Deep Rock = Heavy Rock?

I recently acquired a Belgian "Deep Rock" originally distributed through Pearl Duck. I understand these stones originally were mined from the deeper layers of a coticule quarry.

I have several other cotis, and the first thing I noticed was how heavy this stone is. The second was that there is no figuring, either on the coti or the BBW side. I've never seen a BBW without the telltale pattern.

So, I'm wondering.... a deep strata rock would be more highly compressed, right? Could that account for its comparative weight and the homogeneity of the surface? Anyone else notice this? Thanks.

I personally have no idea, but I know that you need to post some pics of this stone if possible. :D

I had a labeled Deep Rock and sold it. The label was complete and covered the blue so I couldn't way whether the blue had figure or not. IIRC the yellow as a very pale and creamy color without figure. I'm pretty sure Randydance has one or more Deep Rock coticules so maybe he can contribute something in the way of what his are like?

No it really doesn't work that way.

Rocks are broken up pretty much by the lighter rocks with alot of silica and darker rocks with alot of iron. The darker ones make up the deep layers or the earth and the light ones are lighter and make up the upper layers. It's one of the reasons the continents float. Because a deposit is say several hundred or even thousand feet thick doesn't mean the stuff on the bottom is heavier than the stuff on top. You talking a different scale here.

Any economic deposit can have a variety of grades. It's all natural stuff.

http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/1/2/1...03179720_o.jpg

Here it is. BTW, any suggestions for removing (intact) or preserving the label? I'd like to use at least the coti side. Thanks.

If you want to remove it, I suppose I'd start with laying a T-shirt over it and then set a heated iron on top of it until the glue starts to melt, and then carefully pull the label off. Of course, this will only work if adhesive is heat sensitive.

To retain and protect the label, you can use a few coats of lacquer or polyurethane.

To my eye, the dark side looks like slate. If that is the case, then it would probably make more sense to just leave the label on.

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Originally Posted by Utopian

If you want to remove it, I suppose I'd start with laying a T-shirt over it and then set a heated iron on top of it until the glue starts to melt, and then carefully pull the label off. Of course, this will only work if adhesive is heat sensitive.

To retain and protect the label, you can use a few coats of lacquer or polyurethane.

To my eye, the dark side looks like slate. If that is the case, then it would probably make more sense to just leave the label on.

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I agree -- it does look like slate. There is no typical BBW patterning, as noted in the OP. However, from the side the gradual fade of the BBW into the coti and the wavy border indicates it is a combo. All the Deep Rocks I've seen (only a couple, though) have been true combos.

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Originally Posted by pcb01

I agree -- it does look like slate. There is no typical BBW patterning, as noted in the OP. However, from the side the gradual fade of the BBW into the coti and the wavy border indicates it is a combo. All the Deep Rocks I've seen (only a couple, though) have been true combos.

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Looking at it from the top I can't tell. I don't recall whether mine was a natural or glued, slate or blue. Can you post a pic of the side ? Utopian's suggestion of heat was a good one if it is a blue. Seems to me that the label on the Deep Rock I had was more of a foil than a paper and would be harder to remove without damage to the label.

I was watching that one or one like it a few days ago...nice rock!

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Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Looking at it from the top I can't tell. I don't recall whether mine was a natural or glued, slate or blue. Can you post a pic of the side ? Utopian's suggestion of heat was a good one if it is a blue. Seems to me that the label on the Deep Rock I had was more of a foil than a paper and would be harder to remove without damage to the label.

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The label does look like foil -- easier to see if you look at the gold and red coloring on it. Never posted a pic before (I "borrowed" the ebay shot), but I'll give it a go this weekend.

Yes, I have 2 of them, one is a natural and the other is a composite natural , coti & BBW. Mine looks exactly like yours. They are not the hardest coticules but not soft either. They cut slowly IMHO.

I will not sell mine, they are hard to find and with the upcoming price increase from the mine they will simply become even more valuable. :)