Any Idea What This Is?

[Kain]

Hey guys

Today while working on the farm I help out I cam across this rock that came up on the spud harvester.

I have absolutely no idea what it is! To think I did geology at school too. it's very heavy, not magnetic (Yes I did wonder if it was a meteorite!!) and just really out of place compared to the rocks in the surrounding area (worfield)

Heres a picture of the underside too

Looked around on the net and didn't really find anything other than red sandstone - which it ain't that!

Any clues?

K

[BornFromTheVoid]

Hey guys

Today while working on the farm I help out I cam across this rock that came up on the spud harvester.

I have absolutely no idea what it is! To think I did geology at school too. it's very heavy, not magnetic (Yes I did wonder if it was a meteorite!!) and just really out of place compared to the rocks in the surrounding area (worfield)

Heres a picture of the underside too

Looked around on the net and didn't really find anything other than red sandstone - which it ain't that!

Any clues?

K

It's an interesting rock. From the first picture I might have guessed some red marble, but the second leaves me not so sure. Perhaps it's Hematite? Does it leave a mark if you scratch it will your nails?

[Keraunic]

Maybe a conglomerate or something. Try this site;

http://www.geolsoc.org.uk/gsl/education/resources/rockcycle/page3458.html

[Kain]

Nope its hard with an almost obsidian shine too it. A penny won't scratch it either - it actually scratches the penny.

I think its too smooth to be Quartz too - No crystal formation under magnification.

[BornFromTheVoid]

If you have any screws or nails, try them.

It's certainly not a conglomerate though!

[Kain]

If you have any screws or nails, try them.

It's certainly not a conglomerate though!

Just tried, no lucky just slips off it. No mark made!

[Crepuscular Ray]

Email a photo to the Geology section of the Natural History Museum; they're usually happy to help. If you include details of the exact location and any thing else you think might be of assistance, it might give them some clues.

[BornFromTheVoid]

I'll stick with my Hematite guess then!

[Devonian]

It looks a bit like chert to me.

Edit: one, rather destructive, way to find out - hit it with a hammer and see how it fractures (if it fractures...)...

[SNOW_JOKE]

Could be some kind of waste-product from past iron/bronze smelting that may have gone on in the area, rejected piece of ore perhaps?

This is an Iron Ore piece

http://www.seabgems.com/Iron%20ore%20photo%203.JPG

[Kain]

I have emailed NHM too see what they think. I ain't too sure about Hematite really, there is no crystal formation or streaks?

[knocker]

I've posted it another site where plenty of mining experts and geologist lurk. Possibly

Chalcedony (Var: Carnelian)

http://www.mindat.org/photo-153664.html

[Kain]

Could be some kind of waste-product from past iron/bronze smelting that may have gone on in the area, rejected piece of ore perhaps?

This is an Iron Ore piece

http://www.seabgems....ore photo 3.JPG

Could be I suppose, I know there used to be alot of iron works in the area around Colebrookdale and such.

[Kain]

I've posted it another site where plenty of mining experts and geologist lurk. Possibly

Chalcedony (Var: Carnelian)

http://www.mindat.or...oto-153664.html

Now that looks about right!

[knocker]

I'm assuming it's not a red potato. The ones in our local Tescos take some boiling.

[4wd]

Whatever it is, how would it have ended up near Bridgenorth?

All kinds of stuff can be turn up as glacial debris further north but I would've thought Shropshire almost too far south.

Always the possibility it somehow got carried there by people even unintentionally in say a load of lime or building rubble.

[Kain]

I'm assuming it's not a red potato. The ones in our local Tescos take some boiling.

Lmao might take a while to peel. I imagine the chips would be abit hard to the old nashers!

[BornFromTheVoid]

Looks like knocker got it!

[Kain]

Looks like knocker got it!

Yup Carnelian/Sard I'm going to stick it on my shelf I think with my other odd stuff I have found over the years! Alot being fossils from Wenlock Edge and Charmouth

[NL]

Perhaps it was brought over by the Romans? They used chalcedony/carnelian for jewellery especially in seal/signet rings as wax doesn't stick to it. It had a number of other 'uses' such as to protect travellers after dark believing it would ward off evil, to relieve menstrual pain and back pain and was used in the treatment of infertility as it was thought to purify the blood. It was also used to regulate passion and desire. A well sort after mineral..!!

http://velango.com/index.php?p2=jam_info_full&id=120〈=en

[knocker]

Yup Carnelian/Sard I'm going to stick it on my shelf I think with my other odd stuff I have found over the years! Alot being fossils from Wenlock Edge and Charmouth

I think you are right and seems to be the concensus but another quite confident suggestion is red Jasper.

[Kain]

I think you are right and seems to be the concensus but another quite confident suggestion is red Jasper.

Which site do you use mate? I'm intreagued as I have a genuine interest in minerals and such

[Manchester_Sunset]

A fossil!

[knocker]

Which site do you use mate? I'm intreagued as I have a genuine interest in minerals and such

I'm a member of what is basically a mining exploration site http://www.aditnow.co.uk/ ( I'm carnkie on that site) but for the best mineral site I would suggest none better than http://www.mindat.org/

I should add there is a certain amount of animosity between mine explorers and mineral collectors.

[mike Meehan]

Whatever it is, how would it have ended up near Bridgenorth?

All kinds of stuff can be turn up as glacial debris further north but I would've thought Shropshire almost too far south.

Always the possibility it somehow got carried there by people even unintentionally in say a load of lime or building rubble.

Don't you believe it - I think the furthest southern extent of glaciation was St Johns Wood in North London but in Herts where I live there are a number of gravel pits, remnents of terminal morains.