Magnesite and Serpentine

[Ben78]

Here's some Magnesite and Serpentine I picked up today. This is the first Magnesite that I have picked up that shows the nodular form. It is basically Magnesium Carbonate. The Serpentine is interesting, ranges to almost a translucent green to creamy green to red. Only recently started collecting minerals as I've not been anywhere that has them before!

 

[Ramjet]

Center one is cauliflower

 

[Ben78]

My wife said the same thing...

 

[Nugget]

Nice rocks Ben, is the Serpentine from from Hanging Rock?

 

[Ben78]

Nope, between Tamworth and Barraba. The Serpentine Belt is 500km long!

 

[Nugget]

Wow that long. Have you seen this PDF before? Geology of Hanging Rock and Nundle State Forests - https://www.prospectingaustralia.com/forum/doc/member-docs/3/0563422363_Geology-of-Hanging-Rock-and-Nundle-State-Forests.pdf

 

[Ben78]

This is the Magnesite mine

And this is the gravel pit that the samples came from - entire pit is serpentine with the Magnesite mixed in. BHP owned this mine.

 

[Heatho]

Nice one's Ben, I always pick up any interesting rocks I see.

 

[Ben78]

Wow that long. Have you seen this PDF before? Geology of Hanging Rock and Nundle State Forests - https://www.prospectingaustralia.com/forum/doc/member-docs/3/0563422363_Geology-of-Hanging-Rock-and-Nundle-State-Forests.pdf

Yep, its actually currently open in one of my tabs to remind me to print it out. You can also download the drill geology reports for heaps of the EL drilling programs - eg http://smedg.org.au/M&W 2010/Vickery Attunga W-Co-Cu Skarns.pdf

 

[Ben78]

Apparently the Magnesite was used to line the furnaces at the Newcastle BHP Steelworks.