Naked Science Forum
Non Life Sciences => Geology, Palaeontology & Archaeology => Topic started by: dj_elite on 19/05/2009 16:37:37
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Doing some lawn care yesterday when I stumbled upon a weird looking rock. About 2 mins later I found another piece I believe of the same rock. I live in New Hampshire where there is a bunch of granite. I have never seen anything like this before. The big piece is about 2-3/4" long by 1-3/4" wide and 5/8" tall. Looks like the rock was melted. They are very light, the inside looks like melted glass(quartz kind of look) and is hard. The outside has holes and can crumble with the push of a fingernail. The bottom is chalky. I don't know if its a rock or maybe a fossil of some sort? Any help would be appreciated. Here are some links to pics I took.
http://applied-graphics.net/images/1.jpg
http://applied-graphics.net/images/2.jpg
http://applied-graphics.net/images/3.jpg
http://applied-graphics.net/images/4.jpg
http://applied-graphics.net/images/5.jpg
Pics are ok, I can get some better ones if needed. Picture 4 is the bottoms
Thanks,
Dan
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No one has an idea of what it could be?
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You need to wait for one of the geology maestros to look in. JimBob or Bass may be able to help you.
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Thanks will do
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I am not sure it is even a rock. I have seen similar looking mineral deposits from pipes pulled out of oil wells. This really looks like pipe scale to me. It could marginally be travertine or hot springs deposits but that just may be a stretch too far.
Have you or your neighbors had plumbing problems recently?
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It is waaay away from any plumbing. I was pulling rocks from my yard cleaning it up because there are rocks everywhere(pain to mow with rocks). I was using a shovel to pull the rocks out when I stumbled upon this one. The inside is pearly like the color of the inside of a mussel.
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Were there ever any foundries in the area? Any kind of metal works? Blacksmiths?
I agree with JB- the specimen does not look natural.
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Speleothem ?
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speleothem
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It does appear to have a high metallic content and to have been molten at some stage. If not the result of some form of foundry works, perhaps there was an intense fire in the location at some time in the past. Maybe even cremations!
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No metal works. My yard is about 20 feet from reserve land. All in back is acres of reserve wetlands. The inside of these look almost like ivory
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NH is a land of granite. To the west is the Vermont metamorphic rocks. Maine to the east is also granitic. Another possibility for you is Canadian rocks brought in by glaciers. What part of NH are you in?
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The outside has holes and can crumble with the push of a fingernail. The bottom is chalky.
Speleothem can be made of calcium carbonate (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calcium_carbonate) (a.k.a. chalk).
if it is calcium carbonate it should give off bubbles of CO2 if placed in vinegar.
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The outside has holes and can crumble with the push of a fingernail. The bottom is chalky.
Speleothem can be made of calcium carbonate (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calcium_carbonate) (a.k.a. chalk).
if it is calcium carbonate it should give off bubbles of CO2 if placed in vinegar.
So would pipe scale if the water supply has dissolved carbonates in them. Speiothems are just hard water pipe scale without the pipe.
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I'll write to one my northern contacts to see if I can get an idea of what this is although I suspect it is a carbonate.
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I live in Raymond, NH which is 20 mins NW of the seacoast.