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Let's Rock => Rock Talk => Topic started by: Pusscat on June 30, 2017, 10:03:27 AM

Title: Stabilization of apatite
Post by: Pusscat on June 30, 2017, 10:03:27 AM

Hi,
I have a lovely piece of apatite but it's not stabilized. What are the options to do this?!
Cheers,

Pusscat

Title: Re: Stabilization of apatite
Post by: raven.worldlrnr on June 30, 2017, 10:05:28 AM

Does it have any divets or gaps in the slab?

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Title: Re: Stabilization of apatite
Post by: rocks2dust on June 30, 2017, 10:42:14 AM

Apatite is always going to be soft and rather fragile. If you want to fill voids and cracks, the easiest would be to use any of the several fillers (Opticon, etc.). Filling may or may not help the appearance in such cases (often will not match color), such treatment must be disclosed to buyers, won't improve the durability, and heating the stone to improve absorbtion  may even cause additional cracking (like I said, it's fragile).