Kinda Stumped

hvacker

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Aug 18, 2012
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When I bought my house in the late 80's there was an outbuilding
where I found this core sample. The origin is most probably New Mexico
only because it's where I found it.

Scratch = white
brittle
vitreous
Pearly, waxy
Hardness = 3.31
no reaction to dilute HCL core sample.jpg

I'm thinking Dolomite
 

DDancer

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Its a handsome core that is pretty cool. I dont think your stumped :) Check out this link to minedat and scroll down to Other. There is a discription on acid reactivity and it suggests if a small amount is powdered you'll see a response.
Dolomite: Dolomite mineral information and data.
 

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hvacker

hvacker

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Its a handsome core that is pretty cool. I dont think your stumped :) Check out this link to minedat and scroll down to Other. There is a discription on acid reactivity and it suggests if a small amount is powdered you'll see a response.
Dolomite: Dolomite mineral information and data.

I remember reading that also. I'll give it a shot and maybe a stronger concentration of HCL and a little heat.
Thanx
 

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Brian T. Booth

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Feb 28, 2013
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From what I see in the crystal structure and it has a vitreous look to the top, i think you have barite. That's right. Dolomite is high Mg calcite. Put concentrated HCL to the specimen and it will react if dolomitic.
 

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Eu_citzen

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You can also scratch the rock to get some powder. The powder can then be tested with dilute (10%) muratic acid.
If it reacts - dolomite. No need to use concentrated acid.
 

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