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Post by fernwood on Sept 4, 2017 6:00:31 GMT -5
What would cause this? This big hunk of quartz was sitting on an Aluminum table outside. Weight is 12 lbs. 8” by 7” by 8”. It started raining hard, which lasted for hours on and off through the night. I left the rocks on the table overnight. By the next afternoon, when I started to move them, noticed the “dust” surrounding this one. There also appears to be some small pieces of “iron gravel”. None of this is magnetic, nor is the quartz. So, is it really Iron Oxide? When I wiped the remaining water from the quartz, the cloth became “rusty” colored. The color of the quartz is also less orange now, more of a pink and there appears to be fewer iron inclusions. Most of the clear and white areas are also somewhat “peachy”. There also appears to be more of the pinkish “dust” on or close to the surface. None of this can be removed by scouring. Did the combo of the rain and aluminum table cause some of the oxide to be leeched out? Just curious. Or is it not even oxide and some other mineral? Appearance when found in 2016.  7-4-16 When Found by Fernwood Acres, on Flickr Sitting on the table on 9-2-17. Opposite side of previous photo.  9-2-17 Before Rain by Fernwood Acres, on Flickr After the rain, 9-3-17.  9-3-17 After the Rain by Fernwood Acres, on Flickr Dust on table, 9-3-17.  Dust 1 by Fernwood Acres, on Flickr Somewhat blurry close up of table dust.  Dust 2 by Fernwood Acres, on Flickr |
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Post by vegasjames on Sept 4, 2017 6:42:58 GMT -5
Are you sure this is not just dirt that remained on the surface and in cracks?
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Post by fernwood on Sept 4, 2017 8:14:41 GMT -5
Don’t think it was just dirt, as the quartz had been soaked and scrubbed in 2016. It has been inside on display since then. Stayed completely dry inside. Now I am really confused. Went to move some more rocks from table. Lifted up the piece of shist, which had been sitting on some of the powder from the quartz. The table was very corroded under it. I tried to brush off the remaining dust into a container, but it was very paste like. Will be raining again soon, so hope the rain washes the rest of it off. I also noticed that the quartz, which was completely dry, is now somewhat wet and slippery. Whatever the rusty colored stuff is appears to be coming out along with the rain water which must have penetrated the quartz. The cloth is once again rusty colored after I wipe the quartz.  shist by Fernwood Acres, on Flickr  corrode by Fernwood Acres, on Flickr |
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Post by coloradocliff on Sept 4, 2017 9:45:52 GMT -5
Be interesting to mess with-it a bit longer Ms Fernie,
Just to narrow down what is happening.
Try a few things for us. Please.. Got me curious now.
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Post by fernwood on Sept 4, 2017 12:03:46 GMT -5
I am just wiping off whatever is coming out of the quartz for now. Will see how long that lasts.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 4, 2017 14:47:25 GMT -5
Quartz or quartzite
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Post by fernwood on Sept 4, 2017 14:48:44 GMT -5
Very sunny and windy here today. Now, the area around where the Quartz was is covered in a white powder with square and rectangular crystals. This AM, I noticed most of the remaining rocks near where the Quartz was were covered in "sparkles". Took photos of both. The Quartz has some type of film over the entire surface.
Could the Quartz have a high salt or some other chemical/mineral content?
No, I am not going to taste the residue, or lick the rock, lol.
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Post by fernwood on Sept 4, 2017 16:08:35 GMT -5
Be interesting to mess with-it a bit longer Ms Fernie, Just to narrow down what is happening. Try a few things for us. Please.. Got me curious now. I am one number from a BINGO! More research based on appearance and how it reacted to the heavy rain. Could be Potash (which is not known to exist rough in Wisconsin to my knowledge. Lots of it processed is hauled through on trains). Also looks like Himalayan Rock Salt, which I know does not exist in Wisconsin. I found it partially submerged in the ground about 8' off a long time, well maintained ATV/horse trail. There was no appearance of deterioration next to where it was found. Could someone have left it for a deer lick long ago? Hmmmmmm. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 4, 2017 16:48:04 GMT -5
Very sunny and windy here today. Now, the area around where the Quartz was is covered in a white powder with square and rectangular crystals. This AM, I noticed most of the remaining rocks near where the Quartz was were covered in "sparkles". Took photos of both. The Quartz has some type of film over the entire surface. Could the Quartz have a high salt or some other chemical/mineral content? No, I am not going to taste the residue, or lick the rock, lol. Yeah, I'll bet a scratch test is negative for quartz. That is the exact colour of halite stones. I'd taste it if it was local. |
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Post by coloradocliff on Sept 4, 2017 17:32:47 GMT -5
Very sunny and windy here today. Now, the area around where the Quartz was is covered in a white powder with square and rectangular crystals. This AM, I noticed most of the remaining rocks near where the Quartz was were covered in "sparkles". Took photos of both. The Quartz has some type of film over the entire surface. Could the Quartz have a high salt or some other chemical/mineral content? No, I am not going to taste the residue, or lick the rock, lol. Dang Sometimes you just gotta lick the rock.. We'll think kindly if something goes bad..grin..
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Post by coloradocliff on Sept 4, 2017 17:34:13 GMT -5
Be interesting to mess with-it a bit longer Ms Fernie, Just to narrow down what is happening. Try a few things for us. Please.. Got me curious now. I am one number from a BINGO! More research based on appearance and how it reacted to the heavy rain. Could be Potash (which is not known to exist rough in Wisconsin to my knowledge. Lots of it processed is hauled through on trains). Also looks like Himalayan Rock Salt, which I know does not exist in Wisconsin. I found it partially submerged in the ground about 8' off a long time, well maintained ATV/horse trail. There was no appearance of deterioration next to where it was found. Could someone have left it for a deer lick long ago? Hmmmmmm. As wet as you are it should have decomposed long ago? MAybe find a deer to lick it and get back to yah?
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Post by fernwood on Sept 4, 2017 17:40:32 GMT -5
I am one number from a BINGO! More research based on appearance and how it reacted to the heavy rain. Could be Potash (which is not known to exist rough in Wisconsin to my knowledge. Lots of it processed is hauled through on trains). Also looks like Himalayan Rock Salt, which I know does not exist in Wisconsin. I found it partially submerged in the ground about 8' off a long time, well maintained ATV/horse trail. There was no appearance of deterioration next to where it was found. Could someone have left it for a deer lick long ago? Hmmmmmm. As wet as you are it should have decomposed long ago? MAybe find a deer to lick it and get back to yah?
lol on the deer. No, I am not going to let my horses taste it either. Well, not entirely my horses, but I am their main caretaker./person they yell at if I am late for feedings. Dunno. It was in a pretty sheltered location. But, it was also near an old deer stand. |
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Post by wigglinrocks on Sept 4, 2017 17:47:06 GMT -5
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Post by coloradocliff on Sept 4, 2017 18:04:41 GMT -5
I think that you just won the corvette Rich sometimes Dale and always @wigglin rocks. Poor deer hunters are probably cussin our sis Fernie right about now. Someone needs to deactivate the detonation device. grin.. Never seen a salt block like that before.
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Post by coloradocliff on Sept 4, 2017 18:06:09 GMT -5
Would never have guessed that you would have to use salt blocks to attract deer.
Everyone around here plants rose bushes for that.
Believe its illegal to lure in this state.
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Post by coloradocliff on Sept 4, 2017 18:21:49 GMT -5
I would for sure give it a hard whacking.. Curious to see the innards. Probably a mineral block. Wonder if Miss Fernie is going to slab it or just keep it as a specimen? Maybe sneak it back out there and be an accomplice to the murder of a deer. Or give it to you and she at least be an accomplice to your getting an easier pile of summer sausage and head cheese.
They must have made the blocks look like that to blend in but Fern sure put the eye on that "rock". Bet she grunted packing that home. SHe better get it away from her yard unless she wants a 4 point chewing her flowers.
 
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Post by fernwood on Sept 4, 2017 18:51:38 GMT -5
LOL. Considering it was found on my land, where no one had permission to hunt, it is mine!
Last I heard, it was illegal for private parties to use anything to lure deer here, due to Chronic Wasting Disease. Do not know if that changed or excluded salt licks.
It is back inside. I see deer helping themselves to my apples all the time. Way too many deer here, like about 60, so I have allowed a couple of people to bow hunt here this year.
As for the find, dunno for sure. For now I will keep it. Still not totally sure what it is. Might have to check out farm store for deer licks next time I am there, as they sell them.
Still, this has been a fun adventure.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 4, 2017 18:54:16 GMT -5
Himalayan rock salt does indeed exist in Wisconsin. Not naturally, but imported in the form of lamps and licks.
Didya scratch it?
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Post by fernwood on Sept 4, 2017 19:06:26 GMT -5
Himalayan rock salt does indeed exist in Wisconsin. Not naturally, but imported in the form of lamps and licks. Didya scratch it? Just did, and it failed, but I had to use a file. Knife did nothing. This stuff is pretty hard. Maybe I can make some lamps out of it. That would be cool. |
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Post by wigglinrocks on Sept 4, 2017 19:09:03 GMT -5
I would for sure give it a hard whacking.. Curious to see the innards. Probably a mineral block. Wonder if Miss Fernie is going to slab it or just keep it as a specimen? Maybe sneak it back out there and be an accomplice to the murder of a deer. Or give it to you and she at least be an accomplice to your getting an easier pile of summer sausage and head cheese.
They must have made the blocks look like that to blend in but Fern sure put the eye on that "rock". Bet she grunted packing that home. SHe better get it away from her yard unless she wants a 4 point chewing her flowers.
They sell a lot of those rocks , not to me . Make it sound like a natural mined rock containing all kinds of good things for deer . Probably just trace minerals and salt mixed into a slurry and baked and pressed , then busted up to look like a rock . Whole lot cheaper to go to the local feed store , buy and mix the minerals and pour it on the ground . That being said , getting about that time of year to pull off a venison murder . Why ya think fernwood hauled the rock home . I'll take the corvette in red , good trade value for a new old Ford truck . |
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