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Post by jasoninsd on Dec 17, 2021 1:48:25 GMT -5
So, this is probably one of the coolest cabs I've ever done! I received a box of rocks from my good friend stewdogg (Jesse). In the box was a bag labeled they were from an "old-timers" collection. Pawing my way through the bag, I immediately recognized there was a chunk of Dino Bone. Well, I have quite a few pieces of Dino Bone, so I wasn't thinking I was going to work this anytime soon...but something in my gut told me to go ahead and work this piece. There was NO indication from the slabette there was any (EDITED: Hematite, Pyrite, or Marcasite - yet to be determined) in the bone. Well, after I cabbed this, I sent pictures to Jesse and he told me he still has a chunk of this...so I don't feel "as" guilty that he sent me this unbelievable specimen. I've searched the internet and couldn't find anything like thus piece. I also asked several members through PM if they'd seen anything like it and no one has. I'm still in awe when I look at this piece. knave - This is the best polish I could get on this piece. I took it to 3000 and tried to use cerium for polish, but it mucked it up. I tried twice, but each time all it did was smudge the surface. There is no undercutting (or cellular raise) like in most Dino Bone pieces... It's a son of a gun to try to get good pics...but here it is. Thanks for taking a gander!         |
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NDK
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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Post by NDK on Dec 17, 2021 8:25:37 GMT -5
That is a very interesting and amazing cab Jason. Definitely worth if it's own thread! I'm certainly nowhere near expert on any IDing, in fact Ali is much more savvy at it than me, but hematite bone is a new one to me too. Closest I've seen is pyrite replaced dino bone in a display at the International Agate Expo put on by The Gem Shop back in 2016. I dug through and actually found 2 pics I took. (They're not very good because they were taken through the glass display case but show the specimen well enough).   |
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Post by rockjunquie on Dec 17, 2021 8:50:47 GMT -5
THAT is spectacular! I have seen some pyrite in bone, but not as much.
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Dec 17, 2021 8:51:50 GMT -5
Your pics look great, Jason, especially the 3rd one. It's an amazing cab. I just a very quick search and pulled this out of a Wiki entry:
Gembone, also known as gem bone, agatized dinosaur bone, or dinogem, is mineralized bone, often dinosaur bone, which occurs when minerals from groundwater are deposited within the bones.[1] It is one of five gemstones created from organisms (the others being pearl, ammolite, amber and jet).[2] Many minerals can be found in gembone including agate, hematite, iron, pyrite, jasper, marcasite, quartz or other crystal. Aside from their use in jewelry, scientists can use this type of specimen to perform research into the anatomic structure of ancient species.[3]
So it does happen, but I'm guessing it's way more rare than agate filled bone. I have looked at a lot of gembone over the years, but I've never seen one like this.
It's stunning!
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Post by rockjunquie on Dec 17, 2021 9:03:51 GMT -5
jasoninsd , I meant to say Hematite. I had one bone cab that had hematite cell walls. I had no indication before hand. I don't know if I even have any more. You can't tell by looking at it- only after it is cabbed.
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Post by jasoninsd on Dec 17, 2021 9:09:19 GMT -5
That is a very interesting and amazing cab Jason. Definitely worth if it's own thread! I'm certainly nowhere near expert on any IDing, in fact Ali is much more savvy at it than me, but hematite bone is a new one to me too. Closest I've seen is pyrite replaced dino bone in a display at the International Agate Expo put on by The Gem Shop back in 2016. I dug through and actually found 2 pics I took. (They're not very good because they were taken through the glass display case but show the specimen well enough). Thanks Nate! Ummm...I'm one of the worst for IDing! LOL Those vertebrae pics are amazing. So, are you thinking this is Pyrite, rather than Hematite? I can't ever keep either one straight and more often than not confuse what is what.... THAT is spectacular! I have seen some pyrite in bone, but not as much. Thanks Tela! So, I'm picking up that everyone might be thinking this is Pyrite rather than Hematite? I don't know how to tell the difference...I know it's a metal. LOL Your pics look great, Jason, especially the 3rd one. It's an amazing cab. I just a very quick search and pulled this out of a Wiki entry:
Gembone, also known as gem bone, agatized dinosaur bone, or dinogem, is mineralized bone, often dinosaur bone, which occurs when minerals from groundwater are deposited within the bones.[1] It is one of five gemstones created from organisms (the others being pearl, ammolite, amber and jet).[2] Many minerals can be found in gembone including agate, hematite, iron, pyrite, jasper, marcasite, quartz or other crystal. Aside from their use in jewelry, scientists can use this type of specimen to perform research into the anatomic structure of ancient species.[3]
So it does happen, but I'm guessing it's way more rare than agate filled bone. I have looked at a lot of gembone over the years, but I've never seen one like this.
It's stunning!
Thanks Robin! Yeah, that third one is definitely the best picture. I took the macro shots with my loupe over the phone camera lens. It worked! LOL So, I didn't see Hematite listed there...but Pyrite is...Do you think this is Pyrite rather than Hematite? |
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Post by rockjunquie on Dec 17, 2021 9:11:43 GMT -5
I think hematite is more black and shiny and yours is gun metal goldish like pyrite. But, I get confused, too, so maybe I'm wrong.
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Post by jasoninsd on Dec 17, 2021 9:11:44 GMT -5
jasoninsd , I meant to say Hematite. I had one bone cab that had hematite cell walls. I had no indication before hand. I don't know if I even have any more. You can't tell by looking at it- only after it is cabbed. If it's the one I'm thinking of, that piece had the Hematite cell walls and bright red interior cells. It was absolutely stunning! I'm getting more confused about the Pyrite/Hematite identification...maybe I need a couple more cups of coffee this morning. LOL |
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Post by rockjunquie on Dec 17, 2021 9:12:46 GMT -5
jasoninsd , I meant to say Hematite. I had one bone cab that had hematite cell walls. I had no indication before hand. I don't know if I even have any more. You can't tell by looking at it- only after it is cabbed. If it's the one I'm thinking of, that piece had the Hematite cell walls and bright red interior cells. It was absolutely stunning! I'm getting more confused about the Pyrite/Hematite identification...maybe I need a couple more cups of coffee this morning. LOL Yes! That's the one. I went looking for a picture and couldn't find it. |
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Post by jasoninsd on Dec 17, 2021 9:15:23 GMT -5
I think hematite is more black and shiny and yours is gun metal goldish like pyrite. But, I get confused, too, so maybe I'm wrong. I had to give this a second...we kept typing at the same time! LOL I did a Google search for Hematite Cabochons and Pyrite Cabochons...and I can see what you're saying about the difference. I think you (and it seems everyone else LOL) might be right on the Pyrite identification...maybe? |
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Post by rockjunquie on Dec 17, 2021 9:16:36 GMT -5
I think hematite is more black and shiny and yours is gun metal goldish like pyrite. But, I get confused, too, so maybe I'm wrong. I had to give this a second...we kept typing at the same time! LOL I did a Google search for Hematite Cabochons and Pyrite Cabochons...and I can see what you're saying about the difference. I think you (and it seems everyone else LOL) might be right on the Pyrite identification...maybe? I'm going to say pyrite given the color. A really nice find no matter which. |
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Post by jasoninsd on Dec 17, 2021 9:25:59 GMT -5
I had to give this a second...we kept typing at the same time! LOL I did a Google search for Hematite Cabochons and Pyrite Cabochons...and I can see what you're saying about the difference. I think you (and it seems everyone else LOL) might be right on the Pyrite identification...maybe? I'm going to say pyrite given the color. A really nice find no matter which. I'm going with the masses on this one. I don't think it's like when the masses all thought the world was flat...so I'm just trusting y'all with WAY more experience than me on this one! LOL I changed the title and edited the original post. Now I'm even more excited! Pyrite is WAY cooler than Hematite! (Maybe not...maybe it's just the coffee kicking in this morning! LOL) |
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Dec 17, 2021 9:27:34 GMT -5
That is a very interesting and amazing cab Jason. Definitely worth if it's own thread! I'm certainly nowhere near expert on any IDing, in fact Ali is much more savvy at it than me, but hematite bone is a new one to me too. Closest I've seen is pyrite replaced dino bone in a display at the International Agate Expo put on by The Gem Shop back in 2016. I dug through and actually found 2 pics I took. (They're not very good because they were taken through the glass display case but show the specimen well enough). Thanks Nate! Ummm...I'm one of the worst for IDing! LOL Those vertebrae pics are amazing. So, are you thinking this is Pyrite, rather than Hematite? I can't ever keep either one straight and more often than not confuse what is what.... THAT is spectacular! I have seen some pyrite in bone, but not as much. Thanks Tela! So, I'm picking up that everyone might be thinking this is Pyrite rather than Hematite? I don't know how to tell the difference...I know it's a metal. LOL Your pics look great, Jason, especially the 3rd one. It's an amazing cab. I just a very quick search and pulled this out of a Wiki entry:
Gembone, also known as gem bone, agatized dinosaur bone, or dinogem, is mineralized bone, often dinosaur bone, which occurs when minerals from groundwater are deposited within the bones.[1] It is one of five gemstones created from organisms (the others being pearl, ammolite, amber and jet).[2] Many minerals can be found in gembone including agate, hematite, iron, pyrite, jasper, marcasite, quartz or other crystal. Aside from their use in jewelry, scientists can use this type of specimen to perform research into the anatomic structure of ancient species.[3]
So it does happen, but I'm guessing it's way more rare than agate filled bone. I have looked at a lot of gembone over the years, but I've never seen one like this.
It's stunning!
Thanks Robin! Yeah, that third one is definitely the best picture. I took the macro shots with my loupe over the phone camera lens. It worked! LOL So, I didn't see Hematite listed there...but Pyrite is...Do you think this is Pyrite rather than Hematite? The second mineral listed on that Wiki blurb was hematite: Many minerals can be found in gembone including agate, hematite, iron, pyrite, jasper, marcasite, quartz or other crystal. 
Pyrite is often called fool's gold. It is more of a gold color. Yours is more silver, so I'm going with hematite (or it could be marcasite as stated in the list above). I have no idea how differentiate between marcasite and hematite. Maybe someone knows a test that would be able to tell the difference.
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Post by rockjunquie on Dec 17, 2021 9:33:30 GMT -5
Uh, oh. Just when he thought he had it..... LOL!!!
I'm still going with pyrite. To me it isn't dark enough for hematite. But, hey, I'm not all the great with the metals.
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Post by jasoninsd on Dec 17, 2021 9:43:29 GMT -5
Thanks Nate! Ummm...I'm one of the worst for IDing! LOL Those vertebrae pics are amazing. So, are you thinking this is Pyrite, rather than Hematite? I can't ever keep either one straight and more often than not confuse what is what.... Thanks Tela! So, I'm picking up that everyone might be thinking this is Pyrite rather than Hematite? I don't know how to tell the difference...I know it's a metal. LOL Thanks Robin! Yeah, that third one is definitely the best picture. I took the macro shots with my loupe over the phone camera lens. It worked! LOL So, I didn't see Hematite listed there...but Pyrite is...Do you think this is Pyrite rather than Hematite? The second mineral listed on that Wiki blurb was hematite: Many minerals can be found in gembone including agate, hematite, iron, pyrite, jasper, marcasite, quartz or other crystal.
Pyrite is often called fool's gold. It is more of a gold color. Yours is more silver, so I'm going with hematite (or it could be marcasite as stated in the list above). I have no idea how differentiate between marcasite and hematite. Maybe someone knows a test that would be able to tell the difference.
Awww....crap! LOL I need more coffee AND my reading glasses this morning! LOL Yep, it was in the list there the whole time! LOL Uh, oh. Just when he thought he had it..... LOL!!!
I'm still going with pyrite. To me it isn't dark enough for hematite. But, hey, I'm not all the great with the metals.
I just edited the title again! LOL I think I need to go get a French Vanilla Latte with a triple shot of Espresso!  |
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Post by knave on Dec 17, 2021 9:44:56 GMT -5
What color was the water (streak)
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Post by rockjunquie on Dec 17, 2021 9:48:03 GMT -5
Hematite is distinctively red.
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Dec 17, 2021 9:48:14 GMT -5
The second mineral listed on that Wiki blurb was hematite: Many minerals can be found in gembone including agate, hematite, iron, pyrite, jasper, marcasite, quartz or other crystal.
Pyrite is often called fool's gold. It is more of a gold color. Yours is more silver, so I'm going with hematite (or it could be marcasite as stated in the list above). I have no idea how differentiate between marcasite and hematite. Maybe someone knows a test that would be able to tell the difference.
Awww....crap! LOL I need more coffee AND my reading glasses this morning! LOL Yep, it was in the list there the whole time! LOL Uh, oh. Just when he thought he had it..... LOL!!!
I'm still going with pyrite. To me it isn't dark enough for hematite. But, hey, I'm not all the great with the metals.
I just edited the title again! LOL I think I need to go get a French Vanilla Latte with a triple shot of Espresso!   |
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Dec 17, 2021 9:49:14 GMT -5
Hematite is distinctively red. Truth. I'm still on my first cup, too! 
What color does marcasite bleed?
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Post by rockjunquie on Dec 17, 2021 9:50:20 GMT -5
Hematite is distinctively red. Truth. I'm still on my first cup, too!
What color does marcasite bleed?
I don't know, but the way this conversation is going it is probably distinctively red. LOL!!!! |
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