Johnny676767 Posted January 6, 2018 Share Posted January 6, 2018 (edited) Hello, I am a new member as of today but have been reading for a while. My son and I have recently gotten into rock collecting. We haven’t gone fossil collecting yet but hope to do so soon. We found these in Inland Southern California in the foothills of the Big Bear area. The site was next to a river or what’s left of it this time of year anyway. I have tried to rule out pseudofossils and different types of rocks. These also remind me of what a ranger described to me as jellyfish fossils while visiting the Bristlecone Pine area in CA. Similar samples were also on display. The second (larger rust colored spotting) might be igneous but I believe the first is sedimentary. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks. Edited January 6, 2018 by Johnny676767 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockwood Posted January 6, 2018 Share Posted January 6, 2018 Looks like pyrite. There are some poorly formed, or weathered, larger crystals near the centers. They are surrounded by smaller crystals and concretion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ludwigia Posted January 6, 2018 Share Posted January 6, 2018 I agree that the first is sedimentary, perhaps a marly limestone, and that the second appears to be igneous. There are no fossils to be seen in them however. Greetings from the Lake of Constance. Roger http://www.steinkern.de/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockwood Posted January 7, 2018 Share Posted January 7, 2018 They both look like sandstone to me. Perhaps metamorphosed ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miocene_Mason Posted January 7, 2018 Share Posted January 7, 2018 Well I’m gonna muddy the water but I think it’s an igneous rock, perhaps something like diabase, stained with iron. I find a similar rock ‘round my area. Not a mineral expert though, what’s your take @ynot? edit: not ruling out sandstones, simply adding another suggestion. I have seen similar bluestone sandstone in the Catskill fm. “...whilst this planet has gone cycling on according to the fixed law of gravity, from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been and are being evolved.” ~ Charles Darwin Happy hunting, Mason Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caldigger Posted January 7, 2018 Share Posted January 7, 2018 Metamorphosed Schist. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ynot Posted January 7, 2018 Share Posted January 7, 2018 6 minutes ago, WhodamanHD said: Well I’m gonna muddy the water but I think it’s an igneous rock, perhaps something like diabase, stained with iron. I find a similar rock ‘round my area. Not a mineral expert though, what’s your take @ynot? edit: not ruling out sandstones, simply adding another suggestion. I have seen similar bluestone sandstone in the Catskill fm. It could be any of the three classes of rock. I think this is one of those pieces that needs to be examined in hand to be sure of what it is. I suggest taking it to a local rock club or university geology department, and let someone look at it in person. 2 Darwin said: " Man sprang from monkeys." Will Rogers said: " Some of them didn't spring far enough." My Fossil collection - My Mineral collection My favorite thread on TFF. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tidgy's Dad Posted January 7, 2018 Share Posted January 7, 2018 Basalt with iron staining, for me. Life's Good! Tortoise Friend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ludwigia Posted January 7, 2018 Share Posted January 7, 2018 I thought we are looking at 2 different specimens? Greetings from the Lake of Constance. Roger http://www.steinkern.de/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockwood Posted January 7, 2018 Share Posted January 7, 2018 1 hour ago, Ludwigia said: I thought we are looking at 2 different specimens? If we aren't it's one fine example of an optical illusion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny676767 Posted January 7, 2018 Author Share Posted January 7, 2018 Sorry for the confusion. These are two different examples. Also, the first is grainy (sandy) and flakes off rather easily, which is why I mentioned in the original post I thought the first was sedimentary. The second is much harder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockwood Posted January 7, 2018 Share Posted January 7, 2018 I sort of assumed that the first example was more weathered and that the second an abraded example of the same. It could be a bias that comes from collecting in my area however. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tidgy's Dad Posted January 7, 2018 Share Posted January 7, 2018 Two different specimens, but one rock type, I feel. Life's Good! Tortoise Friend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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