How to Polish Chalcedony
Chalcedony is a form of quartz crystal that can be found in many different colors when it is interspersed with other minerals through sedimentary processes. Agate is technically a form of chalcedony, as are moss agate, onyx, carnelian and jasper. Like quartz, chalcedony is extremely hard, and can be cut and polished to a high sheen to better display its amazing array of colors and patterns.
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Things You'll Need
- Rock tumbler
- Cold water
- Coarse abrasive tumbling grit
- Medium abrasive tumbling grit
- Prepolish tumbling grit
- Polish (cerium oxide)
Instructions
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1
Place your pieces of chalcedony in the rock tumbler barrel, and fill with cold water until the rocks are just about covered. Put in 1 tsp. of coarse grit per 1 lb. of chalcedony. Try to fill the barrel with pieces of various sizes, and fill it 3/4 full for the best possible grind.
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2
Tumble for five days.
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3
Remove the chalcedony and the water from the barrel, then rinse the rocks extremely thoroughly to remove all traces of the old grit.
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4
Cover the rocks with cold water and add 1 tsp. medium grit per 1 lb. of rock.
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5
Tumble for eight days.
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6
Remove the rocks and water again, and again rinse extremely thoroughly.
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7
Cover the rocks with cold water, adding 1 tsp. prepolish grit to the barrel per 1 lb. of rock, and tumble for another eight days.
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8
Remove the chalcedony from the barrel and rinse with soap and water. This is the most important wash; they need to be as sparkling as possible before you polish them.
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9
Cover the rocks with water again, and put in 3/4 tsp. of polish per 1 lb. of rock.
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10
Remove the stones every two days to check on the polishing process, and repeat step 9 if they're not as shiny as you want.
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