[Rockhounds] Re: Darwin, CA Pyrite RATED PG-13

[Julie Siebel]

The fun thing about this for me has been that, several years ago I got 
the...MineralLabs I think?...pic set for hardness testing, that comes with a 
picks, a magnet, and a scratch plate. I had been lusting after that kit for 
a couple of years. About 2 weeks after I got it, someone that we rockhounded 
with whose opinion I sort of respected said "Nah, hardness of even various 
localities of quartz varies...you can't go by that". I was crestfallen 
because I'd been DYING to get that kit, and finally got it, and then figured 
it was worthless, so I just....ignored it after that.

But now, John just dragged out all these rockhounding-trips-past, and he's 
actually been using the darn thing :D Yay!

We were definitely aware of cleavage/hardness/scratch tests, but flashing 
cleavage - errr "cleavage flash" - has certainly brought up a lot of 
interesting discussions...I had no idea there were that many named nickel 
minerals ;-)

J.


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Carolyn Reynard" <sunstone3 at hvc.rr.com>
To: "Rockhounds at drizzle.com: A mailing list for rock and gem collectors" 
<rockhounds at lists.drizzle.com>
Sent: Friday, December 05, 2008 11:17 AM
Subject: Re: [Rockhounds] Re: Darwin, CA Pyrite RATED PG-13


> Hi John,  Not bad at all! We are having a bit of fun with this one.  Next,
> try identifying your metallic mineral by a little streaking!!!
>
> A streak test will give you the color of the mineral in powdered form.
> Firmly rub the mineral on an unglazed piece of tile.  Pyrite will give you 
> a
> greenish-black color, Galena will give you a dark gray, Arsenopyrite will
> streak black.  Also there is a difference in hardness, Pyrite is 6 - 6 
> 1/2,
> Galena a 2 1/2 -3   Arsenopyrite a 5 1/2 -6. I have added Arsenopyrite
> because it is another hydrothermal mineral.
>
> I'll take my bubbly in a glass!
> Carolyn
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "John Siebel" <john at pandemoniumgraphics.com>
> To: "Rockhounds at drizzle.com: A mailing list for rock and gem collectors"
> <rockhounds at lists.drizzle.com>
> Sent: Thursday, December 04, 2008 10:13 PM
> Subject: Re: [Rockhounds] Re: Darwin, CA Pyrite RATED PG-13
>
>
>> Oopie! Yup, your right. It's your nickel. Now, back to galena...
>>
>> John
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: <Pmodreski at aol.com>
>> To: <rockhounds at lists.drizzle.com>
>> Sent: Thursday, December 04, 2008 7:05 PM
>> Subject: Re: [Rockhounds] Re: Darwin, CA Pyrite RATED PG-13
>>
>>
>> > John, I'll betcha a nickel those measurements you just gave are in cm,
>> > not
>> > mm???  If it weighs 1.75 lbs....
>> >
>> > :  )
>> >
>> > Pete
>> >
>> >
>> > In a message dated 12/4/2008 8:00:55 P.M. Mountain Standard Time,
>> > john at pandemoniumgraphics.com writes:
>> >
>> > Man am I  biting my tongue! I can't make out crystal structure with my
>> > weenie
>> >
>> > Optivisor (tm). But it is predominantly pyrite and at 11mm x 6mm x 6mm
> it
>> > weighs nearly 1.75 pounds if that helps  any.
>> >
>> > John
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > **************Make your life easier with all your friends, email, and
>> > favorite sites in one place.  Try it now.
>> >
> (http://www.aol.com/?optin=new-dp&icid=aolcom40vanity&ncid=emlcntaolcom00000
> 010)
>> >
>> >
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