[Rockhounds] Faceting hanksite?

[Al Balmer]

On Wed, 22 Apr 2009 20:21:30 +0200, "Rik Dillen"
<rik.dillen at skynet.be> wrote:

>IMHO faceting hanksite is completely unthinkable, as this compound is water
>soluble. In theory it could perhaps be treated in an apolar solvent, such as
>xylene.
>Anyway, I don't see the purpose of trying to facet hanksite, as it would
>effloresce almost immediately.

The same reason anyone would facet common salt - just to prove they
can. Or can't <g>.

For halite, Vargas recommends kerosene as the coolant/lubricant. They
mention another polishing method: dip the cut stone into distilled
water for a fraction of a second, then quickly dip it in 95% ethanol.
Very smooth, but slightly rounded facets, they say.

-- 
Al Balmer
Sun City, AZ