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Post by gaetzchamp on Feb 6, 2005 14:07:21 GMT -5
Found this really cool hunk of "glass". For scale, it's about the size of 2 golf balls. It's got a grayish/brownish color, but when held up to the light, it's really pretty orange. Hope you Rockheads have a good answer for me. Natural State:  Some Lighting to show translucancy:   Oh, I was only able to find the one piece. Can't wait to get back up there to find some more. I don't know how it'll tumble, it's literally filled w/ fractures. What do you recommend I do w/ one filled w/ fractures? Do you break 'em up into small chunks or roll the whole ball of wax? I hope I can find some more to make a whole load. We'll see. Gaetz |
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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 Feb 6, 2005 14:28:03 GMT -5
My best guess is that it is carnelian.
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Post by krazydiamond on Feb 6, 2005 18:11:46 GMT -5
yep, or some kind of agate, for sure. nice find, Gaetz. i'm sure not familar with what Utah has as local rock. do you have a rock shop anywhere near you?
personally, i'd try and cut a few slabs and then bust the rest up in hopes of getting a few useable stones without fractures, but i don't know what your end use is.
lucky Utah dog,
KD
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Post by Tweetiepy on Feb 6, 2005 18:28:51 GMT -5
I found this picture while looking for stones It looks like this picture of Orange Calcite  |
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Post by cookie3rocks on Feb 6, 2005 21:04:38 GMT -5
Gracious I wish I had such things localy. If you can slab it, do so. If not, break it gently, so it follows the fracture lines.
cookie
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Post by gaetzchamp on Feb 6, 2005 23:05:22 GMT -5
Don't have anything to cut slabs with and I'm not too concerned w/ my end usage. Just to look at and keep the kids interested in a hobby. I will visit the local rock shop before busting it up. Cookie- How the freak to you bust it up carefully?  The pict of the calcite looked pretty similar to my rock, thanks for sharing it and all your input. If I can find some more, I'll offer them up for a trade so you pros can cut it up. Later, Gaeter |
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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 Feb 6, 2005 23:14:03 GMT -5
Calcite is only 3 on the Mohs hardness scale, so if your stone can be scratched by a piece of glass (mohs 5.5 or a steel file (mohs 6) then it may well be calcite. Something that soft would be hard to polish. Carnelian is a kind of quartz (mohs 7), so the glass or steel would not scratch it. Carnelian takes a nice polish.
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Post by gaetzchamp on Feb 6, 2005 23:55:44 GMT -5
Well, I took a piece of Quartz and tried like crazy to scratch the surface of it to no avail. I also tried busting the "hiney" off it as it's kinda not too "glassy"; more "rocklike". It's hard, very hard. I couldn't even get it to bust. Wasn't trying too hard either because I didn't want to "damage" it too severly before I got some opinions.
Could it be some type of quartz???
Later, Gaeter
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Post by Cher on Feb 7, 2005 0:22:34 GMT -5
I was thinking some kind of quartz but then what do I know. ;D Whatever it is .... it's very nice and I'll bet it will take a super polish.
Cher
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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 Feb 7, 2005 1:35:36 GMT -5
Gaetz, if you can't scratch it with quartz, then it is definitely not calcite. I'm sticking with my original guess of carnelian.
Carnelian is a type of quartz. It is a form of fibrous microcystalline quartz known as chalcedony. Agate is also a form of chalcedony. Sometimes you see stones described as carnelian agates (usually when they are orange coloured and banded). Carnelian is transluscent and ranges from orange to reddish-orange in colour. If you are finding carnelian nuggets, count yourself fortunate.
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69beeper
spending too much on rocks
Member since August 2004
Posts: 377
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Post by 69beeper on Feb 7, 2005 1:39:19 GMT -5
I think that's possibly a type of quartz also. Found some stuff that looks like that in a quartz heavy pit. For my own reference, I call it "Rusty Quartz". It's hard and polishes real nice. I have a few pieces, but only tumbled one small piece to see how it would turn out.  If I can find the other pieces, I'll post some pics for comparison. Whatever it is, nice score!  Jimmy |
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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 Feb 7, 2005 1:47:59 GMT -5
Beeper, carnelian gets its colour from iron oxide impurities in the quartz, so calling it "rusty quartz" is really quite accurate!
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Post by creativeminded on Feb 7, 2005 10:14:06 GMT -5
I have no idea what it is. As for the tumbling my rose quartz and aventurine usually have alot of fractures in it and, it tumbles very nicely. Raw Rose Quartz  Tumbled Rose Quartz  Tami |
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stefan
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Feb 7, 2005 10:58:03 GMT -5
I first thought it was calcite- Looks just like a hunk I have- But If you can't scratch it with quartz- well then it is something hard- As far as breaking it- Try a rock chisel and a hammer- place the chisel on a fracture line and start tapping- begin lightly then progressivily hit harder- Oh and wear gloves and eye protection- And remeber when quartz fractures it is often very sharp! (want to see the scars?) Usually quartz will break on stress fractures- and if you are careful- you shouls have some good tumbling chunks!
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Post by gaetzchamp on Feb 7, 2005 11:17:34 GMT -5
So Beeper-
Is that the hunk at 9 o'clock??? It looks like it!!!
Cool.
thank you everyone for your help.
Gaetz
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69beeper
spending too much on rocks
Member since August 2004
Posts: 377
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Post by 69beeper on Feb 7, 2005 11:33:08 GMT -5
...yep, that's it. The piece of quartz next to it has some of the same orange/red coloring to it also.
Jimmy
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