Does the quartz make any problems while honing?
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Well quartz is an abrasive, typical for a lot of whetstones i.e. thuringians and novaculite stones - for example Arkansas. In Coticules quartz is not the main abrasive but garnets (spessartine crystals). Quartz is undesired in Coticules because the particles are too large most of the time in the coticule veins. Means, they produce deep scratches and can even destroy a razor edge. But of course that depends on the coticule you have in hand. If the quartz particles are small enough they can also enhance the sharpening process. Problem is - you cannot see the size of the particles with your naked eye and even with a lupe or microskop you will have problems to recognize and clasify the quartz.
So practise and trial is the only way to find out. Best not with a razor first, but a strong knife.
Beautiful stones, love your posts.
Yes coticule have lot of different vein . Its interesting. See a small view of my collection .
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