Discussions

╳Discussions

Groups

Recent Images in Discussions

Identity HelpYellow crystal from Tunk Creek, WA.

28th Jul 2013 15:02 UTCPatrick Godsil

I found this yellow striated crystal in pegmatite rock within metamorphic gneiss and schist at the road cut just immediately north of where Tunk Creek Road crosses Tunk Creek. The main crystal is about 14 mm long. It has striations that do not show up well in photo. With the striations, it is difficult to determine if the crystal has a bladed or hexagonal vs. orthorhombic (etc.) prism shape. I am wondering if it could be beryl or apatite. it is so small I do not want to scratch it trying to determine its hardness.

28th Jul 2013 17:15 UTCDonald Peck

Can you supply an end-on view (down the c-axis)? It appears to have a cleavage plane perpendicular to the c-axis.

31st Jul 2013 08:30 UTCEligiusz Szełęg Expert

looks like topas

31st Jul 2013 18:36 UTCKeith Wood

The color and the perpendicular cleavage (if that's what it is) look like golden beryl, but is always hard to tell from a photo. It looks like there is another one, broken and less clear, pointing toward ten-oclock in the upper left.

What about the pink stuff? That has a thulite look to it.

Pretty interesting rock. I'd want to have another look around the area. Either topaz or beryl warrant follow up in my opinion.

5th Aug 2013 20:42 UTCPatrick Godsil

Thanks for the input! It would be awesome if it was golden beryl.

6th Aug 2013 07:24 UTCAndrew Kruegel

Cool specimen. I would say golden beryl but it's hard to say without more information. Are you sure you can't test the hardness near the edge of the crystal? You can make a very tiny scratch and examine it under the loupe and it shouldn't visibly mar the specimen. Or at least see if it will scratch glass. If it is beryl or topaz that won't damage the specimen at all.