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If you have access to a diamond saw, cut through it. If there is shiny metal in the middle, you can test for nickel. If it is a meteorite, it will test strongly for nickel. No nickel = not a meteorite.
No there are much more efficient ways to get Lithium ore in other forms I believe. However, miners in the San Diego tourmaline mines were notoriously calm and relaxed, likely due to inhaling powdered lithium particles from blasting tourmaline out of huge pockets. If Lithium interests you (which it does me) I highly recommend this book, https://smile.amazon.com/Lithium-Doctor-Breakthrough-Walter-Brown/dp/1631497901/ref=sr\_1\_3?dchild=1&keywords=lithium+book&qid=1623698932&sr=8-3
waxy luster, conchoidal fracture, blue uneven color, vesicles...
glass, slag glass.
Compare to this... also not rare.
I'm not sure about the rock but your toaster looks like a Proctor Silex 22605. It's a two slot toaster that can be found on amazon and other retail establishments. I hope that helps.
Orbicular rhyolite. A lot of types of it are sold. One called leopardskin jasper (although it’s really rhyolite, not jasper) looks much like yours. Often the color has more light tans in it, though, for the kind called leopardskin.
This sphere seems somewhat close to yours:
https://www.amazon.com/Orbicular-Polished-Multicolor-Rhyolite-Gemstone/dp/B09P8STWSS
I will support this interpretation.
Side note... Don't put that in your mouth... I know of two dyes that can color feldspars... neither of them are fans of the human body.
Then again this seems to be a safe green dyed granite used for countertops...
I think you are barking up the right tree by focusing on the clue that it is cut in a sphere. The number of minerals that aren't a total pain in the butt to do that with, come in large sizes, and could be had at reasonable prices limits the olive green mineral candidates sharply. Serpentine, especially the siberian variety, matches that color and patterning.
Look at these spheres: http://www.mineralminers.com/html/jadsphs.stm
You may just have a particularly well formed and iron rich (dark) crystal.
Epidote can morph into piemontite, which is red.
But looking at the darker greens and the features, I find it more likely that this is serpentine, and the red is iron oxides from the mafic rock, or if there's a mineral in the serpentine group that can get red that I am unaware of.
Example of serpentine together with red minerals:
https://www.amazon.com/Russian-Green-Serpentine-Rasaca-Strand/dp/B08JHCTQLQ
Kinda looks like one of these. I could see Amazon being the place for somebody to buy these bulk and resell them on Etsy as something else for a high price.
It's a fantastic question, especially considering how much we talk about it here. Slag is leftovers from industrial processes i.e. using heat to separate what you want from what you don't want. What you don't want is the slag. Most of the time on here we're looking at iron smelting slag, which is really variable based on the method and time. Prehistoric and medieval stuff (in parts of the world where that happened) is really lumpy and rocky but as blast furnaces were introduced it became steadily glassier (this is a neat video of different kinds of early slag in the UK) and as blast furnaces got better it got to be the black/blue/greenish glass stuff we see a lot of on here. Archaeologists can tell a lot from slag actually! Then there are other categories of ironworking byproduct like hammer scale.
A complication is that some of the more brightly coloured 'slag' we see here is cullet glass, basically industrial leftovers from glassmaking.
I think there are two main reasons that it's all over the place. One that small scale ironworking/smelting was more widespread than folks today think, so just because there wasn't a factory there doesn't mean people weren't doing that stuff. The more important one though is that the stuff was produced on such a massive scale that it got used as fill, in railroad beds, etc etc. and has been getting washed out of and carried away from those as well as from industrial sites for hundreds of years.
Obsidian has been found in Indiana, associated with archaeological sites. Most of that has been sourced to outcrops in Idaho, however, and this has too much waste rock on it to have been transported as a blank core (I would think). Source.
I'm suspecting that you may have travertine, then. Scratch a bit with your steel nail, and then put some vinegar on it. If it's travertine (calcite spring deposits) it will fizz.
Edit: optimistically linking this source on travertine in Kent.
You said you found it, where? Did you buy it or dig it up? Certainly looks to shaped by a mold or chiseled. Doesn't look natural. The coloration reminds me of Bismuth, but I've never seen one that was shaped like that. When you grow your own they look like this If anyone else has any other ideas, feel free to correct me.
I think that might actually be a chert. Chert is close to quartz - they have the same chemical composition (SiO2).
Information: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/109569/chert-and-flint
unfortunately fake like everyone else has said. you can get these for about 60 cents each on amazon: link i’m sorry :( hopefully it wasn’t malicious on the seller’s part.
Amazon. Originally got it for my niece, but once it arrived realized she was way too young and I liked it too much to see it lost and broken. This one is 10 deep, but higher numbers are available for an exponentially increasing price.
Sadly not as my mother who passed gifted it to me. But I do know that they are called "Worry stone"! https://www.amazon.de/CrystalTears-Gemstones-Quartz-Crystal-Healing/dp/B06XS99CLX/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?dchild=1&keywords=steinherz&qid=1610037797&sr=8-2-spons&psc=1&smid=A27EMGMONTYZ9Z&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzTFhMMDFETlMzTUhCJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMzgwNTY0MlFHS0MzSldBWFFGQSZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwNzI5NjU5Mk1PSkoyV1JSRVBNMSZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rdklein.radioactivity&hl=en_US
Here is a app that tests for radioactivity using your cell phone camera. They're actually pretty close to the geiger counter for radioactivity and you don't really need to know much other than if it is radioactive if you're collecting.
You might consider an organizer now so you can label the boxes
As someone else said, the color is artificially induced by dipping it in acid. Which means it was probably purchased at a rock shop or rock and mineral show and dropped there, as you said, maybe bigger piece broke. In its untreated form it looks dull, like tarnished brass, like this.
Yes!! It’s amazing!! Here :)
I use a cheap ($15) diamond tester for rings I find metal detecting. It works good.
https://www.amazon.com/Accuracy-Diamond-Tester-Professional-Jeweler/dp/B06Y2MT175
A specific gravity test is another way. Suspending it with a thread in distilled water on a precise scale and divide that number by the weight. Diamond should be 3.50-3.53
Very similar to the moonstone with tourmaline and feldspar here:
https://www.amazon.com/Sparkling-Moonstone-Tourmaline-Inclusions-Feldspar/dp/B085QNDDR5
However your inclusions I think are galena, not tourmaline; and I believed galena and quartz is also a possibility.
They say Brasso will do it for very small scratches. Otherwise you generally get a pack of polishing cloths and just go from coarse to fine.
Plastic or resin. This is costume stuff. The legitimate sellers will even tell you that. The bubbles, and the mushrooming around the silver part gave it away. I have attached a link to an honest seller that tells you up front it is an "artificial stone". If you like, you can get them from a Chinese costume jeweler for better prices, even they tell you it is plastic or resin.
You are not the first, there hasn't been a week that goes by that some post this type of pendant.
The only volcanic rock that has a chance to look like this is pumice. But pumice doesn't weather/erode like this. The way it is eroding is in concentric patterns, the same way layers erode. That gives another push towards man made (or biologic). One other type of animal that can form these shapes are bryozoans, but they form as fans not lumps.
No. It is fake, even the Manufacture calls it "Made of artificial stones, glass, and allow". Here the link.
This is not real. It either, glass, plastic, or resin. It cheap costume jewelry from China. This stuff get posted here all the time. If you read the actual advertisement from the manufacture, "Made of artificial stones, glass, and allow". Here the link.
I agree, pyrite is even sometimes also used as decorative stone, on internet there are for sale decorative pyrite balls like this:
https://www.amazon.com/HQRP-Crystal-Polished-Natural-Sparkling-Gemstone/dp/B0963P473P
These pendants are actually "artificial stone", glass and plastic. This looks like a plastic polymer. Cut it with a a good knife, or if you can stand the smell of melting plastic, melt it with fire. You can even see that "stone" has an bubbling effect and an indentation around the "copper" mounting. There is an air bubble on the edge near the bottom.
Everything that has this particular look from the shape of of the "rock" and the mounting is manufactured by the same few related companies in China, one such company is the Xi'An Costume Jewelry. Less then scrupulous dealers have been selling these cheap pendants for $$$ and claiming they are real rocks. At best, you might get a actual piece of quartz. Most of the time it's glass, or a plastic polymer
(I added a space to break the links. I am not selling, nor encouraging anybody to buy plastic stuff, it only here for reference)
www .amazon.com/YAKA-Natural-Gemstone-Pendants-Necklace/dp/B07HGS45Q3
www .amazon.com/Gemstone-Pendant-Hexagonal-Crystal-Pendants/dp/B07P72L86N/ref=sr_1_13?keywords=Bulk+Stone+Pendant&qid=1656917040&sr=8-13
//supplyleader.com/product/Bullet-Shape-Gemstone-Pendant-Hexagonal-Chakra-Crystal-Pointed-Quartz-Pendants-Artificial-Stone-with-Storage-Bag-32-Pieces/B07KPBFD5Y
Well ok we were talking about the same thing. After searching a little more I see the whole thing is the Chinese manufactured stuff. This listing is what they look like before the dye wears off. As you can see they have piles of them, all exactly the same.
https://www.amazon.com/BANGONG-Original-Crystals-Minerals-Specimen/dp/B09D37WDPM
I have searched for it but it is out of my budget 💔 but this is a cheaper 5W one
What's your thoughts? ❤️
If it’s a high temp wax, it could very well be hard. In the second pic, though, looks like a waxy surface. And the “inclusions” are not indicative of garnet.
https://www.amazon.com/RED-dopping-stones-LAPIDARY-EnjoyShop777/dp/B079BZR3R6
It comes in sticks like this in the link. I guess the only way to really know is to try to melt it?
I think it is a foldable loupe with a scale printed on the bottom
Something like this: Amazon loupe
Look for radiation meters on Amazon. Here is a good one to get you started. GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter Nuclear Radiation Detector Monitor Dosimeter, White https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071JWB7TJ/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_i_SM509HF0SQPRXJSQZEXV
Welcome! I'm assuming you paid for them. These are not crystals but "massive" forms of the minerals that have been tumbled to polish them. What is important though is that they bring you joy.
Here are some additional resources:
Educational:
Worlds biggest mineral specimen database with a big message board.
National Audubon Society Field Guide to Rocks and Minerals: North America (National Audubon Society Field Guides) https://www.amazon.com/dp/0394502698/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apan_i_4N64V1G5AEX6B3GPSJ43
r/rockhounds
Places to buy mineral specimens
eBay: Look under collectibles. There is a rocks and minerals category.
Etsy
Various dealer websites.
Rock shops and metaphysical shops.
Gem and mineral shows.
Rockhounding.
Hydroton Original Clay Pebbles - 50 Liter | Lightweight Expanded Clay Aggregate Made in Germany https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KYYZCWM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_CCMM8RM4XCRSGN65T98R?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
Amethyst is my birthstone so I use it for its energy and protective effects a lot, I personally find that an amethyst geode has even more accutely powerful effects because it's... raw form. You could definitely sell it, but it might also be nice to keep it as well for how it can charge the environment around you. I highly recommend <em>the crystal bible by Judy Hall</em>. 😁
ba dum tsss 😆 🤘
They are double flared 25 mm / 1" plugs and I think you're right, they look a lot like these
Appreciate the ID!
These are smaller but yeah, that vendor probably made $27.50 on that sale.
I like the three peg acrylic displays but I don't know how big or thick your hearts are...
I'd recommend these. Sturdier, top doesn't pop off unexpectedly. Looks like they're currently backordered on the manufacturer's website.
I found this strange formation on Dendrovouti Islet in the Aegean sea (https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=36.65662&mlon=25.37139#map=19/36.65662/25.37139). The locals told me that's were the name came from Dendro meaning tree because they look like tree roots and vouti/voutia meaning diving because it's a nice place from diving. More pictures:https://imgur.com/a/RysVKdj
I agree!
I just looked on Amazon, and almost the exact same box is available for $59 and it does not say National geographic on it. I think this might be some sort of scam by a company putting National geographic on the label. here is the one I found Imagine $60 for some fake minerals? Such a neat idea ..why put fake minerals and pretend they are healing anyway?
This book has a ton of examples of this sort of thing. They’re from Connecticut, but I don’t see why they wouldn’t be all over North America. Ceremonial Stonework: The Enduring Native American Presence on the Land by Markham Starr
https://www.amazon.com/dp/172060343X/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_3470TMDF6YT22JAEXM59
If you have a scale, you can buy a specific gravity kit to use on your scale. Mineralab.com
Can you see the crystals well enough to tell that they aren't garnet dodecahedrons? Those could look pretty square in cross section.
SUNNYCLUE DIY Multilayer Solar System Bracelet Making Kit Natural Gemstone Universe Galaxy The Nine Guardian Planets Necklace Bracelet Jewelry Making Starter Supplies https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0814MRSPP/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_3KGX42BNFZANNY4TRABF
Bad news, these are very common, you can buy 60 of them on Amazon for $30 , and a lot of them are glass, plastic, or "synthetic crystal". The seller you bought this from probably bought a bulk lot of these and resold them individually and just never knew what it was made of. Given the uniformity of the color, I doubt it's a real crystal, especially since it's nearly identical to a fairly common and cheaply available product. It's still cool though!
Nope,I see several issues. The light reflection shows several scratches in the stone. Early in the video you see a brilliant blue flash as the stone is turned over. You can then see green reflection later on. That rules out Citrine. What this is reminding me of is the Laboratory made "Citrine", glass with a chemical splattering to resemble Citrine. See the link below, but don't waste you money on it, it is glass.
The top left one isn't very telling from the details supplied, but the right one seems like feldspar and the bottom seems to be aventurine with pretty thick fuchsite flakes for that spotted look.
DOESNt seem like a geode to me. They have cavities inside, that one seems filled. I recommend buying this instead. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0186KOIU8/ref=ox_sc_act_image_1?smid=A2BGT40H06CUJN&psc=1
I used a dremel, sth like this https://www.amazon.com/Dremel-4000-6-50-Variable-Speed-Accessories/dp/B002L3RUW0 mine was a lot cheeper though hahah. I traced my patter with a pencil and cut, carved around it. It needs some final touches still but it's nice I suppose.-. Hope you have fun as much as I do
This article is pretty good. It provides a basic overview of some of the methods that can help you identify minerals, which will help with figuring out the rock type. I would suggest buying a hardness kit like this which you should be able to find online or at a hobby shop. The ceramic streak plate is especially helpful.
Found the old tumbler online. I don’t recommend it as you can imagine how unbelievably loud it is with a plastic barrel. Definitely does the trick though! On my last polishing stage of my first batch of rocks and they’ve all lost a ton of weight. I may have mixed diamonds with sandstone though. I’ll be checking hardness for my next batch. Any tips on how to go about that?
Classic Crafts NSI Rock Tumbler Classic, Multicolor https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00000ISUU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glc_fabc_ezl6FbERKFFSX
I'm not sure what the grits I use are called, but they are the Nat Geo grits and I used all in order, including my own burnishing stage. https://www.amazon.ca/National-Geographic-Grit-Refill-Tumbler/dp/B01MRKI4W0/ref=sr_1_13?crid=146M414WXTESQ&dchild=1&keywords=rock+tumbler&qid=1606506749&sprefix=rock%2Caps%2C551&sr=8-13
No need to spend $500 on a UV light.
Hard to go wrong with Simon and Schuster's guide to rocks and minerals
https://www.amazon.com/Simon-Schusters-Guide-Rocks-Minerals/dp/0671244175
There are a ton of different varieties, but the one the guy i live with has is this one
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07M79J8LP/ref=cm_sw_r_em_apa_i_WL0GFb4ZQ01WZ
Im damn near 100% sure yours there is just an old beat up one
There are several mechanical methods. Tumbling is probably the easiest to get started in. Samples of tumblers: http://therockshed.com/tumbler1.html
Then you can get into using more advanced lapidary equipment. Like this as an example: https://www.amazon.com/CabKing-Cabbing-Lapidary-Polisher-CABKING-6V3/dp/B01NAU8SIQ/ref=asc_df_B01NAU8SIQ/?tag=bingshoppinga-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=&hvpos=&hvnetw=o&hvrand=&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=e&hvdev=c&hvd...
Some people use Dremel tools but that is not recommended unless you are carving figures and tons of time.
Then onto faceting, which is a discipline unto itself.
Basically you start out with a course grit and work your way to finer and finer grits removing scratches made by each previous grit till you reach a polishing phase.
There are many resources on how to polish rocks and a search will give you the resources you seek.
5 dollar amazon holla... or it was, I just looked at past purchases prices have risen. Anyways I ordered a Natural Green Aventurine from them and it was real, non dyed now low quality. Bummer to see you got a low quality item. I don't know if you bought this or was a gift. But it is listed what each stone is on the page. yours "Dyed Lapis Lazuli"