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 Post subject: Please help identifying this thing
PostPosted: Tue Mar 05, 2019 4:14 pm 
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Hey all, this is my fist post here and i was wondering if you could help me identify the following mineral/gem/glass/stone thing :D

I usually find interesting things when going for a walk and this time was no different. I found this red translucent mineral looking thing with the following properties:

- "almost" cuts the glass (when i drag it across the glass, deep grooves get created on the glass while the mineral stays unchanged, i'm sure that if enough force is applied, i could cut the glass)
- if i place a bright light on the other side, some of the light gets through displaying red color

I have not performed any additional tests because i'm a complete beginner when it comes to stone identification, so please bear with me.

Also, pictures are terrible. It's really hard to take pictures of such a shinny object.

(click on the pictures for full size)

Image

Image

Image

Thank you!


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 Post subject: Re: Please help identifying this thing
PostPosted: Tue Mar 05, 2019 5:08 pm 
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Welcome Random.
Just as a sidebar, anything of equal hardness will scratch itself. Glass will scratch glass.

Perhaps Stephen or David might have some insight into this. :smt112
Calling all Challeners!


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 Post subject: Re: Please help identifying this thing
PostPosted: Tue Mar 05, 2019 5:58 pm 
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That is true, but this does not "feel" like glass (feels heavier, colder) and on the edges it does not look like a broken glass (and is also not rounded and not sharp like glass). Hard to describe. Is there any test to check whether this is glass or not? Try scratching it using some glass?
Another shot

Image
And another

Image
(mod note--combined three posts here)


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 Post subject: Re: Please help identifying this thing
PostPosted: Tue Mar 05, 2019 6:54 pm 
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The top looks like a garnet/mica schist, but the side doesn't at all. a garnet mica schist would have lumps of garnet crystals in a mica surrounding, that would pretty easily flake. Here is an example: https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/ ... 1788977931

But with the sides the way they are, I am guessing glass. Perhaps a close up of the edges would help?


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 Post subject: Re: Please help identifying this thing
PostPosted: Tue Mar 05, 2019 7:37 pm 
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Another one for the "Slagology-On-Line" website. :lol:


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 Post subject: Re: Please help identifying this thing
PostPosted: Tue Mar 05, 2019 11:48 pm 
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Actually I am leaning toward garnet. Is it attracted to a magnet?


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 Post subject: Re: Please help identifying this thing
PostPosted: Wed Mar 06, 2019 12:49 am 
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It appears to be a pegmatitic kind of tourmaline , rubelite probably, pegmatite are mostly igneous rocks and could be in any shape.


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 Post subject: Re: Please help identifying this thing
PostPosted: Wed Mar 06, 2019 5:56 am 
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dchallener wrote:
Actually I am leaning toward garnet. Is it attracted to a magnet?


No, there is no visible attraction.


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 Post subject: Re: Please help identifying this thing
PostPosted: Wed Mar 06, 2019 9:05 am 
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I managed to capture a nicer image. Also, the glass does not leave any mark on it.

Image


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 Post subject: Re: Please help identifying this thing
PostPosted: Thu Mar 07, 2019 2:42 pm 
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I'm still going with the "slag" club. :wink:


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 Post subject: Re: Please help identifying this thing
PostPosted: Thu Mar 07, 2019 6:10 pm 
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if you are near NC, or can send a piece of it to me or Stephen, we can identify it for you.


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