On the Merits of Licking Rocks

[vegasjames]

voices.pomona.edu/2013/11/on-the-merits-of-licking-rocks/

[Jugglerguy]

I thoroughly enjoyed that article. I just lick them to get them wet so they are more colorful. I'm usually on a beach when I lick rocks which goes to show just how convenient it Is. I pick up a rock ten feet from a huge body of water, but lick. It rather than walking all the way over to the water.

[vegasjames]

Sept 15, 2016 19:35:40 GMT -5 Jugglerguy said:

I thoroughly enjoyed that article. I just lick them to get them wet so they are more colorful. I'm usually on a beach when I lick rocks which goes to show just how convenient it Is. I pick up a rock ten feet from a huge body of water, but lick. It rather than walking all the way over to the water.

Be really careful about licking rocks near bodies of water.  Ocean water in particular can harbor many viruses including hepatitis viruses and bacteria.  Also have to worry about toxic cyanobacteria ("algaes") in many waters, parasites and dinoflagellates. Then there is all the nuclear waste the U.S. dumped in to the oceans along with nerve agents, mustard gas, etc., PCBs, dioxins, heavy metals, etc. washing in to or being discharged in to waterways.

[barclay]

Also you should be concerned about eggs of fun things like worms and other parasites. The chemistry of the rock may also be bad to ingest.

[Jugglerguy]

Sept 15, 2016 20:25:32 GMT -5 vegasjames said:

Sept 15, 2016 19:35:40 GMT -5 Jugglerguy said:

I thoroughly enjoyed that article. I just lick them to get them wet so they are more colorful. I'm usually on a beach when I lick rocks which goes to show just how convenient it Is. I pick up a rock ten feet from a huge body of water, but lick. It rather than walking all the way over to the water.

Be really careful about licking rocks near bodies of water.  Ocean water in particular can harbor many viruses including hepatitis viruses and bacteria.  Also have to worry about toxic cyanobacteria ("algaes") in many waters, parasites and dinoflagellates. Then there is all the nuclear waste the U.S. dumped in to the oceans along with nerve agents, mustard gas, etc., PCBs, dioxins, heavy metals, etc. washing in to or being discharged in to waterways.

You really know how to take the fun out of rock licking! I lick on the shores of the Great Lakes. My main concern has been seagull poop before reading your post.

[braders]

I've licked more rocks then some people have walked on ha ha , never knew there could be some identification bonuses to it !!
Haven't caught anything bad that I know of yet from it but do claim that's why I never get sick it's my all natural flu shot
Have had some hair raising experiences with some creepy crawlys that are hiding on the other side of the stone or the occasional notice of fresh rabbit droppings after the fact tho..... Blahhhhht !!!

[dottyt]

Sept 15, 2016 20:37:06 GMT -5 Jugglerguy said:

You really know how to take the fun out of rock licking! I lick on the shores of the Great Lakes. My main concern has been seagull poop before reading your post.

There was a auction at my club and someone donated what they thought was Cinnabar and the bidding went up fairly high, but when one of the more talented ID guys said it was something else that no one had ever heard of and couldn't possibly be toxic everyone wanted to withdraw their bids.    If I recall correctly, Cinnabar isn't that toxic just sitting around in a rock, but only when ground up or dissolved, but it was the danger aspect that made it appealing.

Anyway thanks for posting the link to the article vegasjames it was interesting to read.

[mohs]

Rocks need to come with warning

Coyote in the area recently

or

if you experience sharp or crushing chest pain; sudden shortness of breath; sudden leg pain; sudden severe headache, vomiting, dizziness, or fainting; changes in vision; numbness of an arm or leg; slurred speech; one-sided weakness; sudden unexplained weight gain; change in amount of urine produced; severe or persistent stomach pain; vomit that looks like coffee grounds; black tarry stools; itching, reddened, swollen, blistered, painful, or peeling skin; yellowing of the skin or eyes; dark urine; right-sided tenderness; severe or persistent tiredness; fever, chills, or sore throat; severe or persistent nausea; swelling of hands, ankles, feet, face, lips, eyes, throat, or tongue; difficulty swallowing or breathing; or hoarseness

quit licking .”

[Deleted]

Never eat yellow snow.

[Pat]

Then there is the local grade school that wouldn't allow a parent to bring rocks for all the classes studying rocks UNLESS ALL THE ROCKS WERE INDIVIDUALLY ENCASED IN PLASTIC. !!!

True story.

Teaching moment destroyed by overzealous idiots.

[dottyt]

Sept 15, 2016 22:30:14 GMT -5 Pat said:

Then there is the local grade school that wouldn't allow a parent to bring rocks for all the classes studying rocks UNLESS ALL THE ROCKS WERE INDIVIDUALLY ENCASED IN PLASTIC. !!!

True story.

Teaching moment destroyed by overzealous idiots.

LOL. I certainly believe it. Sounds more like Palo Alto or Los Altos, but could be SJUSD! Don't tell them that if the kids go on a school field trip to Alum Rock Park, the guides might pass around a local Cinnabar (not enclosed in plastic)! The parents have to give permission for the marshmallows with a Red Hot in them dipped in chocolate syrup though. "Now children, if your parents have given permission you may eat your Earth models."

[vegasjames]

Sept 15, 2016 21:16:59 GMT -5 dottyt said:

Sept 15, 2016 20:37:06 GMT -5 Jugglerguy said:

You really know how to take the fun out of rock licking! I lick on the shores of the Great Lakes. My main concern has been seagull poop before reading your post.

There was a auction at my club and someone donated what they thought was Cinnabar and the bidding went up fairly high, but when one of the more talented ID guys said it was something else that no one had ever heard of and couldn't possibly be toxic everyone wanted to withdraw their bids.    If I recall correctly, Cinnabar isn't that toxic just sitting around in a rock, but only when ground up or dissolved, but it was the danger aspect that made it appealing.

Anyway thanks for posting the link to the article vegasjames it was interesting to read.

Cinnabar is not all that toxic. It actually has been used in Chinese medicine for thousands of years.  People seem to think that just because it contains mercury that it is the same as elemental mercury or methyl mercury.

[robertm]

Hi All,
Here is an article posted in our local newsletter, sorry if it is too
long!!

POTENTIALLY TOXIC OR HARMFUL STONES
FOR GEM ELIXIRS, GEM WATERS, MASSAGE OILS, HANDLING, ETC.
I've been asked many times about whether a certain stone is safe for making conventional gem elixirs, gem waters, massage oils, or other internal or absorbent uses. While any stone can be potentially harmful for fumes, or dust, here is some information on stones that are known to be toxic in certain situations.
While some of these minerals are micronutrients, such as copper which we need to survive, they can also be extremely toxic in larger amounts than required by the body.
Please be aware that this is an partial list, as I don't know all the possible toxicity information. Some I learned in college, from crystal experts, or from books. Before using any stone or crystal for elixirs or waters, you should personally make sure that it's safe by consulting a mineralogist, healthcare specialist, or other professional.
Types of stones that are typically toxic to ingest are minerals/ metals containing copper, lead, arsenic, cadmium, aluminium, barium, mercury, zinc, or other poisonous / toxic substances. These substances are often what give a stone its characteristic coloring or shape. Great to look at, great to hold, but not great to put in the body. Where I have information on it, I've noted the toxic material that is or may be in the stone.




Actinolite - asbestos
Adamite - zinc, copper
Amazonite - copper
Amber - toxic dust, fumes, possible trapped bacteria or virii, possible ingestive toxicity
Angelite - lead, sulphur
Anthophyllite - asbestos
Aragonite - sometimes contains lead
Atacamite - copper
Atlantisite - contains Serpentine (see below)
Auricalcite - zinc and copper
Azurite - copper
Boji-stones/Kansas Pop Rocks - may contain sulphur
Bronchantite - copper
Celestite aka Celestine - aluminium
Cerrusite - sulphur, molybdenum
Chalcantite (aka "blue shit") - copper
Chalcopyrite (Peacock Stone, Peacock Ore) - copper and sulphur
Charoite - barium, strontium
Chrysacolla (Chrysocolla) - copper
Chrysotile - asbestos
Cinnabar - mercury, VERY TOXIC
Cobaltocalcite (Pink Cobalt Calcite) - cobalt
Conicalcite - copper
Copper - copper
Coral - organic, may contain bacteria as well as pollutants from toxic materials in the water it forms in
Chrysoprase - nickel
Crocidolite - asbestos
Cuprite - copper
Diopside - copper
Dioptase - copper
Eliat Stone - copper
Emerald - aluminium
Feldspar - aluminium
Fluorite - source of dangerous gas hydrofluoride
Garnet - aluminium
Gem Silica - copper
Galena/ Galenite - lead
Garnierite (Genthite, Falcondoite) - nickel
Hematite - iron
Hiddenite - aluminium
Howlite - boron, boron oxide, borate
Iolite - aluminium
Jade (Jadeite) - aluminium, iron
Jade (Nephrite) - aluminium, iron, titanium
Kambaba Jasper - cyanobacteria and possible cyanotoxins
Kansas Pop Rocks - may contain sulphur
Kunzite - aluminium
Kyanite - aluminium
Labradorite - aluminium
Lapis Lazuli - may contain copper, sulphur
Leopard (Skin) Jasper - iron
Marcasite (Markasite) - sulphur
Magnetite (Lodestone) - iron in large quantities
Malachite - copper
Merlinite - barite, iron
Meteorite - may contain many toxic substances
Mohawkite - copper, arsenic
Moldavite - aluminium
Molybdenum - molybdenum
Moonstone - may contain aluminium or other toxic substances
Mother of Pearl - organic, may contain bacteria as well as pollutants from toxic materials in the water it forms in
Ocean Jasper - iron
Opal - toxic dust for inhalation at least
Paraiba Blue Quartz - aluminium in the tourmaline component
Pearl - organic, may contain bacteria as well as pollutants from toxic materials in the water it forms in
Psiomelane - barium
Pyrite (Fool's Gold, Inca Gold) - sulphur
Quartz (all types) - toxic dust for inhalation
Realgar - sulfur, arsenic
Rhodocrosite (Rhodochrosite) - lead
Rose Quartz - iron / titanium
Ruby - aluminium
Sapphire - aluminium
Sepentine (fibrous type) - asbestos
Sodalite - aluminium
Spinel - may contain aluminium, zinc
Stibnite - lead, antimony
Smithsonite (Galmei, Zinc spar)- zinc, may contain copper
Spinel - aluminium
Spodumene (incl Kunzite, Hiddenite) - aluminium
Strawberry Quartz (natural) - hematite/iron inclusions
Stromatolite - cyanobacteria and possible cyanotoxins
Sulphur - sulphur
Sunstone - Aluminium
Tiger's Eye - asbestos
Topaz - aluminium
Tourmaline - aluminium
Tremolite - asbestos
Turquoise - copper
Unakite - aluminium/iron
Uranium - radioactive mineral
Vanadanite - lead
Variscite - aluminium
Wulfenite - lead, molybdenum

I recommend avoiding and not making conventional gem elixirs, gem waters, massage oils, or other consumables with these stones. The guidelines below can help you and those you know stay safe.
1. Do not make conventional, direct gemstone elixirs, gem waters, massage oils of any stone containing metal (lead, copper, etc.) Use an indirect method instead.
2. FYI: Polished stones are less likely to allow elixirs, etc. to leach any potentially hazardous materials. Rough stones are most likely.
3. In general, almost all blue and green stones, especially brightly colored ones, contain copper and/or arsenic and are potentially unsafe to use for conventional gem elixirs, etc.
4. Shiny, metallic stones should be avoided.
5. Don't handle stones containing arsenic, such as realgar, or mercury, such as cinnabar without protective gloves. Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water after handling them. These stones are extremely toxic.
6. Do not eat, drink, or smoke while handling potentially toxic stones.
7. Keep all potentially harmful stones (including small, bite-sized stones that aren't necessarily toxic but can cause choking hazards!) out of reach of children for safety.
You may find contradictory information elsewhere as to the potential hazards of crystals. I recommend being cautious, though, and using indirect methods for making elixirs and other consumables unless you're absolutely certain of what you're doing. To be on the safe side, consider these stones, and any stones you don't know for sure about, to be toxic to eat, drink, or otherwise consume.

[barclay]

Sept 16, 2016 1:29:25 GMT -5 vegasjames said:

Sept 15, 2016 21:16:59 GMT -5 dottyt said:

There was a auction at my club and someone donated what they thought was Cinnabar and the bidding went up fairly high, but when one of the more talented ID guys said it was something else that no one had ever heard of and couldn't possibly be toxic everyone wanted to withdraw their bids.    If I recall correctly, Cinnabar isn't that toxic just sitting around in a rock, but only when ground up or dissolved, but it was the danger aspect that made it appealing.

Anyway thanks for posting the link to the article vegasjames it was interesting to read.

Cinnabar is not all that toxic. It actually has been used in Chinese medicine for thousands of years.  People seem to think that just because it contains mercury that it is the same as elemental mercury or methyl mercury.

Vegas you are wrong. There is no such thing as "safe" mercury compounds. There is a reason there are so many hazardous material and safety regulations about mercury. In the old days I would say that every culture used some toxic compound for medicinal purposes. The Victorians gave their women arsenic because it gave them a nice pale complexion. In the 1800s we gave babies lead compounds for colic, etc. Once cinnabar gets on your skin it has the potential to be absorbed, ingested or inhaled where it can get metabolized in to more toxic forms. It is fine to look at, but i certainly not handle it or work it. Two years ago a vendor was selling cinnabar in opal at a local rock show. I asked her if she knew what cinnabar was and she did. She said that the cinnabar was "locked up" in the opal and could not come out. Being that opal is basically compressed sand I would say that it can't "lock up" anything.
"

[likesrocks]

At 56 years of age, single and actively dating or whatever for the last 22 years, that worrying about licking a rock is about the last thing on my mind considering all the stuff floating around now days. Just sayin'.... I have, like most people, tasted, kissed or licked a good number of things that in hindsight I should not have. Including but not limited to Horse Radish Ice cream, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Ghost pepper salsa, ice sickles, my ex. Thank you for the warning about licking rocks, next time I go the the rock shop i'll have my date lick the rocks instead! LOLOL

[dottyt]

Mindat.org has known toxicity data for tons of minerals and rocks. Here is the one for Cinnabar:
Health Risks:
Contains mercury - always wash hands after handling. Do not inhale dust and use caution when breaking. Do not lick or ingest. Do not heat in unventilated environment - emits toxic Hg fumes. Mercury sulfide is, however, relatively insoluble and toxicity of the pure material is low. But be aware that many samples of cinnabar, especially those which are 'massive' rather than crystalline, also contain traces of native mercury, and this is far more easily absorbed by the body.

Most commonly you find:
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
If it is a common mineral this is legalese for "non-toxic."
(Meaning regular contact, not breathing dust, not ingesting large quantities, etc.)

[ziggy]

Sept 16, 2016 11:14:31 GMT -5 likesrocks said:

At 56 years of age, single and actively dating or whatever for the last 22 years, that worrying about licking a rock is about the last thing on my mind considering all the stuff floating around now days. Just sayin'.... I have, like most people, tasted, kissed or licked a good number of things that in hindsight I should not have. Including but not limited to Horse Radish Ice cream, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Ghost pepper salsa, ice sickles, my ex. Thank you for the warning about licking rocks, next time I go the the rock shop i'll have my date lick the rocks instead! LOLOL

Silly people. Just spit on the rock and rub the spit in. Leave your tongue in your mouth and transfer the spit by gravity. I personally never lick things like rocks. That's disgusting. I always just bring h2o to use. Always remember parasites, parasites, parasites.....we are surrounded by them.

Now, let me tell you about the rockhound who liked to lick rocks from the U.P. in the mine piles. Notice I used past tense.

[barclay]

Sept 16, 2016 12:20:57 GMT -5 dottyt said:

Mindat.org has known toxicity data for tons of minerals and rocks. Here is the one for Cinnabar:
Health Risks:
Contains mercury - always wash hands after handling. Do not inhale dust and use caution when breaking. Do not lick or ingest. Do not heat in unventilated environment - emits toxic Hg fumes. Mercury sulfide is, however, relatively insoluble and toxicity of the pure material is low. But be aware that many samples of cinnabar, especially those which are 'massive' rather than crystalline, also contain traces of native mercury, and this is far more easily absorbed by the body.

Most commonly you find:
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
If it is a common mineral this is legalese for "non-toxic."
(Meaning regular contact, not breathing dust, not ingesting large quantities, etc.)

Dotty no information means no information. It does not imply that it is safe. The way you get health data is for someone to go out and do a study. People usually do studies after a large number of people get sick. There are thousands of minerals and no one has had the time and money to study the health effects of all of them. The folks at Midat have a great deal of information about mineralology, gemology, chemistry and geology, but they are not toxicologists or health & safety folks.

[mohs]

I made this cinnabar heart for my ex



It wasn’t very nice
Yet it was the best I could do at the time

M~

[dottyt]

Sept 16, 2016 13:27:51 GMT -5 barclay said:

Dotty no information means no information. It does not imply that it is safe. The way you get health data is for someone to go out and do a study. People usually do studies after a large number of people get sick. There are thousands of minerals and no one has had the time and money to study the health effects of all of them. The folks at Midat have a great deal of information about mineralology, gemology, chemistry and geology, but they are not toxicologists or health & safety folks.

Seems reliable to me for stuff I know about and just looked up. And I majored in chemistry and took postgrad courses in toxicology! You are right of course if it is something obscure. Or if it is something someone could have an idiosyncratic reaction to. And possibly if it is something that one has delayed reactions to. And one should always keep in mind contaminants.

But for example "No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care" appears for *Calcite*. Of course it is not at all true that no information is known about CO₃. It is a very common mineral that has been studied (and ingested) a lot.

Here it is for Halite (NaCl): "Health Risks: licking or ingesting raw halite in the 'wild' could cause health problems due to unidentified admixed substances (such as alkaline compounds)." Although plain old sodium chloride (table salt) is non-toxic when in pure form and ingested in proper amounts.

Just suggesting mindat.org for people who want to know more!