As the title says, I'm wondering what the things in the pictures are (anybody who says 'stones', you're not helpful, I have figured that much out for myself)... A little backstory to them - they were in a very tightly sealed and almost-impossible-to-access container as part of my late father's estate; clearly he considered them to be worth enough to essentially hide them from the world (and himself). From my own examination of the items, I can reliably state only the following: • The first image is quite likely iron pyrite, it shimmers but it doesn't do a whole lot else. It weighs bugger all, but admittedly anything shiny is in speck amount. Could be genuine gold, but I'm not expecting it to be, just what's appropriate for him - fool's gold. • Images 2-4 appear to be slightly cut already, although the top part has been left natural. It's slightly translucent, with a strong grey tinge to it and there are many inclusions to be seen within. Some possibility it could be smoky quartz, I can't say for sure. I attempted to show there is a shine to much of the inclusions, whether or not this makes any difference to what the thing is, I don't know... • Images 5 and 6, these are quite soapy in appearance and feel. There's little to no shine on any part of them, although the largest (closest to the camera) does have one small portion which is decidedly shinier than all the rest. I'm wondering if they are possibly rough diamond, but any suggestions of something else or more likely are of course welcomed. NOTE: Weights are all minimal. I haven't weighed or measured them at present. I also haven't attempted any scratch tests, be that on the stones or anything else - that's coming later if alternative suggestions are put forth.
First pic is too blurry and try a different background. I'd say the next 3 are quartz. 6 sides and all. The blobs I've got absolutely no idea, copralites? Where did you find them? See if you can rub them on a surface that leaves residue and note the colour.
- Peacock ore / Pyrite crystal - Smoky Quartz but not Garnet as it only have five sided. Some sort of Zircon. The other may looks like Garnet. ( last photo)
Isn't there a garnet type crystal that has a Maltese cross on it? A couple of those stones have what looks like a weathered cross appearance.
I tried to take some better pictures (same background unfortunately). Fair enough, that's kind of what I expected. That's a bit shit... Trust him to collect that No idea of where they were found, it could be around Big Bell in Western Australia (wherever the hell that is), it could be somewhere without a name in rural Queensland, someplace near Canberra, it could be the Tiwi Islands up this way... I'm at a loss trying to remember all the places my father worked and might've picked them up. I'll give the rub test a go, hopefully that gives some indication.
No residue left by whatever the last stones are - they do scratch glass (remind me not to try that test again on my bloody door )... Maybe it's some type of uncut sapphire, I think those can scratch glass.
It does look a little similar, I'm thinking more likely it could be (black) garnet as @Golden ChipMunk suggested - the raw form looks almost identical to the ones I have. Who knows where and when he got them, whatever they really are... Now to dispose of them
These maybe of assistance. https://www.prospectingaustralia.com.au/ https://aussielapidaryforum.com/forum/index.php?PHPSESSID=n12dsq03sbejrfdjljatjs8i90&
Garnet is quite hard material ; and materials that use in sandblasting. Yes, it can score glass surface, not as hard as diamond. Even Smoky Quartz can do that too. If you know someone that do have a RF scan , you can test the materials. Certain compounds will be present in some stones. hint!
