🔎 UNIDENTIFIED Jade or Serpentine?

[ToddsPoint]

I found this in the creek near my house. Glacial till. I ground a window and polished it.

Slabbed it and made a 25X18 cab.

Whatever it is, it polished up pretty nice for a rock from the creek by my house.

 

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[tamrock]

Not sure what it is either, but it sure polished up rather pretty. It's fascinating what you might find in all of what the glaciers had deposited all over the upper Midwest.

 

[Clay Diggins]

Serpentine will not take a high polish. It always looks and feels "waxy". Obviously your rock is not serpentine.

I have my doubts that it's jade or jadeite. Typically cutting jade is rough on your equipment and slow. It's the toughest rock so when cutting it will be slow progress and take several more sand/polish steps to bring up the polish without orange peel problems.

If you didn't experience that cutting sequence I'm thinking your rock is more likely to be Chlorite or possibly a Amphibole like Tremolite or Actinolite. The amphiboles include nephrite but there are a lot of other green minerals and rocks associated with the Amphibole group.

A word of caution. Many Serpentines and Amphiboles have considerable asbestos in their composition. You never want to work those rocks dry or barehanded. Run copious water, clean your equipment after use and wear gloves for cleanup. Work safe.

 

[galenrog]

I have to agree with Clay. No visual characteristics of either jade or serpentine. I would suspect one of the many amphiboles, of which several are green.

If there is a rock hounding, or a gem and mineral club near you, one of the members may be able to assist. Some candidates can easily be either ruled out or confirmed by a thorough personal inspection.

 

[Tesorodeoro]

I found this in the creek near my house. Glacial till. I ground a window and polished it.View attachment 2147911View attachment 2147912

Slabbed it and made a 25X18 cab.View attachment 2147914View attachment 2147915View attachment 2147916View attachment 2147917

Whatever it is, it polished up pretty nice for a rock from the creek by my house.

I think neither. But looks good and durable.

 

[ToddsPoint]

Serpentine will not take a high polish. It always looks and feels "waxy". Obviously your rock is not serpentine.

Thanks for the information. My interest in glacial till rocks started with Indian artifacts. I’ve tried to identify the types of rocks they used from the till and why. Only lately have I started looking at all the “other rocks”. So many rocks, so little time!

 

[ToddsPoint]

I have my doubts that it's jade or jadeite. Typically cutting jade is rough on your equipment and slow. It's the toughest rock so when cutting it will be slow progress and take several more sand/polish steps to bring up the polish without orange peel problems.

If you didn't experience that cutting sequence I'm thinking your rock is more likely to be Chlorite

My rock was not difficult to cut or polish. I’ve worked both Alaskan jade and WY jade. The Alaska Jade was the meanest rock I’ve ever worked so I know what you’re talking about. Diamond tools chattered away on it.
I compared my rock to pics of chlorite and it indeed looks like it visually. That in itself is very interesting. Chlorite was used for banner stones, particularly in OH. The OH archaeologists have argued that the use of chlorite shows trade between OH and points east where chlorite is found. If chlorite is available in IL glacial till, it likely is present in OH as well. So much for long distance trade! Just another case of natives being aware of what is available locally and modern arkies not being aware. Thanks again Clay.

 

[ToddsPoint]

Since this chlorite looks like jade, at least somewhat, I cut and polished a disc and bead and mounted it with a Chinese cash coin. Faux IL jade!

 

[ToddsPoint]

I made another pendant with a larger cash coin and braided leather. The same type of rock. And I still have one slab left.

 

[Limitool]

Good looking job.... You got my interest in what you do lately. But I'd have to start from scratch. Looks like a very good hobby.

 

[ToddsPoint]

Good looking job.... You got my interest in what you do lately. But I'd have to start from scratch. Looks like a very good hobby.

Thanks! I like making things. Lapidary, flint knapping, metal engraving, wood work. I’m retired and it keeps me busy. I’ll be firing up the sawmill before long. I have a walnut and a pecan log to mill.

 

[Limitool]

Thanks! I like making things. Lapidary, flint knapping, metal engraving, wood work. I’m retired and it keeps me busy. I’ll be firing up the sawmill before long. I have a walnut and a pecan log to mill.

I too have been retired since 06' at a young age. I got a nice woodshop and like making things also. I'm a half-assed artist and my mind is a dangerous place at times. If I think something up and it's a challenge I'll build it. I posted those 3 poker frames awhile back looking for suggestions on what to do with them.... just HAD to build them...? I make toy boxes of my own design and now have made 100's of them. Some I donate and some I sell. Don't need the money but it's something to do. The last year I've remodeled 60% of my home. Wanted a new look. So cut my own shiplap and made a lot of wooden ceiling beams. All came out great and was fun to do the change.

 

[opalboy]

Those look really nice!

 

[LauraLou56]

I found this in the creek near my house. Glacial till. I ground a window and polished it.View attachment 2147911View attachment 2147912

Slabbed it and made a 25X18 cab.View attachment 2147914View attachment 2147915View attachment 2147916View attachment 2147917

Whatever it is, it polished up pretty nice for a rock from the creek by my house.

Beautifully cut and polished!

 

[LauraLou56]

I made another pendant with a larger cash coin and braided leather. The same type of rock. And I still have one slab left.View attachment 2167919

Beautiful!