I am brand new to the world of rockhounding after having lots of fun at Dugway Geode Beds in Utah, where I found these 3 mysterious (to me) black rocks underneath the soil. I've been trying to identify them and would love some help! My first attempt using a smartphone app suggested 'uraninite' or 'asbestos', so now I am a little paranoid I accidentally brought something dangerous into my house. Unfortunately, I'm still a little lost on the concept of crystal system, luster, cleavage, and fracture, but I'll do my best to describe the characteristics of the rocks based on my knowledge so far!
I am ordering a mineral ID kit, but from what I've scraped together DIY and my limited knowledge, here is what I know:
-Hardness: all 3 rocks is similar, approximately 3.5 on the Mohs scale (scratched by nail, not by copper penny). At least one rock seems to have experienced weathering (bottom left), but it's hard to tell with the others.
- Color: Each rock is jet black, two of them have inconsistent patterns of red polka dots and gray stripes (i.e. one rock has them on all 3 sides, another has them on only one side, etc)
-Streak: Based on my imprecise streak test, they have a white or possibly light grey streak (hard to tell which).
-Shape: Each rock has similar shape characteristics, sort of like lopsided trianges. They have a coarse texture that is almost sharp
- Luster: they are very shiny and sparkle
-Tenacity: brittle
-Magnetism: non-magnetic, or perhaps very very weakly magnetic.
-Acid: did not react with white vinegar, but I did not test their powder (how does one do that?)
-Area: These were all found within 20 ft of one another at Dugway Geode Beds, perhaps on top of the soil or 1 ft underneath the surface. We did not find these in the "pit", but approximately 50 - 100 ft away or so. I know that area has tons of rhyolite, but these rocks don't look anything like that! I assume they must be related to something volcanic, though, given the context of the area.
I am ordering a mineral ID kit, but from what I've scraped together DIY and my limited knowledge, here is what I know:
-Hardness: all 3 rocks is similar, approximately 3.5 on the Mohs scale (scratched by nail, not by copper penny). At least one rock seems to have experienced weathering (bottom left), but it's hard to tell with the others.
- Color: Each rock is jet black, two of them have inconsistent patterns of red polka dots and gray stripes (i.e. one rock has them on all 3 sides, another has them on only one side, etc)
-Streak: Based on my imprecise streak test, they have a white or possibly light grey streak (hard to tell which).
-Shape: Each rock has similar shape characteristics, sort of like lopsided trianges. They have a coarse texture that is almost sharp
- Luster: they are very shiny and sparkle
-Tenacity: brittle
-Magnetism: non-magnetic, or perhaps very very weakly magnetic.
-Acid: did not react with white vinegar, but I did not test their powder (how does one do that?)
-Area: These were all found within 20 ft of one another at Dugway Geode Beds, perhaps on top of the soil or 1 ft underneath the surface. We did not find these in the "pit", but approximately 50 - 100 ft away or so. I know that area has tons of rhyolite, but these rocks don't look anything like that! I assume they must be related to something volcanic, though, given the context of the area.
