We use cookies to show content based on your preferences. If you continue to browse you accept their use and installation. More information. >

FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board
The place to share your mineralogical experiences


Spanish message board






Newest topics and users posts
18 Mar-08:12:52 Green seam. Looks like it in a state of decay. (Ning)
18 Mar-06:47:13 Mineralogy & museums 10 - cardiff - 12th-13th august 2024 (Roy Starkey)
18 Mar-02:50:32 Re: collection from dany mabillard (Dany Mabillard)
17 Mar-01:57:58 Re: collection of volkmar stingl (Volkmar Stingl)
15 Mar-14:27:47 Re: collection of philippe durand (Philippe Durand)
15 Mar-13:49:04 Re: collection of firmo espinar (Firmo Espinar)
15 Mar-09:18:42 Re: collection of michael shaw (Michael Shaw)
15 Mar-03:45:43 The mizunaka collection - rhodochrosite (Am Mizunaka)
14 Mar-21:29:31 Re: monthly mineral chronicles, mineral guides and more... (Crocoite)
14 Mar-14:47:27 Re: collection of philippe durand (Jordi Fabre)
14 Mar-13:56:01 Re: collection of philippe durand (Philippe Durand)
14 Mar-11:24:43 Re: collection of philippe durand (Jordi Fabre)
14 Mar-08:55:22 Re: collection of michael shaw (Michael Shaw)
14 Mar-08:44:47 Re: the mim museum in beirut, lebanon (Mim Museum)
14 Mar-07:24:12 Re: collection of volkmar stingl (Volkmar Stingl)
14 Mar-02:30:15 The mizunaka collection - quartz (Am Mizunaka)
14 Mar-02:20:37 Re: collection of volkmar stingl (Tobi)
13 Mar-23:40:08 Re: collection of volkmar stingl (Volkmar Stingl)
13 Mar-14:22:58 Re: don lum collection (Don Lum)
13 Mar-14:02:43 Re: collection of philippe durand (Philippe Durand)
13 Mar-00:57:48 The mizunaka collection - quartz (Am Mizunaka)
12 Mar-07:36:06 Re: can you recommend a lab to analyse specimens (Luiz Oliveira)
11 Mar-16:19:18 Re: collection of philippe durand (Riccardo Modanesi)
11 Mar-15:18:26 Re: collection of philippe durand (Philippe Durand)
11 Mar-15:13:07 Re: collection of philippe durand (Philippe Durand)

For lists of newest topics and postings click here


RSS RSS

View unanswered posts

Why and how to register

Index Index
 FAQFAQ RegisterRegister  Log inLog in
 {Forgotten your password?}Forgotten your password?  

Like
111630


The time now is Mar 18, 2024 23:47

Search for a textSearch for a text   

A general guide for using the Forum with some rules and tips
The information provided within this Forum about localities is only given to allow reference to them. Any visit to any of the localities requires you to obtain full permission and relevant information prior to your visit. FMF is strictly against any illicit activities related to collecting minerals.
Is this still quartz?
  
  Index -> FOR BEGINNERS: What is it? Where is it from?
Like
3


View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message

Ken




Joined: 14 Jul 2011
Posts: 54

View user's profile

Send private message

PostPosted: Dec 10, 2020 16:10    Post subject: Is this still quartz?  

A lot of the minerals from where this was found appear to have been in an environment that has altered/modified them. Came across a lot of what looks like quartz but the composition seem a bit more complicated than common quartz. With all of these impurities, would this stone still be classified as quartz? The first scan shows the composition of the stone and the second shows the composition of that copper colored material.


1.JPG
 Locality:
Riverside County, California, USA
 Description:
 Viewed:  7334 Time(s)

1.JPG



2.JPG
 Description:
 Viewed:  7345 Time(s)

2.JPG



3.JPG
 Description:
 Viewed:  7342 Time(s)

3.JPG



4.JPG
 Description:
 Viewed:  7338 Time(s)

4.JPG



5.JPG
 Description:
 Viewed:  7343 Time(s)

5.JPG



6.JPG
 Description:
 Viewed:  7353 Time(s)

6.JPG



7.JPG
 Description:
 Viewed:  7348 Time(s)

7.JPG


Back to top
Reply to topic Reply with quote
Like
   

Pete Modreski
Site Admin



Joined: 30 Jul 2007
Posts: 709
Location: Denver, Colorado


Access to the FMF Gallery title=

View user's profile

Send private message

PostPosted: Dec 10, 2020 16:16    Post subject: Re: Is this still quartz?  

This appears to be a quartz-mica schist; the presence of the mica (all the sparkling flakes, of course) would account for the other elements (K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Al) that show up in the X-ray spectrum.

There is a complete gradation possible, between pure quartzite (metamorphic rock, metamorphosed quartz sandstone) containing nothing but quartz, and mica schists that are a mixture of mica, quartz, and other minerals. Your rock appears to be mostly quartz, with the muscovite mica concentrated in certain thin layers.

Pete
Back to top
Reply to topic Reply with quote
Like
1
   

Matt_Zukowski
Site Admin



Joined: 10 Apr 2009
Posts: 707
Location: Alaska


Access to the FMF Gallery title=

View user's profile

Send private message

PostPosted: Dec 10, 2020 23:27    Post subject: Re: Is this still quartz?  

How are you doing or getting these scans done?
Back to top
Reply to topic Reply with quote
Like
   

Ken




Joined: 14 Jul 2011
Posts: 54

View user's profile

Send private message

PostPosted: Dec 11, 2020 01:37    Post subject: Re: Is this still quartz?  

Pete Modreski wrote:
This appears to be a quartz-mica schist; the presence of the mica (all the sparkling flakes, of course) would account for the other elements (K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Al) that show up in the X-ray spectrum.

There is a complete gradation possible, between pure quartzite (metamorphic rock, metamorphosed quartz sandstone) containing nothing but quartz, and mica schists that are a mixture of mica, quartz, and other minerals. Your rock appears to be mostly quartz, with the muscovite mica concentrated in certain thin layers.

Pete

I'm a bit confused here, you say that the shiny stuff is mica because of a composition of (K, Ca, Mg, Fe and Al, but that is the composition of the basic stone and not the shiny stuff, the shiny stuff has a composition of Cr, Fe, Al, Si, and Ni. Does mica have a composition of Cr, Fe, Al, Si and Ni????
Back to top
Reply to topic Reply with quote
Like
   

Pete Richards
Site Admin



Joined: 29 Dec 2008
Posts: 827
Location: Northeast Ohio


Access to the FMF Gallery title=

View user's profile

Send private message

PostPosted: Dec 11, 2020 09:24    Post subject: Re: Is this still quartz?  

Ken,

A lot of this thread involves themes of rocks and minerals changing, and you met a geologist who spoke of very high temperatures and pressures. All of this points to metamorphism and the rocks that it produces, yet almost no one seems to be writing in such terms. I suggest you get ahold of a basic geology text and read about metamorphism. You might go farther and read about various kinds and degrees of metamorphism, the minerals that indicate them, and the kinds of temperatures and pressures that are involved. I think this would illuminate many of your questions.

Incidentally, that geologist fellow's mention of shock metamorphosis is probably off base. It is an uncommon process and it would be very hard to recognize just looking at a hand sample of a rock.

The issue with your new (second) scan with the iron, chromium, and titanium is the same as earlier - we don't know what part of the image was actually analyzed. The title says copper quartz metallic, which I guess probably means a copper-colored metallic mineral associated with quartz. The analysis is definitely not of mica, but it could be of a little spot in the picture, with all the rest being mica.

_________________
Collecting and studying crystals with interesting habits, twinning, and epitaxy
Back to top
Reply to topic Reply with quote
Like
   

renewillard39




Joined: 11 Dec 2020
Posts: 1
Location: USA

View user's profile

Send private message

PostPosted: Dec 11, 2020 09:45    Post subject: Re: Is this still quartz?  

Great, thank you.
Back to top
Reply to topic Reply with quote
Like
   

Ken




Joined: 14 Jul 2011
Posts: 54

View user's profile

Send private message

PostPosted: Dec 11, 2020 22:40    Post subject: Re: Is this still quartz?  

Matt_Zukowski wrote:
How are you doing or getting these scans done?

All of the scans were paid for and done at commercial labs or universities.
Pete Richards- The metamorphism doesn't apply to this stone, there were only 1 or 2 in which that might apply to but you are right, I do have a lot to learn, that's why I'm on here asking questions.
Back to top
Reply to topic Reply with quote
Like
   

Matt_Zukowski
Site Admin



Joined: 10 Apr 2009
Posts: 707
Location: Alaska


Access to the FMF Gallery title=

View user's profile

Send private message

PostPosted: Dec 11, 2020 22:51    Post subject: Re: Is this still quartz?  

The reason I asked is because you seem like a newbie (forgive me if I am wrong), and you are the first newbie I have heard about who is paying for/doing such analyses.

Are you just picking up rocks that you think are cool and sending them off for analyses, or do you have some more systematic reason for getting these analyses done?

No matter, I salute your inquisitiveness.
Back to top
Reply to topic Reply with quote
Like
2
   

Ken




Joined: 14 Jul 2011
Posts: 54

View user's profile

Send private message

PostPosted: Dec 13, 2020 23:30    Post subject: Re: Is this still quartz?  

Hi Matt- I guess you might say that my curiosity got the best of me. I stumbled onto some minerals that were being washed out of a mountain that were setting off my metal detector, a lot of these minerals were very magnetic and I wanted to figure out what was going on. I bought a hardness test set, specific gravity test set and even a refractive index meter. I was told the best way to figure out what a mineral was is to figure out what the chemical composition is, but every time I'd get a scan done, I'd be told that can't be right. I've come across a lot of things that can't be easily explained. I'm just searching for answers, and yes I'm very much a newbie at this.
Back to top
Reply to topic Reply with quote
Like
   

Matt_Zukowski
Site Admin



Joined: 10 Apr 2009
Posts: 707
Location: Alaska


Access to the FMF Gallery title=

View user's profile

Send private message

PostPosted: Dec 13, 2020 23:55    Post subject: Re: Is this still quartz?  

Interesting. Have we suggested that you find a local rockshop/rock club/college geology department that you can take your unknowns to and ask around? I think that would be the best way for you to make progress.

There are also many books and internet resources on basic geology and mineralogy that could give you some context.

Anyways, I again salute your inquisitiveness.
Back to top
Reply to topic Reply with quote
Like
   

Ken




Joined: 14 Jul 2011
Posts: 54

View user's profile

Send private message

PostPosted: Dec 15, 2020 01:52    Post subject: Re: Is this still quartz?  

Matt_Zukowski wrote:
Interesting. Have we suggested that you find a local rockshop/rock club/college geology department that you can take your unknowns to and ask around? I think that would be the best way for you to make progress.

There are also many books and internet resources on basic geology and mineralogy that could give you some context.

Anyways, I again salute your inquisitiveness.

I was planning on joining a rock club this year but the pandemic has put the brakes on a lot of plans, for now searching online is the safest way to do things at the moment. I've been reading my butt off on minerals, I was even given a mineral identification manual for x-mas a couple of years ago. There's a couple other people that are also looking into this stuff, it's a neat project that allows you to learn a bit about the world around us. I'm learning a lot but there's so much more to learn.
Back to top
Reply to topic Reply with quote
Like
   
Display posts from previous:   
   Index -> FOR BEGINNERS: What is it? Where is it from?   All times are GMT - 5 Hours
Page 1 of 1
    

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You can download files in this forum


All pictures, text, design © Forum FMF 2006-2024


Powered by FMF