billyw
off to a rocking start
Member since December 2010
Posts: 1
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Post by billyw on Dec 12, 2010 0:03:14 GMT -5
My Great Grandmother was an odd old lady, very much a rock hound as she was off her rocker, but she found a great many rocks that were very interesting in her adventures down the railroad tracks. I found one of these rocks to be appealing as it was naturally very smooth, dark black and just the right size to fit into your pants watch pocket and call it a good luck stone. As for the luck, well its debatable, but non the less, it was nice to have something of hers that no one else was was willing to loot upon her death.
Fast forward about 15 years to the present. Tonight I was sitting down to an evening with the misses, holding this rock in my hand as I usually do, such as a worry stone anymore in these economic times, and noticed as I held it up to look at it that is was transparent. Never before had I noticed this as I had never thought to look at it as though to look at light through it. In the palm of my hand, it rest as if it were the blackest of obsidian, but now held to a light, it is smoky transparent. Going further, I pointed a small hand held laser point through the stone and it lights up red like a light bulb. I have searched the net looking for any clues as to what it may be, the closest description is translucent obsidian.
Any ideas? Its is smooth and rounded, yet cuts glass like my wifes wedding ring diamond. It scratches mild steel. feels relatively light for its size. (35 mm long, 17mm wide, 10mm deep in an elongated teardrop shape).
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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 12, 2010 0:37:59 GMT -5
Sounds like an apache tear ( a form of obsidianite from perlite deposits) . They mine those around Superior, AZ and they are pretty much all translucent with that smoky goldy color inside......Mel
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Post by johnjsgems on Dec 12, 2010 9:36:58 GMT -5
Are you sure it scratches steel and not just leaving a trace of the rock.? Everything else sounds just like Apache tear/obsidian. As a volcanic glass the translucent part is pretty normal.
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Post by bobby1 on Dec 12, 2010 11:18:09 GMT -5
Might be Smokey Quartz based on the apparent hardness. I've got a fist sized piece with a similar appearance. Bob
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Post by mohs on Dec 12, 2010 15:23:59 GMT -5
interesting read have you seen the movie 'Knowing' i just made a thread about the black stones in that movie
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