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

Carolyn Reynard sunstone3 at hvc.rr.com
Sat Dec 6 14:13:12 PST 2008 

Correction:  one leans when toting rocks, learns by studying them!!

----- 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: Saturday, December 06, 2008 12:07 PM
Subject: Re: [Rockhounds] Re: Darwin, CA Pyrite RATED PG-13


> Hello Julie,
> The MineralLabs hardness kit is an excellent kit. Very too bad your
> rockhound friend discounted it.  It is true there are differences in
> hardness's of some minerals. The best example I know of  is the mineral
> Kyanite that has two hardness's, it is 4 1/2 length wise and  a 7 cross
the
> crystal. There can be sight differences depending on the crystal face or
> cleavage surface. Also one might be fooled by a weathered surface.
>
> As you say, the minerallab kit includes hardness picks 2-9, a magnet,
streak
> plate and glass plate.  Usually my first step is checking the magnetic
> property of an unknown mineral if it is heavy, dark and metallic or
> sub-metallic. Then checking the hardness helps narrow the field. I have a
> very good microscope and I can see the faintest of cuts.  Once I have the
> hardness I check a mineral guide that pictures minerals by hardness.
> Narrowing it down, I check the other physical properties, color, color of
> powder (streak), crystal system if any can be seen, reaction to HCL,
> cleavage, fracture and tenacity, if I have enough of a specimen to
> experiment with. I have managed to find mineral guides that organize
> minerals by  their properties. Over time you will find this process
narrows
> as you lean more about minerals.  You will begin to know where to start
your
> investigation.
>
> So have a great time identifying and using your kit.  If I had only one
> purchased tool I would choose the best microscope affordable and then
some!
>
> Carolyn Reynard
> Poughkeepsie, NY
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Julie Siebel" <julie at pandemoniumgraphics.com>
> To: "Rockhounds at drizzle.com: A mailing list for rock and gem collectors"
> <rockhounds at lists.drizzle.com>
> Sent: Friday, December 05, 2008 4:58 PM
> Subject: Re: [Rockhounds] Re: Darwin, CA Pyrite RATED PG-13
>
>
> > 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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