Thread: I Found It Over There

Are rocks that are mostly quartzs and a nice white or pink or red colors any good for sharpening if one was to cut them up.

Quartz is generally regarded as been something to avoid from what I can gather. I'm not 100% on why it's bad, I'm sure the others will know the technicalities of it. Generally even a small amount of Quartz is regarded as been a bad thing from what I have read.

Originally Posted by Iceni

Quartz is generally regarded as been something to avoid from what I can gather. I'm not 100% on why it's bad, I'm sure the others will know the technicalities of it. Generally even a small amount of Quartz is regarded as been a bad thing from what I have read.

Not talking about quartz type rocks with a lot of air pockets. That's stuff would always cut rough.

Originally Posted by Iceni

Quartz is generally regarded as been something to avoid from what I can gather. I'm not 100% on why it's bad, I'm sure the others will know the technicalities of it. Generally even a small amount of Quartz is regarded as been a bad thing from what I have read.

Quartz, as Silicon Oxide, is what novaculite is made of, and the abrasives that most natural stones contain, are the harder silicate minerals.
There is a distinction between quartz crystals, from what I remember from reading a scientific journal some years ago. It takes the forms or microcrystalline, cryptocrystalline and some others I can't remember right now. One of those should completely be avoided in sharpening stones, and what I have in mind are the lines and dots that look like ice and can be found in some geologic formations.
So, for us rockhounds, silicon oxide is our best friend, but can also be our worst enemy.

Wish my camera was working.

I am no geologist. From what I have seen, micro quartz is the super fine little sparkles and white dots found under magnification in hones. Where it get to be enough for lines and inclusions is where it gets to be toxic for the edge. The best example of this that I can think of is the Pierre La Lune special stone for good razors only. It has a millions super tiny sparkles. It is also so aggressive in it's cutting speed that it can over hone a razor quite easily. That is my take on quartz. Also many very good hones are from near quartz seams, but never in the quartz seam.

Originally Posted by RezDog

I am no geologist. From what I have seen, micro quartz is the super fine little sparkles and white dots found under magnification in hones. Where it get to be enough for lines and inclusions is where it gets to be toxic for the edge. The best example of this that I can think of is the Pierre La Lune special stone for good razors only. It has a millions super tiny sparkles. It is also so aggressive in it's cutting speed that it can over hone a razor quite easily. That is my take on quartz. Also many very good hones are from near quartz seams, but never in the quartz seam.

Cool thank you for the info.

There are many minerals that can look like that. You can't assume it's quartz at all. You have to know the rock and it's associations which will then point you in the right direction as to what it might be.