What stone could this be?

[mozg31337]

Hello Ladies and Gents,

I have recently come across a mystery stone. A friend of mine was trimming down his stash and gave me this stone. He can't remember where he got it from or what stone it is. Could some one give an idea what it might be? To me it looks a bit similar to a Washita stone, but it looks and feels harder than the Washita that I have. Also it's lighter in colour than Washita.

It is semi quick to raise a slurry with a worn 400 grit Atoma plate and looks like a very fast stone. With a half a dozen of strokes the slurry starts changing colour and after about 20 strokes the slurry becomes black. It produces a semi mirror effect on the blade. Definitely not as hazy as the Washita that I have, but not as mirror like as most synthetic stones. Also, it seem to create a visible difference between the soft and hard steel as you can see from the pics.


I had taken a few pictures and done a few tests on a steel. I've only done an inch or so for testing with about 30 strokes on each knife.


Many thanks

 

[cotedupy]

Do you have any pics of the sides of the stone?

It's likely either a Hindostan or a Soft Ark.

 

[Desert Rat]

Looks a lot like a soft ark to me also. What appears to be an uneven cut makes me question an ark though. Am I seeing that right, a side of the stone that isn't cut straight and the end cuts not at 90 deg?
Does it pass any light, perhaps on the very edge of the stone?

 

[mozg31337]

Here are a few more pictures of the dry stone. One side of it hasn't been cut at all. It looks like an offcut.

 

[mozg31337]

It doesn't seem to pass any light

 

[cotedupy]

I don't really know what uncut arkansas looks like, but to my eye that looks like a sandstone. I'd be med confident in saying Hindostan.

Or possibly Berea? Though I don't really know much about the latter, I think @Desert Rat has some experience...

 

[mozg31337]

Thanks. It does feel like a sandstone to me. I am not an expert by any means. I am a bit surprised at how hard it is for a sandstone. I have previously assumed the sandstones are soft...

 

[cotedupy]

Thanks. It does feel like a sandstone to me. I am not an expert by any means. I am a bit surprised at how hard it is for a sandstone. I have previously assumed the sandstones are soft...

Yeah it's slightly surprising isn't it! Sandstone can be quite soft, but the ones that have historically been used as whetstones are very hard indeed, as they're almost always the by-product of quarrying for building stone. Hindos are probably the hardest of the lot, and also among the finest. They're interesting stones that can be used in a variety of different ways to do various different things. Oil or water, soaked or SnG, slurried or not. Lots of opportunity to play around and see how you like it best.

It sounds like that what you've got I think, though if others think otherwise then I may be wrong...

 

[mozg31337]

Thanks! It does indeed look like a Hindustan stone. By the way, I do enjoy your Washita that you've got for me about half a year ago. Sharpened a few chisels and they look great and are very sharp too.

 

[Simon082]

Yeah looks like a nice med sandstone to me, doesn't look anything like a hindostan, but I can see a somewhat soft arkansas look to it. Don't confuse soft with a washita.

 

[cotedupy]

doesn't look anything like a hindostan

Ya reckon? I think it looks really quite Hindo like, especially the colour and orange freckles.

Though it could very easily be a UK sandstone of some kind too I suppose...

Don't confuse soft with a washita.

Now there's a big topic! .

 

[cotedupy]

Thanks! It does indeed look like a Hindustan stone. By the way, I do enjoy your Washita that you've got for me about half a year ago. Sharpened a few chisels and they look great and are very sharp too.

Ah good to hear! That was the first big old 9" one I had from memory. Nice stone, glad you like .

 

[Simon082]

Ya reckon? I think it looks really quite Hindo like, especially the colour and orange freckles.

Though it could very easily be a UK sandstone of some kind too I suppose...

Yeah true, but where's the stratification lines?.

Now there's a big topic! .

Oops.

 

[cotedupy]

Yeah true, but where's the stratification lines?.



Oops.

Yeah - the side layering would be a big giveaway, I was thinking that it was probably kinda hidden in the pics by the quite rough finish on the sides of the stone, maybe...

OP is also in the UK, so possibly from there too. You come across any British sandstone whetstones that might be potential candidates? (Obviosuly there were a feck ton back in the day. So if not a Hindo then might forever be a ‘mystery stone’!)

 

[Simon082]

Yeah - the side layering would be a big giveaway, I was thinking that it was probably kinda hidden in the pics by the quite rough finish on the sides of the stone, maybe...

OP is also in the UK, so possibly from there too. You come across any British sandstone whetstones that might be potential candidates? (Obviosuly there were a feck ton back in the day. So if not a Hindo then might forever be a ‘mystery stone’!)

Now iron is found in sandstone, we also have iron rich novaculite, we even have it in the chalk here in Kent. So it's entirely possible that it's uk sandstone. Once found hematite ball when I was digging chalk.

Here's another thought, do soft arks exhibit iron deposits?.

Here in the UK we also find alot of uncut rocks come up on ebay in all sorts of varieties.

I say this because red spots indicate iron in mineral form, but I'm no geologist.

 

[cotedupy]

Now iron is found in sandstone, we also have iron rich novaculite, we even have it in the chalk here in Kent. So it's entirely possible that it's uk sandstone. Once found hematite ball when I was digging chalk.

Here's another thought, do soft arks exhibit iron deposits?.

Here in the UK we also find alot of uncut rocks come up on ebay in all sorts of varieties.

I say this because red spots indicate iron in mineral form, but I'm no geologist.

Certainly like other novaculites can have iron deposits that colour them - they can be some pretty mind bending colours. It tends to be in wavy stripes rather than spots, but probably could be in spots. The first pics of that stone look quite soft ark-y, but the sides &c. don't really. Soft arks would be more uniform in terms of structure, and look basically like old Washitas on the inside:

I expect it's probably a Hindo. Could be something from the UK though!

 

[Simon082]

Certainly like other novaculites can have iron deposits that colour them - they can be some pretty mind bending colours. It tends to be in wavy stripes rather than spots, but probably could be in spots. The first pics of that stone look quite soft ark-y, but the sides &c. don't really. Soft arks would be more uniform in terms of structure, and look basically like old Washitas on the inside:

I agree.

I expect it's probably a Hindo. Could be something from the UK though!

I somewhat agree,.

Lol, we are getting good at this.

 

[Desert Rat]

Here is a chunk of Berea sandstone. It has a very high absorption and is pretty light. A drop of water will disappear from its surface in a matter of seconds and the moisture will spread out like a paper towel.