How do you polish Malachite and other rocks and minerals?

Question

I purchased some rough malachite speciments off websites, and i was wondering what i need to polish these guys to make them look nice and shiny?

Im not looking to purchase really expensive machinary, the cheaper the better.

Is it possible to get some sandpaper and go at it? Or will that just take way too much time?

Thank you in advane,

Answer 1

My only option for you would be is to buy a rock tumbler, which can be purchased at Fry's Electronics in the childrens section where all the science kits are, Toys R Us, or a D & J Hobby store which is located here in Campbell, Ca. Some of these rock tumblers are reasonably priced.

Shining your Malachite with mineral oil and a soft rag after tumbling would do the trick. If you prefer to use sand paper and mineral oil, it will take a very long time.

Have fun in your mineral collections!

Answer 2

Sandpaper doesn't work well. The cheapest thing to use is a diamond hone that is sold at hardware stores for sharpening tools. Then, as the rock gets smoother, progress to an emery cloth, and finally to a fine polish used on cars. There are also diamond polishing wheels also sold at hardware stores that can be attached to an electric drill. If you want to shape the stones a little, a coarse wheel for a drill might be the best thing to start with before using a hone. An example of a hone is at the first link, and some instructions at the second link.

Answer 3

Maybe this may work, do you have a thrift store such as: ARC or Salvation Army? If so, these are your best bet in purchasing an electric drill for dirt cheap ($3 give or take)! Do you have a store called Big Lots? If so, this store also sells electric drills cheap ($9 give or take). Where am I going with this you may be asking? Well at Big Lots they also sell sanding stones and bits etc... Get where I am going now?! Right on! Cheap way of getting those stones to look more like gems! Though I've not tried it, I've not really any doubt that it will work! Tell me if it doesn't, will ya please?!

Your faithful Earth Watcher,
Cynthia

ps I've an egroup called Earth Watcher, where I report and discuss all Earth Sciences daily such as: Earthquakes, Volcanoes, etc... Maybe you'd like to join? You can do so by clicking the link below.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Earth_Watcher/

Answer 4

the easiest way is to use a tumbler .... put the minerals in the device and add a polishing agent and begin tumbling keep repeating using finer and finer agents until polished.