grayfingers
Cave Dweller
Member since November 2007
Posts: 4,575
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Post by grayfingers on Aug 14, 2011 17:04:52 GMT -5
I am hoping some of you who are mineral/crystal buffs can help me identify these. They were left to me by my mother. They came from the Paradise Valley on the Yellowstone. The peak these were found on is at the northwest edge of the Absaroka/Beartooth mountains, which are volcanic rock. These were collected over 50 years ago, my mom's brother found them while hunting, and went back a few times after that. I don't know the exact location myself, but enough to go look for them myself someday. The folks called them "Cross Rocks". I assume they are considered a crystal of sorts? they look metallic to me, and they also have a bit of gold sparkles on them. I have a larger rock with some showing, and some loose ones. Any help on id would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Bill
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Post by jakesrocks on Aug 14, 2011 17:25:35 GMT -5
Look like Staurolite " fairy crosses " to me.
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greaser
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2010
Posts: 201
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Post by greaser on Aug 14, 2011 17:39:31 GMT -5
i second jakes ID.
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Post by jakesrocks on Aug 14, 2011 18:00:00 GMT -5
The books don't mention fairy crosses in Montana. This may be a new location for these, and would be worth a little leg work. I have a few loose crosses, but would love to have some in matrix.
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grayfingers
Cave Dweller
Member since November 2007
Posts: 4,575
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Post by grayfingers on Aug 14, 2011 18:12:11 GMT -5
Thanks for the fast id!!! Jake, I did a search and saw they are often associated with garnets, and I noticed what looks to be small ones in the matrix as well on the surface of some of the pieces. When my uncle died he was buried in the foothills and they placed a bunch of these around his grave, he had collected them all and loved them.
There is a band of garnet deposits that runs east to west across at least two mountain ranges that run north to south, from the Gallatin range east to the Absorakas. Makes me wonder if this whole area might be worth checking out if they are only found in a few states. I see they have nice ones in Russia.
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,463
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Post by Sabre52 on Aug 14, 2011 18:13:51 GMT -5
Yep, I'd say staurolite crystals too. The sparkly stuff is usually mica and the rocks they are usually in are probably mica shist which is metamorphic not volcanic if you got to look for them....Mel
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grayfingers
Cave Dweller
Member since November 2007
Posts: 4,575
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Post by grayfingers on Aug 14, 2011 18:21:09 GMT -5
Mel, Yup you are right about the rock being metamorphic. It don't look like the lava rocks in the area, which I think are mostly Rhyolite.
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elementary
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since February 2006
Posts: 1,077
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Post by elementary on Aug 14, 2011 18:41:07 GMT -5
I know there's a place between Santa Fe, NM and Taos that I believe is famous for the fairy crosses. I remember going into one mineral store in Taos and they were selling the lil guys for 8 bucks each. It would be neat if you have access to a relatively untouched source.
Congratulations!
Lowell
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Post by jakesrocks on Aug 14, 2011 19:10:39 GMT -5
There is a known deposit near Taos, NM. Also in Georgia.
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Post by tanyafrench on Aug 15, 2011 8:31:01 GMT -5
Those are amazing and to think they are found that way. I've never heard of anything like that. I learn so much on this site.
Tanya
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Post by Hard Rock Cafe on Aug 15, 2011 13:39:39 GMT -5
Agreed on the staurolite ID. There's a deposit here in Minnesota, too.
Chuck
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Post by jakesrocks on Aug 15, 2011 14:03:07 GMT -5
Hey Chuck, Where about in Minnesota ? I'm right next door in South Dakota, and would love to collect a couple of pieces still in matrix.
Don
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rallyrocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2005
Posts: 1,507
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Post by rallyrocks on Aug 15, 2011 18:19:57 GMT -5
Mindat lists the Stillwater Complex as a locality for these- which is more easterly- SE of Big Timber, but I'd expect that portions of the complex extend west beyond where their map shows to where you said this came from
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StoneCrazy
spending too much on rocks
Stone Crazy
Member since July 2011
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Post by StoneCrazy on Aug 15, 2011 19:02:04 GMT -5
I'm with Tanya, It's truly amazing. Neat find
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rons
spending too much on rocks
Member since March 2010
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Post by rons on Aug 16, 2011 9:19:02 GMT -5
the sites in Ga are now closed,to bad they have some large crosses..got a couple just shy of 3 inchs from years back
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,685
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Post by Fossilman on Aug 16, 2011 11:29:00 GMT -5
Nice pieces,there is also a great collecting area in the Pryor mountains in southeast Montana for pachyteuthis columnala and star shaped crystals..........
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shermlock
has rocks in the head
Member since August 2011
Posts: 612
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Post by shermlock on Aug 16, 2011 16:44:40 GMT -5
Awesome!
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Post by drocknut on Aug 16, 2011 19:57:42 GMT -5
I have collected and bought a bunch of the staurolite crosses. One or two from Taos, NM and one from Baud, France as well as some from Montana (some supposed to be from near Missoula, MT). One of the ones from NM has a small garnet almost exactly at the intersection of the two crossed crystals. I know they aren't the flashy, colorful crystals a lot of people like but I am fascinated by them.
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