[meteorite-list] Hard to Polish Meteorites - Any Ideas?

From: Peter Scherff <peterscherff_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Fri, 28 Oct 2011 09:33:13 -0400
Message-ID: <00db01cc9576$255ec870$701c5950$_at_rcn.com>

Hi Mike,

        I see some meteorites that have been stabilized before cutting and
or polishing. Perhaps the most common stabilizing product is Opticon. While
I don't like using this for aesthetics I think that it is useful for
preventing a sample from falling apart when being cut.

Thanks,

Peter

-----Original Message-----
From: meteorite-list-bounces at meteoritecentral.com
[mailto:meteorite-list-bounces at meteoritecentral.com] On Behalf Of Michael
Gilmer
Sent: Friday, October 28, 2011 9:06 AM
To: meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com
Subject: [meteorite-list] Hard to Polish Meteorites - Any Ideas?

Hi List,

Some meteorites are hard to polish or just won't take a proper polish.
 Allende is one example that comes to mind readily.

I've got an endcut of NWA 801 CR2 that came from the Hupe Collection.
It has a wicked glossy polish on it that accentuates the chondrules.

I'm working on some CR2 slices that need polishing and they won't take a
decent polish. I can get the saw marks out, but beyond that I can't get a
polish to take. The more I try, it just muddies up the matrix and subdues
the features. The metal fleck and rings around the armored chondrules come
out nicely, but the rest of the specimen becomes muddy and the chondrules
fade into the matrix. What am I doing wrong? This particular CR2 is
similar to NWA 801, but a little more weathered. Could that have something
to do with it?

Do the Hupes have some magic trade-secret technique? Or am I overlooking
something obvious?

I started out with 320 grit and then progressed to 400, 600, and 800 grit -
hand sanding, dry, on wet/dry sandpaper.

Best regards,

MikeG


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Received on Fri 28 Oct 2011 09:33:13 AM PDT