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 Post subject: I found this digging in my back yard do you know what it is?
PostPosted: Fri Jul 06, 2012 5:17 pm 
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I found this digging in my back yard do you know what it is?It has gold flakes that fall off and can be pulled off in spots.


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 Post subject: Re: I found this digging in my back yard do you know what it
PostPosted: Fri Jul 06, 2012 10:08 pm 
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Absolutely! I have hundreds of them. It's one of those world-famous FLR's.

(Translation): Funny Lookin' Rock.

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 Post subject: Re: I found this digging in my back yard do you know what it
PostPosted: Fri Jul 06, 2012 10:29 pm 
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Looks like a funny looking rock with mica.


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 Post subject: Re: I found this digging in my back yard do you know what it
PostPosted: Sat Jul 07, 2012 12:09 pm 
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its about 8-9 pounds if any one know what it is i would love to know.Thanks


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 Post subject: Re: I found this digging in my back yard do you know what it
PostPosted: Sat Jul 07, 2012 1:33 pm 
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Yea...it's a rock. I am positive on this one :!:

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 Post subject: Re: I found this digging in my back yard do you know what it
PostPosted: Tue Jul 10, 2012 8:41 am 
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This is more of a geology question than a gemology question.

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 Post subject: Re: I found this digging in my back yard do you know what it
PostPosted: Tue Jul 10, 2012 10:03 am 
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Yes, in all seriousness, bring your unknown to the geology (petrology) department in your local college or university and ask for some help with identification.


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 Post subject: Re: I found this digging in my back yard do you know what it
PostPosted: Tue Jul 10, 2012 4:24 pm 
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You could also look up your local/regional rock club. Normally, they're a treasure-trove of information and love to I.D. mystery stones.

Rock & gem shows are another great source of info & free rock ID, if you happen to have one in your area.

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 Post subject: Re: I found this digging in my back yard do you know what it
PostPosted: Thu Jul 12, 2012 4:05 pm 
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fasano wrote:
I found this digging in my back yard do you know what it is?It has gold flakes that fall off and can be pulled off in spots.


What you are describing is mica. It occurs black, tan(the gold color) to clear. It is soft and can be easily marked with another rock. The whole rock looks like a piece of pegmatic rock that contains several different minerals. AKA leverite, as in leave it right there. Hope this helps some.


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 Post subject: Re: I found this digging in my back yard do you know what it
PostPosted: Thu Jul 19, 2012 1:40 pm 
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If: it is a pegmatite and if the rest of the dyke is in your garden and
if this is not just a piece transported to the place when your house was built you could try to dig the weathered parts with a small chance of finding a pocket with minerals more interesting than mica.

But really : ask some local geologist or , sometimes better, a local rockhound, about the potential of your discovery. In the best case (the rock beeing pegmatite) this rock is a sign that might something interesting could be found wherever it originated. But only few pegmatites contain pockets and even fewer contain pockets with gemstones...

Good luck!

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 Post subject: Re: I found this digging in my back yard do you know what it
PostPosted: Wed Aug 15, 2012 10:59 pm 
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More obvious questions would be:
1) Where is your backyard located? State, etc
2) Are there more of the same type of rocks in the area?


From looking at the picture labeled "Rock #3", on the left side, the black material is Mica, so are the gold flakes and I have to agree with Roxxusa, the rest looks like pegmatite. In itself, nothing valuable, but if there are more of the rocks around the backyard, you could potentially find gemstones.


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