Ive recently got into rockhounding and am new at this, so heres the best i can do for the description. smooth silky feel with a pinkish tan color with bits of blue black blended in. is the cleavage the 57 degrees, im pretty sure its not 90. the side not cleaved in which i included in the pics seems more grayish tan and has a finely grained texture. im guessing that the weather has an effect on the exposed side causing the different texture as compared to the cleaved sides. am i right and does this happen to alot of rocks. seems kinda heavy for its size. found in southwest virginia. thank you for your time. i do have the national audubon field guide but seems a bit overwhelming to me. thank you for your time. http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,11,254562,254562#msg-254562 Sat, 25 May 2013 08:32:30 +0000 Phorum 5.2.15a http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,11,254562,254702#msg-254702 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,11,254562,254702#msg-254702 Jim Bean Identity Help Thu, 08 Mar 2012 04:07:49 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,11,254562,254686#msg-254686 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,11,254562,254686#msg-254686 [attachment 37182 forum11.jpg]
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[attachment 37184 forum13.jpg]]]> Jose Zendrera Identity Help Thu, 08 Mar 2012 00:50:25 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,11,254562,254600#msg-254600 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,11,254562,254600#msg-254600 Amanda Hawkins Identity Help Wed, 07 Mar 2012 12:39:42 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,11,254562,254578#msg-254578 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,11,254562,254578#msg-254578
Good job using the testing methods, and welcome to Mindat.]]> Keith Wood Identity Help Wed, 07 Mar 2012 05:05:38 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,11,254562,254577#msg-254577 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,11,254562,254577#msg-254577
Good work in finding that and doing the analyses!]]> Norman King Identity Help Wed, 07 Mar 2012 03:55:06 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,11,254562,254575#msg-254575 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,11,254562,254575#msg-254575 matthew spraker Identity Help Wed, 07 Mar 2012 03:30:16 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,11,254562,254573#msg-254573 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,11,254562,254573#msg-254573
Welcome to mindat Matthew, and goodluck.]]> Craig Mercer Identity Help Wed, 07 Mar 2012 02:19:26 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,11,254562,254571#msg-254571 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,11,254562,254571#msg-254571 That would not be unheard of in SW Virginia....]]> Paul Brandes Identity Help Wed, 07 Mar 2012 02:03:19 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,11,254562,254570#msg-254570 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,11,254562,254570#msg-254570
In addition to what Ron said, to discard limestone you can do a test with hydrochloric acid or vinegar (bubbles).

We wait for your news...]]> Jose Zendrera Identity Help Wed, 07 Mar 2012 01:40:43 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,11,254562,254566#msg-254566 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,11,254562,254566#msg-254566
A bit more information would help. First, your photos are great but we need some diagnostic data: can you make a scratch in the specimen (that will catch your fingernail) with a knife blade? Will it scratch glass? Does it leave a colored streak on unglazed porcelain (the underside of your toilet tank cover)?

A first guess would be chert. I don't see a cleavage, just some cracks and spalling and a hint of a conchoidal (shell-like) fracture.

Get back to us with some more data.....

Don]]> Don Saathoff Identity Help Wed, 07 Mar 2012 01:08:22 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,11,254562,254562#msg-254562 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,11,254562,254562#msg-254562 matthew spraker Identity Help Wed, 07 Mar 2012 00:41:21 +0000