chickenminer 42 Report post Posted March 31, 2013 Okay here is a specimen. I should have given you a size reference in the photos, but the specimen's are about 3" tall. When I test it with acid I get a reaction like it is calcite, but only in places. Almost like it has a calcite coating. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest flintgreasewood Report post Posted March 31, 2013 Dick, I wouldn't have a clue, but they are cool. Are they from your claim? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chickenminer 42 Report post Posted March 31, 2013 Kurt, They are from the Fortymile, but no, not my claims. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Reno Chris 101 Report post Posted March 31, 2013 My guess is Aragonite with some magnesium present that slows down the reaction with HCl. Chris Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chickenminer 42 Report post Posted April 1, 2013 Chris, Aragonite is what I wanted to hear . The fellow that first showed me the source insisted on calling it Citrine but it didn't quite fit. Some samples I have show the radiating pattern and this stuff is too soft for a quartz. Got to admit though, the light reaction to HCI on the sample I tested was confusing. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Chris Ralph Report post Posted April 2, 2013 I've seen stuff almost exactly like that - same color, same radiating narrow crystals. Calcite reacts fast with HCL, and so does aragonite, but any additional magnesium or iron slows the reacction way down.(and that piece does have some iron from the color). Often with dolomite (50 - 50 calcium and magnesium), it requires scratching with a needle to turn the material to powder before it will bubble with acid. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Bob(AK) Report post Posted April 2, 2013 Hi Dick, nice looking specimen. Do you have an untraviolet light?? I have aragonite that is much lighter but is a nice green under short wave, Bob Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chickenminer 42 Report post Posted April 2, 2013 Oh ... good point Bob. Yes, I have UV short, med and long wave light. I'll have to see what it looks like. BTW .... that box of rocks I have for you sitting here ( I know, I'm terrible) has a couple nice specimens of this aragonite. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Geowizard 122 Report post Posted April 6, 2013 Dick, I have a Keene acid test kit from WAY back. Citrine is Quartz SiO4 and would not be affected by hydrochloric acid. Aragonite is a carbonate and would definitely react with the expected fizzing. This is just a field test. Is it coated? Coated with what? Is it a mix of something? If so, what? the questions continue... Gemologists use a hand-held gem scope or spectroscope that uses incoming light to make essentially a rainbow of different colors with interference patterns. Gemstones all have identifying finger prints according to the unique spectrum. My wife used one when she was in the gemstone biz. In this case, it doesn't look like any sizeable stones are available for spectroscopic viewing. Thirdly is elemental analysis using an AA spectrometer. It is costly, but an assay lab can do a 30 plus elemental sweep and help define more exactly what you have. This involves destruction of the sample though! - Geowizard Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rabbitt46 0 Report post Posted June 5, 2013 This involves destruction of the sample though! - Geowizard I hate it when they say that. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
