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Here's a an example of a spessartine garnet. Coticules are loaded with such crystals, ranging between 5 and 15 microns.
http://www.mindat.org/photos/0344496001118694136.jpg

I was actually talking only about the color of the slurry. I see now that I expressed myself ambiguously, so I edited my previous post for more clarity.

I vote slate. Besides Coticule and Blue schiste, The Vielsalm region in the Belgian Ardennes is famous since ancient times for one other product... premium quality slate.
Note that Ardennes...

That's awesome research, Oldengaerde. When mr. Brouwers joined the forums, I first thought that he was Dutch or Belgian, carrying such a typical name from our countries. You could easily be right on.

Coticules cannot be given a grit rating like one would do with other hones. That is because they work quite different than the majority of hones that abrade steel by means of small particles that...

That is correct. Ardennes Coticules started backing to natural slate tiles, because it is more cost-effective. In the old days, when labor hours weren't that big of an issue, it was cheaper to back...

I'd give it a lapping session on a DMT-C, under a running tap.
This will ensure the hone is flat enough for razors and it removes whathever it is on top of the hone. You can read about lapping in...

+1. That's a Coticule.