Colorful find left behind

SashiaD

Tenderfoot
Jun 22, 2017
7
2
Arizona
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
These two pieces I found while cleaning up my back yard. I did not think much of them because they looked plain. I was surprised to find that they were very colorful once broken open. I think that the light one is turquoise and as for the other I have not the slightest clue. If you do know I would love to hear what it is. I mean its another wrinkle for my brain and always appreciate the conversation:)
 

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Try to get a more close-up image, and do so outside, in daylight. It shows the colors better.
 

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From the pics, it is hard to say whether they are Turquoise specimens or if the one on the left is Chrysocolla and the one on the right is Amazonite. I have some really nice Turquoise pieces that came from two of the most famous Turquoise Mines in Arizona, one or both of which have been shutdown.


Frank
 

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From the pics, it is hard to say whether they are Turquoise specimens or if the one on the left is Chrysocolla and the one on the right is Amazonite. I have some really nice Turquoise pieces that came from two of the most famous Turquoise Mines in Arizona, one or both of which have been shutdown.


Frank

Would those mines be Bisbee and Morenci?
 

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I am thinking one was the Bisbee and the other was one of Kingman's mines that was shutdown. I have had them for a long time, my friend Rocky who sold them to me passed in 2011 and I can't remember where exactly he said they were from. He was retired/disabled Marine Vet who got his' Geology and Gemology degrees after his service in Vietnam and the Pentagon and knew many of the owners of mines in Arizona, Nevada, California and elsewhere. Before he moved back to Michigan to be close to his' parents because he was dying, he had well over a thousand pounds of Turquoise that came from an assortment of mines in Arizona and well over a million dollars worth of cut gems from all over the world.


Frank
 

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We can rule out amazonite, due to lack of cleavage.
The secondary copper mineral might only be a thin coating, the dendrites could point to manganese-bearing minerals to.

We need better pics to make a qualified guess.:occasion14:
 

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Love the feedback. I am sorry for the delayed response lol. Today tho I took a couple better pictures I mean they are of different parts of the rocks. I lived in Washington up until 2 years ago and I was about as far away from the Canadian Border as I am currently from the Mexican Border. Which is right up against it lol. ( Don't quote me on that still have not quite figured out current distance from Mexico's border :) Never an interest for rock hunting as I do now. I really do love finding out what it is that I have found for my own sake. So all this has just been great. Thank you all!! And especially for taking time to reply to my newbie rants :)
 

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Have u done a hardness test yet? Try scratching with ur fingernail, then a copper penny, then a piece of glass, then a steel knife (stop when one scratches it tho) and let us know the results. Looks like chrysocolla to me but if it is harder it's possibly turquoise. Your pics looks slot like a rough chunk of chrysocolla I just cut up and it's beautiful on the inside
 

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Picture one the color seems wrong for turquoise but right for chrysocolla. Here's a picture of some chrysocollaI found in New Mexico. I have found some similar to the light color rock while hinting amazonite.
The rocks near by had a green like wash resembling yours.

Chrysocolla.jpg
 

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On my 'puter, only the outer rims look right for secondary copper minerals. Looks like quartz in the "core".
See if a knife will scratch it. Also do a streak test. Do so on the freshly broken surfaces.
 

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You should get some of those shaped and polished. It would be a fun project. Would make great pendants, ear rings and rings.
 

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I am so sorry for this delay. I thought I had replied before my internet was down. I did the hardness test for them both it was same that the steel knife was first to scratch. Neither one is a soft rock. The brighter colored one has a waxy luster and is very smooth to the touch excluding freshly broken open. The other lighter one looks like it would be powdery in a way but it too is very hard and possibly contains quartz in it. Not a whole lot but some yes.I would love to make them jewelry just do not have the means to do so, but have other great projects for them.
 

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Chalcedony? A variety of quartz with a waxy luster. Might fit the bill.
 

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