Subject: I found a metal in a slate rock but do not know what it is.

It is a sliverish metal, looks as if it was melted before, yet its crystalized 
neer the bottom. It don't rust, and 1 ounce of it weighs more than an ounce of 
pure silver. The ore itself is un-refined so it will wiegh a bit less that it's 
purified state. When I broke some open, the toppish layer was very shiny while 
the middle layer was kinda dull. I have been looking in alot more slate rocks 
from varrios creeks and i have found veins of the same metalic ore. The creek I 
found it in, contains around 60 pounds of it, and i would like to know what it 
is.

Response:

Re: I found a metal in a slate rock but do not know what it is.

Hi Tad - 

Can you please tell us a little more about what you're asking. As it
stands it would be difficult for us to find an answer to your question. 

Your description is generally very good, but to identify a mineral a geologist would usually need 
to be able to see and handle a sample.

There are a few problems with your description
-- What made you think it was a metal? (native metals are very unusual in natural occurrence)
-- How did you determine that it was more dense than pure silver? (I presume that that is what 
you are meaning. An ounce of lead weighs exactly the same as an ounce of duck feathers. An 
ounce of silver is heavier than either, because only silver and other precious metals are measured 
in troy ounces = 31.1 gram rather than the usual avoirdupois ounces = 28.35 gram.)

My best guess, which does not quite match your description, but is consistent with the geology 
of the area you are submitting from, is that you are looking at one or more of the common 
sulfide minerals -- galena, sphalerite, pyrite, or marcasite. These minerals tend to have a 
metallic appearance, but also usually come with well-formed crystals; normally native metals do 
not. They are unusually dense, but certainly not more dense than pure silver. Very few things are. 
Check these minerals out with a web search. Also look at 
http://www.uky.edu/KGS/im/skmd.htm

But I believe your best chance might be to take a specimen along to a local college or university 
with a geology department to get them checked out.

Please resubmit questions online via http://www.madsci.org/submit.html
Thanks!

	John Christie, Moderator MadSci Network

_______________________________________________________________
It is a sliverish metal, looks as if it was melted before, yet its crystalized 
neer the bottom. It don't rust, and 1 ounce of it weighs more than an ounce of 
pure silver. The ore itself is un-refined so it will wiegh a bit less that it's 
purified state. When I broke some open, the toppish layer was very shiny while 
the middle layer was kinda dull. I have been looking in alot more slate rocks 
from varrios creeks and i have found veins of the same metalic ore. The creek I 
found it in, contains around 60 pounds of it, and i would like to know what it 
is.


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Re: I found a metal in a slate rock but do not know what it is.