First Finds; What are they? - Hooked!!!

[ChefCat]

Post 1/2

Hey all, Chad here. Just moved to the NW and have hit some local areas for rockhounding and am hooked. Ready to get serious and start educating myself in minerology and geology. Going to cheat on the following finds and ask for y'alls opinion. Also wondering what the "gold standard" books to learn about this stuff at a scientific level. I would like to be able to ID rocks, minerals, ore, and learn about various chemical procedures used by mines and/or hobbyists. Any suggestions? Thanks!

1. Platinum Ore Found at a Site Known to Have Platinum - ~5 oz



2. Found At a River Location Known to house Gold. The yellow color has a waxy feel.



3. Cinnabar?



4. Quarts with Gold



5. Very heavy/dense bluish rock with gold flake

 

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[Terry Soloman]

Don't know what you have there, but I LOVE your enthusiasm!

 

[gunsil]

WA is a fine state for rockhounding, OR maybe even better. I googled rock shops and gem and mineral clubs in WA and there are quite a few. I think you ought to look into the clubs, they are great places for beginners to learn. Rock shop folks are usually very knowledgeable and happy to help others learn and they know local clubs.

 

[CoinFetcher]

Where in Washington are you? My favorite rock on site will soon be covered in snow until May or June. If you are in the Seattle Tacoma area, I would very seriously recommend the Des Moines’s, Normandy Park, salt water state park beach areas. I have never found platinum, gold, or silver tied up in stones, but I have found lots of wonderful petrified wood, agates, fossils, and the occasional Jasper arrowhead

 

[Rookster]

Lots of luck and Welcome to Tnet from Mississippi

 

[randazzo1]

Very cool. Second one looks like a nice piece of jasper.

 

[A2coins]

Rock and gem forum might be more helpful . Pretty cool looking rocks Welcome from MI Tommy

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Welcome to the Tnet Forum Cat!

Good advice from Tommy above, you may want to consider posting your thread here... Rocks/Gems

Dave