A local lapidaryist brought some quartz to me from a site he had been working in Alabama. Polished and held just right it showed asterism. I thin sectioned some and identified the star-producing fibers as either an amphibole, maybe anthophyllite, or sillimanite. I remember seeing basal crosections but can't remember if there was one diagonal celavage or to intersecting cleavages. Fifty years takes its toll. He called the stone "star fell" and hoped to promote it. Unfortunately, he died before he could develop it. I have no idea where he found the quartz. Interesting guy. He was known as an instinct marksman.
This makes me think- what was I studying 54 years ago? Let's see, I had changed majors from the hard sciences to Southwest archaeology and in my senior year. Then the Army got me! We had a class where the professor showed us three pot sherds of black on whites and asked us to correctly identify them!
Have you checked it for fluorescence Richard?
Yes - nothing at any wavelength available to me.
A local lapidaryist brought some quartz to me from a site he had been working in Alabama. Polished and held just right it showed asterism. I thin sectioned some and identified the star-producing fibers as either an amphibole, maybe anthophyllite, or sillimanite. I remember seeing basal crosections but can't remember if there was one diagonal celavage or to intersecting cleavages. Fifty years takes its toll. He called the stone "star fell" and hoped to promote it. Unfortunately, he died before he could develop it. I have no idea where he found the quartz. Interesting guy. He was known as an instinct marksman.
Good sleuthing!
thank you Richard.. a good read and great images.. very enlightening post :-))
What worlds can be found in little boxes if you are curious!
This makes me think- what was I studying 54 years ago? Let's see, I had changed majors from the hard sciences to Southwest archaeology and in my senior year. Then the Army got me! We had a class where the professor showed us three pot sherds of black on whites and asked us to correctly identify them!
Fun article! Enjoyed it immensely.