mnblarneystone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Minnesota Rock Lover
Member since February 2011
Posts: 110
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Post by mnblarneystone on Apr 29, 2012 9:54:49 GMT -5
I need help making an ID on this piece. It was purchased YEARS ago at an auction, and set out in the yard... we have since started digging up rocks in the yard, and came back across this. It looks like Pyrite, and little white crystals look like rice. This photo is a color photo, but the piece is shades of grey/white. The cubes are pewter-y colored, I don't see the gold-sheen of Pyrite. It also looks like little marcasites on the surface. I do not know the original source of this piece. The largest cubes on the surface are the size of sugar cubes, or even just a bit larger. The piece is VERY heavy for it's size. 3.9 pounds. IDEAS?? Thanks!! Here is my Facebook album. You can see them well here. Thanks in advance for your help!! www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.3446315310902.2141524.1061234738&type=3&l=977430d852
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Post by Bikerrandy on Apr 30, 2012 20:21:44 GMT -5
Hard to tell, the pic is too small!
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jason12x12
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since October 2011
Posts: 798
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Post by jason12x12 on Apr 30, 2012 21:07:50 GMT -5
galena in barite from what I can see and the description. could be wrong cause I am a nuuub.. If it is what I think it is,it should be heavy for its size.
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mnblarneystone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Minnesota Rock Lover
Member since February 2011
Posts: 110
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Post by mnblarneystone on May 3, 2012 22:23:02 GMT -5
Hi Jason, YES!! It very possibly is Galena... the cubes are about 3/4 inch, and the specimen is VERY Heavy for the dimension.
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mnblarneystone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Minnesota Rock Lover
Member since February 2011
Posts: 110
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Post by mnblarneystone on May 4, 2012 20:28:12 GMT -5
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Post by drocknut on May 4, 2012 23:22:04 GMT -5
I'm also thinking Galena perhaps with barite or perhaps with calcite (possible white "rice" pieces) since both can be associated with galena. Those are very nice cubes of Galena for sure. Galena is a lead sulfide so is heavy for it's size although it is soft (about a Mohs 3) and will have a dark gray streak. Could also have bladed crystals of cerussite which might be the "rice- like" crystals on it. You could also be right about the little marcasites on it too (they would be a little different in color than the galena). That's just a guess without testing or closer examination.
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mnblarneystone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Minnesota Rock Lover
Member since February 2011
Posts: 110
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Post by mnblarneystone on May 5, 2012 9:30:35 GMT -5
Thanks Diane!! I guess I will leave the matrix up for grabs, I am relatively sure about the Galena, and the marcasites.
Thank YOU, and everyone else for all of your input!!
Terri
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