The first rock and mineral collector must have been a cave dweller who saw a pretty stone and picked it up. Ever since then, rocks and minerals have been sought after for many reasons. But only recently has it been possible for amateurs to learn the techniques and obtain the equipment necessary to cut and polish or facet their own stones.
This cutting and polishing of stones, or lapidary as it is officially called, is only a minor part of rock and mineral collecting in the New England area. In contrast to collectors in the western states, where lapidary is a growing hobby all on its own, the New England collectors consider lapidary a sideline.
Every collector tends to specialize, consciously or not, because of a preference for a certain mineral species or location. Some people collect only rocks, and others only minerals; some collect only cutting material (rocks or minerals), while many collect only crystallized mineral specimens. Many collections are confined to rocks and minerals of a certain size. Museum specimens are generally the largest, weighing up to a hundred pounds or more. However, this classification does not always refer to quality, and most specimens of this size would not meet museum standards for display. Cabinet specimens or hand specimens range in size from 2 to 10. Miniatures are no bigger than 2 in any direction, while thumbnails must fit into a 1 cube. Other enthusiasts collect only microscopic crystals and create their own micromounts. Micromounts are specimens that are permanently mounted and require magnification and illumination for proper viewing and study. The typical micromount box is 1 x 1 x 7/8.
Some collectors enjoy cutting and polishing their specimens. Many of the rocks such as dolomite and serpentine, as well as the more common quartz family and feldspar groups, qualify as cutting material, suitable for tumbling and making cabochons. A cabochon in its simplest form has one flat and one curved surface. The term originated from the Latin word caput, a head. Maine and Connecticut are famous for their pegmatites (see How to Identify a Rock), which yield gem quality toumaline and many lesser known minerals for the facetor. |
