In true rocking the tumbler style the stones of Batch 88 are recent finds on JPfossick #2, Monday 16 September 2024. Usually the stones that I collect from Gemstone Beach wait “in the queue” for quite a while in a plastic container under the stone shed bench being that I have plenty to choose from on what to tumble next.
Monday’s fossick was an afternoon one, it was cold which then became bitterly cold as we clocked up around three hours on the beach. Because ALL the stones were wet (thank you light rain) many more colours and patterns seemed to be apparent higher up the beach. JP had a large number of interesting finds as did I hence rocking the tumbler with these finds quite soon after they made it back to my stone shed! Normally the stones don’t become a batch until after the first Stage 1 tumble but these interesting finds are not too “banged up” so I’m hoping that I won’t have to remove/add too many of the original batch.
I’ve been finding that when I fossick with JP, I am a lot more picky about what I pick up and eventually keep. We have various conversations as we fossick across the Taunoa Stream, down to the Waimeamea River and back again. I am always learning more from these conversations and I really enjoy fossicking with JP.
Batch 88: 3lb Tumbler 4
Stage 1: F60grit
Number of Stones: 50
Weight in: 920g
3 Tbspns of F60grit
1 Tbspn Borax
No ceramic media added
Days Tumbling: 10
Weight out: 791g – loss of 129 grams
9 stones need redo
Stage 2: 220grit
Number of Stones: 41+5+1
Weight in: 798g
3 Tbspns of 220grit
1 Tbspn Borax
Ceramic media added
Days Tumbling: 10
Weight out: g – loss of grams
Stage 3: 400grit
Number of Stones:
Weight in: g
3 Tbspns of 400grit
1 Tbspn Borax
Ceramic media added
Days Tumbling:
Weight out: g – loss of grams
Pre-polish Soap Tumble: 24 hours
Batch 88: After Stage 1
Batch 88: Added for Stage 2
Ready to Polish
The stones were dried and inspected closely after Stage 3 (400grit) before the 24 hour soap tumble. Only one banded argillite had a small pit and I let it go through to polish anyway.
The polish mix was new as I did not have any reusable polish mix available. It’s all being used at the moment!
Stage 4: Polish Mix
Number of Stones: 47
Weight in: 630g
Polish Mix (NEW): 4 Tbspns of polish mixed with 250mls of clean water.
Ceramic media (small) added for cushioning
Days Tumbling: 10
Weight out: 629g – loss of 1 gram
Stage 5: Burnish
Number of Stones: 47
1½ Tbspns of borax + water
Days Burnishing: 3
The polish finish of this batch was mostly disappointing. Stones that I thought should have a mirror shine didn’t so I’ve decided to send them back to a 600grit tumble and will repolish them. The stones of interest come from the little pile of completed stones to the right in Image 1
Polish Complete
Polished Stones of Interest: Batch 88
Batch 88 | 3lb Tumbler 4 | Gemstone Beach | 18 October – 1 December 2025