Chrysocolla in something black that polishes shiny silver

Tommy Administrator Member since January 2013 Posts: 12,987	Chrysocolla in something black that polishes shiny silver Mar 20, 2017 16:39:38 GMT -5 via Tapatalk adrian65, captbob, and 9 more like this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Tommy on Mar 20, 2017 16:39:38 GMT -5 strange combination... I wish i had a bucketfull instead of a one-off slabette.
	Last Edit: Mar 20, 2017 21:50:29 GMT -5 by Tommy Support the RTH Store - buy stuff, suggest new products

gemfeller
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Chrysocolla in something black that polishes shiny silver Mar 20, 2017 17:04:13 GMT -5 Tommy and jeannie like this

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Post by gemfeller on Mar 20, 2017 17:04:13 GMT -5

That's lovely stuff Tommy. I don't blame you for wanting more. Somehow those copper-related minerals seem to show up in truly odd combinations. For example this piece, which appears to be either chrysocolla or turquoise filling in spaces in a very hard black breccia. It's pretty but a real challenge to cut because of the hardness difference.

darrad fully equipped rock polisher Member since September 2006 Posts: 1,636	Chrysocolla in something black that polishes shiny silver Mar 20, 2017 17:17:55 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by darrad on Mar 20, 2017 17:17:55 GMT -5 Very Nice! Black and blue is a classic combo.
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Chrysocolla in something black that polishes shiny silver Mar 20, 2017 18:00:19 GMT -5 via mobile geezer likes this

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Post by Deleted on Mar 20, 2017 18:00:19 GMT -5

Mar 20, 2017 16:39:38 GMT -5 Tommy said:

strange combination... I wish i had a bucketfull instead of a one-off slabette.

Covellite? CuS copper sulfide

Why did you choose hematite for the metallic portion?

Scratch test on porcelain?

Last Edit: Mar 20, 2017 18:01:26 GMT -5 by Deleted

captbob
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Chrysocolla in something black that polishes shiny silver Mar 20, 2017 18:07:09 GMT -5 rockpickerforever and jeannie like this

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Post by captbob on Mar 20, 2017 18:07:09 GMT -5

Mar 20, 2017 18:00:19 GMT -5 @shotgunner said:

Why did you choose hematite for the metallic portion?

Scratch test on porcelain?

JEAN !!!

rockpickerforever

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rockpickerforever In Memoriam RIP Jean Bradley, you are forever loved Member since July 2011 Posts: 12,069	Chrysocolla in something black that polishes shiny silver Mar 20, 2017 18:13:22 GMT -5 geezer, jeannie, and 1 more like this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by rockpickerforever on Mar 20, 2017 18:13:22 GMT -5 Ha ha! Yeah, he does it all the time, huh? LOL.
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Tommy
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Chrysocolla in something black that polishes shiny silver Mar 20, 2017 21:47:36 GMT -5 rockpickerforever, Garage Rocker, and 1 more like this

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Post by Tommy on Mar 20, 2017 21:47:36 GMT -5

Mar 20, 2017 18:00:19 GMT -5 @shotgunner said:

Covellite? CuS copper sulfide
Why did you choose hematite for the metallic portion?
Scratch test on porcelain?

It's a valid question ...

JEAN !!!

rockpickerforever please make up an answer for him and we'll go with it.

Last Edit: Mar 20, 2017 21:48:57 GMT -5 by Tommy

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Tommy Administrator Member since January 2013 Posts: 12,987	Chrysocolla in something black that polishes shiny silver Mar 20, 2017 21:56:34 GMT -5 momof2bs likes this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Tommy on Mar 20, 2017 21:56:34 GMT -5 I hope this doesn't break the internet...
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Deleted Deleted Member Member since January 1970 Posts: 0	Chrysocolla in something black that polishes shiny silver Mar 20, 2017 21:58:55 GMT -5 Tommy and jeannie like this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Deleted on Mar 20, 2017 21:58:55 GMT -5 That is some crazee shit!

Tommy
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Chrysocolla in something black that polishes shiny silver Mar 20, 2017 22:03:26 GMT -5

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Post by Tommy on Mar 20, 2017 22:03:26 GMT -5

Seriously though thank you Scott - when I started grinding on it and it turned everything black - having never heard of CuS I immediately stereotyped it as hematite.

Edit: I should have thought it through - hematite would not shine silver like that. It can shine but it's different.

Last Edit: Mar 20, 2017 22:04:19 GMT -5 by Tommy

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Deleted Deleted Member Member since January 1970 Posts: 0	Chrysocolla in something black that polishes shiny silver Mar 20, 2017 22:06:13 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Deleted on Mar 20, 2017 22:06:13 GMT -5 Hell it could be hematite, i wa just thinking a copper ore more likely.

bsky4463
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Chrysocolla in something black that polishes shiny silver Mar 20, 2017 22:36:54 GMT -5 Tommy and momof2bs like this

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Post by bsky4463 on Mar 20, 2017 22:36:54 GMT -5

I would strongly suggest not covellite....While I am not an expert on anything, I have a fair bit stashed away from Butte, MT and none of it resembles this. Regardless, an amazing cab and killer material. Cheers

Last Edit: Mar 20, 2017 22:39:09 GMT -5 by bsky4463

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metalsmith
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Chrysocolla in something black that polishes shiny silver Mar 21, 2017 1:16:24 GMT -5 Tommy likes this

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Post by metalsmith on Mar 21, 2017 1:16:24 GMT -5

So why would it grind silver and cab black? Does the polishing heat oxidise it? CuO is black; think to black firestain in Sterling Silver. CuS - IS Covellite and that is also black: link

Check out Images for Covellite Cabochon... I see similarities

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Erich spending too much on rocks Member since November 2015 Posts: 411	Chrysocolla in something black that polishes shiny silver Mar 21, 2017 6:36:39 GMT -5 Tommy likes this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Erich on Mar 21, 2017 6:36:39 GMT -5 Gee, thanks Tommy - you broke my internet!!!;-0 Seriously awesome cab!
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rockjunquie
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Chrysocolla in something black that polishes shiny silver Mar 21, 2017 10:23:44 GMT -5

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Post by rockjunquie on Mar 21, 2017 10:23:44 GMT -5

Broke my internet, too. Never did see it. However, I had a cab exactly like yours, years ago. It has since been wrapped and sold. Sold quick, too. I never did figure out what it was, but it was awesome. The metal was in a more paisley pattern, but it was the same way- black shiny metal and beautiful chrysocolla. Have you considered that it might be shattuckite?

I definitely vote no on covellite. Not remotely the same. The covellite is very dark indigo blue with a sheen.

Tommy
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Chrysocolla in something black that polishes shiny silver Mar 21, 2017 10:59:08 GMT -5

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Post by Tommy on Mar 21, 2017 10:59:08 GMT -5

Mar 21, 2017 10:23:44 GMT -5 rockjunquie said:

Have you considered that it might be shattuckite?

Thanks Tela

it's entirely possible based on one factor - the vendor I got this from sells a lot of shattuckite. The reason my mind didn't go there is I picked this from a scrap bin of small pieces of shattuckite and it stuck out like a sore thumb. None of the other pieces looked remotely close to it - or had the black metallic stuff.

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Tommy
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Chrysocolla in something black that polishes shiny silver Mar 21, 2017 11:04:16 GMT -5

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Post by Tommy on Mar 21, 2017 11:04:16 GMT -5

Luckily I have a small scrap piece left from this. If I do a streak test shattuckite should streak blue vs. chryso streaking white to light blue - according to www.minerals.net

Still haven't solved the black shiny stuff.

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rockjunquie Global Moderator Member since March 2012 Posts: 34,979	Chrysocolla in something black that polishes shiny silver Mar 21, 2017 11:10:28 GMT -5 Tommy likes this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by rockjunquie on Mar 21, 2017 11:10:28 GMT -5 I'm leaning on pyrite. I have some of that tiger tail. The pyrite photographs pitch black until the light hits it, then it's silvery metallic.

Tommy
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Chrysocolla in something black that polishes shiny silver Mar 21, 2017 12:06:09 GMT -5 rockjunquie, bsky4463, and 1 more like this

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Post by Tommy on Mar 21, 2017 12:06:09 GMT -5

OK I did some streaking around the house. Boy wasn't momma surprised (lol)

.

The blue/green streaks blue green ruling out Chrysocolla I believe.

The black streaks black with a green tinge...the green could be influenced by the blue/green influence but hematite is ruled out and pyrite is a strong possibility.

Are you proud of me @shotgunner?

Last Edit: Mar 21, 2017 12:07:22 GMT -5 by Tommy

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rockjunquie Global Moderator Member since March 2012 Posts: 34,979	Chrysocolla in something black that polishes shiny silver Mar 21, 2017 12:09:41 GMT -5 Tommy and jeannie like this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by rockjunquie on Mar 21, 2017 12:09:41 GMT -5 Mar 21, 2017 12:06:09 GMT -5 Tommy said: Are you proud of me @shotgunner ? I am. LOL!