked with it. So many techniques.

[ILMSteve]

Attractive stuff. Interesting about the resin hardness. Never worked with it. So many techniques.

I was worried that it would load my wheels but it leaves no residue.