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Post by fernwood on Dec 19, 2018 10:26:30 GMT -5
Was going through some of my larger rocks today and found this one. When originally found I thought it was a fossil sponge, but would appreciate thoughts from others. The darker areas are rust staining. Overall qualities are of sugar quartz, jasper, agate and some crystals. Found in Central WI. Thank you
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Post by fernwood on Dec 19, 2018 10:27:36 GMT -5
I would love to slice this open, as I think there is a lot of goodness hidden inside.
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agatemaggot
Cave Dweller
Member since August 2006
Posts: 2,195
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Post by agatemaggot on Dec 19, 2018 10:55:59 GMT -5
Guy's wife in our rock club found one just like that, turned out to be a Tube Laker ! It weighed 23 Lbs.
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Post by woodman on Dec 19, 2018 11:05:40 GMT -5
If it was mine, it would be in at least two pieces. Get cutting!!
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Post by fernwood on Dec 19, 2018 11:29:38 GMT -5
If it was mine, it would be in at least two pieces. Get cutting!! I have nothing to cut it with, lol. Don't think the Dremel would work for this one.
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,666
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Post by Fossilman on Dec 19, 2018 11:37:28 GMT -5
Looks like it some type of limestone material....
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Post by woodman on Dec 19, 2018 11:43:25 GMT -5
If it was mine, it would be in at least two pieces. Get cutting!! I have nothing to cut it with, lol. Don't think the Dremel would work for this one. Ship it to me, I might even ship it back!
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Post by woodman on Dec 19, 2018 11:44:11 GMT -5
Looks like it some type of limestone material.... Could be, but cutting it is the best way to figure that out!
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Post by woodman on Dec 19, 2018 11:45:31 GMT -5
wHAT DOES IT SOUND LIKE WHEN YOU RAP ON IT WITH A ROCK PICK?
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Post by fernwood on Dec 19, 2018 11:54:00 GMT -5
I have nothing to cut it with, lol. Don't think the Dremel would work for this one. Ship it to me, I might even ship it back! LOL.
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Post by fernwood on Dec 19, 2018 11:55:25 GMT -5
wHAT DOES IT SOUND LIKE WHEN YOU RAP ON IT WITH A ROCK PICK? Sounds the same as the fossil corals I have found. Estimated Mohs of about 7, based on scratch test and weight.
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fuss
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2018
Posts: 250
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Post by fuss on Dec 20, 2018 0:19:07 GMT -5
if you can take a closer image of the surface when it is dry that would be helpful. It is an interesting looking rock and with a hardness of 7 it could be Chert.
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Post by fernwood on Dec 20, 2018 8:53:45 GMT -5
More photos and specs. Length is 6 ¾”. Width at largest point is 3”. Weight is 3.6 lbs. Was able to scratch surface with diamond file. Knife did nothing. Photos taken dry. Some show the crystals. I checked some cervices under the loop. There are “things” in some of them. Appear to be worms. I want to determine what this is. Hoping the size weight ratio will help others help with density. Thanks everyone.
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fuss
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2018
Posts: 250
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Post by fuss on Dec 20, 2018 9:31:25 GMT -5
You will need to do some more tests to get a better idea. The new photos although dry are not any more helpful unfortunately. See if you can get your camera into "macro mode" to enable it to get closer to the subject to get a more detailed image of the surface.
To eliminate a carbonate rock, do an acid test with muratic (carefully) and check for fizzing, if you dont have muratic try some warm vinegar. Look for bubbling under your loupe after applying a couple drops of vinegar.
Refine the scratch test, your knife about a 5.5 on the mohs sscale is helpful but the diamond file not so much, try a piece of quartz if you have some hardness of around 7.
do a streak test. rub the sample against some un-glazed porcelain.
Chip off a piece and examine the fresh surface, it could give a lot more info than the weathered tumbled exterior.
The crystals you see are probably quartz but with out a description of them or photo that is a guess.
The size and weight dimensions are not very useful, you would need to perform a specific gravity test (instructions online).
good luck and post an update if you would.
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Post by fernwood on Dec 20, 2018 9:54:04 GMT -5
No results on fizzing with vinegar.
I have no control over my phone camera settings. They take photos at 72 dpi. About 52 by 32" in size. I use Photoshop to decrease size and sharpen.
Yes, crystals are quartz. Quartz point test resulted in minimal. Just a small surface scratch.
Thanks for the input. Appreciate it.
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fuss
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2018
Posts: 250
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Post by fuss on Dec 20, 2018 10:05:38 GMT -5
A scratch with quartz indicates it then has a hardness of less than 7. I almost wonder if this isn't dolostone and could the "worm like things" be crinoid stems maybe?
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Post by fernwood on Dec 20, 2018 10:51:21 GMT -5
surface scratches with quartz were only minimal in some places. Others had no effect.
Dunno what the worm like things are. Only wish I had a real camera.
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