This is a question that I doubt anybody actually knows the answer to. It's just meant to be a fun topic to discuss. Who knows, maybe someone does know the answer and I'm just out of the loop. Based on your knowledge on how many mines ever existed for each, and how many of each you seen online, which rock do you think there is less of on Earth? Coticules or Escher/Thuringians?
Most people think great natural stones have depleted from over quarrying. It's actually the invention of the synthetic stone that killed the booming natural whetstone industry. There is actually a city a few hours away from me that was turned into a ghost town because of that fact called Grindstone city. There are actually great natural whetstone materials all around us if you are willing to look for them. If you look deep into the history of the different states of our country you'll find there used to be whetstone quarries in a large portion of them until the invention of synthetics. It's much cheaper for a company to buy ingredients than it is to cut a mountain into 2"x8" bricks. So the question would be not how rare the stones are, but how rare new quarries are being opened.
I love how you said 'which is less occurring on EARTH', just to narrow it down a bit :)
Yes, not including mars. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by carlmaloschneider
So I guess Pixelfixed's moon rock hone is not allowed in this thread...bummer. In my seven months of exhaustive research, I'd have to say the rarest earth based mine would be Nathaniel111's. So far as I know, his mine has quarried one stone. Granted, that stone turned out to be exceptional. But since he mined it, and it's the only one he mined...It's gotta be the most rare. I don't think coticules are rare at all...Even if there is only one company mining the product, it's putting out enough product for all of us, with plenty to spare. And besides that one company selling a thuringian stone that has the same quality as the old Eschers(according to some), a new thuringian stone might be a pretty rare commodity. I can't wait to hear what an educated person has to say. I'm seriously just free handing this from my inconsistent memory banks...Come to think of it, it might be Nun2sharp with the moon rock hone...or Bigspendur...darn it's hard keeping these names straight.
It's my guess that Thuringians are more rare. I could very well be wrong.Quote:
Originally Posted by regularjoe
I have a moon rock Hone?
Ooops, guess not. Sorry..It's tough to remember everyone's name. Must be one of the other two at the end of that long monologue.
Sounds like one I must have:) along with all the other ones,all the stones my wife calls indian love stones (Just another FU%%#ING rock.:)))
Yes, I think there are many natural whetstones yet undiscovered. After you have used a 4k, 8k, 12k or so synthetic you can almost feel the quality of some natural stones that may do just as well if you could guarry one 3x8 inches and lap it to synthetic perfection. On the other hand, synthetics are very reasonably priced when compared to my coticules. :)
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