rhyolite experience?

[kinsey]

Hi all. I generally work in soapstone, but have had some difficulty getting stone lately. Rhyolite, on the other hand, is very plentiful around here, and I was interested in trying it. Does anyone have experience and/or tips for me? I am a little nervous about the silica level--is a mask sufficient when working with rhyolite? Thanks!

[dondougan]

Hi Kinsey,

Though I personally don't have any experience with rhyolite, I have heard many great things about the stone from a sculptor up-Missouri-way named Bill Knight. He collects and uses the local mineral, singing its praises with a silver tongue.
I won't make his email address public here, but if you write me at dougan.sculptor@juno.com I'll pass it on to you so you can contact him directly.
You might also ask him on the stone list: http://aboutstone.org/conversa/
You can search the archives for "rhyolite" and find all the discussions about the mineral, or sign-up for the free email forum and ask him for info.

I don't have any images of his finished rhyolite pieces, but here are a couple of works in progress in that material which he sent me:
Don