Need help identifing an ore sample.

[Anonymous]

I need help with some ore samples. I have a basic idea where to begin, and have taken some peliminary data

first I did the scratch test on a white tile.

The sample does not leave a color mark whatsoever. It will scratch the glazed side of the ceramic tile.

Sample turned blue when I used it as a cathode. as seen at the upper portion of the picture.

Basic info is the sample is a shimmery blue/Grey metallic color Light, but extremely hard. found them while digging out a tree stump..

 

[Shecker]

This looks a bit like peacock copper ore -- otherwise known as Bornite (Cu5FeS4). From the looks of these samples they could have a fairly silver content. Michigan is known for it's great deposits of copper and considering today's spot prices for copper this could be a valuable resource to have.

Randy in Gunnison

 

[Anonymous]

I had originally suspected that but boronite will leave a green color scratch and is incapable of scratching glass.

 

[Lou]

Ever considered that the tree was struck by lightning and that those are in fact some vitrified fulgurites?


Personally, I would probably crush some up and try heating it in a crucible in a really good draft and obtaining a mass loss to volatility all the while noting the colour of smoke, the quantity, and perhaps sampling some for wetchem analysis (assuming that this smoke can be collected and is not carbonaceous or sulfuous in nature). You could also consider blowpiping it.

I can send you some blowpiping charcoals and write a bit on how it's done if there's an interest?


Lou

 

[NuggetHuntingFool]

Vitrified Fulgurites...


Learn something new every day.

 

[Anonymous]

Ever considered that the tree was struck by lightning and that those are in fact some vitrified fulgurites?


Personally, I would probably crush some up and try heating it in a crucible in a really good draft and obtaining a mass loss to volatility all the while noting the colour of smoke, the quantity, and perhaps sampling some for wetchem analysis (assuming that this smoke can be collected and is not carbonaceous or sulfuous in nature). You could also consider blowpiping it.

I can send you some blowpiping charcoals and write a bit on how it's done if there's an interest?


Lou

fulgurite is a intriguing theory. a fulgurite is a mass melting of sand most common in deserts. They are also commonly found in Michigan on the sand dunes.

Problem is a fulgurite's don't normally conduct electricy. This sample vigoursly conducts as I have already used the top one in the picture as a cathode trying to extract trace elements from it.

This isn't a piece of melted sand, it is clearly a metal of some type.

I looked up peacock copper ore and found this, similar yes.


I found this link, that kinda has me excite, now I want to dig up my entire yard..

http://images.google.com/imgres?img...channel=s&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&sa=N

 

[Platdigger]

Could it be high in cobalt?
Randy

 

[markqf1]

Maybe a copper sulfide called covellite known to turn blue when heated.

Mark

 

[Anonymous]

here is a covilte sample, not it

 

[Shecker]

If you are trying to do an electrolytic separation of this material you use the ore sample as an anode and a piece of copper as the cathode. This would cause copper present to plate on the cathode will pieces of non-conductive silicates and any other metals present would form a sludge at the bottom of the anode area. But a better idea would be to smelt this stuff first. Proper smelting will remove oxides, silicates, carbonaceous material, and other no-no's, and leave you copper Dore if it is an ore of copper. If it is an ore of copper then you need to determine silver/gold content, and if enough work out a method of extraction.

Randy in Gunnison

 

[Anonymous]

Well smelting it is out of the question. Whatever this is it is beyond the capability of my cutting Acetylene torch. Whatever this is has a melting point beyond steel.

 

[markqf1]

Very interesting.
Where does it rank on the Mohs scale of hardness?
Also, do you know about what the specific gravity it is?

Mark

 

[Shecker]

It is a possibility that you found a pocket of a glacial moraine that moved some pgm bearing material south from Canada. I would also suspect a high nickel content if this is the case. You might try some sulfuric acid as a starting point to see if a green color of dissolved nickel appears. But keep in mind that H2SO4 can be dangerous stuff, particularly when hot, and keep human bodies away from it. There are also other tests for nickel and pgm's that can be offered by other members of this forum.

Randy in Gunnison

 

[Anonymous]

This is the testing I have subjected it to.

(a streak testTile) Scratch test, looking for any type of color scratch. To give me the Mohs hardness rating. (The sample ranks above Quartz). It won't leave a color streak on my tile. And it will scratch the glazed side of the tile.

it will scratch my hardend steel sockets, and my cobalt/titanium drill bits.

Also it is hard enough that a hacksaw blade will be dulled before the sample is gouged even halfway through. (I tried cutting the blue sample in half).

Ive tried to melt it twice first time with my mapp torch, then with my Oxy Acet torch both were a no go.

I sent a sample to with my friend with Western Michigan university to have his geology professor look at it.

Very interesting.
Where does it rank on the Mohs scale of hardness?
Also, do you know about what the specific gravity it is?

Mark

I have not yet tested the specific gravity.

 

[Scott2357]

A piece of metorite I mentioned in another thread turned blue after being heated to glowing red hot with a MAPP torch. Little bright white sparks would fly off the tip of the shard once red hot. Very heavy, very hard and acids did not have any significant effect on it. I was told by chemists where my dad worked that it was an extremly pure form of iron.

 

[Anonymous]

I am glad you mentioned the weight, I didn't say anything about that.

I need to buy myself a digital scale that can measure grams and oz's but the entire sampling that I found feels nearly weightless in my hand..

I wonder if I found a piece of "Unobtainium"

Muhaha Muhaha Muahah! :twisted:

 

[Anonymous]

I exposed my ore sample to a 17 hour A.p. bath sample remains appearance wise unchanged, drying the samples to see if they gathered any additional weight.

if this had been any type of copper or silver or I would assume they should have dissolved.

no pics of the small test samples I only have my camra phone and it gives less then quality pics.

 

[Anonymous]

Is it heavy for the size, looks like maybe silicon.

 

[usaman65]

slag from nearby refinerys of the past?

 

[Lou]

So it is light, but it's hard.

This rules out all precious metals.

Given its hardness, lightness, and refractory nature, I do not think there are any metals in it, especially if it survived the oxy acetylene torch.

As a matter of fact, there really isn't much of anything that would survive the 3000*C flame of a properly tuned oxy-acetylene torch, at least stuff that you are likely to encounter.

My advice to you is try again with the torch and do it with ventilation. Make sure to wear eye protection from UV radiation given off when you heat it to a ridiculous temperature.


Lou