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[safossils]

Anyone know what this is?

[rocks2dust]

My first reaction is a chunk of massive fluorite.

[irockhound]

To me it is much to fibrous to be Fluorite.  I am going with a Serpentine/Asbestos.

[safossils]

Thanks, serpentine or asbestos makes sense as there are many outcrops in Gila County to the north...

Best,
Walt

[irockhound]

asbestos and soapstone are common together too.  That pale green towards bottom of first pic could be soapstone too.

[safossils]

Hopefully I'll get some saw time in this week. I'll post pics of some slabs when I do. Thanks!

[Sirjess]

 If it is asbestos is it still safe to cut.?  I have a piece of asbestos in my minral collection and I keep it in a bag to be safe.

[safossils]

I always wear a mask and face shield to be safe. I do not see any fine fibrous material, but you never know...

Walt

[safossils]

Not too impressive. It's almost black, no transparency, and very soft\brittle...

[Kaljaia]

If it's serpentine it may carve better than it cabs.

[ileney]

Huh. I'm confused by this. Sometimes you see a big blob of asbestos hanging off pietersite or  tigereye because it hasn't fully hardened. I have been too afraid to cab it because of worry about asbestos? Is there a treatment to make the stone safe? Can you just cut off the obviously punky part?

[safossils]

No good for guitar picks...I'll probably just throw it in the landscape...

[southerly]

Serpentinite (the rock type) is probably the correct term, often associated with asbestos and talc as already mentioned. Rather than serpentine that refers to a specific mineral.

[VegasJames]

Looks like serpentine to me.

[safossils]

Thanks to all for the help. Serpentine or serpentinite it is. Unfortunately, not something I can use. At least I got it cheap...