Strange rock/mineral

[Matthewrobertsfl]

I only have limited knowledge of rocks and minerals, but I really want to identify this cool specimen. It seems to me like it is some sort of black crystal, with possibly Garnets, on top of some other type of rock. I’ve had this for a long time, I can tell it is something kind of special. Ideas? Has some sparkles, shades of blueish greenish grey, and the “garnets” are purple (I don’t want to risk cleaning them, because I don’t know what I’m doing.

 

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[Red-Coat]

Welcome to T-net

The first one seems to be a staurolite crystal. Staurolite is usually reddish brown through to black and often exhibits what's known as "cruciform penetration twinning" to form a cross. These kinds of crystals are often sold in 'new age' shops as 'fairy crosses' and that's a particularly nice one (although not tremendously valuable).

The second one appears to be a garnet-bearing schist but, again, nice though not valuable.

 

[Grits57]

Staurolite crystal...sometimes called Fairy Cross. The red colored stones are Garnets..

 

[Matthewrobertsfl]

Great, thanks so much for the help! I think it’s so cool the way that this formed with the garnets-one of my favorite rocks I own. I have a few more interesting specimens I will post here soon.