Batch 23: From Gemstone Beach

Batch 23 from Gemstone Beach means all the stones hail from Gemstone Beach. 28 stones are from the second fossick I did with JP on the 24 March 2023. (This was the fossick that I was challenged not to pick up anything until we got down to the Waimeamea River and I wrote about it in this post).

The rest of the stones (9) were in a Gemstone Beach container waiting patiently for a tumble. They were collected late last year in September 2022. I’m getting into a rhythm now of adding stones to containers and adding a collection note to the stones. When they are up for tumbling I have the notes there and can combine different fossicks together in a batch.

After Stage 1’s inspection I found 3 stones with pits or holes/gouges in them. I’ve kept them in the batch going through Stage 2 in 220grit to see if they smooth out a little more – I don’t think they are going to but we will see.

Batch 23: 3lb Tumbler Two

Stage 1: 80/100grit

Number of Stones: 37
Collected from Gemstone Beach
Weight in: 1022g
4 Tbspns of 80/100grit – no pellets added.
Days Tumbling: 16 (not usual!)
Weight out: 862g – loss of 160g

Stage 2: 220grit

Number of Stones: 37
Weight in: 862g
4 Tbspns of 220grit – 6 Tbspns of pellets added.
Days Tumbling: 10
Weight out: 776g – loss of 86g

Stage 3: 400grit

Number of Stones: 37
Weight in: 776g
4 Tbspns of 400grit – pellets added
Days Tumbling: 9

Transfer to 4lb Tumbler

Stones from Batch 2 2 (from Papatotara) and Batch 23 were combined for polishing and burnishing in the 4lb Tumbler.

Stage 4: Polish Mix

Number of Stones: 37 + 50 = 87 (- 4)
Weight in: 1354g
Polish Mix (New – first use): 9 Tbspns of polish mixed with 600mls of clean water. Pellets added.
Days Polishing: 10

Stage 5: Burnish

2 Tbspns of Borax to clean and clear any remaining polishing mix. Pellets added.
Days Burnishing: 2

Batch 23: Pre-tumbling …

Batch 23 - Gemstone Beach — Batch 23 – dry – pre-tumble

Batch 23: Polished …