mountaindrowner Posted June 4, 2013 Share Posted June 4, 2013 Hello everyone! First post here and only been rockhounding for about 2 weeks now!I was out at a nature trail when I started following an old dried up creek (very small) and started finding alot of these along the edges of the creek bed. They were pretty translucent and crystalline: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coco Posted June 4, 2013 Share Posted June 4, 2013 Hi, Photos are a little bit vague and the bright brightness prevent me from seeing well, but I wonder if it would not be about gypsum. If it is there, you can cross off it with your nail so much this rock is soft. ---------------------- OUTIL POUR MESURER VOS FOSSILES : ici Pareidolia : here Ma bibliothèque PDF 1 (Poissons et sélaciens récents & fossiles) : ici Ma bibliothèque PDF 2 (Animaux vivants - sans poissons ni sélaciens) : ici Mâchoires sélaciennes récentes : ici Hétérodontiques et sélaciens : ici Oeufs sélaciens récents : ici Otolithes de poissons récents ! ici Un Greg... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mountaindrowner Posted June 4, 2013 Author Share Posted June 4, 2013 (edited) It is a soft rock, some parts i can scratch with my nail, some I cant.Heres another photo: Edited June 4, 2013 by mountaindrowner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scylla Posted June 4, 2013 Share Posted June 4, 2013 I agree with Coco, it looks a lot like gypsum. Try to scratch a piece with you fingernail, if it scratches, then it is gypsum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mountaindrowner Posted June 4, 2013 Author Share Posted June 4, 2013 Is it possible to tumble gypsum?How do I clean it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
painshill Posted June 4, 2013 Share Posted June 4, 2013 (edited) Yes, I would say it's rock gypsum (certainly not quartz). It's moderately soluble in water (more so at lower temperatures), so if you tumble it then it's gonna trend towards a rounded shape. Brushing it in warm or hot water with a little soap shouldn't hurt. Edited June 4, 2013 by painshill Roger I keep six honest serving-men (they taught me all I knew);Their names are What and Why and When and How and Where and Who [Rudyard Kipling] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scylla Posted June 4, 2013 Share Posted June 4, 2013 Because it is so soft, tumbling it will yield a very nice white powder Gentle rinse with water and pat it dry to clean it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coco Posted June 4, 2013 Share Posted June 4, 2013 "Tumble gypsum" ? I'm french, and I don't understand, sorry Gypsum is a very soft rock. Just use water and a cloth or a sponge for the dishes, because any object is going to to cross off it Coco ---------------------- OUTIL POUR MESURER VOS FOSSILES : ici Pareidolia : here Ma bibliothèque PDF 1 (Poissons et sélaciens récents & fossiles) : ici Ma bibliothèque PDF 2 (Animaux vivants - sans poissons ni sélaciens) : ici Mâchoires sélaciennes récentes : ici Hétérodontiques et sélaciens : ici Oeufs sélaciens récents : ici Otolithes de poissons récents ! ici Un Greg... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auspex Posted June 4, 2013 Share Posted June 4, 2013 "Tumble gypsum" ? ... "Tumbling" is the lapidary practice of polishing stones by means of rolling (with an electric motor, for days) a round container containing the stones and an abrasive. "There has been an alarming increase in the number of things I know nothing about." - Ashleigh Ellwood Brilliant “Try to learn something about everything and everything about something.” - Thomas Henry Huxley >Paleontology is an evolving science. >May your wonders never cease! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scylla Posted June 4, 2013 Share Posted June 4, 2013 (edited) "Tumble" here refers to polishing in a rock tumbler. Not a good idea with very soft rocks and minerals. Edit: I'm going to have to start typing faster Edited June 4, 2013 by Scylla Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mountaindrowner Posted June 4, 2013 Author Share Posted June 4, 2013 Thats for all the help and advice everyone! Great community! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coco Posted June 5, 2013 Share Posted June 5, 2013 Hi, Thanks Chas and Scylla, in France we tell "Vibrolap", perhaps it is a trademark. Coco ---------------------- OUTIL POUR MESURER VOS FOSSILES : ici Pareidolia : here Ma bibliothèque PDF 1 (Poissons et sélaciens récents & fossiles) : ici Ma bibliothèque PDF 2 (Animaux vivants - sans poissons ni sélaciens) : ici Mâchoires sélaciennes récentes : ici Hétérodontiques et sélaciens : ici Oeufs sélaciens récents : ici Otolithes de poissons récents ! ici Un Greg... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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