What it probably is, Purple stuff? No, not fluorite.. Options

[NewRockHounder]

After doing some book research I came upon "Purpurite," based on the description provided, IE occurs as crusts, compact, granular masses, brittle, slightly powdery consistency - it 99.8% matches what I have. Why did I leave off .2%? - Because, I don't have any means, currently, to do a scratch test. Book says it will leave a dark red streak.

A ceramic tile would work for a scratch test, right? Just to remind ya's what the deuce I'm talking about, provided some pics, again. (The first pic looks different then the rest, because it's sprayed with clear coat as not to crumble.. more so than it had)

[Coalbunny]

Dave is right, the first pic does not look like the next two. Not just the mineral itself but the apparent host rock. And he is right again about the tests. But there are a couple more tests you can run as well.


Let me summarize these....
Streak- you can get a piece of unglazed white porcelain tile for cents on the dollar from a flooring contractor or supply store. You can also get them very inexpensive from a rock shop. I have a piece, 7/8"x1-7/8", I bought for 35 cents at a hardware store/prospecting store in Idaho Springs back in 2004. DUDE. THIRTY FIVE CENTS. No doubt they have gone up, but not enough to not have a few scrap tiles laying around.

Hardness- you can get the tools for this, and they are relatively more than the porcelain tile. But there are ways around the tools by "rednecking it".

Flame- you can do this with a candle or alcohol lamp. Alcohol lamp uses denatured alcohol. Usually isopropyl. Yes arsenic compounds can emit toxic fumes, but give me a break! Unless you are heating the arsenic minerals by the pounds, it won't affect you in the least. Quick sniff, and it's ID'd, and that's it. However, you can also burn the test specimen and see what comes of it. Azurite will turn into a black copper oxide.

Radioactive minerals- odds are you won't need this, but either a geiger counter or a scientilometer is needed for this. There are "redneck tricks" to detect radiation, but the radiation count for those to work will not work for this. It's simply not labor or cost effective. And even if it is radioactive, don't worry about it. The harmful radiation is scant and you get more from walking through an airport, hospital or government building. Know someone on radiation therapy? Well, their sweat will put out far more radiation than any minerals you'll find (with rare exceptions, of course). And before you start messing around with that, learn about radiation. Some people have a major hissy fit if they see a geiger counter getting the normal background radiation then they go run home to mommy dearest, plop their lazy ***** in front of the CRT boob toob DING! radiation! while their dear lovey cooks a meal in the microwave oven DING! radiation! and when they sit out in the back yard eating the burnt pizza they gaze at the retarded birds flying around the retarded powerlines DING! radiation! trying to figure out if they can dodge the retard birdie poo from the retarded birds flying around the retarded powerlines....
Enough of my retarded radiation rant.... (Hey! I found another one of my 3 R's! )

Acid- No, not LSD and nothing weird, psychotic or death-defying. Go down to the local NAPA and buy a small a 1/2 pint bottle of muriatic acid. AKA hydrochloric acid. We'll cover acid tests later. But nitric can help as well, though even with the muriatic you need experience before you use it yourself. Possession can lead you to some trouble.

More later...just got an emergency call.

ETA: Colin, also get a few books on this. I will say that hitting up the local community college is a good idea. Take a few of their geology courses, maybe just a short course. It's worth the investment.