Anyone know what kind of stone??

[jtw1313]

I thought this what pretty cool looking how the white is coming through in such a perfect spot......but I’m not sure what kind of stone this would be

 

[Plug N Play]

Jet ?

 

[tamrock]

That white inclusion is odd. I'm guessing this sculpture of what looks like a cow that breed with a pig maybe came from a Mexican souvenir market. The stone could be labeled as Jet, Black Onyx, Black Marble or Obsidian as I've seen and heard people describe this black rock in several ways.

 

[Red-Coat]

Assuming that inclusion is a natural feature of the rock, it would appear to be ‘chrysanthemum stone’. It’s a Permian-age rock with a matrix that is often black limestone with high amounts of organic carbon but can also be dolomite, gypsum clay, or porphyry. High temperature and pressure formation causes it to have flower or star shaped white crystalline deposits that are usually andalusite but can also be celestite, calcite or feldspar.

The black material comes mainly from Hubei Province in China and is prized for carvings sold to the ‘mystic crystal’ folk, as well as for horoscope and good luck figurines etc.

Here’s an unworked chunk out of my collection:

 

[jtw1313]

And that’s why I post here on the tnet thank you redcoat.
Rather than call it Jet, Black Onyx, Black Marble or Obsidian

 

[Red-Coat]

Couldn't find a bull, but here's a carved whale figurine:



Sometimes this stone is carved to bring up the 'chrysanthemum' in high relief if the crystallisation is pronounced. When not good enough for that, it's usually polished flat, like this: