[meteorite-list] Sulfide-slag

From: David Freeman <dfreeman_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 10:01:30 2004
Message-ID: <3CFD6626.5000108_at_fascination.com>

Dear Robert and List;
I have always marveled at the educational value of a good meteorwrong
and posts such as Robert's Sulfide-slag are just magnificent sluthing.
My favorite meteorwrong currently is the 20 pound basalt chunk found
near a volcanic area that this feller' hauls down to Denver and other
places, hoping that it is a lunar basalt....mights well go big guns!

Thanks for a real educational post Robert! More, More!
Best,
Dave Freeman

Robert Verish wrote:

>I apologize for this Off-Topic subject, but I would
>like to take this opportunity to personally thank Troy
>Bell, for his efforts in trying to determine the
>origin of a particular type of meteor-wrong that is
>commonly seen on eBay. Troy found his first specimen
>in the gravel of a parking lot near where he lives in
>Texas. When Troy told me that the gravel was a
>typical "slag", I told him to try and find more of
>this LBR (Little Black Rock) and to take some samples
>of the slag gravel. He found 2 more "little black
>rocks", which he sent to me, along with samples of the
>slag gravel.
>
>My examination confirmed that the LBRs and the slag
>have a common origin. In addition, these LBRs are
>made from the same material that I have encountered
>numerous times from people wanting their "meteorites"
>identified. And I'm sure many on this List have
>encountered this, as well. Lately, a third of the
>meteor-wrongs that I have encountered are of this
>"sulfide-rich" material. Although there appears to be
>various sources for this material, I have always
>contended that this was waste material from an ore
>smelting process [slag]. But now, Troy's observant
>eye has found the "smoking gun" evidence that confirms
>that this material is a slag.
>
>This confirmation also raises the concern that some of
>these LBRs could have elevated concentrations of
>arsenic and lead.
>
>The following images show a cut surface of this
>material. Because of the above concern, BE ADVISED -
>to never DRY cut or grind this material, and to treat
>the cuttings and coolant with caution.
>
>Image #1:
><http://www.geocities.com/bolidechaser/troybell.jpg>
>
>The interior "looks like" a natural sulfide mineral
>with a highly specular, metallic luster. But it is
>not a metal. Mostly crystalline with needle-shaped
>laths (an atypical crystal habit for sulfides). The
>exterior has a patina. Having been exposed to the
>forces of weathering, and over time, the sulfide-rich
>rock has formed a black tarnish.
>
>Image #2:
><http://www.geocities.com/bolidechaser/tbell-cu.jpg>
>
>Close-up of the cut surface. Locally vesicular;
>cavities will show cleavage for these synthetic
>(man-made) crystals. There are some inclusions of
>melted silicates.
>
>As mentioned earlier, this kind of meteor-wrong has
>long been seen on eBay, but typically being auctioned
>as "Arizona ?? Meteorite"!!
>I couldn't find any current "meteorite" auction like
>this, but this "mineral" auction looks like the same
>kind of material, but without the black tarnish:
>
><http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2108278605>
>
>Now that it has been identified, my curiosity about
>this material has been satisfied, and I will now move
>on to the next "mystery rock" (hopefully, it will be a
>real meteorite;-). But in the meanwhile, it may prove
>beneficial (since this stuff is so widespread) to have
>this "identified" material on a meteor-wrong web page
>in order to educate future meteor-wrong sellers.
>
>Bob V.
>
>
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Received on Tue 04 Jun 2002 09:15:18 PM PDT