TumbleStones (or "tumble stones")
are a form of crystals, minerals, and gemstones that is very popular with
collectors and mineral enthusiasts. These are formed from natural rocks
and minerals by a polishing process referred to as "Tumbling",
hence the name: "Tumble Stones". During this process several,
often very many, stones tumble (fall) over each other while being rotated
in a drum-like device. Over time this smoothes the edges of all the stones
- which might have been rough initially. The process can be compared with
the way in which some river stones or stones in the sea are smoothed by
constant movement caused by the tide of river-flow among sand and other
similar stones. When the process occurs naturally there is no way of knowing
how long any particular stone has been "tumbled" to achieve
its polished-looking surface but it is likely to have been many, many,
years. When such processes are deployed in human-controlled environments,
substances such as the ideal grade of grit are used to polish the stones
as quickly as possible but even then it many take many weeks to achieve
a good finish.
Considering the time and in some cases the machinery involved, tumblestones
are usually extremely inexpensive to buy and collect. An interest in collecting
gemstones in general and/or tumble stones in particular can begin early
in life, with many interested and informed collectors still in Primary
(Elementary) School.
A range of Tumble Stones available for sale from the IvyRose Holistic
Shop.
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