markward
off to a rocking start
Member since December 2006
Posts: 23
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Post by markward on Dec 27, 2006 16:40:38 GMT -5
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,456
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Post by Sabre52 on Dec 27, 2006 17:28:00 GMT -5
Hmmm. The red rock looks to me to be travertine ( calcite onyx) is should be fairly soft so if you can scratch it with a knife, it probably is travertine. The green one is tougher since I don't have it in hand. It could be a green jasper mixed with quartz or a similar mix called plasma jasper or even a quartz/fuchsite mix if it looks like it has green mica sparkles in it.......mel
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markward
off to a rocking start
Member since December 2006
Posts: 23
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Post by markward on Dec 28, 2006 20:27:38 GMT -5
Hi sabre , thanks for your reply.... I thought on a forum like this i would have had loads of replies advising me ... i wondered whether it was some sort of marbleised Serpentine or Ophicalcite, I have added the hardness to both descriptions on the forum and hopefully if i get a few more replies we can reach a general census.
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,456
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Post by Sabre52 on Dec 28, 2006 22:37:43 GMT -5
OK, for the green one, 3-4 or so is a common hardness for serpentized marble ( verde antique) and for many serpentine blends. Waxiness also points to serpentine as part of the mix. Mixes of fuchsite and marble like mariposite also look similar in color and are in that hardness range but are sparkley. The 4 hardness for the red banded rock makes it a travertine as any quartz jasper mix would be in the hardness 7 range....mel
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markward
off to a rocking start
Member since December 2006
Posts: 23
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Post by markward on Dec 29, 2006 8:22:35 GMT -5
Many thanks Sabre.
I did an acid test on both rocks and the red rock was the only one that fizzed (confirming some sort of calcite).
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rollingstone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2009
Posts: 236
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Post by rollingstone on Dec 29, 2006 16:01:26 GMT -5
Hi sabre , thanks for your reply.... I thought on a forum like this i would have had loads of replies advising me ... Mel (Sabre) is pretty much the rock ID expert around here, so once he's said he's pretty certain what it is, you probably aren't going to see many other folks suggesting alternatives. -Don
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markward
off to a rocking start
Member since December 2006
Posts: 23
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Post by markward on Dec 29, 2006 17:20:34 GMT -5
Thanks Don that explains a lot to a newcomer on this fab site.
Sorry to insult your wisdom Sabre and very pleased that there is somebody like you that is prepared to help newcomers and a site to solve these nagging issues with identification and tumbling problems.
I have been doing this for 12 months now and i cannot believe how addictive it is... i cannot get enough info crammed into my head and my wife has starting calling me a saddo (perhaps its due to the fact that i am always on the lookout for other types of rock etc..to polish & collect.
Should have started this hobby 25 years ago.
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,456
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Post by Sabre52 on Dec 29, 2006 18:33:31 GMT -5
Mark: You didn't say anything insuting *L*. I'm constantly learning new information at this site myself! I don't think we can ever quit learning and this is actually a fairly complicated hobby due to the vast variety of rocks, mineral, fossils etc. Plus folks here keep finding new specimens all the time. I flat love to try to ID rocks from pictures and descriptions. I guess I'm just wierd that way *S*.......mel
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