Silverish looking flake

[Matt F.]

I found several of these flakes on an exposed hillside, they break apart really easy and little bright silver flakes get all over my hands, not sure what it is. Thanks for any help, Matt.

 

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[jeff of pa]

could it be Mica ?

Your Pic Cropped

 

[old digger]

Galena?

 

[Matt F.]

Jeff thanks for resizing the pic, I am not real computer savy. I think you may be right on the mica, I went to wikipedia and it sounds like what I found. It is definetly layered and it will crumble real easy...I looked at Galena but it didn't say how hard it is, it looked like it wouldn't crumble between my fingers... What I found is not magnetic but I heated it up with a torch and then broke some of the silver flakes off and they were attracted to a magnet, I am not sure if that means anything?

 

[Breezie]

Generally Mica flakes are more clear than silver (at least they are around here), so it I'm thinking it might be burned/melted aluminum cans. Breezie

 

[Matt F.]

... so it I'm thinking it might be burned/melted aluminum cans. Breezie

I was thinking the same thing that's why I took a torch to it and it did not melt, it turned cherry red, so I don't think it is aluminum.

 

[jeff of pa]

Aluminum won't stick to a Magnet.
I Believe under certain Circumstance Mica will.

Galina Won't

 

[Broken knee]

Could it be silver colored pyrite? HH
Broken Knee

 

[leadnugget]

chromium

i think it could be chromium. i have found some here in az, in a nugget patch.
try googling it for a picture.
also what state are you in?
is it from a mining area?

 

[Matt F.]

i think it could be chromium. i have found some here in az, in a nugget patch.
try googling it for a picture.
also what state are you in?
is it from a mining area?

I live in South West Michigan. We recently bought a piece of property that hasn't had anything done on it for 150 years, it was completly covered with trees, we cleared a couple of acres on a ridge above a bog and built a house. The hillside in back has eroded over the last year and left lots of rocks exposed and that is where I found it. Lots of granite, quartz and sandstone I probably could of opened a quary, lots of sand and gravel. Also, a white powdery rock that I am not quite sure what it is, if you rub it in your hands it leaves a baby powder like substance, I will have to look that one up too.

Maybe Chormite but I couldn't really find a good pic that looked like what I have. I went out and grabbed a couple more pieces and if you crush it, it looks like you have been playing with glitter.

 

[Occam]

I found several of these flakes on an exposed hillside, they break apart really easy and little bright silver flakes get all over my hands, not sure what it is. Thanks for any help, Matt.

View attachment 620798

It's a very weathered bit of Antimony.