Post by fernwood on May 12, 2016 17:40:11 GMT -5
I am so happy I stumbled across this message board. Tons of very knowledgeable people here. Spent 2 hours looking around today.
I recently moved from NW Wisconsin to Central Wisconsin. Made some amazing finds when picking rocks in my field, which had not been plowed for at least 20 years prior to a couple weeks ago. Many things I have never seen before. I learned that my land is located in a narrow strip between the Green Bay glacial lobe and the Glacial Lake Wisconsin. There are a lot of large granite boulders here.
I have been an avid rock gatherer for over 30 years, but some of what I am finding here stumps me.
I would appreciate any insights on the below finds. All photos were taken dry. All rocks were scrubbed to remove most debris. Sorry if there are some blurry spots, but wanted to include some close ups.
So, apparently no attachments can be added to the forum at this time. So, will try to describe in full detail.
Red/white circles. Have found 5 of these so far. All are at least 4” by 2” by 3” in size ranging from a pound to 5 pounds. What is it? The scratch test was negative as was the magnet test.
The base color of rock is sandstone. Circles range in size from about 1/4" to 3". the outer area fo circles are all about 1/8" red. interior portion is white quartz. find it very unusual to find so many rocks that look the same.
Fractured rock.
Reminds me of a form of Chalcedony. There are places with a white quartz like veining and what appears to be white quartz on the fractured surfaces. There is a red orange waxy appearance in places. There rust colored portions along the edges of each crack. Space between all smaller cracks is about 1/8". There are approximately 20 cracks on one side, that are at least 3/4" deep. Another side only has one large crack that goes almost all the way through and is about 1/4" wide. A magnet does not stick to it. It is not fragile. Negative scratch test. The size is 4” x 2 ¾” x 1 ¾”.
Green rock
Another find was a green rock that reminds me of Malachite or copper. The base is sandstone in color, but rock is mostly various shades of green. The green colors do not scratch off, as in copper, but the color looks like oxidized copper in places. There are some clear crystal hairs on it. A magnet sticks to it on the darker places, which are a very translucent dark green, almost black. Was also thinking meteorite, but it appears to have too many sharp edges. This one is about 2 3/4'” x 3”x 1 ¾”. Negative on scratch test.
Blue Hills.
The last is a rock I have had for over 25 years. It was found in Northern Rusk County, Wisconsin in an area known as the Blue Hills. At one time these hills were much higher than the Rocky Mountains. It appears to be volcanic. Very rough and sharp. Areas of very dark gray porous. Areas of dark red porous. also areas of white flowing grain. Very light weight. Many fragile crystal hairs across the surface. Did not try scratching, but am sure it would fail.
Wish I could post the photos, as I really want to find out what these finds are.
Thanks to everyone who is willing to share their knowledge without photos.
Know it will be tough
I recently moved from NW Wisconsin to Central Wisconsin. Made some amazing finds when picking rocks in my field, which had not been plowed for at least 20 years prior to a couple weeks ago. Many things I have never seen before. I learned that my land is located in a narrow strip between the Green Bay glacial lobe and the Glacial Lake Wisconsin. There are a lot of large granite boulders here.
I have been an avid rock gatherer for over 30 years, but some of what I am finding here stumps me.
I would appreciate any insights on the below finds. All photos were taken dry. All rocks were scrubbed to remove most debris. Sorry if there are some blurry spots, but wanted to include some close ups.
So, apparently no attachments can be added to the forum at this time. So, will try to describe in full detail.
Red/white circles. Have found 5 of these so far. All are at least 4” by 2” by 3” in size ranging from a pound to 5 pounds. What is it? The scratch test was negative as was the magnet test.
The base color of rock is sandstone. Circles range in size from about 1/4" to 3". the outer area fo circles are all about 1/8" red. interior portion is white quartz. find it very unusual to find so many rocks that look the same.
Fractured rock.
Reminds me of a form of Chalcedony. There are places with a white quartz like veining and what appears to be white quartz on the fractured surfaces. There is a red orange waxy appearance in places. There rust colored portions along the edges of each crack. Space between all smaller cracks is about 1/8". There are approximately 20 cracks on one side, that are at least 3/4" deep. Another side only has one large crack that goes almost all the way through and is about 1/4" wide. A magnet does not stick to it. It is not fragile. Negative scratch test. The size is 4” x 2 ¾” x 1 ¾”.
Green rock
Another find was a green rock that reminds me of Malachite or copper. The base is sandstone in color, but rock is mostly various shades of green. The green colors do not scratch off, as in copper, but the color looks like oxidized copper in places. There are some clear crystal hairs on it. A magnet sticks to it on the darker places, which are a very translucent dark green, almost black. Was also thinking meteorite, but it appears to have too many sharp edges. This one is about 2 3/4'” x 3”x 1 ¾”. Negative on scratch test.
Blue Hills.
The last is a rock I have had for over 25 years. It was found in Northern Rusk County, Wisconsin in an area known as the Blue Hills. At one time these hills were much higher than the Rocky Mountains. It appears to be volcanic. Very rough and sharp. Areas of very dark gray porous. Areas of dark red porous. also areas of white flowing grain. Very light weight. Many fragile crystal hairs across the surface. Did not try scratching, but am sure it would fail.
Wish I could post the photos, as I really want to find out what these finds are.
Thanks to everyone who is willing to share their knowledge without photos.
Know it will be tough