The Nickel Guy Posted December 8 Report Share Posted December 8 I have never seen pieces of this mineral and have no idea if it is common but I did get a small rock collection mixed in the marbles. I got a nice pieces of turquoise too and some huge prehistoric jacks and a no longer bouncing ball that probably went with the jacks. But here are 4 substantial size minerals that are shiny and have little facets all over the surface as if they were crystals. It very much resembles aluminum foil that is crinkled up and crushed or pyrite but this is very silvery. My best guess is they are Mica and this might be the stuff makers use that we see in handmade marbles. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Posted December 8 Report Share Posted December 8 That isn't mica. Mica comes in very thin sheets, most often layered. Sometime silvery, sometime nearly black (which wouldn't be used in marbles). I have quite a lot of it from hiking in the mountains. I'll take pics for you tomorrow in the sun. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Nickel Guy Posted December 8 Author Report Share Posted December 8 Maybe it's graphite or silicon. Just tried that image search thing on google and it is showing similar stuff. I have loose graphite which would make a mess just touching it but this does not make my fingers black. Thanks for your response. Don't work too hard on pictures Alan just for this thread unless you want to. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fire1981 Posted December 8 Report Share Posted December 8 Do you know what State it's from🔥 RAR 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Nickel Guy Posted December 8 Author Report Share Posted December 8 Probably found in Pennsylvania. I could just see a little kid picking it up with some better rocks that were in the balast along the tracks. ( I did get a few other rocks with it) I do think it might be Ferrosilicon after reading a thread on a rock tumbler thread. In PA we have had steel mills and foundries and that particular alloy is used in the making of diverse steels. Just a guess as pictures are pictures. It is quite light as the silicons are. These were found by others along RR tracks in that forum and we have many RR tracks going to mills with hopper cars. I am Sgt. Shultz, I know nothing. But I bet that it is a silicon now. Wish it were platinum. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Posted December 8 Report Share Posted December 8 Mica can be found in small (and occasionally, large) flakes embedded in minerals. Large flakes in other minerals are hard to find, at least where I hike. More often, its found in flat, relatively thin multi-layered flakes. Most often silvery, its uncommonly found (by me) in dark, almost black form. Due to its very thin layers, it is usually fragile when found alone. Mica in thin layers: 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Posted December 8 Report Share Posted December 8 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Nickel Guy Posted December 8 Author Report Share Posted December 8 Thank you Alan. Excellent pictures and info. You're a rock star! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schmoozer Posted December 9 Report Share Posted December 9 I’ve got a sample from a mine in New Mexico. Will dig it out and take pictures. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schmoozer Posted December 9 Report Share Posted December 9 Why can’t I paste a link? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schmoozer Posted December 9 Report Share Posted December 9 14 hours ago, schmoozer said: I’ve got a sample from a mine in New Mexico. Will dig it out and take pictures. collected by my grandfather. muscovite 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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