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How to Polish Mohawkite

Mohawkite is a golden-colored rock that is thought to have healing and metaphysical uses, as well as being appealing to the eye. The rock can be poisonous before it is tumbled and polished, so it is not meant to be used in healing elixirs or to be handled by children or pets. Mohawkite has a high amount of copper within it which gives it its golden appearance, and must be polished in a tumbling machine in order to become beautiful safely. The rock is found in the Mohawk Mine in Michigan and is considered a type of Domeykite.

Things You'll Need

Soap and water
Brush
Tumbler machine
Medium grit
1 tbsp. baking soda

Instructions

- 1
  Wash rocks in soapy water. Scrub with a brush while washing to remove all possible dirt and debris. Sort your Mohawkite rocks by size and hardness. Place them into groups of similar size and hardness.
- 2
  Fill your tumbler barrel approximately half-full with Mohawkite rocks. Weigh this amount of rocks. Add 1 lb. of medium grit to the tumbler for every 10 lbs. of rocks. Add 1 tbsp. of baking soda to the tumbler to neutralize any gases.
- 3
  Add water to the tumbler barrel so that it is just below the top of the rocks. Do not allow the water to fully cover the rocks by more than 1/16."
- 4
  Place the barrel onto the tumbler machine and turn it on according to the manufacturer's directions. Observe the machine for a few minutes to make sure there are no strange sounds coming from it.
- 5
  Leave the Mohawkite rocks in the tumbler machine for four to six days before removing. Clean the rocks and machine with water once you are satisfied with the polish of the stones.

Rock Collecting