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Planko
Joined: 10 Feb 2014
Posts: 7
Location: San Antonio
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 Posted: Jun 24, 2020 17:54 Post subject: Pyrite? |
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Hello, I found this at the North Sulfur River in Texas. It was around three weeks ago There was a thin shelf of these formations under a layer of old sediment. I tried several pieces but most were very thin and fell apart. Rather than damage more without knowing what they were I just took this piece.
Is it pyrite?
| Mineral: | Pyrite |
| Locality: | | Fannin County, Texas, USA |  |
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| Dimensions: | 7.62 cm diamater x .635 thickest point |
| Description: |
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Kevin Conroy
Joined: 03 Dec 2018
Posts: 78
Location: Saint Louis, Missouri
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Planko
Joined: 10 Feb 2014
Posts: 7
Location: San Antonio
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| Posted: Jun 25, 2020 13:00 Post subject: Re: Pyrite? |
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| Thanks for the information. I guess I need to go get more and clean them up. They look so much better in the link.
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Bob Harman
Joined: 06 Nov 2015
Posts: 765
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| Posted: Jun 25, 2020 14:23 Post subject: Re: Pyrite? |
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Planko, What Kevin showed you were pyrite "suns" from a shale layer in coal mines near Sparta, Illinois.
Your examples from Texas are also pyrite, but only loosely held together in a sandstone type matrix.
They are quite delicate. Do not try to clean them!!!
Either leave them as they are or gently try to stabilize them with a thin layer of clear drying glue or a very thin spray covering of clear acrylic or polyurethane.
Bob
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Jordi Fabre
Overall coordinator of the Forum
Joined: 07 Aug 2006
Posts: 4892
Location: Barcelona
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| Posted: Jun 25, 2020 17:18 Post subject: Re: Pyrite? |
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| SteveB wrote: |
It’s a type of pyrite, a concretion called a Pyrite Sun. They are fragile, I’ve seen mounds of pyrite sands dumped aside at an open cut coal mine so I guess many of these get destroyed in pursuit of money. A good article on them is available at:
http://isgs.illinois.edu/outreach/geology-resources/pyrite-suns
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Planko
Joined: 10 Feb 2014
Posts: 7
Location: San Antonio
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| Posted: Jun 25, 2020 18:40 Post subject: Re: Pyrite? |
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| OK, I will not try to clean them. I do want to try and get some with the other colors mixed in without breaking. Then layer or model glue work. Do I need to dilute it with acetone like my fossils or direct contact?
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SteveB
Joined: 12 Oct 2015
Posts: 235
Location: Canberra
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| Posted: Jun 25, 2020 20:17 Post subject: Re: Pyrite? |
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| Clean them ONLY by brushing gently with a dry brush. They are formed from mineral salts of FeS so liquids can dissolve them again destroying the delicate structure. I would admonish you and anyone for using glues on fossils and mineral specimens. Just don’t. Gently brush the pyrite to remove loose sand grains then find a flat square box you can line with cotton and place the pyrite on that for display and do not touch. Your impatience already destroyed a ton of specimens others could have enjoyed.
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James Catmur
Site Admin
Joined: 14 Sep 2006
Posts: 1343
Location: Cambridge
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| Posted: Jun 26, 2020 09:07 Post subject: Re: Pyrite? |
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| If you have to use something use Lascaux 2070
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Planko
Joined: 10 Feb 2014
Posts: 7
Location: San Antonio
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| Posted: Jun 26, 2020 11:24 Post subject: Re: Pyrite? |
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| SteveB wrote: | | Clean them ONLY by brushing gently with a dry brush. They are formed from mineral salts of FeS so liquids can dissolve them again destroying the delicate structure. I would admonish you and anyone for using glues on fossils and mineral specimens. Just don’t. Gently brush the pyrite to remove loose sand grains then find a flat square box you can line with cotton and place the pyrite on that for display and do not touch. Your impatience already destroyed a ton of specimens others could have enjoyed. |
Really? My impatience? Destroyed a ton of specimens? Kind of bold to imply such a thing. You were not there. You have no clue. Two does not make a ton. They were falling apart because, as you stated, they were in the river with water flowing over them.
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SteveB
Joined: 12 Oct 2015
Posts: 235
Location: Canberra
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| Posted: Jun 26, 2020 23:16 Post subject: Re: Pyrite? |
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| You said you broke some in order to TAKE them, instead of taking memories only with a photo in place, you had to HAVE something for yourself denying others of enjoying them as nature intended. Excuses dont alter facts, they were not naturally unattached to be picked up, you had to apply mechanical action to break them off. Had permission to do so in the location did you? Now you want to cause further harm with glues and such.
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rweaver
Joined: 13 Apr 2009
Posts: 259
Location: Ridgecrest, California
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| Posted: Jun 27, 2020 09:29 Post subject: Re: Pyrite? |
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| SteveB wrote: | | You said you broke some in order to TAKE them, instead of taking memories only with a photo in place, you had to HAVE something for yourself denying others of enjoying them as nature intended. Excuses dont alter facts, they were not naturally unattached to be picked up, you had to apply mechanical action to break them off. Had permission to do so in the location did you? Now you want to cause further harm with glues and such. |
And based on your comments we would have no minerals to collect. That is how all minerals have been found over the years, You are way out of line.
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Peter Lemkin
Joined: 18 Nov 2016
Posts: 398
Location: Prague
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| Posted: Jun 27, 2020 11:26 Post subject: Re: Pyrite? |
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| I think the two of you are acting childish and should just stop. None of us have ever obtained a specimen without damaging rock or xx or matrix. I don't see where he ever said he had destroyed MANY pyrite suns. Peace. Please stop - both.
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