Hobbies And Interests
Rose Quartz
Rose quartz is a good tumbling rock with a hardness of seven on the Mohs scale. It is suitable for rock tumbling beginners, as it is a hard stone, shines up well and quickly and is easy to find. These semiprecious stones are inexpensive, except for those of the highest quality. The stones range in color from light pink to rose and are transparent or translucent. Rose quartz is often used in jewelry, but it is a light-sensitive gem that could fade over time.
Carnelian
Carnelian is a chalcedony that is orange, red or brown with a hardness of seven on the Mohs scale. This semiprecious gemstone is hard, tough and easily tumbled. Carnelian achieves a high-shine polish when tumbled and is a good stone for first-time tumblers. It is often used in jewelry. Heating lesser-quality agate stones increases the orange or red color in the stone, which people sometimes try to pass off as carnelian. When purchasing carnelian, look for stones that have not been heat-treated.
Tiger Eye
Tiger eye, which rates a seven on the Mohs scale, is an amber- or brown-colored quartz that is often seen in men's jewelry such as rings and cufflinks. It gets its name from the striations in the stone. When moved back and forth under light, the striations look like the eye of a cat. Tiger eye is a good beginner tumbler's rock, as it is hard, tumbles well and achieves a high-shine polish.
Lapis Lazuli
Lapis lazuli is a stunning blue gem that dates to ancient times and is even mentioned in the Bible. It is composed of lazurite, which gives it its blue color, calcite, pyrite and other silicates. Since lapis is porous, it is often dyed and passed off as a higher-quality stone. Lapis rates a five on the Mohs hardness scale and is a softer, more expensive stone, so although tumbling produces great results, it is best left to more experienced rock tumblers.