Unknown rock

[bman3725]

I have a rock that I got on our last prospecting trip. I busted it open it has some quartz like crystals but what intrigued me was the glittering on the other side similar to fools gold but much harder and doesn't flake off the same way. It appears to have gems in it too. Any rock hounds have any ideas?

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[Eu_citzen]

The pics are quite blurry, to blurry to say much of anything really!
Try taking some pics in daylight using the macro function of the camera. Often shown as a flower symbol.

Then we can give it another try.

[bman3725]

Here they are in the daylight.


Attachment 637235

[bman3725]

[Eu_citzen]

It looks like maybe you hit a quartz vein of some sort? Does it have a sort of greasy looking surface?

I see the metallic stuff, you can't scratch it with the knife? With a piece of quartz?
I'm thinking pyrite, maybe Marcasite, either that or it contains some other iron rich mineral.
Both would explain the "rusty" (limonite) coating.

The gemmy looking stuff may be clean quartz, I think.

[bman3725]

Thanks my friend I had no idea what this one was

[bman3725]

You can't really scratch it at all really

[CoinFetcher]

quartz - iron - and iron pyrite <-- That is what your pile looks like to me.

Probably could find nice clusters, or points at this site - but nothing really in your pile. sorry

BTW - this is my just my best guess.

[Eu_citzen]

Rub one of the metallic parts against a unglazed piece of porcelain, what colour do you get?
Rub until a good streak/line is visible.
Don't be afraid to use a bit of force, it will usually give better results in this kind of test.

Greenish-black would still indicate pyrite, the greenish part may be difficult to tell for the untrained eye.
May just look blackish. Hope that helps.

[bman3725]

Thanks guys for the input. Im new to the trade and im reading as much as I can on geology and on other minerals. I've heard in order to find gold learn what "not" to look for as much as what to look for. I will find some porcelain and try that out and see what color I find. Thanks again guys.

[Eu_citzen]

If I may I'd suggest first reading up on mineral ID first, but that's just me.
Geology won't help you much if you don't know what your looking at.

Don't believe everything you hear, try it to see if it fits/suits the real world.
Also, the old and for me proven saying: "gold is where you find it" should say heaps!

[StoneWhisper]

Looks like a few rust stain quartz.. maybe some feldspar & mica thrown in for good measure.. You really need to practice on your photo skills.