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Identity Help28°49'47" n 53°45'44" e

4th Sep 2023 05:51 UTCMosen Fateezaade

09137490017060341059738.jpg
Hi everybody,


Sphalerite?!
Chalcosite?!
Sphalerite with chalcosite and quartz?!
Why am I having a hard time identifying my stones while I am continiously studying mineralogical handbooks, using google photos, googling my keywords, etc... ? Any advice for me to make it work?

Geographical location: Southern Iran.

Never mentioned anywhere [even to this date] that metalic minerals or deposits might exist in this county (Fasa county, Fars Province); but I found ancient remains of metalic mining dating back to 1500 years ago, and that was the starting point; I then wandered & investigated for over 16 months in the region and found several metalic ores and minerals, indexes.


I am allowed to upload just one photo but I've prepared more photographs including other matrices, different shades and varieties of this type of mineral. The color looks black then you can realize a blue undertone under sunlight on the stones. I have also discovered prehistoric stone tools during my explorations belonging to Middle Paleololithic era including this (these) kind(s) of mineral(s).


I can provide more documentation if needed. Thank you all for your precious help.


Questions Answered
Can it scratch glass? : Yes
Can you scratch it with your fingernail? : No
Is it light/heavy for the size? : Heavy

4th Sep 2023 05:53 UTCDavid Von Bargen Manager

Mosen Fateezaade  ✉️

I am allowed to upload just one photo but I've prepared more photographs including other matrices
 You can reply to yourself on this thread to post additional photos.

4th Sep 2023 12:20 UTCMosen Fateezaade

Hi David,
It's not a long while I am visiting mindat.org and I am particularly a Newby in this "discussions" part of the website (this is my first time sharing content) so thank you very much for helping me getting through. I will use the solution to share a few more photographs to give a better understanding of the subject.

All the best

4th Sep 2023 06:39 UTCKeith Compton 🌟 Manager

Those three rocks look more basaltic with a bit of quartz

I don't see any "metallic" ore.

20th Sep 2023 18:08 UTCMosen Fateezaade

00570180017060341065549.jpg
Hi Keith,
Samples all are collected from "sedimentary" formations. The region is located in Zagros Fold Belt:


And you are right, no metalic luster is seen but isn't it some "earthy" kind of metal bearing ores?

This another sample shows these stones belong to the "tetrahedrite" subgroup also.

4th Sep 2023 07:29 UTCDave Griffiths

Why am I having a hard time identifying my stones while I am continiously studying mineralogical handbooks, using google photos, googling my keywords, etc... ? Any advice for me to make it work?
Hi Mosen, I feel your frustration too, the things I've found that help are examining fresh broken surfaces rather than the weathered outside of rocks, and using a microscope or hand lens to search for any minute crystals in cavities or vugs. The other thing as you are doing, is trying to understand the local context (which I've found can be very local, geology can change over a few hundred metres). Also mindat is really important resource too, both the database and the forums - but you've found that already :)

4th Sep 2023 07:51 UTCDale Foster Manager

Mosen Fateezaade  ✉️

Why am I having a hard time identifying my stones while I am continiously studying mineralogical handbooks, using google photos, googling my keywords, etc... ? Any advice for me to make it work?
 
Unfortunately there is no shortcut, it takes time to build experience.

I would say if there are any museums which hold mineral and / or geological collections locally to you, going there and viewing material in the flesh can be more useful than just looking at images in books or online.

Keep persevering you will get there.

20th Sep 2023 18:29 UTCMosen Fateezaade

Hi Dale,
in fact I am going to visit a geology museum in Shiraz which is as you said my best way of experiencing and meeting such a need. I will share more samples here and it would be great if you could take a look at.
Thanks

4th Sep 2023 08:31 UTCMarc Remmert

Hi Mosen,

not sure if you have a broadband and unrectricted access to the internet - in an ad-hoc search I found this presentation that shows a quite rich mining industry and ore repositories all over the country:
https://www.cgs.gov.cn/ddztt/kydh/2017kydh/kjcx/201709/P020170921526280598760.pdf

best
Marc

20th Sep 2023 18:24 UTCMosen Fateezaade

Hi Mark,
Thank you for your attention, I have a broadband (kind of!) connection and I use VPN to bypass filtering of internet. So, we are located in an area between numbers 21 and 24 while 21 is closest to me in the pdf presentation you provided. And as I mentioned before no one ever has considered this region as a potential for metallic mining but my findings show otherwise. I've made very interesting discoveries which I will be glad to share with you and to use your help.
Best
Mo
 
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