Things You'll Need
Rock tumbler
Coarse sand
Medium sand
Fine sand
Rough malachite rocks
Strainer
Malachite is a vibrant green, striated stone that is naturally found in a rough, uninteresting state. However, once the rough malachite rocks are polished, they will transform into brilliantly colored stones that can be used in jewelry, carved sculptures or even displayed on pedestals. You do not have to buy pre-polished malachite from a gem shop. Instead, you can polish your own malachite stones using a rock tumbler and varying textures of sand.
Step 1
Remove the barrel chamber from the rock tumbler and fill it halfway full of water. Pour 1/2 cup of coarse sand and 1 cup of malachite rocks into the barrel. Place the barrel back onto the rock tumbler, and run it for 24 hours. The coarse sand will chip away any protrusions and jagged edges from the malachite rocks.
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Step 2
Pour the contents of the barrel into a strainer, and rinse the malachite rocks with water.
Step 3
Fill the barrel halfway full of water again, and pour in 1/2 cup of medium sand. Pour the malachite rocks back into the barrel. Place the barrel back onto the rock tumbler, and run it for another 24 hours. The medium sand will smooth the rocks' surface and make them more rounded.
Step 4
Pour the contents of the barrel through the strainer again, and rinse the malachite rocks with water as before.
Step 5
Fill the barrel chamber halfway full of water a final time, and add 1/2 cup of fine sand. Pour the malachite rocks back into the barrel, and place the barrel back onto the rock tumbler. Run the tumbler for 24 hours. The fine sand will make the surface of the malachite stones shiny and polished.
Step 6
Pour the contents of the barrel through the strainer, and rinse the polished malachite stones with water.
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