Stages of Sandstone Matrix Treatment

From rough Queensland sandstone matrix, freshly dug, to expert cutting to highlight the colour bars, to treating with sugar or oil to darken the light base, then stabilisation process before final polish.

At New Luck Opals, we have the highest quality sandstone matrix, dug from our lease and processed in-house using our tried and tested method, developed over the past five years. Our treating and stabilising process is one of many that can be used to get a natural polish on your sandstone matrix. Our method works for our material and equipment, but there are many ways to produce an excellent end result.

It is important to note that the decision to treat sandstone matrix yourself should be made after consideration of the following:

• Equipment - e.g. good quality large cooking pot, vacuum chamber or glass jars, high heat source

• Environment for 'cooking' - e.g. outside access to fire/hot rocks or well-ventilated space for off gassing during the stabilisation process.

• Time - how quickly you want to turn your rough to a saleable or settable opal, the process is lengthy. A lot of people want a shiny sandstone matrix quickly and so resort to resin coating. This only highlights the pits in the stone as the surface pores have not been filled in to produce a mirror smooth and glossy finish.

• Stabilisation compound - what type, what recipe to use for the most stable stone that will take a natural polish, with a mirror finish and no pits.

• Polishing - what wheels, leather or compounds can I use or not use for a natural polish

We will be sharing our process over the next couple of weeks, so be sure to check for the new blog detailing our tips and tricks to create flawless, finished sandstone matrix.