Post subject: Re: Ethiopian Opal Agony and Ecstasy
Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2011 2:25 am
Gemology Online Veteran
Joined: Sat Jul 11, 2009 10:29 am Posts: 928 Location: USA
Sorry lightspeed, you will find NO untreated gemstones then, nit unless you dig thrm yourself! But then how would you clean them, since acids and solvents have to be used to so so. Almost all tourmaline, corundum, quartz, beryl, etc. are soaked to clean them. Soaking in acetone is no different.
For the record, I don't soak my welo in acetone except to remove the dops, common practice with all gemstones. So then all faceted stones are treated then by your definition. :/.
I'm not bashing your opinion, I firmly am for each and everyone to have their own. But, it is being hypocritical that is what I am getting at. Soaking a welo to season it quickly is treatment, to you, but soaking stones in everyone to remove shipping wax and or glue isn't!? Soaking rough and specimens in acids and solvents to clean all the stuff off isn't treatment!? Faceting outer cabbing , which drastically alters the entire stone, isn't?!
It is fine to pick a side and take a stance. But you can't have your cake and way it too. If one soak is a treatment, them all are treatments, since they see the same chemicals and same soaking times, lol. If one is a treatment then so is the other, our should say others, including cutting them.
I prefer to just let my Welos season with the rest of my opals, sitting in TheCave™, lol, or out back on the slab when weather permits. I'm not in any hurry and have nothing but time, with tons (literally) of material that needs to be cut, so not like I need outer in a hurry, I can cut something else. Just figured I better specify that I don't use this method, since you seem to think I do/did. I was just merely pointing out a bit of hypocritical standards being applied to things, that's all.
Post subject: Re: Ethiopian Opal Agony and Ecstasy
Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2011 12:17 pm
Gold Member
Joined: Thu May 29, 2008 8:32 am Posts: 1730 Location: Suwanee, GA US
And for the record Jamie, my 'treatment' time is long enough to remove the CA. Usually up to 8 hours (because I drop it in the jar and go to bed). Since Welo can transport water completely through a 3-4ct stone with a 3 minute exposure and waiting 20 minutes....
And a reemphasis for any removing CA with acetone or alcohol, use NEW, CLEAN fluids! Any color will jump right in (and seeing the dye discussions - it is probably the easiest stone to dye.) If you removed wax and a couple other CA dopped stones, then put the Welo in there.... that color is now added to your stone.
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