[Rockhounds] spectrolite - lapidary

[Tim Fisher]

It is relatively soft and has definite cleavage planes but works 
easily on diamond wheels if you are careful with it. Avoid jamming it 
into the wheels. The AA and AAA grade material from the mine owners, 
Korukivihiomo Kiurunen in Finland (which I believe is all that they 
sell) works especially well. I have bought wholesale slabbed rough 
from them in the past, and I wouldn't hesitate to buy retail (if you 
want more check out their site; the prices are VERY 
reasonable).  Their slabs are very thick which I believe helps to 
work it without it cleaving apart. As for other material (e.g., the 
junk being dumped on Ebay), all I can say is Caveat Emptor.

http://www.finnishspectrolite.com/gblang/spesales/lookbottom.html

At 04:51 AM 5/26/2008, you wrote:
>Hi,
>
>I have a nice piece of spectrolite from Finland.  I have seen cabochons made
>from this material, and would like to try my hand at working with it, but as
>it is my only piece, would like some advice from all of you experts out
>there.  I have a Diamond Pacific Genie and a buffer to work with.
>
>Thanks in advance for your help,
>Brenda

Tim Fisher
Ore-ROCK-On!
Email address at http://OreRockOn.com