Please help Identify?, Have an odd specimen, not sure exactly what it is... Options

[CoolGems312]

We could use your honest opinion on this object. A friend suggested meteorite, even though there wasn't much fusion crust left on it. We did some research online an the closest resemblance was the hexahedrite with the blue fusion crust. We also did some home tests; this is what we know:
The dull grey/blue exterior was grazed with a small grinding wheel. It now looks like shiny new metal with only a few spots that show rust after getting it wet. Has weak magnetic attraction, leaves light grey streaks on non-glazed porcelain, heavier than other rocks of it's size, looks like chrome inside when sawed, but has micro bubbles when chipped off. After chipping off a small piece, we hit with a hammer. It crushed like stone with some very shiny specks that flattened out, and the rest turned to powder. All particles were picked up by a magnet.
We have looked at thousands of pictures of meteorites and meteor-wrongs, foundry slag & ore, and we only found three that were close. All of which were confirmed meteorites. Unfortunately, origin and history are unknown. What do you think? If not meteorite, do you have a clue of what it might be? Thank you for your time.

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[MikeS]

Cool specimen CoolGems312! Welcome to the forums!

It looks like a mixed metal ore to me. If it were a nickel-iron meteorite I would think it would be strongly magnetic. The blue and purple minerals look like the copper minerals like azurite. If the silver colored metal had a dark coating on it that could indicate that it is silver. Silver will oxidize(rust) black. Copper will oxidize green/blue. However neither copper or silver are magnetic enough to get effects as described. It may have a magnetic metal mixed in there like iron or nickel. Silver, Iron and Nickel will all leave a grey streak. I don't think it rules out the idea that it could be a meteorite. Hope this helps!

[CoolGems312]

It does help quite a bit, thanks. Gives us new ideas to search for.
Thanks =)

[Dave S.]

Hello CoolGems !! You really have an interesting specimen there! My best guess so far is that it is Galena with iron (and maybe silver). The blue/purple color may be Azurite and/ or Bornite (copper minerals). And the small Reddish brown spots may be Sphalerite. You may want to do a Home Specific Gravity Test.

For a home test, you need to get a weight of the stone (use an accurate scale that can read a tenth of a gram, digital if possible).

Then you need the weight of the rock's Water Displacement( use the same scale, but Zero the scale with a small cup of water on it. Then tie some thread around the rock. Dip the rock in the cup using the thread, but don't let the rock touch on the sides or the bottom of the cup. Keep the rock just barely underwater. The scale should show a "weight" of the water that has moved.)

Then take the first number ( rock weight )
Divide by the second number (water weight )

The result should be the sample's approximate Specific Gravity ( this number represents how many times heavier than water the rock sample is)

Then from there we can narrow down the possibilities of what the rock is.

[GeoMatt]

First rule of specimen identification - what geologic environment did you find it in? Are we talking a corn field in Iowa, or in an old mining district in Montana, etc....

[fenixsmom]

They said location and history are unknown.

[CoolGems312]

It took a little bit, but we were finally able to do the specific gravity test and it came up to being
5.76grams
We also added a few new photos cause we had to cut a small slice off.

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[swizz]

It took a little bit, but we were finally able to do the specific gravity test and it came up to being
5.76grams

I am intrigued! Confused on your Specific Gravity test result though.
Is 5.76 "grams" the weight of the specimen..... or did your Specific Gravity test indicate a numerical value of 5.76?
The Specific Gravity number indicates how much denser/heavier relative to water the material is. Example: 5.76 Specific Gravity result indicates that a material is 5.76 times heavier than water.
I hope we can narrow this one down, it's an odd one.

[MikeS]

Well CoolGems321, I think with that the specific gravity test (5.76 times the weight of water) rules out a meteorite. However it leads me to believe that you may have a piece of Arsenic.
Arsenic is commonly mixed with slight amounts of antimony, nickel, silver, iron and/or sulfur which could explain the mild magnetic effects and other physical properties.

There is a way to test your piece for Arsenic which it sounds like you have already done more than once. When you struck it with a hammer or cut it do you smell garlic?

[swizz]

mmmmmmm..... garlic

..... also I just found this dang nice downloadable mineral ID chart thingy which could help narrow things down: Mineral ID

[Dave S.]

If the test results were 5.76 that helps narrow it down.
MikeS may have the best guess yet with Arsenic. But there are multiple minerals in that rock specimen.
-- Here are a few relevant minerals with (gravity range):

Arsenic (5.6 - 5.7 ) , Antimony (6.6 - 6.9) , Silver (10.1 - 11.1)

NickelIron (meteorite) (7.0 - 7.8 ) , Magnetite (4.9 - 5.2) , Chlorargyrite (5.5-5.6)

Hematite (4.9 - 5.3 ) , Arsenopyrite (6.0 - 6.2) ,

Linarite (blue mineral ?) (5.35 ) , Azurite (blue ?) (3.7 - 3.8) , Bornite (blue/purple?) (4.9 - 5.1)


Hope this helps!

[CoolGems312]

Hm, well thanks for your opinions, We are truly confused at what it could be,
but we are going to search a few of the suggestions and do a few more
home tests =) Thanks a bunch everyone ^^ we will keep updated.

[fenixsmom]

Maybe you can take it to a lapidary shop or a college or a museum?

[swizz]

Maybe you can take it to a lapidary shop or a college or a museum?

That's an excellent idea. I once had a rare fossil (Stromatolite) successfully ID'd at CSU.

[CoolGems312]

Thanks again =) We will look into this a bunch more. we have figured out that we actually did the specific gravity test wrong the first time,
and its 6.67 grams for the specific gravity.