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Identity HelpFound in Webster, TX, USA

2nd Jun 2015 02:53 UTCSherlene Mats

The grandkids dug this up in the backyard about 5 years ago. I've been using it as a doorstop.

I have long felt that it may have been brought to our area by someone many years ago and somehow it ended up buried where it was found.

Any ideas as to what it is and where it might be from would be appreciated.

2nd Jun 2015 03:37 UTCBill Cordua 🌟 Manager

Howdy to folks in the great state of Texas. Hope you are all safe and dry! The sample looks to me like a vein of calcite - with crystals growing inward from the 2 vein walls. Here's some simple tests to try. Will the mineral scratch glass? Can you scratch it with a steel nail? If it's calcite, it won't scratch glass and can be scratched by a nail. Also if you have some hydrochloric acid around (brick cleaning or muriatic acid) dilute a little down carefully in a well-ventilated area (1 part acid added to about 10 parts water) and put a drop on the sample. Calcite will fizz or bubble. The bubbles are CO2 - like the bubbles in beer or soda, so not hazardous. If you don't have acid, powder a little of your sample and wet it with vinegar. Calcite should give a fizz in that. Let us know what you've found.

2nd Jun 2015 03:47 UTCSherlene Mats

It has really been rough here. A number of lives lost, 8 in our area. Thank you for asking. The sun has been shining for the past 2 days. So, things are looking up.

I will give the tests a try and get back to you.

I really appreciate the reply!

2nd Jun 2015 03:58 UTCDana Slaughter 🌟 Expert

I'm thinking gypsum...looks a bit like the good ol' pencil ore gypsum from mines at Grand Rapids and Wyoming, MI---my old stomping grounds. Of course, I'm not suggesting it is from MI!

2nd Jun 2015 04:47 UTCSherlene Mats

Thanks! Could be from the moon for all I know. Hey, I am just down from NASA! Hummm

Tomorrow, I will try to get around to doing the suggested tests and post the results.

Thanks, again!

2nd Jun 2015 05:28 UTCHarold (Hal) Prior Expert

It is probably not originally from Webster. I was your neighbor for 30 years, lived 2 miles from Webster (Clear Lake City), my youngest son and family still live in CLC. Webster is on top of many, many feet of loose gulf coast sediments. Every thing you see came form many miles NW towards Austin. There is much gypsum to the NW as you get around Bastrop. I never saw a real local rock in 30 years. The only mineral I ever saw from the area was some water clear, 1" selenite xls. that an astronauts son found the soil on banks of Clear Creek in Friendswood and brought to me. The area abounded in indian artifacts and material that the Indians had brought in, along the Creek and near Bay Area park. Unfortunately it also is home to Alligators, Copper Heads, and Coral Snakes, and Cottonmouths. My one son and friends could catch several dozen Coral Snakes in and hour near the University (UHCLC). They would drag their snake hooks in the much on trails and around campus buildings.

2nd Jun 2015 06:05 UTCSherlene Mats

Thanks for responding.

I agree, I have never found an indigenous rock in this area. I feel that a family had placed it in a flowerbed or the likes many years ago. It was the only solid object and not buried very deep.

Of course, you know there is no Clear Lake City anymore. It took a longtime to get use to that fact, but now it sounds strange to hear some use that. It, as I'm sure you know, is referred to as the Clear Lake area. It has lost much of it charm, sad to say.

We don't see many astronauts around, anymore. My son in law has worked at NASA for many years, and he see them at times.

I am 6th generation Texan and was a real tom-girl. Yet, I have never seen a coral snake (plenty of the others you mention). I know they are here, just never see them.

I grew up in Alvin and we knew a Prior family. Did you have family there?

Yes, many Native American artifacts have been unearth. Texas has a rich history in that regard.

Will try the suggested test, ASAP, and let you know if it fizzes. I wouldn't image gypsum would fizz. Any way to test for that?

Well, enjoyed visiting with you, Hal. Have a good night. Will check back mañana.

2nd Jun 2015 09:02 UTCDavid Von Bargen Manager

You would be able to scratch gypsum with your fingernail.

2nd Jun 2015 12:58 UTCPaul Brandes 🌟 Manager

Welcome to Mindat, Sherlene!

I would agree with Hal in that it's probably not from the Webster area, but was brought in either naturally or by "post-glacial hominid activity". As far as testing, the tips given already should point you in the right direction. I'm thinking gypsum as well.

Yes, it has been wet here lately. We're on the NW side and have faired much better than the folks in and around downtown Houston. If you are interested in rocks/minerals and the like, I would highly recommend taking a look at the Houston Gem & Mineral Society and visiting one of their monthly meetings, as well as the many dedicated sections they have. Another fine group of mineral people are the Clear Lake Gem & Mineral Society based out of Seabrook.

2nd Jun 2015 15:57 UTCHarold (Hal) Prior Expert

Sherlene,

The only family I have in CL area is a son and family that live in CL (step grand children go to Clear Brook high). Worked at JSC from 1968 thru 1998, my son Tom currently is at NASA with hypervelocity lab. I recall well the day we were "Occupied" by Houston in a tax grab as they came in with sirens and flashing red lights. My neighbor turned hose on the police cars!

Coral snakes are not obvious as they stay under dead wood, mulch, etc., my son and his friend would build traps by piling up dead wood and mulch for them to crawl under. They once caught a 7 foot bull snake on UHCL campus and had to release it as it was to strong for them to handle. We went back later and found it and was able to get a measurement by marking head and tail spot on ground. I was pleased when they gave up snake hunting when a two of them were bitten by a copperhead. They caught a big Rattlesnake near Texas city and had a friend's mother cook it an they ate the whole snake. Snake is not on my diet!!

In '68 the CL area was pretty primitive with coyotes howling along Bay area blvd.at night, and alligators devouring the pet population of Brook Forest.

I was one of the founders of the Clear Lake G&M and was a dealer in the CL and Houston shows for many years. Take your rock to the Houston G&M show they will be able to identify for you. It looks like Austin area gypsum - I'm even guilty of transporting some back to the CL area many years ago.

3rd Jun 2015 05:38 UTCSherlene Mats

Thank you.

When you say "scratch" do you mean it flakes off?

3rd Jun 2015 05:41 UTCSherlene Mats

Unfortunately I was to busy today to conduct testing. Will try to soon.

3rd Jun 2015 05:41 UTCSherlene Mats

Thank you so much, Paul.

3rd Jun 2015 06:03 UTCSherlene Mats

Hal,

I sure have enjoyed your reminiscing. CL was and is a special place. When I was younger it was were you went.

Fortunately, those boys learned a painful but not a deadly lesson! That mom who cooked the rattler must have been quite a gal! I'd taste snake, given the chance. Wow, would love to have seen that bull snake! I had an aunt that got bit by a cottonmouth. Her whole leg turned black.

How exciting to have helped found an organization. If I ever get to take the rock to Houston G & M can I drop your name?

3rd Jun 2015 06:23 UTCSherlene Mats

Curiously got he better of me! Just did the scratch test with a nail. Most areas didn't scratch off. Found an area to scratch loose some grains of material. It didn't fizz in vinegar. There were small "crystals" that broke loose the other day when it got dropped. This thing is pretty solid with many different sizes of quartz like strutures within a matrix of what appears to be a different type of rock.

Thanks to all responders. This has been so much fun!

3rd Jun 2015 07:23 UTCJohn Oostenryk

My initial impression was a piece of fibrous gypsum. That seems to be confirmed by your tinkering and observations!

Have fun with your looking around- both here and in your locale!

~JO:)

7th Jun 2015 17:52 UTCHarold (Hal) Prior Expert

Sherlene,

I would agree with John that it is probably fibrous gypsum from probably central or west Texas. You can use my name at Houston G & M a few of the older members will remember me. I have been gone from Texas for 16 years thus many have moved on. Some of my collection will be featured in the July-August midwest supplement to the Mineralogical Record as an Iowa collector. My son and family will be in Iowa in two weeks for a visit, they still live in CL, we will be reliving CL memories. My son has lived his entire life in CL, except for 5 years at UT. Still waiting for our first 90 degree day in Iowa! .......Hal P

7th Jun 2015 23:52 UTCDoug Daniels

It's a fossilized piece of a dictionary...... (...Webster...). Sorry...the Devil made me do it....

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