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Let's Rock => Identifications of Materials => Topic started by: mearic71 on February 07, 2021, 11:43:51 AM

Title: Old collection Part1
Post by: mearic71 on February 07, 2021, 11:43:51 AM

Hello Everyone,
I acquired an old collection, but I have a few that lost cards and I’m trying to identify them. Hope you can help.

1.   Looks like granite but feels calcite. Slightly pink has black crystals.
2.   Iron ore, hematite?
3.   Garnets in schist? Crystals are triangular and green.


Some of the samples in collection came from England. Hope clues help.
Thanks Mike

Title: Re: Old collection Part1
Post by: Felicia on February 07, 2021, 07:34:41 PM

1. Looks mostly feldspar with horneblende.  3. The garnets I've seen in that kind of schist have been dark red, but that's in the U S and garnets do come in  green. Still it's that triangular shape that's odd, they're mostly dodecahedral or it's alternate you sometimes see. Back to #1, calcite should react with acid.  As for #2, don't know.

Title: Re: Old collection Part1
Post by: irockhound on February 07, 2021, 09:39:18 PM

Number 1 looks a lot more like A Graphic Granite to me with the White being predominantly Quartz.  2 looks like Quartz with large Mica Books.  3 is like Felicia said, a Schist with Garnets

Title: Re: Old collection Part1
Post by: mearic71 on February 08, 2021, 06:45:34 AM

Quote from: Felicia on February 07, 2021, 07:34:41 PM

  3. The garnets I've seen in that kind of schist have been dark red, but that's in the U S and garnets do come in  green.

I think the garnets are dark red looking again (I think the green came from the reflected side of the flashlight. LOL).

Title: Re: Old collection Part1
Post by: mearic71 on February 08, 2021, 06:49:37 AM

Quote from: irockhound on February 07, 2021, 09:39:18 PM

2 looks like Quartz with large Mica Books.

2. is very heavy. More than 3 times weight if were quartz. I will try a scratch test on it.
Thanks

Title: Re: Old collection Part1
Post by: vitzitziltecpatl on February 08, 2021, 05:14:23 PM

There was some kind of iron ore around here in central AZ that looked similar.

I found a piece when street work uncovered it around an old railroad bed.

Title: Re: Old collection Part1
Post by: AgateLicker on February 08, 2021, 06:53:55 PM

Vince, that iron ore from AZ is titanium iron oxide. FeTiO3 also called Ilmenite.

Title: Re: Old collection Part1
Post by: vitzitziltecpatl on February 09, 2021, 03:11:50 PM

Girl, you DO have rocks in your head. LOTS of rocks.

I don't know as much about what's around here as you do - and I've been here 34 years. Thanks!

Title: Re: Old collection Part1
Post by: AgateLicker on February 11, 2021, 07:39:20 PM

No shame in my houndin' game! If you like the look of it there's a specimen grade occurance south of Jacob Lake. Maybe specular would be the right word for it. A secondary occurance after a purpleish agate in limestone. Gorgeous stuff!   

Title: Re: Old collection Part1
Post by: mearic71 on February 14, 2021, 11:44:37 AM

With help. I found I dead ringer for number 1. Biotite hornblende granite.