strange metal rock?

[pjroo33]

I have no idea what this is. I'm sure somebody out there can help....

 

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[baspinall]

I aslo saw this rock and it's as heavy as lead?

 

[pjroo33]

Yes it is a very heavy rock. Brian... How's your dog holding up?

 

[baspinall]

Not doing to good. She's real calm at the moment.

 

[littleneckhalfshell]

Galena maybe? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galena
Interesting that one response said "heavy as lead" because basically that is what Galena is, an ore of lead. (note, from the article, Galena can carry silver with it)

 

[pjroo33]

Galena maybe? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galena
Interesting that one response said "heavy as lead" because basically that is what Galena is, an ore of lead. (note, from the article, Galena can carry silver with it)

It sure does look like Galena but I'm wondering what it's doing in Pennsylvania 5 inches under the ground? It seems like you might be right though.

 

[pjroo33]

I read online that Galena is supposed to streak a color similar to pencil lead. Turns out this rock doesn't streak at all.

 

[Excavator]

Here's one tentatively identified as silicon. Has a similar color. Except they describe it as "extremely light weight".
http://www.coasttocoastam.com/gen/page2513.html?theme=light

 

[cam9457]

If you found silver, WE NEED TO GO BACK TOMORROW!!!!! There is a lot of mica all over there, does mica come in one solid piece like that though?

 

[BioProfessor]

Galena does streak dark gray. What did you use for a streak plate? Surprisingly, the underside of your toilet lid works pretty well (if it's white), if not that, buy white porcelain bathroom 4x4 tile and use the back.

Keep us posted.

Daryl

 

[DJ_Quinn]

Galena does streak dark gray. What did you use for a streak plate? Surprisingly, the underside of your toilet lid works pretty well (if it's white), if not that, buy white porcelain bathroom 4x4 tile and use the back.

Keep us posted.

Daryl

LOL Daryl, should I ask how you figured that one out?

 

[BioProfessor]

Poor college student that couldn't afford a real streak plate.

Daryl

 

[pjroo33]

Galena does streak dark gray. What did you use for a streak plate? Surprisingly, the underside of your toilet lid works pretty well (if it's white), if not that, buy white porcelain bathroom 4x4 tile and use the back.

Keep us posted.

Daryl

I will try and streak my toilet tonight

I know this might sound far fetched, but is it possible, (if this is Galena), that it might have been used in the casting of Revolutionary War musket balls by being melted down since it is primarily lead. This was found on the site of a Revolutionary War encampment. Could it have been dropped by someone? I don't think Galena is common to Pennsylvania and I found 3 musketballs very nearby. Just a thought!

 

[bakergeol]

There are some old lead mines(galena) in Pa. Naming the county in which you found it may help.
By the way I have found galena in nearby Ohio in plowed Indian mound locations(does not occur naturally in Ohio).
In addition to streak check hardness- galena has a hardness of 2.5 and will not scratch a COPPER Penny.
copper penny hardness 3
knife blade hardness 5
window glass hardness 5.5

Actually the specimen does not appear to have cubic cleavage which you would expect to see in broken specimens of galena.

Perhaps this is arensopyrite which is also found in Pa. See any twinning(small lines) on the surface of the crystal? hardness 5.5 to 6- will scratch a knive blade and perhaps glass.

http://www.mindat.org/gallery.php?min=305


George

 

[littleneckhalfshell]

""Actually the specimen does not appear to have cubic cleavage""

I don't know about that, maybe not a lot of cubic cleavage features, but there does seem to be some from what I can see in the picture. Not all specimens of a mineral will have the 'museum quality' aspects of the class of material. A clearer picture and from a few different angles would help

 

[Angelo]

At one time I lived in Pocatello, Idaho. There is a fertilizer plant that has a byproduct which I believe is called "Phosphorus Slag" which much resembles your posted one.

The slag was used on road and streets until they found that it had some radioactive readings. It is also used in concrete as an aggregate and as an added component in some steels.

Any of those industries in the area you found it?

The stuff is as heavy as lead and it resembles polished silver.

Tony

 

[pjroo33]

There are some old lead mines(galena) in Pa. Naming the county in which you found it may help.
By the way I have found galena in nearby Ohio in plowed Indian mound locations(does not occur naturally in Ohio).
In addition to streak check hardness- galena has a hardness of 2.5 and will not scratch a COPPER Penny.
copper penny hardness 3
knife blade hardness 5
window glass hardness 5.5

Actually the specimen does not appear to have cubic cleavage which you would expect to see in broken specimens of galena.

Perhaps this is arensopyrite which is also found in Pa. See any twinning(small lines) on the surface of the crystal? hardness 5.5 to 6- will scratch a knive blade and perhaps glass.

http://www.mindat.org/gallery.php?min=305


George

It was found in Montgomery County PA

 

[pjroo33]

""Actually the specimen does not appear to have cubic cleavage""

I don't know about that, maybe not a lot of cubic cleavage features, but there does seem to be some from what I can see in the picture. Not all specimens of a mineral will have the 'museum quality' aspects of the class of material. A clearer picture and from a few different angles would help

I'll try and add better pictures tonight.

 

[pjroo33]

At one time I lived in Pocatello, Idaho. There is a fertilizer plant that has a byproduct which I believe is called "Phosphorus Slag" which much resembles your posted one.

The slag was used on road and streets until they found that it had some radioactive readings. It is also used in concrete as an aggregate and as an added component in some steels.

Any of those industries in the area you found it?

The stuff is as heavy as lead and it resembles polished silver.

Tony

I'm actually not sure if those industries are around here.

 

[cam9457]

There was a large factory/mill of some type within a very short distance around 1900 or so but very little about the place is known, including what it produced. There was an old asbestos plant a few miles away? The area did have a good number of limestone kilns and quarries?