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Identity Help2 Spheres identification help please

4th May 2018 22:28 UTCKikisue227

Thank you all for your quick responses, have saved me hours of internet research and I truly appreciate it. Decided to show the last 2 spheres in one post. So here they are! Thanks again.

4th May 2018 22:54 UTCIan Nicastro

That fist sphere looks like Lepidolite, which is a lithium rich type of mica that is found in gem bearing pegmatite deposits. https://www.mindat.org/min-2380.html Although we don't discuss value here anymore, I feel this sphere would be of more interest than the other spheres to collectors.

I don't know what the 2nd one is.

5th May 2018 01:27 UTCEd Clopton 🌟 Expert

The second one looks like another compact mica and might be lepidolite, too. Something I just learned is that the purple color of lepidolite isn't due to the lithium content but to manganese, which tends to accompany lithium in nature and can substitute for some of the aluminum in the molecule. Iron (which readily trades places with manganese) substitutes less commonly and produces yellow lepidolite, which may be what the second sphere is. (Or maybe it isn't--hard to say.)

Incidentally, I have heard of using carbon tetrachloride for removing soot stains. It's toxic, volatile, and old-fashioned, and there probably is a safer and more up-to-date way to do it. Anybody?

5th May 2018 01:39 UTCPaul Brandes 🌟 Manager

Welcome to Mindat, KikiSue!

I have the feeling the top sphere might be dyed based on the colour. With that said, I believe both are some sort of mica schist that have been shaped into spheres.

5th May 2018 20:49 UTCGary Weinstein

Ian nailed the first one and Ed might be right on the second. Schist is a metamorphic rock type and is usually too friable to be cut and will not take a good polish. Pegmatite mineral mica will cut and polish when in massive form.

5th May 2018 21:07 UTCKikisue227

Thanks for the identification help and for the soot removal tip! Going to do some research on that now.

6th May 2018 11:47 UTCAlysson Rowan Expert

Ed Clopton Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Incidentally, I have heard of using carbon

> tetrachloride for removing soot stains. It's

> toxic, volatile, and old-fashioned, and there

> probably is a safer and more up-to-date way to do

> it. Anybody?

Carbon-tet )tetrachloromethane) is prohibited in most countries for private use, being linked with high cancer risk.

Chloroform (trichloromethane) is better, and is non-flammable - and is difficult to obtain.

Common or garden propanone (acetone) will do an excellent job with resinous soot (remember to wear polyurethane gloves!). Buy it where GRP resin supplies are sold.

Both xylene and toluene both do a good job, too - but they are rather stinky and more expensive than acetone.

Some stains need an oily solvent, and petroleum ether (low BP petroleum fraction or liquid lighter fuel) is my solvent of choice. Sold in many places. Please do NOT use automotive petroleum (gasoline) - this is a much oilier fraction.

Pet. ether, acetone, toluene and xylene are all volatile and highly flammable, not to mention intoxicants, so working outside is a must.

6th May 2018 15:57 UTCEd Clopton 🌟 Expert

Alysson, thanks for the update on soot solvents. I've never used carbon tet myself and I know that whatever source I saw that in was far outdated.

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