FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[cascaillou]

I can't remember my name.

I asked a chemist and he said that I'm a mineral that isn't quite himself. That's weird!

I asked a biologist, and he noted that if it get's too hot, I just sweat and breath out...the same air than a man.

I asked a medic, and he observed that I have strong bones but tender skin. Thank you doc!

I asked a geologist and he told me that Etienne Lantier used to be a good friend of mine, do you know him?

Finally, I asked a priest and he yelled: get out of this body! How rude that is!


Can you guess?

[Riccardo Modanesi]

Hi Cascaillou!
You asked everybody but the right person: a gemmologist! At first you should tell him/her the refraction index (or indexes) and, if possible, the specific weight! The microscopical features are welcome too!
Greetings from Italy by Riccardo.

[cascaillou]

Riccardo, there's a misunderstanding here. I know exactly what this stone is.
This thread is just a brain-teaser riddle game. Five metaphoric enigmas, which need to be interpreted so to get clues as to what the nature of the stone is :-)

[Riccardo Modanesi]

Hi Cascaillou!
I'm so sorry for the misunderstanding! Ok, then I will try to solve the aenigmas, so that I will discover what this stone is! I apologize again and hope you didn't regret! Just one question: who is Etienne Lantier? I apologize once again, this time for my ignorance.
Greetings from Italy by Riccardo.

[cascaillou]

no problem, don't be sorry. I've been quite metaphoric, this is all about the stone speaking of itself, trying to find out what its identity is. Etienne Lantier plays his role in the enigma, of course.

[Carl]

Diamond / carbon (or coal for Etienne Lantier)

[cascaillou]

Etienne Lantier was indeed a refrence to coal mines. Still the identity of the stone remains a mystery.

[Roger Warin]

I also think that is diamond. It’s different from graphite, and gives CO2 by burning, very strong but can be polished.
Buried as was Etienne Lantier in a mine after an uprising against the bosses and get out miraculously. And a diamond comes out in a kimberlite pipe ...

[cascaillou]

Indeed "the same air as a man" was a reference to CO2 release when burned. "Etienne Lantier" is nothing more than a reference to coal mines.

However, the stone is not a diamond.

[Roger Warin]

Chemist's answer is strange.
Ejected from a volcano?
This is not the moissanite too rare.
Carbonate, cerussite or calcite?
I suggest moissanite SiC.

[cascaillou]

It isn't moissanite.

note that "strong bones" is not a reference to hardness.

also I never said it is ejected from volcano.

what we know:
-the mineral can be transparent and colorless
-it can burn, releasing CO2 (note that it also 'sweats' which means...)
-it is linked to coal mines

[Susan Robinson]

Sal ammoniac?

[cascaillou]

it's not ammoniac. But you're getting closer.

Solving the remaining enigmas will help.

[Riccardo Modanesi]

Hi to everybody!
I think I have got the solution: CARBONAT-APATITE!!! It fits for "bones" mentioned by "the doctor", and also for "ejecting the same air as mankind" when burnt.
Of course I hope I'm right.
Greetings from Italy by Riccardo.

[Edelmin]

Hi all,

It is perhaps whewellite?

Regards,

Felix Garcia