Red rock with crystals inside. Anybody?

[G Freeman]

Don't know what crystals are in this rock. Anybody have a guess? Thanks.

 

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[shaman15771]

Could it be red quartz? Doesn't look quite right. But I apparently have every color of quartz there is, and you're pretty close to me. Need a close up.

 

[BurntBear]

I almost want to say that it's a Garnet variety. Very interesting specimen! The third photo shows good crystal structure.

Awesome find Glen!!!

 

[G Freeman]

Shaman15771 you click on the picture for a closeup that may not be much better with this old camera I have.

 

[G Freeman]

shaman15771 I know what you mean. Me too.

 

[Jim in Idaho]

It definitely looks cubic, so probably not quartz. We need DDancer to check in. It may be garnet, but the lack of color in some crystals bothers me. Maybe it's topaz.
Jim

 

[DDancer]

Rhombic structure, not a quartz or garnet in my opinion. Topaz? hrm. You'll have to do a hardness test, knife and quartz. My thoughts it is some red variety of calcite. It appears to have some translucency. Knife scratches it calcite. Love the color.

 

[G Freeman]

Rhombic structure, not a quartz or garnet in my opinion. Topaz? hrm. You'll have to do a hardness test, knife and quartz. My thoughts it is some red variety of calcite. It appears to have some translucency. Knife scratches it calcite. Love the color.

Thanks DDancer. Got the old knife out and it put a scratch on one of the crystals I can't wipe off so you nailed it calcite. Looking at it through loop the color is orange red. Maybe rare calcite. LOL.

 

[Jim in Idaho]

I'd like to see pics of that lit up with a UV light. Nice specimen.
Jim

 

[BurntBear]

I noticed the Rhombic structure on it and thought it was pretty unique! Neat color.

 

[DDancer]

UV would be pretty neat Seen a lot of colors for calcites that one is very nice. As to rarity *shrugs* depends on local. Good stuff.

 

[G Freeman]

UV would be pretty neat Seen a lot of colors for calcites that one is very nice. As to rarity *shrugs* depends on local. Good stuff.

DDancer I tried UV light and its purple and the rock was purple under UV purple light so I did not see Flourescent from this rock. Just turned purple. Head scratching time again? Thanks

 

[Flick420]

I would say skeletal or Cathedral variety of quartz, the red is probably from iron. i would try and locate more similar specimens

 

[Jim in Idaho]

Lack of fluorescence in calcite isn't definitive. Some calcite doesn't fluoresce. Usually, manganese is the activator that causes calcite top fluoresce. It also requires another metal in the calcite as a co-activator, usually lead.
Jim

 

[BurntBear]

Yes, if the red is from iron; it would not fluoresce. Also, he already determined that it is softer than Quartz.

 

[G Freeman]

Lack of fluorescence in calcite isn't definitive. Some calcite doesn't fluoresce. Usually, manganese is the activator that causes calcite top fluoresce. It also requires another metal in the calcite as a co-activator, usually lead.
Jim

Thanks Jim, I needed to know that. Very informative.

 

[Buckshotnc]

Looks like rose quartz to me.

 

[Jim in Idaho]

Looks like rose quartz to me.

Knife blade won't scratch quartz, Buck...has to be something softer. Crystals don't look hexagonal, either.
Jim

 

[Eu_citzen]

To confirm calcite you can drop on a bit of acid, calcite will bubble and fizzle. Usually I suggest vinegar or some other not to strong acid.

To me it looks monoclinic. Not sure what it could be.

 

[G Freeman]

To confirm calcite you can drop on a bit of acid, calcite will bubble and fizzle. Usually I suggest vinegar or some other not to strong acid.

To me it looks monoclinic. Not sure what it could be.

Eu_citzen I tried vinegar on the red rock and did not bubble or fizzle. Thanks for the idea.