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Post by tims on Jun 11, 2015 21:04:27 GMT -5
Rough red matrix and what looks like seams of white quartz. Nail leaves a light scratch.
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minerken
Cave Dweller
Member since August 2013
Posts: 466
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Post by minerken on Jun 11, 2015 21:19:23 GMT -5
if a nail scratches it not chert and probably not jasper
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Post by jakesrocks on Jun 11, 2015 21:38:57 GMT -5
Are you sure the nail is scratching the material, and not leaving metal instead ? Look at the scratch under magnification to be sure. Also, did you scratch the green material, or the matrix ? The matrix may be softer.
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Post by tims on Jun 12, 2015 16:11:00 GMT -5
Under a magnifying glass the "scratch" was metal from the nail. That was confusing me because I'd made similar scratches on quartz and it didn't occur to me that the nail was scratching off on the rock.
The green material is slightly translucent and reminds me of moss agate with the specks floating in it.
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Post by jakesrocks on Jun 12, 2015 16:30:19 GMT -5
It does appear to be a type of moss agate. Did you collect that material ? If so, you might want to go back to the location & gather up a ton or so.
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Post by adam on Jun 12, 2015 18:40:07 GMT -5
That is good material, should look for some more. Never know what you can find.
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Post by tims on Jun 12, 2015 22:42:04 GMT -5
Another yard find I very rarely see anything green when i'm out kicking rocks which is why it caught my eye. I do find some similarly translucent gray material around the Teepee Canyon area but it's always in round pockets and not a seam like this. If I run across more will definitely make note of where it turns up.
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Post by snowmom on Jun 13, 2015 5:23:08 GMT -5
the sort of yellowish green in that is characteristic of epidote, is that something which can be found in the area you are hounding? would love to see a slice of this stuff polished!
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Post by snowmom on Jun 13, 2015 5:24:41 GMT -5
oh, wait- yard find. I forgot you were mining rocks in your own yard! Do you think these are local rocks, or gathered from all over? Or is the jury still out?
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Post by tims on Jun 13, 2015 22:52:42 GMT -5
snowmom I'd say the vast majority is from the Black Hills of SD, Northern Wyoming and nearby vicinity. AFAIK my grandparents (the original collectors) didn't purchase items for their collection, but they also didn't document anything so with some of it anything's possible. Epidote feldspar is listed as being native to the Black Hills, and the mottled red matrix is common enough around here. As for polishing, I have no equipment and zero experience. All my free time atm is going into digging and washing and moving rocks, but I have no idea what to do with any of this material long term. I'm hoping to learn a little about lapidary work via osmosis on the boards here so I welcome ideas or suggestions on how to put these rocks to good use.
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Post by snowmom on Jun 14, 2015 4:52:38 GMT -5
You'll get plenty of ideas from these creative folks, and all the information you need. the collective experience and abilities here are a force to be reckoned with! Cool that the rocks are part of your heritage. I'm glad you are saving them. Think its wonderful. Watching with interest.
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Post by tims on Jun 22, 2015 22:10:38 GMT -5
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FLrockhound
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2014
Posts: 343
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Post by FLrockhound on Jun 22, 2015 22:50:05 GMT -5
Is that a tree log in the background or pet wood lookalike?
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Post by tims on Jun 23, 2015 22:24:38 GMT -5
Yeah it's pet wood.
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Post by tims on Jun 27, 2015 2:02:43 GMT -5
Another piece but this time with smooth white shell and a seam of pink and orange.
Several of the pieces with this speckled green also have patches of purple-pink crystal:
I've about convinced myself it's not agate; leaning toward common opal.
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