From: Arnold Benton [mailto:ajbmd67@gmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, November 10, 2011 3:08 PM
To: Phil Hamling
Subject: Fwd: crazy crystals

And if I haven't made you crazy yet - maybe Alumina will work in keeping the Cu crystals intact when reduced above 1700 degrees.
The wonder drug - Maybe it'll cure cancer.

Arnie

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Arnold Benton <ajbmd67@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, Nov 10, 2011 at 2:55 PM
Subject: Fwd: crazy crystals
To: Phil Hamling <pdah@optonline.net>


Phil -
As long as I'm being brilliant, I'll add the following -

I don't understand the chemistry at all, but Alumina strengthens the crystalline structure of silicates - it holds the molecules together, or so says Hamer.
SO, maybe it makes sense that the glaze that produced big crystals at 1800 degrees reduction contains molochite and Alumina!!! And that's what's unique about that glaze.
I really think I got it!

Arnie

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Arnold Benton <ajbmd67@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, Nov 10, 2011 at 2:30 PM
Subject: crazy crystals
To: Phil Hamling <pdah@optonline.net>


Hi Phil -

I've been thinking about those crystal threads for a few hours now - I really don' have anything better to do - and came up with the following very short and simple explanation - sounds logical, at least.

Example - reduction at 1750 degrees - at the end of the firing schedule. The crystals are already formed because if there is no reduction the crystals will be there. So, the reduction must break the crystals apart - and cause there to be thousands of specks. What could do that?
It's the zinc. Reduced zinc turns into the metal and vaporizes at temps about 1700 and up. SO, the zinc in the crystals abruptly departs and the crystals dissipate into tiny fragments - maybe of Cu or Co or Fe silicate.
How's that? I think it's so simple and so obvious that it's true.

Arnie

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Phil Hamling

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Warwick, NY, USA 10990