Thread: coticule Veins

Originally Posted by hatzicho

Hello Mikhail,

the coticule looks like it is a Les Latneuse vein. The interesting thing is that most Les Latneuses are combinations of two layers, one is a more coticule like layer in typical creamy coticule color and a so-called hybrid layer which is not as uniform and consists mostly of quartz and clorite. In the deposits, these two layers exist twice, followed by a very red colored BBW. From the pictures I would say you have a Les Latneuses -hybrid layer combined with the red BBW.
Very nice and rare example if I am correct! But I could be wrong though.

Does the quartz make any problems while honing?

Originally Posted by Blunon

Does the quartz make any problems while honing?

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.

Originally Posted by hatzicho

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.

Oh okay
Because I have a stone with quartz in it. But since I’m not practiced with coticule, I really have no clue how a problem would feel like.
I do notice a sort of skipping, but that could be due to these spots being smoother than the rest

Beautiful stones, love your posts.

Yes coticule have lot of different vein . Its interesting. See a small view of my collection .