Thread: I Found It Over There

Originally Posted by RezDog

I think the rocks that conchiodally fracture make them novaculites, which is a large group that includes the arkies. All the rocks I play with are from the metamorphic family. One of my bad habits is getting too many rocks ahead of myself and then I can't remember which rock came from where.

Picture from a different thread but I use a Sharpie!

Originally Posted by Ranzor

Ok....you guys are getting way ahead of me lol. I have seen some formations with mybe one inch thick layers that could be seperated fairly easily, I just have to remember where I saw them. These I picked up only because they looked interesting. The green one is made up of paper thin layers, it almost looks like hair up close. All three take steel from a file on the lapped areas. Thank you guys for providing some good info. I'm still lapping, my arm is gettin tiered.

That is one of the issues with hard rock is that it is very hard to work with. Rock that separates into layer like you described is often slate or shale. One of the issues I have here is that the shale is too badly fractured to be able to work with most of it. The slate is a little easier but often has gas bubbles in it. However if you can find a good layer they both have the potential of great hones.

Originally Posted by 32t

Picture from a different thread but I use a Sharpie!

It is often wet when I am in the field and neither felt pens or paint pens tolerate getting wet very well. I was thinking I need to do a series of rough boxes that fit the bed of my truck. I have to wait nine weeks to cut the rock I got last outing.

My father passed on some stones he had collected to me and my wife. She made notes etc. to put in the box's. The shelf they were on collapsed under the weight and all the notes got mixed up......

there is no cry button. Sad story about the rocks and notes.

Wow that sucks about the notes.

Well I have to recant on the file. I realized I was testing with a cheap Cobalt file. Not so much luck with a Smith file. I will keep messing with these to see what they will do.

If I am uncertain I test with an old knife with a wide bevel.

Originally Posted by bluesman7

eKretz, when you check with the file, is this on a small lapped area or on a fractured face? I'm assuming you are talking about checking rocks in the field before bringing them home.

I check on a small lapped area. If you check just on the rough stone you can get some idea if it will cut steel but it won't give you a very good indication of cutting speed or finish. Over time you'll get a better idea of what stones to look closer at. Sometimes the sparkle will indicate a stone that will cut steel and sometimes not. Sometimes a stone without any sparkles will work great. My Jnat for instance doesn't have any that I can see and it cuts like crazy.

Conchoidal fracture can be found in stone beside novaculite - flint, obsidian, quartzite and a couple others. The main thing is most of the rocks that fracture this way are very high in silica. Novaculite for instance is like 99.6+%, quartzite ranges from the low to high 90's percentile. Another good field check is to break off a chunk and check the grain size - finer stones will usually be finer grained on the fractured surface, but you'll need to get more familiar with seeing different stones to get an idea what that even looks like.

I don't like to check with a knife personally because they are usually not as hard as a razor - a stone that will cut a quality file will cut anything, where a stone that might cut a softer knife may not cut the file or a razor. If you have a knife of known hardness that is 60+ Rc then that is different though. Shaun knows his stuff so I'm sure he has it handled.

Originally Posted by Ranzor

Not only am I now lusting over razors, you guys have me inspecting every rock I see. I know jack squat about geology or what really makes a good hone, but all of it is quite interesting to me. Here are a few I picked up the other day. I picked these mainly because they have the small specks of glitter looking material that my C12k has. Try not to make too much fun of me, I have no clue what I'm doing Attachment 186580

This reddish rock looks like it may be Sioux Quartzite, let me know what you think of it as a hone, please.

Will do......if I ever get the damn thing lapped.