DSC_1120_A brecciated hodge-podge
Tese two cabs came from a mini-slab of brecciated material that is, geologically speaking, just a mess. I can definitely see quartz, jasper, pyrite, native copper and traces of chrysocolla (at the edges). Possibly some cuprite as well. It was softer than I expected and M-E-S-S-Y!!! The pan turned deep black, and black swarf covered the stones as I worked, so I was working essentially blind. Even rinsing the stones in clean water only helped for a few seconds. My hands are still stained, but these are worth the effort.
DSC_1120_A brecciated hodge-podge
Tese two cabs came from a mini-slab of brecciated material that is, geologically speaking, just a mess. I can definitely see quartz, jasper, pyrite, native copper and traces of chrysocolla (at the edges). Possibly some cuprite as well. It was softer than I expected and M-E-S-S-Y!!! The pan turned deep black, and black swarf covered the stones as I worked, so I was working essentially blind. Even rinsing the stones in clean water only helped for a few seconds. My hands are still stained, but these are worth the effort.