NEW Benzart Black Jade Marq 3-6-14 - Tiki Carving

P Paipo Member Aotearoa / NZ Joined: Jun 22, 2006 Posts: 1886	P Paipo Posted posted on Sat, Jul 4, 2009 6:51 PM On 2009-06-30 07:14, wentiki wrote: Bowenite (a serpentine variety) is often hard enough to not be scratched by steel. If there is gradation in the material that's another strong indicator. Some forms of nephrite, especially older/chemically altered pieces, may be scratched. Based on that vaseline-y translucency though I'd still go with the above. Having worked some of this synthetic stone, and with 10 years or so of working various jades and most of the well-known "alikes", I am certain this is not serpentine or bowenite. I posted info describing how it (synthetic jadeite) is manufactured in the stone Q+A thread (where this discussion really belongs - sorry Ben!), but no-one seems to want to believe it! Ben, you've done a great job with the engraving because this "stone" is HARD, at least compared to what I use most of the time. I don't think I'd even attempt surface decoration on this stuff.

On 2009-06-30 07:14, wentiki wrote:
Bowenite (a serpentine variety) is often hard enough to not be scratched by steel. If there is gradation in the material that's another strong indicator.

Some forms of nephrite, especially older/chemically altered pieces, may be scratched. Based on that vaseline-y translucency though I'd still go with the above.

Having worked some of this synthetic stone, and with 10 years or so of working various jades and most of the well-known "alikes", I am certain this is not serpentine or bowenite. I posted info describing how it (synthetic jadeite) is manufactured in the stone Q+A thread (where this discussion really belongs - sorry Ben!), but no-one seems to want to believe it!

Ben, you've done a great job with the engraving because this "stone" is HARD, at least compared to what I use most of the time. I don't think I'd even attempt surface decoration on this stuff.

Post #466895 by Paipo on Sat, Jul 4, 2009 6:51 PM