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May 14, 2011, 03:22 PM
#1
I Found a Rock (UPDATE: 07/07/2011 I FOUND ANOTHER ROCK)
I put the detector away today and did some rock hounding. It's pale yellow and where it is broken is as clear as glass. I don't think that it is quartz because it's crystal clear all through. I think that if it was polished you could see clear through it. Any ideas?
If the elevator tries to bring you down, go crazy, punch a higher floor!
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May 14, 2011, 03:52 PM
#2
Re: I Found a Rock
As a loooong-time rockhound, I'm fairly certain it is a quartz "river pebble." Its exterior has been rounded-off and "clouded" by abrasion from grinding agaainst other rocks in the river, over a period of thousands of years.
Your rock's broken area shows what Geologists call "conchoidal" fracture. Very few minerals exhibit conchoidal fracture, and almost all are quartz-based (SiO2, a.k.a. Silicon Dioxide). In addition to quartz and human-made glass, some other examples of conchoidal-fracture minerals are Obsidian (volcanic glass), and Chert varieties such as flint and jasper.
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May 14, 2011, 04:20 PM
#3
Re: I Found a Rock
 Originally Posted by TheCannonballGuy
As a loooong-time rockhound, I'm fairly certain it is a quartz "river pebble." Its exterior has been rounded-off and "clouded" by abrasion from grinding agaainst other rocks in the river, over a period of thousands of years.
Your rock's broken area shows what Geologists call "conchoidal" fracture. Very few minerals exhibit conchoidal fracture, and almost all are quartz-based (SiO2, a.k.a. Silicon Dioxide). In addition to quartz and human-made glass, some other examples of conchoidal-fracture minerals are Obsidian (volcanic glass), and Chert varieties such as flint and jasper.
You sound like you know what you're talking about so I'm going to agree. Do you think it could be polished and if so, is this something i can do at home? Thanks.
If the elevator tries to bring you down, go crazy, punch a higher floor!
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May 14, 2011, 08:28 PM
#4
Re: I Found a Rock
i think its quartz too, hardness is about 7 on the mohs scale, have you checked hardness? rock tumbler to polish or slice and polish to make cabs.
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May 14, 2011, 08:54 PM
#5
Re: I Found a Rock
I forgot to answer the second part of your question, and Marinedad's reply reminded me of it. Yes, quartz rates about a 7 on the Mohs hardness-scale... which means you'd need some "special" sawing-&-polishing equipment to do that at home. It'd probably be cheaper to pay a Rockhound shop to do the work for you. (Some of them offer that service for a moderate fee.)
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May 14, 2011, 10:03 PM
#6
Re: I Found a Rock
I think its clear obsidian
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May 15, 2011, 07:01 AM
#7
Re: I Found a Rock
I've found a lot of quartz and this seems different. I can't capture it on the camera but the rock is clear as glass. When it's wet it is clear through with no real defects or inclusions (correct term?).
I've never heard of clear obsidian so I'll do a little research on that as well...thanks all for your comments.
If the elevator tries to bring you down, go crazy, punch a higher floor!
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May 15, 2011, 08:58 AM
#8
Re: I Found a Rock
I am by NO means a rock hound, and there's probably an obvious reason to you pro's as to why it's not my thoughts, but what about an old lightning strike?
Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see. J. Lennon
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May 15, 2011, 09:20 AM
#9
Re: I Found a Rock
After taking a longer look I noticed bubbles in there which mean probably melted glass. More than likely a picture tube from a burnt console t.v.
but Idk just a guess on that.
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May 15, 2011, 09:43 AM
#10
Re: I Found a Rock
Originally Posted by traderoftreasures
After taking a longer look I noticed bubbles in there which mean probably melted glass. More than likely a picture tube from a burnt console t.v.
but Idk just a guess on that.
Definitely not glass...it has been weathered for a long, long time which gives it that opaqueness...
If the elevator tries to bring you down, go crazy, punch a higher floor!
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May 19, 2011, 11:42 AM
#11
Re: I Found a Rock
still waiting on hardness. can you scratch it with a knife? Does it scratch a knife blade? etc
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May 19, 2011, 04:12 PM
#12
Re: I Found a Rock
Originally Posted by goldinmypan
still waiting on hardness. can you scratch it with a knife? Does it scratch a knife blade? etc
I work at a university and I dropped it off at the geology department this morning. I should know more tomorrow.
If the elevator tries to bring you down, go crazy, punch a higher floor!
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May 19, 2011, 04:21 PM
#13
Re: I Found a Rock
my guess is that it is cullet
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May 19, 2011, 04:58 PM
#14
Re: I Found a Rock
Originally Posted by DevilDog812
my guess is that it is cullet
I don't think so...wrong context...but we'll know tomorrow.
If the elevator tries to bring you down, go crazy, punch a higher floor!
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May 19, 2011, 05:26 PM
#15
 The Cesspool
Re: I Found a Rock
Just replying because i'm interested to see what it turns out to be. It looks like an old chunk of slag glass to me but what do I know  .
DOWN WITH AMERICAN DIGGERS, SAY NO TO SPIKE TV! THEY MAKE ALL OF US LOOK BAD!
"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do, than by the ones you did do." Mark Twain
"A handful of common sense is worth a bushel of learning." Unknown
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May 19, 2011, 05:54 PM
#16
Re: I Found a Rock
Topaz 
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May 19, 2011, 11:57 PM
#17
Re: I Found a Rock
I would guess glass, but I'm keen to hear what the answer is.
Cheers, Mike
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May 20, 2011, 06:14 AM
#18
Re: I Found a Rock
neat piece... can't wait to see what info you get on it.... 
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May 20, 2011, 08:02 AM
#19
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May 20, 2011, 09:28 AM
#20
Re: I Found a Rock
Nice find 
The chips does have a obsidian or flint chip look.
Originally Posted by traderoftreasures
I think its clear obsidian
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