Recognizing Acanthite

1dave misunderstood rock expert Awed by the Universe! Member since October 2013 Posts: 11,984	Recognizing Acanthite Mar 21, 2024 9:58:24 GMT -5 rockjunquie, vegasjames, and 4 more like this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by 1dave on Mar 21, 2024 9:58:24 GMT -5 Acanthite = Silver Sulfide. It is black and heavy. as crystals: As layers: Stream worn:
	Last Edit: Mar 21, 2024 10:01:00 GMT -5 by 1dave I'm a ROCKOLOGIST ! My Published Books: 1936dave.freeforums.net/ payhip.com/DaveCrosby

vegasjames no longer being taken for granite Member since June 2013 Posts: 9,616	Recognizing Acanthite Mar 21, 2024 13:28:00 GMT -5 1dave and ThomasT like this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by vegasjames on Mar 21, 2024 13:28:00 GMT -5 Just went back to the mine last week and dug out a lot more. Found a couple nice veins of it in the mine.

titaniumkid
has rocks in the head

Member since June 2023
Posts: 512

Recognizing Acanthite Mar 21, 2024 16:00:02 GMT -5 vegasjames, 1dave, and 3 more like this

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Post by titaniumkid on Mar 21, 2024 16:00:02 GMT -5

I have a rock from Broken Hill (NSW, Aus) that looks similar to the second image (layers). There is a fragile layer of crystals that are dark up close. I thought it may have been galena but maybe it's not. The region has lead, zinc, and silver deposits.

vegasjames
no longer being taken for granite

Member since June 2013
Posts: 9,616

Recognizing Acanthite Mar 21, 2024 21:36:22 GMT -5 1dave, ThomasT, and 1 more like this

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Post by vegasjames on Mar 21, 2024 21:36:22 GMT -5

Mar 21, 2024 16:00:02 GMT -5 titaniumkid said:

I have a rock from Broken Hill (NSW, Aus) that looks similar to the second image (layers). There is a fragile layer of crystals that are dark up close. I thought it may have been galena but maybe it's not. The region has lead, zinc, and silver deposits.

Acanthite and galena can occur together and they have very close to the same densities. Since your rock is not a pure mineral, density testing is out anyway. Chemical testing would be your best bet.

For example, hydrochloric acid is pretty easy to obtain. Crush a small piece of ore and try dissolving the powder in the hydrochloric acid. Filter off the solution and expose to sunlight. Silver chloride will turn purple in the sunlight.

If you have access to nitric acid, even better. This can form silver nitrate with silver and lead nitrate with lead. Silver nitrate will turn black in sunlight. Adding some sodium chloride ("table salt") to lead nitrate solution will form a white precipitate of lead chloride.

titaniumkid has rocks in the head Member since June 2023 Posts: 512	Recognizing Acanthite Mar 21, 2024 22:27:02 GMT -5 vegasjames, 1dave, and 1 more like this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by titaniumkid on Mar 21, 2024 22:27:02 GMT -5 Thanks vegasjames I'm bookmarking this info.

Post by 1dave on Mar 21, 2024 9:58:24 GMT -5

Post by vegasjames on Mar 21, 2024 13:28:00 GMT -5

Post by titaniumkid on Mar 21, 2024 16:00:02 GMT -5

Post by vegasjames on Mar 21, 2024 21:36:22 GMT -5

Post by titaniumkid on Mar 21, 2024 22:27:02 GMT -5

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