Henry
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2013
Posts: 452
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Post by Henry on Jan 24, 2013 1:59:13 GMT -5
Hello all. My name is Henry. I'm new to this board and wish to get a possible confirmation of the I.D. of this stone. It was found at San Simeon Creek Beach, San Luis Obispo County. California. They're some stunning jaspers out there. Everything else is pretty much chert. I assume that this fits into the chert category? If so, why is it so translucent? I thought chert was more opaque. Attachments:
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TByrd
fully equipped rock polisher
Have you performed your random act of kindness?
Member since December 2010
Posts: 1,350
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Post by TByrd on Jan 24, 2013 2:39:30 GMT -5
It looks like a Jasper/Agate that I collect in the mouth of the Columbia River, on the Wa side.
Tammy
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2013 14:45:19 GMT -5
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,466
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Post by Sabre52 on Jan 24, 2013 16:12:25 GMT -5
Yeah I was thinking jade too as there is jade on those beaches but something about the way the fractured areas look make me think it's chert....Mel
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Henry
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2013
Posts: 452
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Post by Henry on Jan 25, 2013 3:48:14 GMT -5
Thanks all. This is the best picture that I can come up with. Can someone tell me, if this is chert, why is it so translucent? Attachments:
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jan 25, 2013 9:59:05 GMT -5
Another way to get close to an ID is to break a little chunk off a thin area. If it is agate/jasper/chert it will be smooth on the break. If it is jade it will be really difficult to break and when it does the break will be rough. Very interesting stone. Jim
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,466
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Post by Sabre52 on Jan 25, 2013 9:59:36 GMT -5
Chert, which is a pretty generic term, is more about the origin than it is about translucency. Chert usually comes from marine sources but it is still microcrystalline quartz and can range from opaque to very translucent. In it's purest form it would be clear. The chert nodules the Amerinds mined on my hill can be very translucent. The lack of translucency has more to do with materials, often mineral salts, included within the microcrystalline quartz....Mel
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Post by Roller on Jan 25, 2013 10:38:44 GMT -5
looks like massive quartz maybe ! with the iron staining in the cracks ..
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itsandbits
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2012
Posts: 825
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Post by itsandbits on Jan 25, 2013 10:50:58 GMT -5
I agree with Mel that it is probably some form of chalcedony, I find a lot of the same type of material here in central BC but it doesn't get treated so gently by the rivers so is more angular but because it is so tough it gets rounded off on the exposed surfaces and polished by the sand and debris in flood stages. All the quartz gets broken down to gravel as it fractures so readily because of its large crystal structure.
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Henry
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2013
Posts: 452
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Post by Henry on Jan 26, 2013 2:14:02 GMT -5
Thanks all. Interesting stone. A lot of the stones out there are quite interesting. I nicknamed them "psychedelic jasper" LOL
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,685
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Post by Fossilman on Jan 26, 2013 19:07:46 GMT -5
Cut it!!!!
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Post by Roller on Jan 26, 2013 23:54:17 GMT -5
now i think its jade .. sorry my laptop makes things look whiter .. now i see its green ..hehe my other guess would be epidosite but i don't think so .. Iam with jade !!!
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Post by Roller on Jan 26, 2013 23:54:48 GMT -5
cut it , cut it , cut it , cut it ..
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Henry
spending too much on rocks
Member since January 2013
Posts: 452
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Post by Henry on Jan 28, 2013 16:23:49 GMT -5
Okay...took it to a couple of knowledgeable people. The overwhelming assessment is that it is a piece of partially translucent chert. What an ugly name for a somewhat nice looking rock. ;D
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