What rock, mineral or metal is this?

BlackM00N

Tenderfoot
Mar 31, 2015
5
1
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Hi,

found this while metal detecting on a hill. Got a strong non ferrous signal so magnets do not attract it. It's moderate heavy... a bit heavier than a rock tho. It breaks like a rock (if hammered) and there were many pieces where i found it, bit bigger and smaller than this one.

I would greatly appreciate any tips. I have better res pictures if need.

BM


DSC_0208_1280x851.JPGDSC_0209_1280x851.JPGDSC_0210_1280x851.JPGDSC_0211_1280x851.JPGDSC_0212_1280x851.JPGDSC_0213_1280x851.JPGView attachment 1139533DSC_0215_1280x851.JPG
 

Ty for your answer BurntBear. I thought Galenit at first too but the material is not formed in cubic system and it leaves no marks at all on paper... it rather scratches it like a metal. Tho, color matches Galenit... a shiny metalic gray.

BM
 

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Rub a piece against a unglazed piece of porcelain, what colour do you get?
Can you scratch it with a knife?
 

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i cannot scratch it with a knife, it leaves no mark. On a tile on the other hand, it leaves a dark trail behind. Only on unglazed ones. It is not Magnetite tho... magnets do not stick to it.

BM
 

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Yes, but what colour is the trail it leaves? Black, grey...?
 

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Try a neodynum 52 and see if you get a slight magnetic reaction. Certain things are paramagnetic only and will not react to a regular magnet. If it is paramagnetic, rinse it off real good and drop it in a clear glass and pour some house hold hydrogen peroxide over it and see if small bubbles come off. If so streak a test stone and hit it with a drop of platinum test acid. If it turns white, do the Snoopy dance and go get some more :)
 

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Appears to volcanic in origin and from the description very high in silicate. As to what metalics may be in it to give it a non-ferrous resonse its possible that there is a lot of carbon in the mixture. Almost looks like obsidian or an obsidian like material. Some closer views of the face's may help.
 

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hello,

i was traveling the last week so my answer comes late. sorry for that.
@Eu citzen The trail it leaves is grey, and looks like the line is made of tiny particles.

@ Mitch Dickson i have a big neodymium magnet (190kg pull force) and it does not attract the piece at all. As for the other suggested tests i don't have platinum test acid and truth be spoken i have no idea where to get some.

@DDancer Since my md strongly reacted to it... i think it is some sort of metal or metal ore...

BM
 

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Looks a lot like arsenopyrite we find around here. Does it have a garlic smell when hit with hammer?
 

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it may be a naturally made alloy from a volcanic environment,has a lot of bubble looking bumps and marks might be from a gaseous response from either a naturalalloying from volcanic heat or a hillbilly who was experimenting with alloys---} thats what id be doing:)
 

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