Found! A Rocky Puzzle

[B Zinski]

What are these?
I found them on the surface, in the Cascades of central Washington, in an area only free from snow about 4 months a year. The three pieces were scattered in a 4-5 foot area, all appear 'charred' on diverse sides, and they all fit together like a puzzle. The charred, or burnt, sides resemble garnet or mahogany obsidian. What caught my eye was the light orange banding beneath the glassy layers, and that appears to be a cherty or jaspery layer. There's most likely more bits of it up there. My thoughts is that it that these rocks (they resemble the nearby older basalt) may have been exposed to some sort of volcanic intrusion, or extrusion. They don't contain any metal, and I don't think lightning would be hot enough to burn them. Could they be bits of a stoney meteorite, or volcanic bomb?
I'm putting together a little rock & mineral display for the kids at the local library, and these pieces are so neat, I'ld really like to include them in the display, so any ideas or information you folks could give would really, really be appreciated!!

 

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[mirage83]

What often happens is water seeps into small, sometimes microscopic seams or cracks in the rock and freezes when the temperature drops low enough. The freezing of that water can break the stone into pieces along the pre-existing fracture lines.

 

[flinthunter]

The color of the rocks make me think they may have been in a hot fire. If so they could have separated due to expanding moisture content or expansion and contraction with the heating and cooling of the stone.

 

[unclemac]

your pics are not focused and cannot really be expanded large enough to identify what you are saying....i for one am confused...you state "jasper, basalt, garnet and obsidian" each are easy to identify but none of those could be mistaken for each other.

 

[B Zinski]

Sorry about the pictures, I must get you guys better photos, I know! These were indoor with my flip-phone. I will get better pics, I promise! You are right to be confused, as am I. I found these about 200 miles (+\-) due East of Mt Rainier, at an altitude between 4,000-5,000 feet. The area is only snow free for four months a year. there was a lot of old basalt out-croppings, and heavier grains of volcanic ash from recent St Helens' eruptions. The pieces were freely scattered on the surface, only slightly imbedded. They show what appears to be older brown basalt, with some spalling and the start of lichen growths. The orange band caught my eye, and then the crustal tops. The crusts, if you will, resemble old burnt bricketts from the barbecue. I'm wondering if they are part of an old volcanic bomb, or maybe the linings of an old volcanic vent, where extreme heat may have vitrified the crusts. Lightning, or forest fires, don't seem hot enough. I don't think they are extraterrestrial, but again, they are just really neat. Again, I will get some better photos!!!!