a few cross-section pics of local rocks

[storm]

a friend let me use his rock saw so that i could slice open a few local rocks.  i hope that this can lead me to better understand the local geology...

meta-sediment (layers of limestone/calcite and quartzite--which can metamorphose into banded quartzite):


another meta-sediment, seemingly further along (metamorphically speaking) than the previous specimen.  i believe that the white layers are nearly marble (metamorphosed from limestone), while the brown layers are nearly quartzite (metamorphosed from sandstone):


banded quartzite:


three specimens of calcite:






talc-magnesite-calcite-nephrite jade:


nephrite jade:

[Wrightwood]

Nice photos!

Thanks Storm for sharing your knowledge 

[Naughty pines]

When I was in the lapidary club at work I was learning to identify various types of rocks.

The samples you photographed all look like Leaverite.





Leav er right there!

[ezzpete]

that first image of the layerd rock is awesome. i've never seen anything like that around here.

[storm]

all those rocks are scattered about in the levee that's below the Wright landslide.

here's one i found on saturday on the north side of Hwy. 2, down in one of the washes (sheep or heath?):


i and others think this is rhodonite, which metamorphoses from impure limestone.  if you know what the pink mineral/rock is, or if you've found some as well, i'd love to hear from you!

i've been told that a fellow had gone up Heath Canyon about 1000 feet and dug out about all the rhodonite he could find.  i think this was back in the 1960s...

[Toolman]

Storm....nice photo's, and would like to cut some pieces myself.

 I've found several specimens of the meta-sediment which I've found in my yard whil eplanting and while hiking.

 One in particular that is indigenous to the W/W area and cool looking, is Actinolite, which I have collected several large and small. It would be interesting to see the interior structure.

 http://www.mindat.org/min-18.html

 A boy hood hobby was geology and I'm just starting to get back into it and can't find my hammer.

 

[storm]

One in particular that is indigenous to the W/W area and cool looking, is Actinolite, which I have collected several large and small. It would be interesting to see the interior structure.

actinolite:


actinolite schist:


i think these might be albite crystals:


i think this is diorite (form the Jensens area):


here's a fine schist--notice the thin layers:


gneiss from the Post Office area:


black tourmaline in a schist:


some meta-sediment from Onyx Peak near Big Bear Lake:

[storm]

on second thought, what i called albite crystals might be more diorite.  the white mineral in diorite is plagioclase feldspar, while the black material is amphibole (as far as i understand)...

[ChrisLynnet]

These are great! My son and I are always picking up rocks and carting them home, but I don't know anything about them. Like Toolman, I used to love geology, including identifying rocks and minerals. I'd like to take up the hobby again, especially since it's something my 10-year-old and I would enjoy doing together.