Thread: stone ID

Alex and Maskwa - thank you *very* much for those extremely interesting, posts, and with information so very hard to come by. SOmeone should really write up an article on the history of different natural hones, and the geology and material science behind them. (I'm an academic, so that's where my mind goes.)

And for the OP and others: I think it is really great that so many are tryng their hands at finding natural hones again. Clearly there are excellent natural hones in more places than just Thuringia and Japan (and even if we add a few more: the Ardennes, etc.) But obviously the dominance of synthetics and the ease they provide in marketing and -crucially - patenting a process and a consistent stone (for modern marketing materials that say "Asagi hone - *probably* much better than your favorite Suita, though, since it's a natural stone, maybe not!!" just dont appeal to the corporate boardroom, or stockholders.) has for many years pretty much put an end to any meaningful exploration of natural hones - here in geologically rich America, and elsewhere. But I have long been hoping that the resurgence of straight razor shaving, and the evident superiority of natural hones to synthetics in many respects, will also bring a resurgence in the exploration, and perhaps even small-scale mining and marketing, of natural razor hones.

Just a few thoughts - and thanks to all you working hard, with pickaxes, 80-grit sandpaper, or microscopes.

Cheers.

Originally Posted by Mijbil

Alex and Maskwa - thank you *very* much for those extremely interesting, posts, and with information so very hard to come by. SOmeone should really write up an article on the history of different natural hones, and the geology and material science behind them. (I'm an academic, so that's where my mind goes.)

And for the OP and others: I think it is really great that so many are tryng their hands at finding natural hones again. Clearly there are excellent natural hones in more places than just Thuringia and Japan (and even if we add a few more: the Ardennes, etc.) But obviously the dominance of synthetics and the ease they provide in marketing and -crucially - patenting a process and a consistent stone (for modern marketing materials that say "Asagi hone - *probably* much better than your favorite Suita, though, since it's a natural stone, maybe not!!" just dont appeal to the corporate boardroom, or stockholders.) has for many years pretty much put an end to any meaningful exploration of natural hones - here in geologically rich America, and elsewhere. But I have long been hoping that the resurgence of straight razor shaving, and the evident superiority of natural hones to synthetics in many respects, will also bring a resurgence in the exploration, and perhaps even small-scale mining and marketing, of natural razor hones.

Just a few thoughts - and thanks to all you working hard, with pickaxes, 80-grit sandpaper, or microscopes.

Cheers.

"SOmeone should really write up an article on the history of different natural hones, and the geology and material science behind them. (I'm an academic, so that's where my mind goes.) "

I couldn't agree more! Thats where my mind has already gone! I find it fascinating. From what I've seen, there are many types of rock used for hones from many different parts of the world.
I've heard the claim that all of the Japanese rock comes from one quarry, but there is no reason for this. Is it true? The rock they are using is not rare on a global scale. From what I can see, the Japanese stones are for the most part sedimentary rocks, which I suspect are argillaceous, carbonaceous mudstones. Where the original depositional environment is a lagoon or back reef area.

I was on a field excursion in Belize a few years back and we tested the muds in behind the reef. Well, the muds were grey in color, and carbonaceous(limemudstone). The grey color was siliciclastic sediments carries from the coast by currents and deposited offshore behind the reef(quartz and other siliciclastic minerals do not originate in the ocean) they were transported in(or out). The silicate minerals would make up the "grit" as very fine grained material. So this could be a model for where these types of rocks originated millions of years ago. Not rare by any means.

If I'm boring anyone please let me know.

Anyway, it is a keen interest of mine to take this on as a project. To map out where these stones have originated historically, where they are coming from today, and also what types lithologies(rocks) have been used.

I could even go to the stage of having a sample from one of the old Japanese Quarry analysed at the if I could get my hands on one. A thin section would have to be made. Cost would have to be considered.