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Post by oregongoldhunters on Dec 8, 2008 10:04:49 GMT -5
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Post by bammer on Dec 8, 2008 10:58:21 GMT -5
Looks like some interesting material, all the pieces look like they have quartz mixed in with the calcite, possibly some other minerals also.
The Orange seems to be iron stain, probably from the clay, you can clean this from quartz but I am not sure how to clean it from Calcite.
I think the round things are one of the many forms of quartz.
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Post by xtldggr on Dec 8, 2008 11:39:49 GMT -5
Neat specimen you found there!! Although not having actually seen the specimen in person and not being able to determine the heft of the specimen I am inclined to think the rounded crystal specimens are Barite. To aid in determination between qtz or barite a simple hardness test should suffice as Barite is between 2.5 and 3.5 on the Moh's hardness scale and qtz is rated at 7, therefore if the specimen cannot be scratched with a steel nail it might be qtz but could not be Barite. With a specific gravity of 4.48 a specimen with an appreciable amount of Barite would feel heavier than most similarly sized specimens. I have include a photo of some barite balls for your comparison, Hope this helps. I have some pieces in my personal collection that resemble what you have, perhaps I will post a few photos later today, if time permits. -XTLDGGR-  |
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Post by oregongoldhunters on Dec 8, 2008 17:31:56 GMT -5
Looks like some interesting material, all the pieces look like they have quartz mixed in with the calcite, possibly some other minerals also. The Orange seems to be iron stain, probably from the clay, you can clean this from quartz but I am not sure how to clean it from Calcite. I think the round things are one of the many forms of quartz. Hey bammer, the orange area is grown, its orange and a completely different crystalline structure from the rest of the minerals. and all the orange areas on many of the rocks i found are all the same shape, the rounded lumps, and the crystalline structure looks like wavy lines. i dont think its a stain, i cleaned these well and its occurrence is to common. Its very strange. |
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Post by oregongoldhunters on Dec 8, 2008 17:52:40 GMT -5
Neat specimen you found there!! Although not having actually seen the specimen in person and not being able to determine the heft of the specimen I am inclined to think the rounded crystal specimens are Barite. To aid in determination between qtz or barite a simple hardness test should suffice as Barite is between 2.5 and 3.5 on the Moh's hardness scale and qtz is rated at 7, therefore if the specimen cannot be scratched with a steel nail it might be qtz but could not be Barite. With a specific gravity of 4.48 a specimen with an appreciable amount of Barite would feel heavier than most similarly sized specimens. I have include a photo of some barite balls for your comparison, Hope this helps. I have some pieces in my personal collection that resemble what you have, perhaps I will post a few photos later today, if time permits. -XTLDGGR- I can send you some samples if you like. |
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Post by oregongoldhunters on Dec 8, 2008 21:50:27 GMT -5
here is another piece i found within 5 feet of the first images.   im not sure what the orange is. |
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Post by genchaos on Dec 8, 2008 22:01:49 GMT -5
It looks a lot like a zeolite formation. The balls could be natrolite with a layer of something else over them. If you look at the close-up of those which have been broken, the interior looks white and fibrous with a clear crystal exterior. Horseshoe Dam here in Arizona has a similar formation. Associated minerals will include calcite, heulandite, thomsonite, analcime, etc. Check it for fluorescence.
Barite is a possibility, but you will definitely feel the difference in the weight.
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Post by pegmatite on Dec 8, 2008 22:14:44 GMT -5
A specific location would help a lot. My first thought was a zeolite such as phillipsite which would most likely be associated with basalt. It the matrix is sedimentary the orange mineral also looks a little like dolomite.
Steve
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Post by oregongoldhunters on Dec 8, 2008 22:25:45 GMT -5
A specific location would help a lot. My first thought was a zeolite such as phillipsite which would most likely be associated with basalt. It the matrix is sedimentary the orange mineral also looks a little like dolomite. Steve a exact location would be, Myrtle Creek, Oregon. About 20 miles up South Myrtle Creek Road at a old rock quarry for bml road maintainance. here is a pin point on google maps. maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=43.07772,-122.974144&spn=0.00366,0.009656&t=h&z=17 hope this helps. |
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Post by oregongoldhunters on Dec 8, 2008 22:28:02 GMT -5
It looks a lot like a zeolite formation. The balls could be natrolite with a layer of something else over them. If you look at the close-up of those which have been broken, the interior looks white and fibrous with a clear crystal exterior. Horseshoe Dam here in Arizona has a similar formation. Associated minerals will include calcite, heulandite, thomsonite, analcime, etc. Check it for fluorescence. Barite is a possibility, but you will definitely feel the difference in the weight. There is no fluorescence, not even a hint of it. |
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Post by oregongoldhunters on Dec 9, 2008 9:58:25 GMT -5
you guys/gals think i should check the in dirt the around these rock formations im pulling these off of?
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Post by pegmatite on Dec 9, 2008 20:19:45 GMT -5
Thought the location would help me narrow down the possibilites, using Mindat.org, but it didn't help as much as I'd hoped. Looks like both phillipsite and dolomite are found in that general area of Oregon.
Steve
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Post by oregongoldhunters on Dec 9, 2008 21:08:40 GMT -5
Yeah, i tried mindat also. here is a google earth file that contains all the known mines, quarries, ect in my area. it's helpful, but the quarry i found these at isnt even listed. www.oregongoldhunters.com/minerals/mrds-f41019.kmland here is all the known minerals in my area. Main: Au, Cu, Ni. Augite Baryte Bornite Chalcedony Chalcocite Chalcopyrite Chlorite Group Chromite Covellite Cubanite Galena Garnierite Gold Ilmenite Magnetite Malachite Mercury Pyrite Pyrrhotite Quartz Sepiolite Sphalerite Spinel Tennantite |
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