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Post by cookie3rocks on Sept 26, 2008 17:49:03 GMT -5
Hi all. I found a bag in the basement marked "Black Ore" and I have no idea what it is.I tried to take a pic but my camera died. It's black (duh) with sparklies in it. Quite the proffessional identification, isn't it? I believe someone gave it to me years ago when I first started tumbling, there are some pieces partialy tumbled that due to my inexperience I never finished. What's the MOHs for it? Is it junk or worth messing with? Thanks! cookie
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Post by Jack, lapidaryrough on Sept 26, 2008 18:17:25 GMT -5
The MOH-Scale for Silica carbine is 9.0, for tumbling grit.
Though most tumbling grit is steel blue to Grey in color.
Black Ore, Black Sand ?.........
Try panning a hand full of the material to see what else is in the Ore / sand.
Most gold pannier wel save time in the field and bring home there sand to pan it out in warm water and a dry place in the garage.
now i speak for the group in Oregon as it is a plus to keep moving material and fell a bucket up. As for your area i know there is gold Though what you have could be any think from iron, garnets, Titanium sand so on a huge list could form over this UN-know bag.
I`m Sure their are more people in your area on this tread to help you out more then the west.
Jack C.
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Post by cookie3rocks on Sept 26, 2008 18:26:14 GMT -5
Thanks, but I left out one important part. It's solid rock. Chunks of it.
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Post by Jack, lapidaryrough on Sept 26, 2008 18:42:45 GMT -5
Well then, get agate with a broken point and scratch it, to see if it is a 7.0 - 7.2
Our less. A pocket knife well work for 5.0 - 6.5 and how deep the scratch is.
Do`s the material have a plane of cleavage on one or more planes?
when hit with a hammer do`s it chip easy, or do you have to strike it hard to break a piece off.
Jack
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Post by cookie3rocks on Sept 26, 2008 19:09:06 GMT -5
This is some tough stuff. I just gave it several good whacks with a crack hammer and couldn't get it to break. The pieces I have are cleaved off very squarely. The "sparkliies" run in horizontal lines.
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Post by Jack, lapidaryrough on Sept 26, 2008 19:48:54 GMT -5
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taconite I`m sure this is`t it, though it was my first guess. I guess their could me iron ore in your area though this material is from the great lake region. Jack C.
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Post by cookie3rocks on Sept 26, 2008 20:45:41 GMT -5
OK, here's a (bad) pic from my phone Hope that helps. Very heavy, hard stuff. Thanks!
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Post by cookie3rocks on Sept 26, 2008 20:48:52 GMT -5
OK, here's a (bad) pic from my phone
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rollingstone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2009
Posts: 236
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Post by rollingstone on Sept 27, 2008 2:36:09 GMT -5
That one's a bit of a mystery for certain. Any chance it is obsidian? I'm thinking maybe something like silver sheen, which would match with sparklies in a line? Easy to tell of course, bust off a corner and see if the fresh surface looks glassy. Otherwise, I have no clue. -Don
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Post by Jack, lapidaryrough on Sept 27, 2008 5:58:57 GMT -5
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Post by cookie3rocks on Sept 27, 2008 8:43:27 GMT -5
By Jove I think he's got it! I could only make the second link work, but yep, that's it. Is it usable, anybody ever tumble this stuff? Thanks Jack, the mystery is solved.
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Post by Jack, lapidaryrough on Sept 27, 2008 9:33:47 GMT -5
For heath reason may be better to trim saw and face polish the material.
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Roan
has rocks in the head
Member since January 2008
Posts: 600
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Post by Roan on Sept 28, 2008 22:29:43 GMT -5
If you have a long link like that you can use TinyURL to make it clickable. Go to tinyurl.com and paste the long link. Copy the new link. Your second link redone at Tiny URL is: tinyurl.com/5yr8blEileen
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MidNight~Rocksi3
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2008
Posts: 1,716
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Post by MidNight~Rocksi3 on Sept 28, 2008 22:45:50 GMT -5
I dunno but looks pretty cool.. Do whatchya gotta do to get it all prettied up and make sure to post more pics of how it turns out.. bad pics or not.. i'm wondering how it will look once it's all fancyfied ! ...
*smiles*
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