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Post by broseph82 on Sept 15, 2014 9:15:14 GMT -5
Im guessing this is a citrine and some other green specimen. These were at the rock shop at the mine in Herkimer, NY. No label on it and no price tag either. I put my hand in the shot to show how big it was.   |
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Post by 150FromFundy on Sept 15, 2014 9:59:41 GMT -5
My guess is that those are specimens of honey calcite and green calcite. I've seen smaller versions of them at rock shows. Impressive just the same.
Darryl.
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spiritstone
Cave Dweller 
Member since August 2014
Posts: 2,061 
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Post by spiritstone on Sept 15, 2014 12:32:17 GMT -5
Nice large cabinet pieces. Cool.
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Post by rockpickerforever on Sept 15, 2014 12:38:00 GMT -5
Is honey calcite the same as honey onyx?
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Post by snowmom on Sept 15, 2014 16:45:03 GMT -5
beautiful stuff!
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Post by gingerkid on Sept 15, 2014 20:00:09 GMT -5
 Thanks for sharing pics with us of the specimens, broseph82!
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Post by 150FromFundy on Sept 16, 2014 16:53:48 GMT -5
Onyx or honey onxy is a banded form of chalcedony (quartz) so it should have a hardness of 7. Calcite has a hardness of only 3. I guess broseph82 will have to go back sometime and either scratch the specimen, or pour some hydrochloric acid on it.
Darryl.
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Fossilman
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Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,723
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Post by Fossilman on Sept 16, 2014 17:07:51 GMT -5
HOLY MOLY!!!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 16, 2014 19:24:37 GMT -5
The crystals do seem to have the "rhomb" character of calcite and not the hex pyramids of quartz.
Darryl, down here we call a similar colored layered limestone formation "honey onyx". Correctly or not, onyx is a term that gets used in many ways.
We call the yellow layered limestone "honey onyx" and you might call it "honey travertine".
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Post by vegasjames on Sept 17, 2014 1:58:50 GMT -5
I agree, definitely looks like calcites that have been treated with hydrochloric acid. This gives the calcite that waxy look from the thin layer of calcium chloride formed by the treatment. But it does bring out the colors.
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Post by 150FromFundy on Sept 17, 2014 10:43:34 GMT -5
vegasjames:
I have a few pieces of similar honey, green, and blue calcite from Rock Shows that have that glossy/slippery feel. Until I read your post, I assumed that they had been coated with something. What can you tell us about cleaning with hydrochloric acid? I have a few pieces of bruised and scratched calcite crystals that may benefit from this.
Darryl.
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Post by vegasjames on Sept 17, 2014 16:47:57 GMT -5
vegasjames: I have a few pieces of similar honey, green, and blue calcite from Rock Shows that have that glossy/slippery feel. Until I read your post, I assumed that they had been coated with something. What can you tell us about cleaning with hydrochloric acid? I have a few pieces of bruised and scratched calcite crystals that may benefit from this. Darryl. Yes, I usually dilute the acid quite a a bit since I use a concentrated acid to begin with. Diluting the water also slows the reaction so you don't over-eat the rock. Pull it out frequently and check it again so you do not overdo it. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 18, 2014 23:52:40 GMT -5
the nice thing is, if you mixed your surface treatment too strong, you still have more rock and can start over. Just mixed it less strong and give it a new go.
If you went too weak, then add little more until you get it right, or the boulder is fizzed away.
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Thanks for sharing pics with us of the specimens, 
