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Identity HelpPossible Calcite From Death Valley, Unusual Shape

26th Jul 2011 05:34 UTCCorie Mattar

Here is a piece of what I believe is calcite or aragonite from Death Valley.

I got it years ago. It's about 3-4 MOHS, bubbles in vinegar, leaves a white streak.

Mostly, I want to know how it formed into this shape!!

Closeup of a 'twin bubble':

Thanks for looking,

Corie

26th Jul 2011 12:16 UTCRock Currier Expert

Possibly a somewhat weathered and tumbled calcite stalactite from a cave?

26th Jul 2011 12:38 UTCReiner Mielke Expert

Maybe a fossil coral?

26th Jul 2011 15:19 UTCStefan Koch Expert

My first thought was something like a stromatolite? Or a coral like Reiner already said.

26th Jul 2011 16:44 UTCWolfgang Hampel 🌟 Expert

Hi Corie

It could well be a nummulite or another kind of foraminifera, most probably of Tertiary age.

Cheers,

Wolfgang

26th Jul 2011 21:42 UTCCorie Mattar

This piece was picked up at the bottom of Death Valley, perhaps 100 feet off the road, just past the sign in the park that says 'xx Feet Below Sea Level' or something like that.

Apparently it was shining like a beacon in the sun, there on the sandy flat surface. My friend pulled over, ran out and picked it up.

So that is the story of where exactly it came from.

Also, the back or the specimen is smooth with no bubbles, they only appear on the face and bottom (as in the first photo).

Previously I have found a specimen that turned out to be a bed of mussels, maybe 20-30 together. Maybe this is a bed of many small bodies? Would that account for the random patterns?

Thanks again!

Corie

27th Jul 2011 04:09 UTCJim Bean 🌟

I'm with Stefan, it looks kind of stromatolitic to me. Stromatolites are formed when mats of algae trap calcium carbonate which builds up over time similarly to, but with important differences than coral reefs do. CaCO3 of course builds up similarly in other ways to look like your specimen such as in limestone caves but given the environment you describe finding it in, an enclosed saline lake, stromatolite formation is my guess.

The second picture is unmistakably a fossilized extraterrestial's skull.

27th Jul 2011 10:25 UTCCorie Mattar

Jim,

Thanks for the information on stromatolite formation, I appreciate it1

And I totally agree on the second photo. ::o >:D<

Thanks all!

Corie

27th Jul 2011 12:08 UTCBoris Erjavc

Cave pearls is one possibylity or oncoide.

Good luck

Boris

27th Jul 2011 15:23 UTCJeff Weissman Expert

Folks, remember that removing artifacts from US National Parks is not a recommended activity...

27th Jul 2011 18:55 UTCErik Vercammen Expert

I sthis calcite? quartz is an other possibility: please check the hardness;a knife will scratch calcite, while quartz isn't harmed by it and is abke to scratch glass.

27th Jul 2011 20:52 UTCAndy Givens

Im not sure about what the first picture is, but i am almost certain the second is NOT extraterrestial, but obviously a fossilized squidward.

Andy :)

27th Jul 2011 23:51 UTCJustin Zzyzx Expert

You should NEVER say you picked ANYTHING up in our National Parks. The party van is already outside your home.

29th Jul 2011 20:03 UTCCorie Mattar

So that's who's been snapping my photo all week!! LOL!!

The only thing i did while in DV was kill a man, just to watch him die, er- wait. Not that.

I took tons of photos, not rocks! Yes. That's what I did, take pictures!! >:D<

Andy, I am so glad you identified squidwards remains. Maybe now his family can have some closure.

In reality, I got this as a gift from someone (OK, my dad, he coughed this up, along with the petrified wood; he got them both when he took the family on a road trip in the 60's).

Recently I did go to DV, but restricted my collecting to areas outside the park boundaries.

Erik, this piece is about 3-4 MOHS, a cheap knife will scratch it, other calcite just slides around on it, and gypsum leaves a streak on it.

And yes everyone, IT IS ILLEGAL TO COLLECT IN NATIONAL PARKS. Don't do it.

Thanks again!! :)-D

Corie

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