unclem
starting to spend too much on rocks
Me
Member since August 2012
Posts: 119
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Post by unclem on Aug 14, 2012 21:12:45 GMT -5
Found this many years ago. I have asked a many a rock hounder. I have received as many a answer. I guess I will put it to this group and see how many new directions I get pointed in. ;D It looks like a dark Olive green surface, I found it in river bottom so it has been river rolled, and is smooth. At first the inclusions seemed to be crystals. But I cut a chunk off and under a 10X loupe they appear to be metallic. Cut the outline into a paper plate and backlit it. well thats it? whatcha think?
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Aug 14, 2012 21:36:18 GMT -5
The fourth photo looks like nephrite with extra inclusions that Mel sent to me. I think he said it came from Washington. The inclusions in mine are small and do not look like metal. Have you done an sg test? I find a lot of stone here that looks pretty similar on the outside but it is not translucent. There are so many nephrite wanna bees out there that it is hard to tell without doing some tests. The only tests that I am capable of doing is sg and hardness so if mine hits on those two I have nephrite and I am sticking to it. Jim
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Post by Pat on Aug 14, 2012 21:55:08 GMT -5
Can't help here, but backlit with inclusions is outstanding.
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,487
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Post by Sabre52 on Aug 14, 2012 22:31:06 GMT -5
When we hunted jade out in California, both jade and serpentine occurred at the same location. We separated the two with a scratch test with a common nail. The nail will scratch serpentine but not the jade. Also if you strike the rock with a hammer, jade will usually ring like a bell while serpentine sort of has a duller thump. There are however several mixed rocks in that amphibole group that intergrade so to me the situation has always seem rather complex. If it's real hard, real tough and has a fibrous almost leafy break, it certainly might be jade with those colors and that translucency....Mel
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itsandbits
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2012
Posts: 825
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Post by itsandbits on Aug 14, 2012 23:11:44 GMT -5
the inclusions are probably chromium and a lot softer than the rest of it, the scratch and SG will give you a good idea; wish you'd said what they were. the colour and translucency is good for jade or one of its neighbours.
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carloscinco
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2008
Posts: 1,639
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Post by carloscinco on Aug 15, 2012 5:21:02 GMT -5
Pretty neat looking material.
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unclem
starting to spend too much on rocks
Me
Member since August 2012
Posts: 119
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Post by unclem on Aug 15, 2012 8:20:02 GMT -5
I do not have the education to perform a SG test. Ok so hit it with a hammer and see if it has a bell like tone. scratch with a common nail to test for harness. Break it and see if it has a fibrous fracture. I think you fellers are giving me too much credit here. LOL But I do aspire to be a card carrying jade finder. I have a few more maybe's around here I can play with today
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Aug 15, 2012 15:22:25 GMT -5
I do not have the education to perform a SG test. actually, you do. Have a look at this thread. Wampidy/Jim did a terrific writeup just for you! forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/index.cgi?board=rocksidlib&action=display&thread=53154All you need is a calculator, a rock, some string, some water and a gram scale. actually both serpentine and jade have a fibrous fracture. A Hackley break is how that is described. Serpentine fibers will be large and jade fibers will be fine. Good luck. Be sure to get the specific gravity test down. It is really simple and Jim did a terrific job!
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Post by Pat on Aug 15, 2012 15:24:27 GMT -5
Better mention that fibers in serpentine are probably asbestos.
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Post by johnjsgems on Aug 15, 2012 17:03:08 GMT -5
Pocket knife scratch test is what I use.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Aug 15, 2012 20:18:38 GMT -5
If you do not have the scale to do the SG test you can send a small piece to me and I will test it. Anything cab size up to half a fist size will work on my scale. I have a stone sitting on a shelf here that really looks like the first two photos but mine is not translucent at all. I'll make you a trade. Send a small piece of that and I will send you a hunk of Wyoming nephrite so you will have a variety. PM me if you are interested. Jim Jim
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Aug 16, 2012 0:39:57 GMT -5
Asbestosis is only an issue with long term exposure to machined dry asbestosis fibers. Serpentine in an of itself even if broken, and specially if cut wet in a lapidary environment is not dangerous.
Asbestos is a key buzzword amongst the politically correct. I thought I was outside of that world here.
It is the long term breathing of the airborne dust of dry cut asbestos fibers that is the issue. The danger is in the dose and in this case the method too. Otherwise asbestos is a rock with no more danger than any other.
Of course, we should not be making spheres of uranite in our homes. lol
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Post by tandl on Aug 23, 2012 18:56:16 GMT -5
Very cool, havent seen any quite like that!
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