Polishing Mary Ellen Jasper

[minnbuckeye]

While vacationing in northern Minnesota, I picked up this piece of Mary Ellen Jasper. My goal was to have one side polished in order to bring out the features of the stromatolite. Unfortunately, my attempts to find someone locally to polish it failed. Does anyone have knowledge of someone who could tackle this for me?

  

 

 

[Sacha]

Mike, I'd like to help, but that piece is to thin for my equipment. That's a pretty rough flat face as well, so someone with an angle grinder might be able to do it.

[sharkdoctor]

That's a lovely piece, Mike. No help here, but looking forward to seeing how it turns out. 

 

[MarcoSr]

Your piece looks too rough to hand polish.  I hand polished the below piece (shown dry) because I couldn't find anyone locally in Virginia to polish it.  It was a lot of work with a so so final product.  The hand polishing did bring out the color.  You might check for any "gem and mineral" clubs near you.  They usually have a number of folks with the necessary equipment.

 

Mary Ellen Jasper slab (222 grams, 135 mm x 90 mm x 5 to 9 mm thick):

 

 

 

 

 

Marco Sr.

[fifbrindacier]

I think the color would have been brang out even with a mechanical polishing. That gave it a nice red and pink color.

[Bob Saunders]

An angle grinder with a proper diamond wheel may do it. A wet wheel diamond lapidary machine or a flat lap. 

[minnbuckeye]

Just to clarify, I am looking to hire someone to do the prepping. 

 

 @Sacha, thanks for looking at it. Maybe if I  fail to find some help by next summer, I will return to the site and pick up a bigger slab!!!

 

 @MarcoSr, what a colorful specimen! Virginia AND Minnesota seem to be lacking in the same way. Would you like to trade specimens??????????????????  LOL

 

[MarcoSr]

13 hours ago, minnbuckeye said:

 @MarcoSr, what a colorful specimen! Virginia AND Minnesota seem to be lacking in the same way. Would you like to trade specimens??????????????????  LOL

 

 

There are two big "gem and mineral clubs" within 100 miles of where I live.  However, because of Covid they had cancelled their in-person meetings, so I couldn't go to a meeting to meet club members.  I haven't checked in a few months, but if they resume meetings, I'll probably go because I have a number of pieces that I would like to get polished.  To me, hand polishing is a last resort.

 

Unfortunately, no on trading.  I spent so much time with my specimen polishing it, I built up a strong bond with it.  LOL

 

Marco Sr.

[minnbuckeye]

3 hours ago, MarcoSr said:

gem and mineral clubs

I have sent messages to our larger clubs and have recieved no response.

[MarcoSr]

3 hours ago, minnbuckeye said:

I have sent messages to our larger clubs and have recieved no response.

 

I also sent messages and received no responses back, that is why I want to eventually go to a club meeting and meet some club members in person.

 

Marco Sr.