kingson
having dreams about rocks
Member since December 2023
Posts: 54
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Post by kingson on Sept 30, 2024 17:25:12 GMT -5
I was selling my creations at the farmers market last Saturday and guy hands me some chunks of salt he mined in what he said was a region of the permian basin near Carlsbad California called the Delaware Sea (Delaware Basin). Really beautiful pieces. Can't really cab them but I thought I might incorporate them into a specimen. Does anyone know what the blue is? Is it just blue salt? What mineral/chemical makes it blue? Thank you!  |
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Post by jasoninsd on Oct 2, 2024 15:13:22 GMT -5
Cool specimen piece. I don't have any clue as to the cause. I do find it interesting the edges of the blue seem "blurred" rather than having a structurally definitive edging to them...like it was bleeding. (If that makes sense!)
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Post by tribeunited on Oct 3, 2024 14:54:02 GMT -5
I've read that blue halite is caused by radiation. I've also read the blue halite is usually found with sylvite. I found this for you. link They are speaking about blue halite found in germany, but I would assumed the process is similar. "Initially, if halite (common salt) is exposed to gamma radiation, it turns amber because of F-centers. They are mostly electrons trapped at sites of missing Cl- ions. In time the electrons migrate to Na+ ions and reduce it to Na metal. Atoms of Na metal, in turn, migrate to form colloidal sized aggregrates of sodium metal. They are the cause of the blue color." |
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kingson
having dreams about rocks
Member since December 2023
Posts: 54
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Post by kingson on Oct 4, 2024 18:51:02 GMT -5
Thanks for the link tribeunited. Very interesting....
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Post by tribeunited on Oct 4, 2024 22:34:46 GMT -5
You're welcome. I was super curious about this blue salt as well - It's pretty cool stuff!
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Post by Pat on Oct 4, 2024 22:49:40 GMT -5
Neat!
My first thought was Magic Marker.
Never heard of blue Halite.
I thought the colors were due to molds, fungus etc.
interesting. Thanks.
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kingson
having dreams about rocks
Member since December 2023
Posts: 54
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Post by kingson on Oct 7, 2024 7:25:39 GMT -5
I was given a handful, so if anyone wants a chunk I'd be glad to share. And the Delaware basin is actually Carlsbad, New Mexico (not California)....
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Post by tribeunited on Oct 7, 2024 14:20:46 GMT -5
I was given a handful, so if anyone wants a chunk I'd be glad to share. And the Delaware basin is actually Carlsbad, New Mexico (not California).... I'm glad you said that about new mexico- I had found this link for you earlier but it didn't seem relevant being from a different state! Here you go! link |
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