Graveyard point with unknown metal.

[legendarygranite]

I been on a mission of cutting material and came across this graveyard with a silver looking material in the plumes. I was wondering if anyone has come across such a thing? It doesn't look like the norm for marcasite.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/50579556@N06/6925329949/in/photostream/

[Enchantra]

It could be some form of pyrite if it's not marcasite.  I don't know if the graveyard point plume claims are near any precious metal claims or not.  It could be silver - though I find that to be less likely than some form of pyrite.

[legendarygranite]

It could be some form of pyrite if it's not marcasite.  I don't know if the graveyard point plume claims are near any precious metal claims or not.  It could be silver - though I find that to be less likely than some form of pyrite.

I cut a few more and we both think its marcasite. These are some of the best graveyard slabs I have cut todate, these babies are going to make awesome cabs.

[Freeform]

Yup Marcasite, often the better grade of marcasite plumes will show full metal plumes. like Nipomo maracsite. The idaho plume can show the same but with more orange background agate color.

[hulagrub]

Marcasite! Marcasite is closely related to iron pyrite, and both degrade to basically rust!

[legendarygranite]

Marcasite! Marcasite is closely related to iron pyrite, and both degrade to basically rust!

Wow, so marcasite is bad for cabs?

[hulagrub]

No Jason, it makes it prettier. I'm sure it takes many years of weathering to degrade any of the iron type minerals.

[legendarygranite]

No Jason, it makes it prettier. I'm sure it takes many years of weathering to degrade any of the iron type minerals.

COOL, you got me nervous for a minute, I bought 40#'s of this material.

[Enchantra]

Stored under proper conditions and not kept out in the elements and dampness, it will keep for a long time.  Once the degrading process starts though it's pretty much hard to stop. 

I had some pyrite chips for beading that I had in my studio.  Before my Parents got the water problems down in the basement fixed a couple years ago it stayed fairly damp down there.  I opened up the pyrite chips one day to find that they had all started to degrade and were turning to a whitish powder.  I tried baking them to remove moisture (Got odd looks from the folks) and that didn't work either.  I ended up tossing them into the trash.

Thankfully it's dry down there now and the dehumidifier keeps it at a good 55% humidity.  The joys of living next to a swamp.  But at least now things don't degrade on me.  I'd be balling if some of my nipomo or other pyrite cabs started to degrade - especially since a couple of them are the work of George's Hands.