I discovered a rock of the kind I have never seen this summer while planting some flowers.
Now I don't live in any special geological area such as near the coast or a mountain or out west near a desert area.
It is a suburban area half way between Boston and Worcester in Massachusetts.
Anyone have a geological background and can tell me something about it?
Chuck
Looks like slate with Iron oxide and Sulfur contaminants.
I've often found many specimens lining river beds, but they're also abundant in many other locations as well.
http://www.slate-crafts.com/introduce.html
Love the striation in it, Chuck.
I've got to get someone to look at it. The little that I have read about it really has me wanting to learn more
how fun.. keep us posted
You probably have a U.S. Geological Survey office somewhere in MA or one of the colleges could help you I'm sure. Maybe even a high school science teacher.
This message was edited Aug 20, 2011 8:05 AM
Looks like a sedimentary rock of some kind. Layered sandstone maybe. It's hard to tell with weathered rock- wind, rain & whatnot change the outer layer.
http://geology.com/rocks/
You underestimate MA- geologically speaking, there's quite a bit of cool stuff. Pick up a copy of : http://www.amazon.com/Roadside-Geology-Massachusetts/dp/0878424296 ~ and you'll see what I mean!
how large is the rock chuck?
Chuck I'm right down the road from you and I find rocks like that all the time. Sandstone, slate? Definitely some iron in there. But not unusual in my back yard here in Hudson. That's a pretty rock you got there.
Ingrid
Yep. Crack it carefully and you may find a fossil.
Petrified chocolate cake!
I have just submitted your picture to my niece the geologist via facebook. She's in Washington State in grad school at the moment and hopefully can diagnose from the picture. will update when she replies.
Martha
