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Copper Pseudomorph after a Scorpion


DPS Ammonite

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I saw an interesting modern “fossil”, a copper pseudomorph after a scorpion owned Flagg Mineral Foundation member, Bill Yedowitz. It will be featured in an upcoming special edition of Rock and Gem Magazine.

 

Native copper and copper minerals sometimes replace and coat organic matter left in mines. I have seen pictures of copper replacing mining timbers and wood tool handles. I have heard that a crushed prehistoric Native America was found in an ancient mine in the SW US. Because the bones were replaced with malachite, it was named the Malachite Man and reburied.  Another version of the story might be found here: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moab_Man

 

Although too young to be a fossil yet, older fossils might be found that answer an earlier TFF post about whether or not native copper could be a fossil. @Herb @Auspex

 

 

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My goal is to leave no stone or fossil unturned.   

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5 minutes ago, Ludwigia said:

Amazing! How old do they figure this is?

It is supposedly post mining. 

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My goal is to leave no stone or fossil unturned.   

See my Arizona Paleontology Guide    link  The best single resource for Arizona paleontology anywhere.       

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Mouse could be ok, scorpion is not ok!

 

This is artificially made: Electroplating of copper onto scorpion coated with some conductive material. Botryoidal shape and accumulation of copper at the tips of the specimen is typical for electroplating such things!

 

Pseudomorph is also not correct, seems to be an epimorph. Age is ok, tough :D.

 

Maybe even the site is "ok": Just look for a pool with copper-bearing water at/in an old mine, take a conductively coated, dead scorpion and wire it to e.g. a car battery as cathode; use a lead sheet as anode. Wait some time, then go harvesting...

 

Franz Bernhard

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