Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Geology, Palaeontology & Archaeology => Topic started by: tussio on 01/04/2015 07:20:12

Title: Are these stones purple jadeite?
Post by: tussio on 01/04/2015 07:20:12
Hello, I'm an aquarium/aquatic plant hobbyist seeking some advice in the rock department. I'm trying to identify some stones I used in a scape several years ago and am having a hard time determining what they are. I've hopped forums a few times trying to figure it out and have decided here would be a good place to ask so, any input would be greatly appreciated. I've at different times thought it a few different things but have recently come to purple jadeite. IMO it seems pretty unlikely that that's what I've got, so would love any help in pointing me in the right direction. Thank you.

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There are some hard water stains as wells as old algae kind of obscuring them in some areas, I will try to clean em up some if it'd be helpful.
Title: Re: A rock ID please
Post by: Bass on 02/04/2015 00:55:54
some better pictures would help.  Also please clean them up, hard to tell what some of the colors are from?
Any other information would help.  Do they feel average weight? heavy? light? Can you scratch them with a knife? do any of them bubble when acid is applied? Are they blocky? fissile? What colors do you see (sometimes computer monitors distort colors)?  Any other descriptive terms?
Title: Re: A rock ID please
Post by: tussio on 04/04/2015 21:44:31
I'm workin on cleaning them up, I apologize. I work every day right now, so as soon as I'm able I'll take and upload some more pictures. What I can tell you for now is that they are pretty heavy, and not very fragile. Colors are mostly a deep purple to a light reddish purple.  I did the acid test years ago before putting in aquarium and it did not bubble.

I'll try to get the other details you asked for as soon as I have time. Thank you.
Title: Lots more pictures
Post by: tussio on 12/07/2015 06:52:53
Apologies for the delay, as I stated previously I work every day, or did at least up until Thursday! So I had a pretty long april - july run of daily work, so this wasnt a priority. Anyways, I took a ton of pictures right after last post, but just now able to resize and upload.

As for your questions, Bass, I cannot scratch w/ a knife. I'd say after weighing again, they are light, more blocky than fissile. Colors are a purple to red to pinkish. Tried to get some up close ones for texture, others for color. Right click and view image separately for larger view.

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If this doesn't help, well, we tried. Thank you.
Title: Re: Are these stones purple jadeite?
Post by: Bass on 13/07/2015 19:31:05
Great pictures!  Most of these appear to be brecciated (broken into angular fragments), some with exotic clasts (that is the fragments aren't the same as the rest of the rock). There appears to be quartz veins and/or jasperoid filling the voids and cracks between the fragments.  Also appears to crystals in the fragments (white to darker).
My best guess would be rhyolite, or some other silica-rich volcanic rock. These commonly form breccias as they erupt with the cracks being later filled by quartz/jasperoid as hot waters circulate through the rock. Exotic clasts are probably pre-existing rocks that get incorporated into the lave.
Title: Re: Are these stones purple jadeite?
Post by: tussio on 14/07/2015 05:08:13
Thank you so much for your information. Rhyolite was one of my 1st ids as I did research but the images I found on the net were not matching up to what I had as much as I was hoping. Seems like they would be unique to their geographical region? So some found in one area may not look identical to ones from other areas?

Anyways, thank you again. Really appreciate some of the great info that can be found from the right people on the internet :D
Title: Re: Are these stones purple jadeite?
Post by: Bass on 15/07/2015 04:58:47
Rhyolite can vary quite a bit in color, constituents and texture. Depends on the magma chamber, the surface, and other factors.
Title: Re: Are these stones purple jadeite?
Post by: JimBob on 23/07/2015 22:41:12
to he question

yes, it very well could be jadeite. I have a piece of nephrite that is lavender (the usual color descriptor for the purple nephrite)

https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AwrC1C3LXbFV.VYAu6JPmolQ;_ylu=X3oDMTByNXI2NTM2BGNvbG8DYmYxBHBvcwM3BHZ0aWQDBHNlYwNzYw--?qid=20070817123659AAnLJyd
Title: Re: Are these stones purple jadeite?
Post by: Atomic-S on 24/07/2015 05:36:27
I think that your rocks may well be chert, although you have several rocks and they are not identical in appearance. Chert comes in many colors and is of a similar appearance (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chert ). It could be that some of your material goes into jasper, which is another silica-based rock that likewise comes in many colors and tends to be of a diffuse opaque color. 
Title: Re: Are these stones purple jadeite?
Post by: tussio on 24/07/2015 19:03:05
Wow, interesting stuff. I appreciate the continued input. When I was first doing some research, I did come across chert. However, the most compelling reason I found to also file under rhyolite is a picture I found on google when first tryin to figure it out. The problem is for the same term "rhyolite" or more in particular, "porphyritic rhyolite," I only found the ONE image that resembles what I have. For comparison:

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Really hard to tell... Would love to find a reputable geologist or jeweler in my area I might be able to take it to since I know trying to id this stuff over the net w/ my limited knowledge is tough.