Found near gold mine. Ironstone?

[Mrwhite21]

Was out detecting today and found this near an old mine shaft. Is one peice of a larger rock about 10" long. Was the only thing my detector picked up other than rubbish.

Looks to be mica inside as a knife scratches it and it flakes off.outside of rock was like rust, which makes me think ironstone? It is magnetic.

I only took the smaller one home as it was a steep climb down the mountain and I had no idea if it was any good or not!

Any help would be appreciated

 

[vpnavy]

I noticed this was your very first post - so, Welcome Aboard Mrwhite2! You didn't list your state (or country) in your profile. So, you might consider jumping over to Sub-Forums: Select Your Area.... and selecting location information (i.e., clubs, hunts, finds, legends, maps, etc.) directly related to your state (or country). You might also consider adding your state (or country) to your displayed profile (SETTINGS -> EDIT PROFILE) so if you ask a question, etc. - people may have more success helping you (your location may help, etc.)...

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

Welcome.

That's not what we would call "ironstone" locally (which is sandstone with a lot of iron oxide minerals - making it red or brown).

You may have a chunk of magnetite ("hot rock" to detectorists)

 

[Mrwhite21]

I noticed this was your very first post - so, Welcome Aboard Mrwhite2! You didn't list your state (or country) in your profile. So, you might consider jumping over to Sub-Forums: Select Your Area.... and selecting location information (i.e., clubs, hunts, finds, legends, maps, etc.) directly related to your state (or country). You might also consider adding your state (or country) to your displayed profile (SETTINGS -> EDIT PROFILE) so if you ask a question, etc. - people may have more success helping you (your location may help, etc.)...

Thanks vpnavy! I have started updating my profile 👍 appreciate the reply 😁

 

[Mrwhite21]

Welcome.

That's not what we would call "ironstone" locally (which is sandstone with a lot of iron oxide minerals - making it red or brown).

You may have a chunk of magnetite ("hot rock" to detectorists)

Thanks for the reply Charlie P 👍 is looking like that as there is nothing inside 😪

Hopefully better luck when I head out today! Currently in Australia's gold rush area for my last day so we'll see what happens!

 

[tamrock]

I'm thinking biotite Biotite - Rock-Forming Minerals I wouldn't just focus on prospecting for gold. A guy I know was doing that and somehow directed his attention on some old tungsten deposits. That got him a lot attention from investors and he now runs a tungsten mine. Don't forget the demand for Rare Earth minerals also, heck you could end up being the next Lang Handcock? Here's a video of this guy I know who went looking for gold, but instead ended up operating a Tungsten mine.

 

[Mrwhite21]

I'm thinking biotite Biotite - Rock-Forming Minerals I wouldn't just focus on prospecting for gold. A guy I know was doing that and somehow directed his attention on some old tungsten deposits. That got him a lot attention from investors and he now runs a tungsten mine. Don't forget the demand for Rare Earth minerals also, heck you could end up being the next Lang Handcock? Here's a video of this guy I know who went looking for gold, but instead ended up operating a Tungsten mine.

Thanks tamrock

Plenty of different forms too! I looked at it in the sunlight today and you can see the distinct gold sheen to it.

Don't I wish it were the real deal!

 

[tamrock]

Well, Mica, Biotite and Mucovite will reflect an array of different colors, based on their molecular structure, but nowhere close to what an opal will reflect light.

 

[Geochem]

Welcome to the forum. You present a nice first post.

The specimen you found would be associated to hydrothermal viens in granodiorite or mafic-rich granite.

Within the hydrothermal section of the igneous rock there appears to be pegmatite mineral formation of some of the initial minerals formed. Your specimen appears to be pegmatite biotite that has partially been thermally and elementarily altered in structure and elemental composition.

You were in an interesting mineral and rock hunting region to find the pegmatite biotite.