✅ SOLVED Serpentine and gold ??

Tizzy

Jr. Member
Jul 8, 2017
93
76
East Texas
Detector(s) used
Tracker IV Bounty Hunter
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting

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To me the photo doesn't look like serpentine, and the gold looks like pyrite. But that's from a photo, have someone that knows look at it. Even if it's not gold, it's an interesting find. According to the Oregon Geological Survey book, serpentine is formed on the bottom of the ocean. Gold does not appear in the serpentine its self, but in bands located between the serpentine. The bands can be close together or miles apart.
 

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Tizzy, the pictures are not ideal for mineral and rock identification.

An item obvious is the rock has been rounded, such as tumbling in a creek bed.

The face does not appear smooth, but instead medium cource in roughness.

Mineral identification composing the rock does not look easily discernable. We have color, relative harness, association of mineral that compose the rock, etc.

In relation to your initial mineral and elemental make up - a lot can be determined by location of find.

Each geographic region is dominated by its sedimentary and intrusive-extrusive history. Geologist are keen on this for aid in rock and minerals thst are possible in the region they are in.

So may I ask, is the rock from East Texas? And does the weathering and rounding relate to other rocks around it showing stream bed rounding?

Next, as mentioned rocks and minerals have select associations. Meaning the mineral makeup are from mineral commonly seen composing the rock matrix and common conditions of precipitaion/mineral and rock formation

Serpentines are mostly related to post igneous formation called metamorphic minerals. Gold in turn is associated with the hydrothermal latter elements to form minerals and pure element deposites from principally granites and diorites.

Please let me know the general region the rock was found at.

Gold is not typically found in domains where gold has not had a history of discoveries.

Thanks
 

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You are correct and I will make a concerted effort to post better and in that, make picture translate the object I'm photographing. I do not mean to waste anyone's time. I give you guys mad props! I am new to this and my excitement has me carried away at times.

I do say, I do not factor in n area of from where I found something. I am of the belief you can find nearly every thing in almost any place. No matter how it got there. That is not how you guys work. I apologize for my lack of understanding I am working on it . I had no idea the amount of material that has to be learned. Help from kind patient people like you and EU that critique and teach at the same time. I much appreciate you .

I did not fecicously withhold information from you guys. However in my blissful ignorance I neglected ( not really blissful) to tell you that the piece was found in a driveway in East Texas. The rock was brought in by the truckload. It's been a long time ago and I do not know from where. I do believe it's sime how related to lava or is lava rocks?? But I would be basing that from looking on line. I can't 100% say the source is reliable. That's why I was extatic to find this sight with you guys' help thought I could learn some.

I say it's related to lava because of the piece I am posting with this reply. I am not going to try to give my uneducated guess. I really would like to hear what you have to say.

Thank you for your time and attention. I promise I'll get better
 

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For my understanding, is the rounded rock show in your first post the only rock and minerals to identify, and in your second post are those all items from your web search?

Or are one or more of your second post also rocks you seek to identify?

Thanks
 

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They all were found in the same location. Here in East Texas, out in the country.

An identification of both would be, well recieved. I am not able to rightly use the second pics on the second post as my evidence, if I do not know what it is.

You are awesome, thank you much!!

n identification of both would be well recieved.
 

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Hi Tizzy!
The light colored rock in your first post shows stream bed surface rounding by tumbling type abrasion, and now having a semi-course surface roughness.

The rock as a whole appears to be very well cemented sandstone, that exhibits extra hardness by additional post deposition silica cementation between the quartz sand grains than typical. There is also a possibly the rock is a quartzite (metamorphosed sandstone), with the extra hardness observed derived through exposure to past heat and pressure conditions that enhanced the fusing of the sand grains together.

The yellow colored sections are likely iron oxide mineral precipitated/formed over feldspar or altered feldspar minerals.

Sandstone and quartzite are typical country rock of road surfacing and like commercial value.

In the first post I do not see any valuable or special minerals within the rock.

I hope this helps in understanding the identification of the first post rounded rocks.
 

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It doesn't quite look like serpentine. Serpentine is basically a igneous material that water has been added to, chemically, and then it turns into the serpentine. So it started out as igneous, ultramafic rock in the land of gold and heavy metals, and with the water added, now it's serpentine. With that said. It doesn't especially look like serpentine. That doesn't mean it's not gold. And gold does occur with and in pyrite. You should try to find a rock shop around for someone to take a look at it. You could also pulverize some and see if the gold pans out, or is attracted to a magnet and leaves on its own.
 

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It doesn't quite look like serpentine. Serpentine is basically a igneous material that water has been added to, chemically, and then it turns into the serpentine. So it started out as igneous, ultramafic rock in the land of gold and heavy metals, and with the water added, now it's serpentine. With that said. It doesn't especially look like serpentine. That doesn't mean it's not gold. And gold does occur with and in pyrite. You should try to find a rock shop around for someone to take a look at it. You could also pulverize some and see if the gold pans out, or is attracted to a magnet and leaves on its own.

The light colored rocks are igneous. Quartz and feldspar.
 

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Mica is a usual suspect, not saying it is, but it's good to rule out.
 

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Can you wet your original rock and take an outdoor image?

That's the best lighting for most photography.
 

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Yes I lost the daylight today. But I will do tomorrow.

Thank you much!
 

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More pics

Better I hope!!
 

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Exact same place

Hi EU, Geochem and everyone! I hope pics do not disappoint. These are from same are. Beside each other, in fact. I know they are some deferences in there ( well, I think I know) but pretty still the same. I have more these were just with me .

They are all 2 inches plus in length and beyond a few minor exceptiins.
I would enjoy hearing your input!
 

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Any improvements on pics?

Are the pics better? Is there enough light?
 

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I could be wrong but the original rock for identification appears to be a form of compressed sandstone possibly with Quartzite in it. The latter rocks appear to be Fluorite and/or some Quartz.


Frank
 

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In the last 8 samples you presented it looks like you have nice mineral keepers of crystal quartz, milky quartz, and potentially fluorite. A nice start to your mineral and rock collection.

The attached shows basic physical-based tests to identify minerals.

The Mohs hardness is the simplest. The streak tests on rough porcelain is helpful as additional test data for many minerals.

eeeb7138-1f52-4ab7-a505-2ca72114ed89.pngslide_9.jpg
 

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