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Author Topic: Identification of Specimen  (Read 2069 times)

tinker

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Identification of Specimen
« on: May 23, 2011, 12:29:20 PM »
Can anybody tell me what this mineral sample is, the matrix is a creamy brown colour and has a flaky consistancy like mica or gypsum, with dark crystal inclusions.

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Wwoofa

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Re: Identification of Specimen
« Reply #1 on: May 23, 2011, 01:18:52 PM »
Hi Tinker,
Do you know where they came from?
Regards, Paul

Cainozoic

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Re: Identification of Specimen
« Reply #2 on: May 23, 2011, 04:51:33 PM »
The metallic part looks like molybdenite. Is it soft? Hardness would help identify as would streak. If you have a ceramic tile, scrape the specimen across it in an inconspicuous spot (on the mineral, it will damage it slightly) and note the colour. You can find the streak of some known or suspect minerals and compare. Try and scratch in an inconspicuous area with known minerals to determine the hardness. If you don't want to damage the specimen at all keep trying to visually compare it to as many specimens as possible and the more information you have about your specimen the better and more valid your conclusion.
Old rockhounds never die, they just petrify.

tinker

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Re: Identification of Specimen
« Reply #3 on: May 23, 2011, 05:24:44 PM »
Hi Cainozoic,
      I think you've hit the nail on the head, the dark crystals are Molybdenum and the matrix I believe could be Muscovite Mica.  Does that sound like it......

Cainozoic

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Re: Identification of Specimen
« Reply #4 on: May 23, 2011, 07:44:14 PM »
It definitely sounds right, I just googled molybdenite and muscovite and there were a lot of images that looked like your specimen. They called it a muscovite/quartz matrix which makes sense and the specimens were from Quebec Canada. Nice sample!

 beers
Old rockhounds never die, they just petrify.

 

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