|
Post by mohs on Oct 11, 2021 10:37:18 GMT -5
Need help identifying this mineralized rock mineralized because I think main black part is an ore Found on desert surface ridge. in the Chandler Heights South Mountain region The massive outcrop seems to be localized to this one specific area The black part is a dullish metallic shine. w/ a bluish tinge in certain places. Sort of like what you would see in chalcopyryte or bornite Although I don’t want to over play that characteristic Very dense. Very hard. Swiss knife scratch test just skates across it The amazing thing is turn it over and it as the really cool reddish orange rust color. A definitive tough surface painting. That what it seem like And every rock is like that. Abundant shards of inch thick (or more) hard black rock. Turn it over a tough coating of reddish/ orange I’ll stop now,,, Any Suggestion? Ideas? Question ? Thank, Ed
|
|
|
Post by amygdule on Oct 11, 2021 13:05:07 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by fernwood on Oct 11, 2021 14:18:38 GMT -5
Cool rock for sure. is the black part metalic?
|
|
|
Post by mohs on Oct 11, 2021 14:25:57 GMT -5
Cool rock for sure. is the black part metalic? good question Beth I assume it to be mineralized ore it texture seem metallic but that is an assumption and none of them have ever worked out well for me ha I haven't done any research yet but it may also be a hornblende strike that idea hope all's well
|
|
|
Post by fernwood on Oct 11, 2021 14:43:09 GMT -5
I think it would be Mohstly to your advantage to carry a small magnet when you are wandering in the AZ wilderness. if you want a small (1") one that is pretty powerful let me know and I will mail it to you. I have tons of these. They were part of older (pre 1970) electric transformers.
|
|
|
Post by mohs on Oct 11, 2021 14:47:30 GMT -5
Right on Pal Manganese was my first idea After narrowing down some other ore choices did go the State report on Manganese really like those reports So I went Steven Reynolds repository.azgs.az.gov/sites/default/files/dlio/files/nid1655/bulletin_195south_mountains_1985.pdfGeology of South Mountain That man as been all over that Range (and the State in general ) geologically inspecting He certainly would seen this out crop and would have mention manganese South Mountain as had considerable amount of mining activity in the past as the end of the report details. Silver Copper Gold I plan on visit that that Max Delta Mine if at all possible….
|
|
|
Post by mohs on Oct 11, 2021 14:54:39 GMT -5
assumed that reddish/orange to be some sort oxidization? Rust. Butte it is a hard thin shield on the rock
Anomaly.
I would think oxidation would be easily scraped and broken into fine particles ?
Not so with this rock. It hard thin shield Like its plated on ….
|
|
|
Post by mohs on Oct 11, 2021 16:38:56 GMT -5
I think it would be Mohstly to your advantage to carry a small magnet when you are wandering in the AZ wilderness. if you want a small (1") one that is pretty powerful let me know and I will mail it to you. I have tons of these. They were part of older (pre 1970) electric transformers. Fab Beth ! I did hold a strong magnet up to this anomaly & didn't detect any attraction Need to attach a magnet to walking stick May attract a meteorite
|
|
|
Post by mohs on Oct 11, 2021 20:38:38 GMT -5
I just escalated this to the ASU Geology Dept
Well I sent an e-mail inquiring how I can submit a picture ect... for an opinion of identification
should be easy...
|
|
|
Post by mohs on Oct 25, 2021 9:18:02 GMT -5
Come up with working hypothesis on what type this rock may be mafic magma tuff that stuff is known to cover huge huge areas deeply. That would account for the abundance of this type of rock What I still don’t have a hypothesis on Is what accounts for the orange-ish red side And how that forms? Anyone else with ideas?
|
|
|
Post by mohs on Oct 27, 2021 10:05:22 GMT -5
Not sure what I'm thinking certainly confused this simple study ha ha Took a long hike up Lost Dog Wash & broke this block of rock w/ my crow bar Believe this to be the same sort of rock composition As the two sided black/orange rock above Huge huge massive amounts of this type of rock everywhere Fairly positive it some sort of oxided metamorphosed mafic magma It also the type of rock that lend it self to imprint of petroglyphs That wallet side size slab now is amongst my prized processions I call this scoria peak Lots of cinders from some past event walk on !
|
|
|
Post by mohs on Oct 29, 2021 15:36:08 GMT -5
Wow this is a really fabulous guy! Just received a quick response, and informed reply from ASU. The man really zeroed on my main concern Desert Oxidation Counterintuitive that the oxidizing occurs face down in the dirt. That had me wondering. Cause you have to turn over those surface rocks To expose the oxidize side. I’ll have to go back to the drawing board on my mafic magma theory My next task is to peck out a petroglyph –RTHa- in the desert varnish. Wrote a very big thank you note back Perhaps someday I’ll craft rock’n heart for the ASU Geology Dept
|
|
|
Post by mohs on Oct 29, 2021 15:45:40 GMT -5
this picture demonstrates buutifully the Man thoughts I cracked that rock the rectangular void shows the oxidation the desert varnish up new theory the cracks and the underneathness for oxidation makes sense in the arid Sonoran desert that where the water gets in as time to rest causing eons of rusting any water on top quickly evaporates
|
|
pizzano
Cave Dweller
Member since February 2018
Posts: 1,390
|
Post by pizzano on Oct 29, 2021 17:02:59 GMT -5
Wow this is a really fabulous guy! Just received a quick response, and informed reply from ASU. The man really zeroed on my main concern Desert Oxidation Counterintuitive that the oxidizing occurs face down in the dirt. That had me wondering. Cause you have to turn over those surface rocks To expose the oxidize side. I’ll have to go back to the drawing board on my mafic magma theory My next task is to peck out a petroglyph –RTHa- in the desert varnish. Wrote a very big thank you note back Perhaps someday I’ll craft rock’n heart for the ASU Geology Dept I'm glad you got a response.......the Geo dept's (CSUSB and UCR) I sent pictures of specimens, from a Utah collection, awhile back, would only suggest I bring the stones into their labs for review. The one professor from CSUSB was kind enough to make a few educated guesses based on my explanations of location, depth of trench, and pictures of surrounding material, but made it clear that photo ID's were not preferred.......Even after I actually visited the campus with rocks in hand, no one would take the time to analyze......they were to busy with mid-terms......lol.....never went back and finally had my buddy's wife (who is a retired Geotech), identify them with her tools......should have thought of that first....lol At least you got pointed in an educated direction.......helped fill in a few blanks......eliminate a few maybe's and raise a few more possibilities....
|
|
|
Post by mohs on Oct 29, 2021 17:31:00 GMT -5
Right on Joe Sorry about that sour experience I pretty much expected the same and it did take a little extra effort. In general I think they are resistant Anyway I was real up front in the e-mail that the rock wasn’t anything extraordinary and was just looking for informed geological opinion. Thrilled to even have gotten a reply to my first e-mail asking for contact info. Double thrilled because I got a quick and informed reply I mean.... i really learned something the dense head, I am Back to kicking rocks
|
|
pizzano
Cave Dweller
Member since February 2018
Posts: 1,390
|
Post by pizzano on Oct 30, 2021 14:05:55 GMT -5
Right on Joe Sorry about that sour experience I pretty much expected the same and it did take a little extra effort. In general I think they are resistant Anyway I was real up front in the e-mail that the rock wasn’t anything extraordinary and was just looking for informed geological opinion. Thrilled to even have gotten a reply to my first e-mail asking for contact info. Double thrilled because I got a quick and informed reply I mean.... i really learned something the dense head, I am Back to kicking rocks Yor not that dense......lol......just rock solid MOHS.... From what I know of the Geologist who teach at the major universities in Arizona, they all are worthy of their knowledge. Most, if not all have extensive field experience and work side by side with most of their buddy archaeologist's........something the fluffy Geo's and Archi's out here seldom do unless both are working on the same thesis and, by chance, looking for the same pay day........lol As you are aware, I've required Geotech (contracted) services from a number of local firms who are owned by licensed Geologists.......the stories they tell related to "cooperation & assistance" are childish and foolhardy to say the least............boiled down, they all have no more or no less knowledge, in most cases, than the manuscripts they all studied and absorbed prepping for their license exams, to begin with....at least in this State.......lol......tit-for-tat......!
|
|
|
Post by mohs on Oct 31, 2021 17:12:08 GMT -5
Hey Joe
Interesting.
always a big risk asking for advice/help
So I was real pleased to have a pleasant experience
I’m trying a new project... below
|
|
|
Post by mohs on Oct 31, 2021 17:22:57 GMT -5
trying to peck a hallow-herkimer face into my slab I cracked off the above rock can tell you this.... those ancients had lots of patience & knew their rock I’m using a cold chisel & pecking slow. Rock is hard and dense Must be compacted quartzite Plus being careful because I don’t want to crack my prized slab Wish I had thought of this project sooner I’d go out and get another desert varnish rock Butte it Halloween traffic and bright sunny Get piece of that bright orange w/ the black underneath Make a good stone face
|
|
|
Post by RickB on Oct 31, 2021 17:31:33 GMT -5
mohs - a chip off the ole butte is now a petroglyph in the making
|
|
|
Post by mohs on Oct 31, 2021 17:33:48 GMT -5
mohs - a chip off the ole butte is now a petroglyph in the making well stated indeed rickb
|
|