Story: Gemstones

Polishing stones

Well-rounded river or beach stones can be polished using a tumbler. Progressively finer grades of grinding powder are used to develop a smooth surface, and the final polish is achieved with wet polishing powder. This video clip illustrates how a simple vibrating tumbler works.

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How to cite this page:

Jocelyn Thornton, 'Gemstones - New Zealand gemstones', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/video/5112/polishing-stones (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Jocelyn Thornton, published 12 Jun 2006