some quartz with black tourmaline?

[therobertsmith]

Here are a few pictures of some quartz I have but I am having a tough time trying to figure out what the black incursions are. I found a big pocket of quartz like this and most are clear quartz with the black. Any ideas of what it may be? Thanks guys

 

[DDancer]

Need closer pictures as I cant tell what I'm looking at. couple of angle shots as well. Looks to be smokey quartz in the mix.

 

[therobertsmith]

For some reason this phone takes the worse pictures. Let me see if I can get some better ones today. Thanks

 

[Buckshotnc]

I'm a little west of you in McDowell County and here at Treasure Valley I have encountered quartz with a dark to black coating on manganese on it and this could be possibly what you have there. Don't think it is tourmaline.

 

[austin]

Rutile?

 

[therobertsmith]

Let's see if these pictures look better

 

[Buckshotnc]

Better Pics, you've got some mica on there which you probably already know. You might want to take a little file or something and scratch the black part to see if it is actually a coating or two minerals joined. Still think we're possibly talking manganese coating the other possibilities would be hematite and magnetite which are black and we have in our area, could possibly be rutile but don't think so.

 

[therobertsmith]

Some of the pieces I have filed down and you can see it inside the quartz. Hematite or magnetite sounds like the best indicator. See how much of it is around. It had me wondering about the quartz formation and the process of it cooling. This is where I over think things. To me the hematite would be all ready cooled or there and the quartz would flow over and harden causing the two to become almost one. I need to take and grind or crush one and then look into it some more.
Buckshot: thanks for that info man, I appreciate it a lot. I also appreciate everyone's help with this.

 

[Backcountry]

those are real cool stones

 

[therobertsmith]

I decided to use a rare earth magnet to see what would happen after a good crush. Nothing. I would assume (and I hate to assume) that hematite or magnetite would be affected in some way by the magnet. All I know is there is a nice pocket of this stuff in the creek and I wish I could get to it without the murky water being in the way. I am sure there are some nice pieces there.

 

[therobertsmith]

Thank you Backcountry. There are a ton of them here. I just wish I could get a really big piece. Today is supposed to be in the 80s so I may go and look for some more. Time to pack the pistol too. Those snakes are coming back out.

 

[DDancer]

Not hematite or magnetite. Luster and fractures dont add up and its apparent that the black material is crystal. Hardness counts and hematite/magnatite are fairly soft. Thanks for the better picture. I'm willing to go with tourmaline.

 

[therobertsmith]

DDancer, that was my first guess on it after hours of looking at pictures and reading. That is the part I love but hate. The love/hate relationship. I am very thankful for this board and everyone who helps me when I get lost or over think things.
I have been trying to learn the heating and cooling effect on minerals and what forms at what Temps and pressures. This is all new to me in the sense I am not just collecting but wanting to know how this formed and in what way.

 

[therobertsmith]

Here are a few more. I have probably 15 to 20 pounds of these right now and there are a lot more there. I would love to find that one that just makes you say "oh my".

 

[therobertsmith]

Just a few more.

 

[Backcountry]

Thank you Backcountry. There are a ton of them here. I just wish I could get a really big piece. Today is supposed to be in the 80s so I may go and look for some more. Time to pack the pistol too. Those snakes are coming back out.

Very jelous. Although I was out last weekend for a beautiful sunny 46degrees in about 5 inches of sugar snow. Wasn't able to do too much looking around yet. But, holy smokes, I realized that a rock I've been tripping over for about 6 months, seems to have a large deposit large black tourmaline crystals on it. The tourmaline I usually find is more like pencil lead embedded on quartz, but these crystals were more like pinky finger sized. Can't wait to get back into the bush to grab some photos of it. The new photos you posted of your stones look amazing, sounds like you are finding a lot of nice material. If I can get together some nice tourmaline samples from the rock I found, maybe you'd be interested in tourmaline trade at some point.

 

[therobertsmith]

Thank you, it is crazy how one day I was digging and bam hit the spot. I have found some down the creek from the location but it seems to be what I would call low quality I need to get a good camera to take better pictures of the stuff out here. I would love to see some pictures of what you have out there and I would definitely be interested in doing some trading. I plan on digging either later today or tomorrow. I got wrapped up in the honey do list.
I tell ya if I find the main source in which I think I have i will send you a few pieces. I figure it is best to share and I love doing this plus it helps me pay it forward in a way. With all the great information and people on this site I think I can spare some.
I was telling my wife last night about the site and how people are very knowledgeable and are willing to share what may have taken them years to learn. Once I get the shovel out and rope off my area I will take pictures and if I find the main I will PM you and send some your way.

RS

 

[Backcountry]

At this risk of sounding a little woo, "Tourmilated Quartz" has some value in metaphysical communities. So if you have friends or family of that inclination, it would make a great gift for them.

 

[Eu_citzen]

Do a hardness test with quartz and also a streak test. (google it)

 

[therobertsmith]

I have read about the metaphysical properties of it and man it is awesome. I usually carry a piece of it on me and I have a necklace from an ancient something (bear, lion etc)
I also put 4 of the best pieces of quartz around the outside of my home. One in each corner.
Eu: I will try the streak test tomorrow. I may fall into my cheeseburger shortly from lack of sleep