Why Is This Orange-Yellow In Color ?

Cariboo5 · Sep 12, 2012

In the shovel scoop this rock stood out with it's pumpkin orange color when wet. It appears to be volcanic and is a orangish-yellow in color. This color is consistent through out and I cannot find any rust on it. What would cause this rock to be this color..(first one I have seen like this here)

Thanks in advance to all...

allen_idaho · Sep 12, 2012

Looks like a common chunk of Jasper.

StoneWhisper · Sep 13, 2012

For one it could be your lighting.. Most bulbs today have a yellow/orange tint to them.. Thats why I use only true white bulbs when taking these times of Images.. I'm not doubting that the stone is orange.. just your images are or seem to be filters and again the orangish tinted bulbs could add extra to the color.. try taking some true white images.

Cariboo5 · Sep 13, 2012

Even though the first pictures are inside with inside house lighting the color is fairly close as when I first seen this in the shovel. It has had a few days to dry and now the rock has turned to a nice peach color..

Here are a couple of pictures from the claim in natural light that shows the pumpkin orange of this piece when I first got it. I'm still not sure of what it is but a nice find...

Bajahunter · Sep 13, 2012

Yellow and red in rocks are often an indicator of iron. Yellow for non-oxidized, red for rust.
How hard is your rock. Can you scratch it with a coin, a nail?
What color do you see if you rub it on a piece of unglazed tile?
My guess is river tumbled limonite.
Limonite - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

StoneWhisper · Sep 14, 2012

Actually the last pic you posted tells me allot more then the first three.. it's because of where you found it.. My best guess on thsi one is Jasper.. thou it could eb a form of "caramel" jasper.. which looks just like caramel.. or the Orange color above.

Also.. I could spend hors in a wet suit sitting in that stream looking for rocks as you did.. great way to discover a wide verity of stones.. However.. Have you ever thought about a better siftling tray?. I have seaverl silk screens whcih can eb converted into a sifting tray if you need one.

I could create one for you or send you the slightly used silk screen.. But one way or another I'd need some form of payment or swap.

Jim in Idaho · Sep 14, 2012

Contrary to what others said...it doesn't look like any jasper I've seen. Jasper is a form of chalcedony quartz, and is very hard, smooth, and semi-opaque. It's hard enough to take a very nice polish. From the pics, that rock looks more like a soft sedimentary material.
Jim

Cariboo5 · Sep 14, 2012

I followed up on the jasper lead and from what I have been able to find I don't think this is jasper..

I scratched it with a dime and the color of the dime was left on the rock, the rock itself was unscratched and retained its color. Never heard of limonite before but an interesting lead to follow up on..Thanks

OurJeepLife...Thank you for your offer of the silk screen, but we use these 1/4 inch classifiers then run the material through the high bankers looking for that fine gold. I have never tried the wet suit but it does sound like a good adventure...