[Rockhounds] What the heck is this?

[Dennis Buffenmyer]

Jeanne Rhodes-Moen wrote:
> I got an ebay parcel recently, and there was something in it that  has 
> me stumped...my first thought was some sort of green turquoise or odd 
> colored variscite or even an off colored chrysoprase as it was a dark 
> green material that formed  in a seam with a crusting on the 
> outside....like you see sometimes with turquoise, gem silica, 
> chrysoprase etc.....so, I split it down the middle and cut a pair of 
> matching stones but 1 still am not sure what they are. they are dark 
> green, and relatively hard, takes a nice polish and part of it has a 
> very fine, red spiderweb pattern  on it. In one way, they almost 
> remind me of jade, but I didn't think that formed in seams. If anyone 
> can tell  me what I've got, I'd appreciate it! I'm trying to put links 
> to the images here, but if it doesn't come through, you can find the 
> images in a folder at http://www.creativecabs.com/unknowngreen
>
> Jeanne
Jeanne,
I am not an expert... but... I'd guess like some sort of mix of a 
serpentine or serpentinzed limestone, or some other such thing... we 
kind of have very similar material in what we called the chrome barrens. 
Surprises abound in all sorts of rocks these days, with all the 
polishing agents and all that they have now a days...

Dennis Buffenmyer