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METEORITES AND MINERALS

I built this page to capture one aspect of metal detecting many of us often overlook. What am I talking about? Well, you've seen where we talked about relic hunting, artifacts, coin shooting, prospecting, beach hunting and maybe a few others though I don't think I have talked about Meteorites and Minerals. We run across them often enough but the big problem is we didn't know what we were looking at. Well, I hope this page will help us to become better prepared in the identification of both. As you'll read from the various links I will extract info/pics from both of these can be very properous. I myself didn't realize how much money were in these till just of late after doing a bunch of research. Well enough talk for now and lets get this page built and the info you'll need posted.

Thanks to Robbie41's contribution, I added a link to a site at the bottom of this page which I think many will be interested in, no it's not about meteorites, nor is it about minerals.... but it is about TEKTITES. Take a look and enjoy!

HOW TO IDENTIFY A METEORITE

There are a number of characteristics of meteorites which, on careful examination, allow them to be distinguished from typical rock types which occur on Earth. These properties are discussed individually below. It is usually a combination of several or all of these properties which allow an unambiguous identification of the sample as a meteorite.

A piece of the Norton County enstatite achondrite lying in
the ground where it fell. The brown surface is fusion crust.

SIX CHARACTERISTICS OF METEORITES

Presence of Iron Metal
Density
Magnetism
Presence of Chondrules
Fusion Crust
Regmaglypts

METEO-RIGHTS!

METAL

Most meteorites contain at least some iron metal (actually an alloy of iron and nickel). You can see the metal shining on a broken surface. Iron meteorites are all metal, stony iron meteorites are about half metal, half stone, and stone meteorites contain small flecks of metal.

The photo shows how metal is distributed in the ordinary chondrite, Abbott.

DENSITY

Many meteorites, particularly iron meteorites, are very dense and feel heavier than most rocks found on Earth. The density of iron metal is about 8 grams per cubic centimeter so that most meteorites containing metal have densities greater than 3.3 grams per cubic centimeter. Few terrestrial rocks have densities higher than this value, with the exception of iron ores, which are typically iron oxides such as magnetite or hematite.

MAGNETISM

Most meteorites contain some iron-nickel metal and attract a magnet easily. You can use an ordinary refrigerator magnet to test this property. A magnet will stick to the meteorite if it contains much metal. Some meteorites, such as stony meteorites, contain only a small amount of metal, but will attract a magnet hanging on a string.

The meteorite in the photo is the iron meteorite, Nantan.

CHONDRULES

The most common meteorites to fall on Earth are called chondrites. These are stone meteorites. They contain small balls of stony material called chondrules that are about a millimeter (1/25 inch) across.

The photo shows a cut face of the Allende carbonaceous chondrite.

FUSION CRUST

When a meteorite falls through the Earth's atmosphere a very thin layer on the outer surface melts. This thin crust is called a fusion crust. It is often black and looks like an eggshell coating the rock as shown in this picture of the Camel Donga meteorite, a eucrite from Australia. The fusion crust can also appear brown on meteorites which were not recovered directly after they fell due to terrestrial weathering.

REGMAGLYPTS

Sometimes when a meteorite falls through the Earth's atmosphere features called regmaglypts form on the surface. These look like thumbprints, like pressing your thumb into playdo. The photograph shows a specimen of the Sikhote Alin iron meteorite from Russia which has well-developed regmaglypts all over its surface.

METEOR-WRONGS!

It isn't always easy to identify a meteorite even using the properties discussed above, because some characteristics are shared by common terrestrial rocks and man-made materials. Lets look at some areas where confusion can arise.

Below are analyses of two iron (Fe) metal samples. the one with low nickel (Ni) peaks is a meteorite and the one with no nickel is not a meteorite.

METAL

Human activity has produced objects made from pure iron for centuries, so it is possible to confuse lumps of man-made iron with meteoritic materials. Objects such as iron grinding balls often have a smooth rounded appearance and may be thought be meteorites. Lumps of iron slag from smelting processes can also have some similarities to meteorites, so it is important to be careful. The major difference between iron produced by human activity and meteoritic iron is the presence of the element nickel. Iron metal in all meteorites contains at least some nickel whereas man-made metal objects generally do not. In addition, the interior structure of iron meteorites is unique and unlike any man-made metal alloys. Special analysis and preparation techniques are required to examine the internal structure and composition of a suspect meteorite. The results of such tests are, however, completely definitive.

DENSITY

As noted earlier, meteorites are commonly denser than most terrestrial rocks. However, lumps or fragments of man-made iron are common as are the iron-oxide minerals, magnetite and hematite. Other types of man-made materials can also be rather dense, especially types of slag, the byproducts of industrial processes. These types of materials can be confused with meteorites.

MAGNETISM

In addition to meteorites containing iron, there are man-made and naturally-occurring materials that are magnetic and are easily confused with meteorites. Man-made iron objects are an example. Examples of iron-bearing minerals which are very commonly mistaken for meteorites are magnetite and hematite. Both of these minerals can occur as large masses with smooth surfaces which are heavier than typical rocks, but have some features which resemble meteorites. Magnetite especially is very magnetic (hence its name) and hematite is mildly magnetic.

Fortunately...
both these minerals can be very readily distinguished from meteoritic material by a characteristic known as their streak. You can test the streak very simply. If you take a common ceramic tile, such as a bathroom or kitchen tile, it has a smooth glazed slide and an unfinished dull side which is stuck to the wall when installed. Take the sample that you think is a meteorite and scratch it quite vigorously on the unglazed side of the tile. If it leaves a black gray streak the sample is almost certainly magnetite, and if it leaves a red-brown streak it is almost certainly hematite. A meteorite, unless it is very heavily weathered, will not leave a streak on the tile.

FUSION CRUST

One of the most common areas of confusion is the identification of fusion crust, the thin black, often lustrous layer which covers the surface of freshly fallen meteorite. Many terrestrial rocks which have been lying around on the surface of the Earth for tens of thousands of years can also develop a thin, colored layer on their surfaces. However, in this case the crust forms as a result of weathering processes such as the interaction with rain water and is called a weathering rind. Basaltic igneous rocks which form as lavas commonly form a black weathering rind, which can easily be confused with fusion crust.

SOME COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS

Many people believe that meteorites have the appearance of being molten, perhaps having a frothy appearance or bubbles on their surfaces. However, this is not the case. The outer portion of a meteorite, the fusion crust, is typically either quite smooth with only minor surface irregularities or has the characteristic regmaglypts (thumb prints) described earlier. Most meteorites are quite cool when they hit the Earth's surface. However, many terrestrial igneous rocks do have such an appearance, often having cavities or pores within them. Such holes or 'vesicles' were produced by bubbles of gas which formed in the magma as it was erupted. If you find a rock that contains many of these vesicles it is almost certainly a terrestrial rock.

IF YOU THINK YOU HAVE FOUND A METEORITE...

Formerly, we offered a service to examine samples that are suspect meteorites. However, we have discontinued this service for the present. So please do not send in your samples for evaluation because they will be returned to you unexamined. We anticipate that we may be able to resume this service at some point in the future, so please check this space for updates in the coming months.

Do I have a Meteorite?

How to Recognize a Meteorite

Meteorites have a number of characteristics which set them apart from terrestrial rocks. The most obvious is the unusually heavy nature of meteorites. Stony meteorites are one and a half times heavier than equivalent-sized terrestrial rocks whereas iron meteorites can be four times heavier. Meteorites are generally irregular in shape, but with rounded edges. Freshly fallen meteorites have very thin (1-2 millimeters thick) black surfaces. However, freshly fallen meteorites are rare and found usually only after the fall itself has been witnessed. Usually, the meteorite has become brown due to weathering and sometimes may reveal a surface scale. Meteorites are always compact, not porous or hollow. Most meteorites are magnetic and will attract a simple hand magnet. A good test of authenticity is to grind a suspected meteorite on an abrasive wheel. All but a few meteorites contain grains of metal that appear as shining flecks on the abraded surface, or they are made almost entirely of metal, in which case the whole surface appears shiny.

Why in the world would anybody want to search for meteorites? Well, for me, it is fun. I simply enjoy metal detecting, so why not meteorites? Besides, as I found out, they are valuable, some far more valuable than gold.

My quest for meteorites began a few years ago when I found out people were finding meteorites in Gold Basin. At the time I didn't know what a meteorite looked like, nor what they were worth. Fortunately, with the help of a few friends who had been finding them, I quickly knew what to look for. Armed with the new information, I began looking for gold and meteorites which increased the probability of me finding something. The new knowledge did bother me though, because, now I wondered how many meteorites I had passed over in the past.

It was after my first meteorite hunting adventure that I found out their value. After doing a little research, I was astonished to find out some meteorites were selling for more than per gram. No, the meteorites people were finding in Gold Basin were not the more valuable types, but they were valuable. For example, based on the typical retail market value I found on the internet, two of the meteorites I found were worth more than each. Not bad for a rock I would have normally left behind.

To put the value of a meteorite in perspective, let's compare them to gold. Today, gold sells for somewhere around per gram. The typical retail price of a Gold Basin meteorite is about to per gram. Whether they sell for per gram or per gram, it is a reason for me to take searching for them seriously.

One nice feature about hunting for meteorites is they can be found anywhere. Obviously, one will have better luck searching in areas where large numbers of meteorites are being found, such as in Gold Basin, but who knows, one may have landed in your back yard. Realistically, there are other strewn fields just like the one in Gold Basin just waiting to discovered. The Gold Basin field was discovered in 1995 by nugget hunters who were curious about the strange rocks they were finding with their detectors.

I am not the person to explain about meteorites or to determine whether a suspected rock is really a meteorite. I rely on the experts in the field for my information, such as O. Richard Norton, the author of "Rocks From Space" to make such determinations. There are people such as Mr. Norton who will evaluate a suspected rock but one should keep the following in mind.

Mr. Norton and others like him have initially spent many years and thousands of dollars pursuing a formal education in fields such as astronomy and geology. They have spent additional time and money refining and expanding their knowledge to attain the recognition or status as "experts" in their field. As such, their time is very valuable, just as is the time of a medical doctor or a lawyer. One should keep that in mind when asking someone such as Mr. Norton to evaluate whether a suspected rock is a meteorite. Furthermore, one should realize that people such as Mr. Norton are constantly being bombarded by people wanting their "rock" evaluated to see if it is a meteorite.

Mr. Norton has stated that he will make a quick evaluation of a suspected meteorite and give an opinion. To do so, Mr. Norton would need to look at a piece of the interior of the rock, and not just the rock itself. The reason? The surface and near surface of meteorites can deteriorate to the point where it is impossible to accurately determine whether a rock is a meteorite just by visual inspection of the rock. Therefore, the only way to be sure is to inspect a piece from the interior. If the rock is in fact a meteorite, Mr. Norton would keep a thin slice as payment for his time. This thin slice would then be used for his personal research.

If he feels the rock is a meteorite, he would then send a sample to somebody such as Dr. Alan Rubin of UCLA for further evaluation and classification. Mr. Rubin is one of the more noted experts who has the sophisticated equipment at his disposal to make a final determination and formal classification. It may take a month or more to obtain the final results simply because of the volume of samples they have to evaluate. Once classified, a meteorite increases in value. Most universities including UCLA will request as much as 50 to 100 grams of a meteorite as payment to evaluate and classify it. The sample they keep is then used for research. If the meteorite is small and is one of the more valuable types, the amount requested would be considerably less.

One should also keep in mind that if Mr. Norton receives a rock that he feels is not a meteorite, the rock will not be returned unless the owner includes sufficient funds to do so.

There are private laboratories that will evaluate whether a rock is a meteorite or not. The cost of a formal analysis and classification by private labs can cost or more. One can find a list of verification laboratories in the appendix of "Rocks from Space".

To summarize the issue of having any party evaluate a suspected meteorite, one should find out as many details as possible before sending any suspected rock to be evaluated. One should ask exactly what they should do and what will be done by the party who will be doing the evaluation. Make sure to ask about all expenses involved, including the return of the "rock" so there are no misunderstandings.

Although my knowledge of meteorites is limited to what I have read, and the few I have found, I have decided to add the following information that I hope will get you started. To be safe, one should spend more time investigating the different types that can be found.

All meteorites do not look alike
All do not respond the same way on a metal detector
Some will not cause any response on a metal detector
Some are much heavier than others
Some may look like a rusty piece of metal
They can come in all different colors and shapes
Many have chondrules (small dark bumps, like pimples) (Gold Basin meteorites have this characteristic)
Many will have a characteristic "thumb print" indentations on their surface
Most are heavier than a typical rock the same size
Most are attracted to a magnet
Many may have a very thin fusion crust
All are valuable
A few are extremely valuable

The bottom line is, I know there are some vary valuable meteorites out there waiting to be found, and I hope to find one some day. In the meantime, I will continue to hunt for all types and will be happy just finding ones like I have been finding in Gold Basin.

For those of you wanting more information on meteorites and their value, there are several websites that provide such information. As for reading material, I like the book mentioned above, "Rocks From Space". It is one of the most thorough books on the subject that I have found. There are several sites on the internet that sell this book, and the price ranges somewhere between and . If you want an autographed copy, you can get one from the address listed below. Be sure to request the book be autographed if you should decide to order from the location below.
Science Graphics
P.O. Box 7516
Bend, OR 97708
phone (541) 389-5652
scigraph@quantumworld.com

You can find more information about gold basin meteorites and where they are found by searching the web for Gold Basin meteorites. Also, I have an article coming out in Lost Treasure later this year that gives more details about this location. One other note, if you plan on selling your meteorites, you should check before cleaning them, because it can detract from their value.

If you decide to try your luck at finding meteorites in the Gold Basin area, keep in mind that they normally do not come out of the ground looking like the ones displayed on the first page of this web. They will be covered with dirt and some may be covered with other contaminants that make it difficult to tell if it is a meteorite. They will just stick to a very strong magnet, while some of the native hotrocks will have the strong attraction. Below is a picture of some of the meteorites I have found recently. Some have been cleaned with plain water, and others have not, and have a coating of dirt and/or alkali, or some other strange coating.

I pulled the above info from: http://www.nuggethunter.com/Meteorites.htm

You can find much more info and pics by clicking on the link above.

I'm attaching a link to a site that has some awesome info relating to meteorites. Check it out and see what I'm talking about. The publisher did a great job of putting together this site, I truly enjoyed it! If you're looking for leads on where to look for meteorites this is the place that can get you started. http://www.novaspace.com/METEOR/Find.html

Another Article on METEORITE IDENTIFICATION

Here's another great links to peruse through at your leasure. Foudn it a good read and very informative. Check it out!

http://meteorites.pdx.edu/meteoriteid.htm

More info on METEOR IDENTIFICATION

Here's another site that has a good take on identifying meteorites. It's a really easy read and is great relative to getting to the basics. Enjoy!

http://www.alaska.net/~meteor/metid1.htm

Another great read regarding METEORITES

Here's another great read regarding meteorites and all sorts of other info relating to them. Don't want to ruin the read by babbling so take a look for yourself and enjoy.

http://www.meteoritemarket.com/Learn.htm

Want Your Suspected Meteorite Tested?

If you have found what you suspect to be a meteorite and want to have it looked at by a professional free of charge, then maybe later to send it off to have it authenticated, try this site. Lots of info, greta pics, and a overall good read. Enjoy!

http://www.namnmeteors.org/meteorite-tests.html

TESTING TOOL

Want to build a tool to test your find to see if it is a Meteorite? If so, try clicking on the link below:

http://www.johnbetts-fineminerals.com/jhbnyc/articles/magnet.htm

AIR TESTING A METEORITE WITH A DETECTOR

Ever wanted to conduct some air tests on a meteorite? Well the link below has some great info and a speaks to a number of detectors to include that of the BH TimeRanger. Check out the site and see how these detector brands stacked up angainst one another.

http://members.aol.com/whiteriverlabs/shootout.html

Now how about some MINERALS. Well, I found this one site that had so much info on them I couldn't pass it up and have spent numerous hours going through each type of mineral. It's in alphabetical order so just click on any of them and read till your hearts content. Enjoy!

Minerals | By_Class | By_Groupings | Search
Minerals by Name
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

ACANTHITE (Silver Sulfide)

ACTINOLITE (Calcium Magnesium Iron Silicate Hydroxide)

ADAMITE (Zinc Arsenate Hydroxide)

AEGIRINE (Sodium Iron Silicate)

AESCHYNITE (Yttrium Calcium Iron Thorium Titanium Niobium Oxide Hydroxide)

AJOITE (Hydrated Potassium Sodium Copper Aluminum Silicate Hydroxide)

ALBITE (Sodium Aluminum Silicate)

ALEXANDRITE (variety of Chrysoberyl- Beryllium Aluminum Oxide)

ALLANITE (Calcium Cerium Lanthanum Yttrium Aluminum Iron Silicate Hydroxide)

ALMANDINE (Iron Aluminum Silicate)

ALTAITE (Lead Telluride)

ALUMINUM (Al)

ALUNITE (Potassium Aluminum Sulfate Hydroxide)

AMBER (Succinite: fossilized tree resin)

AMBLYGONITE (Lithium Sodium Aluminum Phosphate Fluoride Hydroxide)

AMETHYST (variety of Quartz- Silicon Oxide)

ANALCIME (Hydrated Sodium Aluminum Silicate)

ANAPAITE (Hydrated Calcium Iron Phosphate)

ANATASE (Titanium Oxide)

ANDALUSITE (Aluminum Silicate)

ANDERSONITE (Hydrated Sodium Calcium Uranyl Carbonate)

ANDESINE (Sodium Calcium Aluminum Silicate)

ANDRADITE (Calcium Iron Silicate)

ANGELITE (trade name for Anhydrite)

ANGLESITE (Lead Sulfate)

ANHYDRITE (Calcium Sulfate)

ANKERITE (Calcium Iron Carbonate)

ANNABERGITE (Hydrated Nickel Arsenate)

ANORTHITE (Calcium Aluminum Silicate)

ANTHOPHYLLITE (Magnesium Iron Silicate Hydroxide)

ANTIMONY (Sb)

ANTLERITE (Copper Sulfate Hydroxide)

APATITE (Calcium (Fluoro, Chloro, Hydroxyl) Phosphate)

APOPHYLLITE (Hydrated Potassium Calcium Silicate Hydroxide Flouride)

AQUAMARINE (variety of Beryl, Berylium Aluminum Silicate)

ARAGONITE (Calcium Carbonate)

ARFVEDSONITE (Sodium Iron Magnesium Silicate Hydroxide)

ARGENTITE (Silver Sulfide)

ARGYRODITE (Silver Germanium Sulfide)

ARSENIC (As)

ARSENOPYRITE (Iron Arsenide Sulfide)

ARSENTSUMEBITE (Lead Copper Arsenate Sulfate)

ARTHURITE (Hydrated Copper Iron Arsenate Phosphate Sulfate)

ARTINITE (Hydrated Magnesium Carbonate Hydroxide)

ASTROPHYLLITE (Potassium Iron Titanium Silicate Hydroxide)

ATACAMITE (Copper Chloride Hydroxide)

AUGELITE (Aluminum Phosphate Hydroxide)

AUGITE (Calcium Sodium Magnesium Aluminum Iron Titanium Silicate)

AURICHALCITE (Zinc Copper Carbonate Hydroxide)

AUSTINITE (Calcium Zinc Arsenate Hydroxide)

AUTUNITE (Hydrated Calcium Uranyl Phosphate)

AXINITE (Calcium Iron Magnesium Manganese Aluminum Boro-Silicate Hydroxide)

AZURITE (Copper Carbonate Hydroxide)

BABINGTONITE (Calcium Iron Manganese Silicate Hydroxide)

BAKERITE (Hydrated Calcium Boro-silicate Hydroxide)

BARATOVITE (Potassium Lithium Calcium Titanium Zirconium Silicate Fluoride)

BARITE (Barium Sulfate)

BASTNASITE (Cerium Lanthanum Yttrium Carbonate Fluoride)

BAUMHAUERITE (Lead Arsenic Sulfide)

BAYLDONITE (Hydrated Copper Lead Arsenate Hydroxide)

BEUDANTITE (Lead Iron Arsenate Sulfate Hydroxide)

BENITOITE (Barium Titanium Silicate)

BERAUNITE (Hydrated Iron Phosphate Hydroxide)

BERLINITE (Aluminum Phosphate)

BERTHIERITE (Iron Antimony Sulfide)

BERTRANDITE (Beryllium Silicate Hydroxide)

BERYL (Berylium Aluminum Silicate)

BERYLLONITE (Sodium Beryllium Phosphate)

BETAFITE (Calcium Sodium Uranium Titanium Niobium Tantalum Oxide Hydroxide Fluoride)

BIDEAUXITE (Lead Silver Chloride Fluoride Hydroxide)

BINDHEIMITE (Lead Antimony Oxide)

BIOTITE (Potassium Iron Magnesium Aluminum Silicate Hydroxide Fluoride)

BISMUTH (Bi)

BISMUTHINITE (Bismuth Sulfide)

BIXBYITE (Manganese Iron Oxide)

BLODITE (Hydrated Sodium Magnesium Sulfate)

BOLEITE (Hydrated Lead Copper Silver Chloride Hydroxide)

BOLTWOODITE (Hydrated Potassium Uranyl Silicate Hydroxide)

BORACITE (Magnesium Borate Chloride)

BORAX (Hydrated Sodium Borate)

BORNITE (Copper Iron Sulfide)

BOULANGERITE (Lead Antimony Sulfide)

BOURNONITE (Copper Lead Antimony Sulfide)

BRASS (Copper Zinc Alloy)

BRAZILIANITE (Sodium Aluminum Phosphate Hydroxide)

BROCHANTITE (Copper Sulfate Hydroxide)

BROOKITE (Titanium Oxide)

BRUCITE (Magnesium Hydroxide)

BUERGERITE (Sodium Iron Aluminum Boro-silicate Oxide Fluoride)

BURBANKITE (Sodium Calcium Strontium Barium Cerium Carbonate)

BUTTGENBACHITE (Hydrated Copper Nitrate Chloride Hydroxide)

BYTOWNITE (Calcium Sodium Aluminum Silicate)

CACOXENITE (Hydrated Iron Aluminum Phosphate Oxide Hydroxide)

CALAVERITE (Gold Telluride)

CALCIOVOLBORTHITE (Calcium Copper Vanadate Hydroxide)

CALCITE (Calcium Carbonate)

CALEDONITE (Copper Lead Carbonate Sulfate Hydroxide)

CALOMEL (Mercury Chloride)

CANCRINITE (Sodium Calcium Aluminum Silicate Carbonate)

CARBOCERNAITE (Calcium Sodium Strontium Cerium Barium Carbonate)

CARLETONITE (Hydrated Potassium Sodium Calcium Carbonate Silicate Fluoride Hydroxide)

CARNALLITE (Hydrated Potasium Magnesium Chloride)

CARNOTITE (Hydrated Potassium Uranyl Vanadate)

CASSITERITE (Tin Oxide)

CATAPLEIITE (Hydrated Sodium Zirconium Silicate)

CAVANSITE (Hydrated Calcium Vanadium Silicate)

CELESTITE (Strontium Sulfate)

CERUSSITE (Lead Carbonate)

CHABAZITE (Hydrated Calcium Aluminum Silicate)

CHALCANTHITE (Hydrated Copper Sulfate)

CHALCOCITE (Copper Sulfide)

CHALCOPHYLLITE (Hydrated Copper Aluminum Sulphate Arsenate Hydroxide)

CHALCOPYRITE (Copper Iron Sulfide)

CHALCOSIDERITE (Hydrated Copper Iron Phosphate Hydroxide)

CHALCOTRICHITE (variety of Cuprite, Copper Oxide)

CHAROITE (Hydrated Sodium Calcium Barium Strontium Silicate Hydroxide Fluoride)

CHENGDEITE (Iridium Iron)

CHILDRENITE (Hydrated Iron Manganese Aluminum Phosphate Hydroxide)

CHKALOVITE (Sodium Beryllium Silicate)

CHLORAPATITE (the chlorine rich apatite)

CHLORARGYRITE (Silver Chloride)

CHLORITE (Iron Magnesium Aluminum Silicate Hydroxide)

CHONDRODITE (Magnesium Iron Silicate Fluoride Hydroxide)

CHROMITE (Magnesium Iron Chromium Oxide)

CHROMIUM (Cr)

CHRYSOBERYL (Berylium Aluminum Oxide)

CHRYSOCOLLA (Hydrated Copper Silicate)

CHRYSOTILE (variety of Serpentine, Magnesium Iron Silicate Hydroxide)

CHURCHITE (Hydrated Yttrium Erbium Phosphate)

CINNABAR (Mercury Sulfide)

CITRINE (variety of Quartz- Silicon Oxide)

CLAUSTHALITE (Lead Selenide)

CLEAVELANDITE (variety of Albite, Sodium Aluminum Silicate)

CLIFFORDITE (Uranium Tellurate)

CLINOCHLORE (Magnesium Aluminum Silicate Hydroxide)

CLINOCLASE (Copper Arsenate Hydroxide)

CLINOHEDRITE (Hydrated Calcium Zinc Silicate)

CLINOHUMITE (Magnesium Iron Silicate Fluoride Hydroxide)

CLINOPTILOLITE (Hydrated Sodium Potassium Calcium Aluminum Silicate)

COBALT (Co)

COBALTITE (Group)

COBALTITE (Cobalt Arsenic Sulfide)

COCONINOITE (Hydrated Iron Aluminum Uranyl Phosphate Sulfate Hydroxide)

COESITE (Silicon Dioxide)

COLEMANITE (Hydrated Calcium Borate Hydroxide)

COLLINSITE (Hydrated Calcium Magnesium Iron Phosphate)

COLUMBITE (Iron Magnesium Manganese Niobium Tantalum Oxide)

CONICHALCITE (Calcium Copper Arsenate Hydroxide)

CONNELLITE (Hydrated Copper Sulfate Chloride Hydroxide)

COPIAPITE (Hydrated Iron Magnesium Sulfate Hydroxide)

COPPER (Cu)

CORDIERITE (Magnesium Aluminum Silicate)

CORDYLITE (Barium Cerium Lanthanum Carbonate Fluoride)

CORNETITE (Copper Phosphate Hydroxide)

CORUNDUM (Aluminum Oxide)

COVELLITE (Copper Sulfide)

CREEDITE (Hydrated Calcium Aluminum Sulfate Fluoride Hydroxide)

CRISTOBALITE (Silicon Dioxide)

CROCOITE (Lead Chromate)

CROCIDOLITE (asbestiform variety of Riebeckite, Sodium Iron Magnesium Silicate Hydroxide)

CRYOLITE (Sodium Aluminum Fluoride)

CUBANITE (Copper Iron Sulfide)

CUMENGITE (Lead Copper Chloride Hydroxide)

CUMMINGTONITE (Magnesium Iron Silicate Hydroxide)

CUPRITE (Copper Oxide)

CUPROADAMITE (Copper Zinc Arsenate Hydroxide)

CUPROSKLODOWSKITE (Hydrated Copper Uranyl Silicate)

CYANOTRICHITE (Hydrated Copper Aluminum Sulfate Hydroxide)

CYLINDRITE (Iron Lead Tin Antimony Sulfide)

DANBURITE (Calcium Boro-Silicate)

DATOLITE (Group)

DATOLITE (Calcium Boro-Silicate Hydroxide)

DESCLOIZITE (Lead Zinc Vanadate Hydroxide)

DEMANTOID (variety of Andradite garnet)

DIABOLEITE (Lead Copper Chloride Hydroxide)

DIAMOND (Carbon)

DIGENITE (Copper Sulfide)

DIOPSIDE (Calcium Magnesium Silicate)

DIOPTASE (Copper Silicate Hydroxide)

DOLOMITE (Calcium Magnesium Carbonate)

DOMEYKITE (Copper Arsenide)

DRAVITE (complex Sodium Magnesium Iron Boro-Aluminum Silicate)

DUFRENITE (Hydrated Iron Phosphate Hydroxide)

DUFTITE (Lead Calcium Copper Zinc Arsenate Hydroxide)

DUMORTIERITE (Aluminum Borate Silicate Oxide)

DUNDASITE (Hydrated Lead Aluminum Carbonate Hydroxide)

DYSCRASITE (Silver Antimonide)

EDENITE (Sodium Calcium Magnesium Iron Aluminum Silicate Hydroxide)

EDINGTONITE (Hydrated Barium Aluminum Silicate)

ELBAITE (Sodium Lithium Aluminum Boro-Silicate Hydroxide)

ELPIDITE (Hydrated Sodium Zirconium Silicate)

EMERALD (variety of Beryl- Berylium Aluminum Silicate)

EMMONSITE (Hydrated Iron Tellurite)

EMPLECTITE (Copper Bismuth Sulfide)

ENARGITE (Copper Arsenic Sulfide)

ENSTATITE (Magnesium Silicate)

EOSPHORITE (Hydrated Manganese Aluminum Phosphate Hydroxide)

EPIDIDYMITE (Sodium Beryllium Silicate Hydroxide)

EPIDOTE (Calcium Iron Aluminum Silicate Hydroxide)

EPISTILBITE (Hydrated Calcium Aluminum Silicate)

EPSOMITE (Hydrated Magnesium Sulfate)

ERIONITE (Hydrated Potassium Sodium Calcium Magnesium Aluminum Silicate)

ERYTHRITE (Hydrated Cobalt Arsenate)

ESPERITE (Calcium Lead Zinc Silicate)

ETTRINGITE (Hydrated Calcium Aluminum Sulfate Hydroxide)

EUCLASE (Beryllium Aluminum Silicate Hydroxide)

EUCRYPTITE (Lithium Aluminum Silicate)

EUDIALYTE (Sodium Calcium Cerium Iron Manganese Zirconium Silicate Hydroxide Chloride)

EUDIDYMITE (Sodium Beryllium Silicate Hydroxide)

EUXENITE (Yttrium Calcium Erbium Lanthanum Cerium Uranium Thorium Niobium Tantalum Titanium Oxide)

FAYALITE (Magnesium Iron Silicate)

FEDORITE (Hydrated Sodium Potassium Calcium Silicate Fluoride Chloride Hydroxide)

FELDSPAR (Group)

FERBERITE (Iron Tungstate)

FERRO-EDENITE (Sodium Calcium Iron Magnesium Aluminum Silicate Hydroxide)

FERROGLAUCOPHANE (Sodium Iron Magnesium Aluminum Silicate Hydroxide)

FIEDLERITE (Lead Chloride Fluoride Hydroxide)

FLUORAPATITE (the fluorine rich apatite)

FLUORITE (Calcium Fluoride)

FLUORRICHTERITE (Sodium Calcium Magnesium Iron Silicate Hydroxide Fluoride)

FORSTERITE (Iron Magnesium Silicate)

FRANCKEITE (Lead Tin Iron Antimony Sulfide)

FRANKLINITE (Zinc Manganese Iron Oxide)

FUCHSITE (the chromium-rich muscovite)

FULGARITE (lightning created Lechatelierite, Silicon Dioxide)

GADOLINITE (Yttrium Iron Beryllium Silicate)

GAHNITE (Zinc Aluminum Oxide)

GALENA (Group)

GALENA (Lead Sulfide)

GARNET (Group)

GASPEITE (Nickel Magnesium Iron Carbonate)

GAYLUSSITE (Hydrated Sodium Calcium Carbonate)

GERSDORFFITE (Nickel Arsenide Sulfide)

GIBBSITE (Aluminum Hydroxide)

GLAUBERITE (Sodium Calcium Sulfate)

GLAUCOPHANE (Sodium Magnesium Iron Aluminum Silicate Hydroxide)

GMELINITE (Hydrated Sodium Calcium Aluminum Silicate)

GOETHITE (Hydrated Iron Oxide)

GOLD (Au)

GOOSECREEKITE (Hydrated Calcium Aluminum Silicate)

GORMANITE (Hydrated Iron Magnesium Aluminum Phosphate Hydroxide)

GOSHENITE (variety of Beryl, Berylium Aluminum Silicate)

GRAEMITE (Hydrated Copper Tellurate)

GRAPHITE (Carbon)

GRATONITE (Lead Arsenic Sulfide)

GREENOCKITE (Cadmium Sulfide)

GROSSULAR (Calcium Aluminum Silicate)

GYPSUM (Hydrated Calcium Sulfate)

GYROLITE (Hydrated Calcium Silicate Hydroxide)

HACKMANITE (variety of Sodalite, Sodium Aluminum Silicate Chloride)

HALITE (Sodium Chloride)

HANKSITE (Potassium Sodium Sulfate Carbonate Chloride)

HARDYSTONITE (Calcium Zinc Silicate)

HARMOTOME (Hydrated Barium Potasium Aluminum Silicate)

HAUSMANNITE (Manganese Oxide)

HEDENBERGITE (Calcium Iron Silicate)

HEDYPHANE (Lead Calcium Arsenate Chloride)

HELIODOR (variety of Beryl, Berylium Aluminum Silicate)

HEMATITE (Iron Oxide)

HEMIMORPHITE (Hydrated Zinc Silicate Hydroxide)

HERDERITE (Calcium Beryllium Phosphate Fluoride Hydroxide)

HESSITE (Silver Telluride)

HESSONITE (variety of Grossular garnet)

HEULANDITE (Hydrated Sodium Calcium Aluminum Silicate)

HIDDENITE (variety of Spodumene)

HILAIRITE (Hydrated Sodium Zirconium Silicate)

HINSDALITE (Lead Strontium Aluminum Phosphate Sulfate Hydroxide)

HODGKINSONITE (Manganese Zinc Silicate Hydroxide)

HOPEITE (Hydrated Zinc Phosphate)

HORNBLEND (Calcium Sodium Magnesium Iron Aluminum Silicate Hydroxide)

HOWLITE (Calcium Boro-Silicate Hydroxide)

HUEBNERITE (Manganese Tungstate)

HUMITE (Magnesium Iron Silicate Fluoride Hydroxide)

HUREAULITE (Hydrated Manganese Phosphate Hydroxide)

HYDROBORACITE (Hydrated Calcium Magnesium Borate)

HYDROMAGNESITE (Hydrated Magnesium Carbonate Hydroxide)

HYDROXYLAPATITE (the hydroxyl group rich apatite)

HYDROXYLBASTNASITE (Cerium Lanthanum Neodymium Carbonate Hydroxide Fluoride)

HYDROZINCITE (Hydrated Zinc Carbonate)

HYPERSTHENE (Magnesium Iron Silicate)

ICE (Hydrogen Oxide)

IDOCRASE (alternate name of Vesuvianite)

ILVAITE (Calcium Iron Silicate Hydroxide)

ILMENITE (Iron Titanium Oxide)

INDICOLITE (blue variety of Elbaite tourmaline)

INESITE (Hydrated Calcium Manganese Silicate Hydroxide)

IOLITE (variety of Cordierite)

IRON (Fe)

JADE (gem variety of both Jadeite and Nephrite (variety of Actinolite))

JADEITE (Sodium Iron Aluminum Silicate)

JAMESONITE (Lead Iron Antimony Sulfide)

JAROSITE (Potassium Iron Sulfate Hydroxide)

JOAQUINITE (Barium Sodium Cesium Titanium Niobium Iron Silicate Hydroxide Fluoride)

JORDANITE (Lead Arsenic Antimony Sulfide)

KAEMMERERITE (the chromium rich variety of cliniclore)

KAOLINITE (Aluminum Silicate Hydroxide)

KERMESITE (Antimony Oxysulfide)

KERNITE (Hydrated Sodium Borate)

KIDWELLITE (Hydrated Sodium Iron Phosphate Hydroxide)

KIESERITE (Hydrated Magnesium Sulfate)

TEKTITES

Today I received an interesting email from Robbie41 asking me about the subject Tektites. Here's an excerpt from the email:

My main interest in this mail is about the
possibility of Tektites being meteorites from
the Moon. At least, that's one of the favored
theories for their odd distribution around the
world. I didn't find any mention in your site's
meteor section about them(unless I missed it),
so I thought it might be of interest
to you for inclusion on the site. The URL for
a well done site about them you may not have seen yet, is herewith included:

I wrote back to the sender and thanked him for the email and the link he provided. I later went and visited the link and read up on the subject and it makes for quite an interesting read. In my opinion Tekties would fall into the mineral classification moreso that that of a meteorite, but then again being as how these beauties originated from outer space seeing that it took the meteorite to splash down here on earth to make them I guess they are a little of both. We do know one thing though and that is they can and are valuable and are making their way back into the gems market. Again, this proves to be another aspect of detecting many of us overlook. With that said I want to share with y'all the link he provided me, jump on into it and have a good read and maybe it too will make you more observant of what you're finding out there. What is a tektite? Well here's the simplest and best definition of it I can find.

Tektites are created when a meteorite strikes the earth, melting both the meteorite and the earth's surface to create glass. The clearest, best gem quality variety of this is called Moldavite, from the splash of an impact crater that landed in Moldavia, Czechoslavakia about 15 million years ago. Moldavite is generally coke-bottle green with ripples and sometimes called Vltava. The brown/black variety is generally referred to as Tektite and is usually from Tibet.

http://www.meteorite.com/tektites/Tekindex.htm

Wanted to share with y'all this brief description of a Tektite:

TEKTITES

Chemistry: Varies but is mostly silica glass with impurities of magnesium, iron and other elements.
Class: Mineraloids
Uses: As a gemstone and as collection specimens
The Physical Properties of Tektities.
Specimens

Tektites are still poorly understood. They are irregularly- and at times intricately-shaped nodules and blobs of a glassy substance. They have no crystal structure, and are therefore similar to obsidian, but are not associated with volcanic processes. Their chemistry is unique and somewhat unexplained.

The leading theory concerning their origin is the "Meteorite Impact Theory". It is postulated that many odd events occur during a meteor's impact because of the tremendous heat and pressure produced. Tektites may be fused glass that formed during an impact of a meteor with layers of rock on the Earth's surface. Tektites occur in broad bands in specific localities in different parts of the world. These bands produce characteristically similar tektites and are sometimes loosely associated with meteorite craters or suspected craters. Could these fields represent splash material from an impact? Many believe so and this idea is gaining acceptance from many scientists. The odd and diverse chemistry of the tektites could be a result of unique meteorites hitting unique rock types with the combinations producing particular effects.

Some tektites, called Moldavites, are especially prized for their clarity and unique green color. Moldavites are found in a "splash field" centered around Moldavia in former Czechoslovakia and are believed to have come from a meteorite crater in Germany. Moldavites are sometimes cut as gemstones or put into jewelry as natural uncut pieces to show off their often eerie and beautifully intricate shapes.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

Color is black, green or colorless.
Luster is vitreous to dull.
Transparency: Gemmy tektites are transparent to translucent, but most are nearly opaque.
Crystal System does not apply because tektites are amorphous.
Habits are usually small nodules or splinters that vary from simple rounded shapes to very intricate natural carvings. Many have smooth, scarred, or pitted surfaces.
cleavage is absent.
Fracture is conchoidal.
Hardness is 5 - 6.
Specific Gravity is approximately 2.5 (somewhat light).
Streak is white.
Other Characteristics: Can sometimes be directly associated with meteorite impact craters.
Notable Occurrences include Moldavia region of Eastern Europe; Thailand and southeast Asia; Australia and Georgia, USA.
Best Field Indicators are color, odd shapes, localities and lack of cleavage or crystal faces.

Another good read on Tektites

By the way, check out where the strewn fields are? You may just be surprised that you live in the area. I know I was. I'm sitting right dab on top of one of these fields and hadn't even known it till Robby41 sent me that email. I'll bet my eyes will be wide open to these little gems during my detecting hunts form now on!

http://www.gamineral.org/Tektites.htm

Something to Ponder

We all know with each type of gem there are supposedly mystical powers that accompany them. I found this one site that had a great list of them and even talked to the tektite and moldavites. Enjoy the read:

These gemstones are thought to enhance certain psychic abilities, increase the effectiveness of spells, or be useful to practitioners of magic and esoteric science. In general, many of the blue or purple stones are thought to enhance psychic abilities, while the "eye" stones are thought to protect from curses/evil-eye. Some dark stones are thought to provide protection.

Amazonite Companion to Tarot and I Ching readings.

Amethyst Ancient Hebrews believed it could induce visions.

Angelite Astral Travel and Telepathy.

Apatite Thought to induce visions.

Azurite Potent psychic enhancer.

Blue Aventurine Male Shamanic Gemstone.

Blue Chalcedony Ward off psychic attack. Protect from black magic.

Bulls Eye Agate Vision Quest Stone.

Calcite Psychic amplifier.

Cats Eye Protect from evil eye/curses.

Chrysocolla Improve psychic ability, prophetic dreaming and trances.

Coral Increase intuition.

Crazy Lace Agate Protect from the evil eye/curses.

Emerald Thought to block spells.

Dumortierite Aids in recalling past lives.

Fluorite A "psychic protection" stone. Astral Projection.

Garnet Help achieve astral projection.

Iolite Major gemstone of 3rd eye/Shamanic Healing. Astral Projection.

Jade Thought to trap ancestors spirits in the stone.

Jet Protects and absorbs negative energy.

Kunzite Protects from ill-intentioned spirits.

Kyanite Intuition.

Labradorite "Wizards Stone". Important for 3rd Eye. Intuition.

Lepidiolite Ease the way for Astral Projection.

Malachite Drinking from a malachite goblet gives ability to understand animals. Evil Eye.

Moldavite Thought to open us up to messages from other dimensions.

Moonstone Foretelling the future. The Third Eye.

Mother-of-Pearl Improve intuition.

Obsidian Used as a Divining Stone. Powerful psychic talisman.

Onyx Protect from psychic attack.

Opal Give the "Gift of Prophecy" to the pure of heart. Astral Projection.

Peridot Protects against enchantment.

Peruvian Blue Opal Improve astral projection. 3rd Eye..

Petrified Wood Agate Helps to recall Past Lives

Pewter Foretell Future on New Year's Eve.

Prehnite Improve Prophetic abilities. Astral Projection.

Quartz (Rock Crystal) Divine the Future and commune with Spirits.

Ruby Guidance through dreams. Protection.

Ruby Zoisite Enhance all psychic abilities. Enter trances.

Rutilated Quartz Aid vision in Astral Projection.

Sapphire Said to amplify a witches power.

Shell Used as holders in religious ceremonies.

Silver Important to Wiccans and those who worship the Moon Goddess. Also protects during spells..

Smoky Quartz Skrying stone.

Snow Quartz Improve concentration during Tarot Card readings.

Sodalite Facilitate ESP, Intuition.

Sugilite Increase Psychic Abilities. Protect from "Psychic Vampirism".

Tektites Thought to help with past-life regression.

Tiger Iron Protect from attack. Return ill-will to sender.

Clear Tourmaline Attune to Higher Beings.

Tourmilated Quartz Thought to facilitate Astral Projection.

Blue Zircon
Increase spirituality.

More Tektite Links

Here are a few more links Virgil (aka Robby41) sent to me for all to enjoy. I'm also adding a little something he wrote: The general terms they use for Tektites are either "Meteoric Silica Glass", or "Volcanic Silica Glass". This shows the 3 schools of thought about them. One is that they were made by a meteor impact on the Earth, causing a "splash event", or two, they were made by a meteoric impact to the Moon, causing silicates from the moon to be thrown toward the Earth, or three, they were the result of Volcanism on
the Moon, blasting them our way. Most researchers have rejected Earthly volcanism as a cause.

The Australites are the youngest, at less than
a million years, while the Moldavites in the
Chechoslavakia region are the oldest, at around 200 million years. They think they were caused by an impact in Germany, having already found a large crater as the possible originator of the strewn fields. There are still
many studies being done into the mystery.

The Australites I saw were found by "specking", or eyeballing them, by Peter Bridge and some of his associates. They do not respond to metal detectors, having only small traces of iron, magnesium, and
a few other minerals. It's possible that those elements are Earthly in origin. So the sites herewith contain some of that info, just for the record. Personally, I lean more to the Moon origin idea, for various reasons, one
being that they have an "ablative" surface,
similar to meteorites, and inside they appear
to have been formed and cooled before the
reheating in the atmosphere happened. In
other analysis, they appear to lack effects by
cosmic rays, meaning they are from the inner
solar system, having been in space a relatively
short time. Other reasons are apparent also.
But, I'll let you come to your own conclusions
from here on, I've "analyzed" enough for now!

Here are the additional links he provided me. Enjoy!

http://www.spacedaily.com/news/deepimpact-02k.html

http://www.sciencetreasures.com/georgia.html

http://www.mineral.galleries.com/minerals/mineralo/class.htm