Another tiny... something...

[tekknoir]

Don't ask me how I find the tiniest things in existence, it's a gift, lol. I don't have a proper scale on hand, but the stone is about 7mm, corner to corner at the longest. I was thinking maybe a partial crinoid or some sort of arthropod, but the underside is dimpled sort of like volcanic rock, so maybe it's just a feature of the rock and nothing more?

 

I'll try to add more details when I get home.

 

Found in Doña Ana county, New Mexico.

[Mahnmut]

Hi Tekknoir,

looks like botryoidal hematite to me.

The side with the concavities is a negative of the layer below.

Nice little mineral specimen.

Best Regards,

J

Edited February 3, 2023 by Mahnmut
spelling

[debivort]

One test for hematite is to rub it along a piece of white porcelain, like the unglazed portion of the bottom of a mug. Hematite will leave a reddish line. This is called a streak test if you want to look it up.

[tekknoir]

26 minutes ago, debivort said:

One test for hematite is to rub it along a piece of white porcelain, like the unglazed portion of the bottom of a mug. Hematite will leave a reddish line. This is called a streak test if you want to look it up.

It sure did! Hematite it is. Thanks, guys!

[Mahnmut]

Hi again,

It being hematite does not exclude fossils by the way, there are famous "hematitizized" goniatites from the devonian of morocco.  Botryoidal structure does explain your find though, I think.

Best Regards,

J

 

[tekknoir]

1 hour ago, Mahnmut said:

Hi again,

It being hematite does not exclude fossils by the way, there are famous "hematitizized" goniatites from the devonian of morocco.  Botryoidal structure does explain your find though, I think.

Best Regards,

J

 

Good point! I'll keep that in mind. Thanks again for the identification!