My little finds (Dont laugh too much)

[Scooter268]

My little finds (Don't laugh too much)

I live in an area that has no rocks, hills, or other awesome rock formations. I live in south eastern Louisiana, basically the river delta between two main rivers (Mississippi and Achafalya).

I got into rock-hounding after I went to Hiddenite, N.C. a few years back. Read books on geology, minerals and gemstones. I have a little rock collection as well.

Now, we have no anything with rocks, however, rocks down here it's refered to as limestone no matter what. At my place of work, we have it in the back and it's used for driveways etc.. but it's really not limestone, it's more like Quartzite kind of rocks. So, I have an eyef for rocks (I think) and I'll share some of these small finds. Maybe get an opinion on what they are.

Quartz w/ Cintrine? 1st two 2 pics



Quartz crystal


Different angle


This little matrix- Quartz and Calcite? It looks like snow


Different rock from above


The.following is quite intriguing, any comments on what or make up pf this next rock. It does have a cool blue color to it. All pics are the same rock at different angles


Tiny geode in tiny rock (same as above)


Close ups (same rock as above)

 

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[Eu_citzen]

Try taking the pictures dry, first of. As a first thought I would guess quartz or calcite, despite the wet stones.

 

[Scooter268]

^^Okay^^ I'm new at what makes a good picture for one to look at and give their advice on what it could be.

 

[Darrow]

Try googling Louisiana rough opal, maybe it could be this.

 

[Scooter268]

I did research on what little stuff we could have. But the main color of the stones sold by dump truck loads are gray with some having black and quartz in it. These rocks are not native to my part of the state, actually no rocks are. Louisiana opal and palm wood is found like 4-6hrs north of my location.

 

[Darrow]

Looks soft, I think EU is right on with calcite

 

[Scooter268]

With my little bit of knowledge from the books I read, I agree as well.

It's not scratchable by nail but the fuzzy snow like stuff is brittle that little effort is needed to break it off.

Now is Calcite only in white or in nature could it be found in different hues. Some of these little stones has blue hues of color viens running through them ( quartz and blue colored parts as well but compacted) The blue colored parts are hard and will scratch a softer rock.

Forgot to mention, a few of these rocks here have bubble holes (Like it was in a malleable state and a bubble would have popped).

I thank y'all (yes we use that) for the responses.

 

[StoneWhisper]

The pale blue or the more solid mass stone is that of a Thunder egg.. aka Chalcedony. Which can contain, agate, quartz etc in a limestone outer shell. If the crystals within the pockets are more rounded (nodules) instead of pointed.. this is a sure sign of Chalcedony.
Do not let anyone else tell you that your pics are not worthy. These are some of the best examples of some extreme close up I've seen in a long time.

 

[Scooter268]

Thanks^^ All taken with an Android cell phone with Macro option on.

 

[austin]

Nobody is going to make fun of your finds. Really beautiful quartz with pyrite, some calcite too. Really nice little samples...

 

[Scooter268]

Thanks^^ I would hope no one would but title is more for "Awe, the Cajun found himself a pretty rock" (like jokingly).

I saw that too. I've been wanting to get a jeweler's loupe (sp?) to better examine the structure of the mineral. I have a geode (small tennis ball sized) that is full of little points of quartz that I would love to examine. (Got it from a local festival, guy had a mobile flume there with seeded soil of course).

Maybe I have the winning lottery numbers tonight and I'll have a getaway home somewhere in N.C. soon (wishful thinking)

 

[Eu_citzen]

Here's a little tip: calcite will bubble and fizzle in contact with acid. If you have vinegar you can try it.

As for photos, many do struggle with that. If you want to get better, try first with a white paper as a background.
Take a picture as to show the hole specimen as good as possible. If you can, set a high "F" number, gives a larger area in focus.
I usually suggest taking a picture outdoors, for less trouble. But only if it isn't to dark.

Here's what a decent picture might look like:

 

[DDancer]

You might try Arkansas for someplace closer to home

My thoughts on what your looking at are a mixture of chalcedony with micro fine quartz crystals. Possibly some citrine as well. Calcite is another possibility but your observation on the hardness tells me no. Fine crystalline calcite does not travel well and you say your finding it in decorative gravel kinda confirms its quartz nature.
I've found a lot of interesting stuff in decorative gravels and road gravels~ jaspers, agates, granites with corundum, tourmaline and fossils. It can be a grab bag of goodies Some of my cool stuff came outta the hotel decorations at the places I've stayed over the years while out having a smoke and fossicking around a bit. Sometimes there is no need to go far from home.

 

[Scooter268]

Oh yeah^^^ actually, I'm planning a trip there for next year. From Crater of Diamonds to Hot Springs

 

[BurntBear]

Nice specimens! Congrats!