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Gemstones, Minerals & Fossils
Gemstones and Minerals
Help with Identification.
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<blockquote data-quote="user 4386" data-source="post: 313123" data-attributes="member: 4386"><p>Yes schorl. The striations are typical. Instead of looking at the crystals side on, I suggest you look at them end-on (in cross-section). I think you will find them to form a complex triangle or hexagon (belongs to the Trigonal crystal system).</p><p></p><p><img src="https://www.prospectingaustralia.com/forum/img/member-images/4386/1488449976_tourmaline_2.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p><img src="https://www.prospectingaustralia.com/forum/img/member-images/4386/1488449976_tourmaline_1.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p>Use a piece of broken plate as a strek plate (rough porcelain) but of course the mineral will only leave a powder if it is softer. A small pocket knife blade is around hardness 5 and you can scratch the mineral to leave powder - quartz is 7 and can be used to scratch it. But tourmaline is about 7.5 so will not scratch. The powder is easy to see if you use a hand lense (eg from Prospectors Supplies - x10 although I also use a x20)</p><p></p><p>A "gold" coin is about hardness 4, your fingernail will scratch things of 3 or less. You don't need expensive equipment.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="user 4386, post: 313123, member: 4386"] Yes schorl. The striations are typical. Instead of looking at the crystals side on, I suggest you look at them end-on (in cross-section). I think you will find them to form a complex triangle or hexagon (belongs to the Trigonal crystal system). [img]https://www.prospectingaustralia.com/forum/img/member-images/4386/1488449976_tourmaline_2.jpg[/img] [img]https://www.prospectingaustralia.com/forum/img/member-images/4386/1488449976_tourmaline_1.jpg[/img] Use a piece of broken plate as a strek plate (rough porcelain) but of course the mineral will only leave a powder if it is softer. A small pocket knife blade is around hardness 5 and you can scratch the mineral to leave powder - quartz is 7 and can be used to scratch it. But tourmaline is about 7.5 so will not scratch. The powder is easy to see if you use a hand lense (eg from Prospectors Supplies - x10 although I also use a x20) A "gold" coin is about hardness 4, your fingernail will scratch things of 3 or less. You don't need expensive equipment. [/QUOTE]
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Gemstones, Minerals & Fossils
Gemstones and Minerals
Help with Identification.
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