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THE PETOSKEY STONE
Petoskey Stones can be found in the Northern counties of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, (Charlevoix, Emmet, Cheboygan, Presque Isles and Alpena Counties). They are found along beaches, in fields and sand dunes as well as in quarries. Michigan’s turbulent winter storms with their gale force winds propel ‘new’ Petoskey Stones up and onto beaches from deeper water every year making Spring the best time of year to find them.
The Petoskey Stone is a rock and a fossil. It is a six-sided fossil colony Coral that is composed of fossilized coral; it’s scientific name, Hexagonaria Percarinata. (Hexagonaria; meaning having six sides .)
The soft living tissue of the corallite was called a polyp. At the center of the polyp was the food intake opening or mouth. The dark spot, or the eye of the corallite, has been filled with silt or mud that petrified after falling into the openings. Surrounding the opening (mouth) were tentacles used for gathering food as well as for drawing the food into the mouth. Some 350 million years ago, during the Devonian Period, this living corallite thrived on plankton. Calcite, silica and other minerals have replaced the original elements in each cell. Each chamber or corallite, at one time, was a living marine animal that grew in colonies. Petoskey Stones are true annals of the once abundant life that thrived within the warm salt seas that covered Michigan during this period.
During the Devonian Period, a mass of reef-built coral limestone was deposited across the state of Michigan. Petoskey Stones are therefore fossils, preserved in lime muds which hardened into limestone thus making it a sedimentary rock.
The origin for the Petoskey Stone name comes from Chief Pet-O-Sega, an Ottawan Indian. "Pet-O-Sega" means, "Rays of the Rising Sun." The "eye" of the Petoskey Stone is seen as the sun, and the "lines" or "tentacles" are seen as the rays that radiate from the sun.
In 1965, (four years before the coral species Petoskey Stones form from had been scientifically described), the Petoskey Stone was named Michigan’s state stone!
*PETOSKEY STONE POLISHING MADE EASY*
MATERIALS NEEDED
(1) An Unpolished Petoskey Stone
(2) Silicon Carbide Sandpaper 220 Grit, 400 Grit, and, 600 Grit. (Grit refers to the grain size of the sandpaper. The higher the number, the finer the grain or grit.) For optimum results use Carbide Sandpaper as it can get wet and it lasts longer.
(3) A thick towel
(4) A clean, remnant piece of Carpeting.
(5) Polishing powder or Rubbing Compound, (many car finish rubbing compounds work great)
(6) Container of water
POLISHING STEPS
(1) Dampen the Stone then begin sanding with the 220 Grit carbide sandpaper and rub the area of the stone with a steady, rotating motion. After rubbing, rinse the stone and dry it. If you are using a bowl of water, replace your water with clean water OFTEN. Examine for scratch marks, rubbing out any that remain. This first sanding is very important and needs to be done with care.
2) Repeat the above process using the 400 Grit paper. This step should remove the scratches from the coarser paper and any white spots. Rinse, dry, and examine for scratches rubbing out any that remain.
(3) Complete the sanding process with the 600 Grit paper. When you think that you have all of the sanding marks and scratches out and it looks smooth and beautiful, SAND FOR ANOTHER FIVE TO TEN MINUTES! Rinse and dry the stone. Examine the stone very carefully for scratches and/or any abrasions. If any remain, go back to a coarser paper and repeat the steps as outlined above. ALL SCRATCHES MUST BE REMOVED BEFORE POLISHING.
4) You are now ready to polish your stone. Using your clean carpet remnant, (or any other smooth, hard-surfaced polishing base), sprinkle a very small amount of either your Polishing Powder, (or, Rubbing Compound), on the lightly dampened remnant. Use short, circular motions ~ to polish. Add water to the carpet as needed to keep the stone moving freely across the surface of the carpet remnant. If scratches show after polishing, go back to the 400 Grit Carbide Sandpaper and work through the steps again. When you have finished polishing, wipe the stone off with a clean, dry cloth. You now have a smooth, highly polished Petoskey Stone to add to your collection.
HAND POLISHED PETOSKEY STONE
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