What's This? #32, Can You Identify This? |
Colorado Prospector - Gem and mineral prospecting and mining forums > Prospecting, Mineral Collecting and Treasure Hunting Forums > Prospectors and Rockhounding Field Work  |
What's This? #32, Can You Identify This? |
  Dec 29 2009, 01:08 PM
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 Master Mucker!  Group: Admin Posts: 7,187 Joined: 7-October 03 From: Colorado Member No.: 4  |
Here is a cool one I just added to the search continues thread.
Can you tell me what it is, and what causes this crystal formation?    
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and participation opens the door to opportunity. Discover your prospecting independence & success! ColoradoProspector.com Owner/Webmaster Core team member ♥  |
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Dec 29 2009, 01:43 PM
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 Rock Bar! Group: Members Posts: 613 Joined: 16-October 08 From: Central Colorado Member No.: 6,813 |
Dear Ms. CP,
It looks like romanechite dendrite to me. The growths that resemble ferns are composed of a manganese dioxide mineral growth that tends to crystallize between thin layers of rock or on rock surfaces. Johnny -------------------- Annual Dues Paying Member Since 2008
Tonko Mining Company "Some day this crater is going to be a greatly talked about place, and if the above credit is due, as is certainly the case, I would like to have it generally known for the sake of the children." Daniel Moreau Barringer 2/1/1912 in a letter about the Barringer Meteorite Crater, Arizona USA |
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Dec 31 2009, 12:56 PM
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 Master Mucker! Group: Admin Posts: 4,149 Joined: 7-October 03 From: Colorado Member No.: 3 |
Bingo Johnny! That's right, good eye.
 These tiny crystal fern like forms percolate into the fissures of the rock formations associated with the maganese ores. Below is a pic Denise shot of a romanechite piece we also found that day. She named the pic "Black blob"  From Wikipedia for dendrite crystals...... QUOTE A crystal dendrite is a crystal that develops with a typical multi-branching tree-like form. Dendritic crystal growth is very common and illustrated by snowflake formation and frost patterns on a window. Dendritic crystallization forms a natural fractal pattern. In paleontology, dendritic mineral crystal forms are often mistaken for fossils. These pseudofossils form as naturally occurring fissures in the rock are filled by percolating mineral solutions. They form when water rich in manganese and iron flows along fractures and bedding planes between layers of limestone and other rock types, depositing dendritic crystals as the solution flows through. A variety of manganese oxides and hydroxides are involved. A three-dimensional form of dendrite develops in fissures in quartz, forming moss agate. Nasa even studies dendrite formations.  They study their formations on the shuttle.QUOTE Dendritic solidification is one of the most common forms of solidifying metals and alloys. For the rest of the story, check out wiki's dendrite crystal page. 
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Jan 11 2010, 03:36 PM
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Master Mucker! Group: Admin Posts: 7,187 Joined: 7-October 03 From: Colorado Member No.: 4 |
  I thought "black blob" was quite discriptive myself.Plus, what a hoot it was watching you look for the photo with it named that.  Here is a picture of a piece Timmy found. Sure is cool looking! He was sure excited to find such a big example.  -------------------- Education is the key to the future,
and participation opens the door to opportunity. Discover your prospecting independence & success! ColoradoProspector.com Owner/Webmaster Core team member ♥ |
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