chromenut
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since December 2009
Posts: 1,971
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Post by chromenut on Dec 30, 2009 19:31:46 GMT -5
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Post by rockmanken on Dec 30, 2009 19:58:42 GMT -5
quartz with mica. Ken
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Post by NatureNut on Dec 30, 2009 20:14:46 GMT -5
I'm seeing the possibility of an orthoclase feldspar with that quartz and mica.
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chromenut
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since December 2009
Posts: 1,971
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Post by chromenut on Dec 30, 2009 21:13:36 GMT -5
I'm seeing the possibility of an orthoclase feldspar with that quartz and mica. Is that significant? lol.... still don't have a clue yet, trying to learn...ho hum, learning at 48
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Post by NatureNut on Dec 30, 2009 21:57:53 GMT -5
Well, you want to look for solid flat spots in the rock, like the part that is shown in the second pic. It is sectioned, but there might be enough solidness for a cab or two there. I see some flash in the rock in your picture that indicates a possible chatoyancy or lustre. You can look up orthoclase in wikipedia. It is found around here and in NC, among other areas. It can be white, grey or peach colored, and can possibly be called moonstone.
You'll have to take care in cutting it to get the right effect. Turn the rock around and find the angle where the flash shines at you. You'll want to cut parallel to that. Think of it hanging as a pendant and the light hitting it giving off maximum effects. That is the angle you will want to have in your slab, flash side up.
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chromenut
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since December 2009
Posts: 1,971
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Post by chromenut on Dec 30, 2009 21:59:45 GMT -5
Wow, great advice! Took it to the trim saw tonight, just cut a tiny corner off in the pink, and it's pretty solid about 2/3rd's through. Should be good for a couple cabs, my first two attempts. Since it's from the front yard, if I mess up I wont cry too much...lol
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,466
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Post by Sabre52 on Dec 31, 2009 10:12:23 GMT -5
Yep, massive quartz with pink feldspar and biotite mica...Mel
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Post by 150FromFundy on Jan 5, 2010 7:28:23 GMT -5
Mel nailed it. If the crystals were smaller, it would simply be called granite. Once the crystals reach a certain size (slower/deeper cooling), it is often called pegmatite. It is essentially quartz, feldspar (orthoclase) and mica (biotite). The Appalachians are full of it from the Carolinas up to Nova Scotia and Newfoundland.
The quartz is a 7. The feldspar is a 6. Stay away from the black mica. It will turn to dust and pit.
Darryl.
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1rockhound
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2008
Posts: 286
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Post by 1rockhound on Jan 17, 2010 16:55:49 GMT -5
Sure is. Pegmatites are the things to look for when your out collecting. That is where the good stuff is. Quartz crystals, aquamarine at least here in Idaho thats the case. Here is the same material which came from a pegmatite that has smokey quartz crystals as well. This plate is just one little piece of the vug which had about 200 crystals in it. I left about 90% so that possibly somebody else might get to find it.
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