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Post by thisislandearth on Oct 6, 2022 8:55:22 GMT -5
Hi, We just returned from visiting amazing South Dakota. What a beautiful state! We hiked some great areas and trails in the Badlands and Custer State Park. Amazing rocks all over the place. My only complaints about South Dakota is that I believe the state bird is the common house fly and secondly we weren't able to meet up with Jason ( jasoninsd ) - sorry man! So, I could use some help identifying a few rocks. Rock #1 This rock was near the Little Devils Tower trail in Custer State Park. If you ever get a chance to hike this trail it's amazingly cool. The ground literally sparkles like diamonds with pieces of mica ( muscovite ) all over the trail. It's really beautiful. Additionally, there is quartz everywhere and especially rose quartz near the end of the trail. I didn't take any as that's a no-no but it was great just to admire. Anyways, Rock #1 is crazy cool. The top and bottom of the rock seem to contain a very thin layer of muscovite but it shines like polished chrome. Rock #2 This next rock is kind of stumping me. At first I thought is might be predominately smoky quartz with some mica but it has a very purplish hue and almost looks like fluorite or tourmaline or hornblende. Any guesses? Rock #3 Okay, this amazing rock looks to contains sodium feldspar with lots of black crystals that i *think* are tourmaline or hornblende. Thanks for looking!
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Post by jasoninsd on Oct 6, 2022 9:33:27 GMT -5
I too wished we could have met up...I would have gladly shared my bug spray! LOL - Yeah...the flies were really bad this summer...worse than most years. I am glad you two were able to enjoy the time here (minus the flies!). I have zero clue on helping you ID the rocks. I've seen tons of rocks like them...so they look familiar...but I have no clue what they are. To me they definitely have a "Hills" rock look to them versus a "Prairie" rock. The rocks out on the prairie are definitely more weathered (ancient river rock) versus these types of rocks.
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Post by thisislandearth on Oct 6, 2022 9:49:55 GMT -5
I too wished we could have met up...I would have gladly shared my bug spray! LOL - Yeah...the flies were really bad this summer...worse than most years. I am glad you two were able to enjoy the time here (minus the flies!). I have zero clue on helping you ID the rocks. I've seen tons of rocks like them...so they look familiar...but I have no clue what they are. To me they definitely have a "Hills" rock look to them versus a "Prairie" rock. The rocks out on the prairie are definitely more weathered (ancient river rock) versus these types of rocks. Hi buddy! Oh, I got prairie rocks - don't you worry. Just haven't gone through them and taken pictures.
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