It's dirty, oily and gross... but that's how I prepare and process rocks. Mineral oil is the medium for cutting... water is the coolant for grinding and polishing. Support your local lapidary club! 12" saws are around 2000 dollars.. trim saws are another 800, and a good cabbing machine, lortone or cab king are at least 2200. It is quite an investment. Plus consumables.

Found some porphyry stone .. cut it grind it polish it! Gimme gimme more! Also known as Chinese writing stone.

A local spot, known for druzy amethyst clusters, was torn apart by excavation... so i went to see what I could find. I found a ton in a pile. The host rock is serpentine. Rock hounds for life!

Went gold panning but it was cold.. Canada eh. In the 1800s Chinese miners cleared these river rocks, looking for gold. There are terraces of river rocks. I found a green one. I cut it. Here it is.

Watch and learn.. I will try an over hand shot next time. I'm getting there!