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 Post subject: Found a huge yellowish crystal on Mediterranean coast Spain
PostPosted: Tue May 09, 2017 12:28 pm 
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Hi everyone!
I have found a huge yellowish stone on the wild coast in Spain, Mediterranean. The physical qualities on touch feel like amber.

PIease, advise what it can be :)

Have a wonderful day!
James


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 Post subject: Re: Found a huge yellowish crystal on Mediterranean coast Sp
PostPosted: Tue May 09, 2017 6:16 pm 
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Hi Pickus and welcome.
Why do you think it feels like amber?

If it is amber, a heated needle will pierce the surface and produce a piney odor.

Let us know.


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 Post subject: Re: Found a huge yellowish crystal on Mediterranean coast Sp
PostPosted: Wed May 10, 2017 2:29 am 
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Hi and thank you a lot for your response! :)

I did this test with a needle yesterday and repeated it today again. The needle pierces the surface and regarding the smell, it feels like something in the middle of piney odor and plastic odor.

I used to work with amber in my life, and I know it can be different. I wonder if it can be some kind of amber, maybe different stone or it can be plastic? I doubt it is plastic because of the surface and how it feels, but that's why I am here to figure this our so thank you a lot for your professional opinion! :)

Also, if to look on the light, I can see little bubbles inside.

I attach one more picture of the stone.

Waiting impatiently to hear professional opinions! :D :) Thank you a lot!

Sincerely,
James


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 Post subject: Re: Found a huge yellowish crystal on Mediterranean coast Sp
PostPosted: Wed May 10, 2017 7:45 pm 
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Your attached pictures don't work. :cry:
Are you quite sure your unknown isn't glass?


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 Post subject: Re: Found a huge yellowish crystal on Mediterranean coast Sp
PostPosted: Thu May 11, 2017 1:48 am 
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Hi again!
I uploaded again another picture, hope it will work this time :)

If it can be a glass... it doesn't feels like glass. Do you think it can be glass?

Thank you again a lot! I appreciate every opinion!
Have a wonderful day!

Sincerely,
James :)


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 Post subject: Re: Found a huge yellowish crystal on Mediterranean coast Sp
PostPosted: Thu May 11, 2017 2:18 pm 
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Amber floats, so it isn't unheard of to find it on the shore.

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 Post subject: Re: Found a huge yellowish crystal on Mediterranean coast Sp
PostPosted: Thu May 11, 2017 2:57 pm 
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Stephen raises an excellent thought.
Make a bucket full of supersaturated salt water....perhaps it would be easiest to start with a bucketful of ocean water if you are still by the coast. You'd still have to add additional salt as ocean water is an unsaturated solution in regards to NaCl.

Amber would float.


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 Post subject: Re: Found a huge yellowish crystal on Mediterranean coast Sp
PostPosted: Thu May 11, 2017 2:58 pm 
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Do you think it can be copal?
By the way, I am quite sure it is not glass since if to burn a little piece, it makes a smoke/fume. I was thinking if it could be a plastic, but it really doesn't feel like that neither.

Any thoughts on what it can be? I will appreciate every opinion! :)

Thanks to everyone!

James


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 Post subject: Re: Found a huge yellowish crystal on Mediterranean coast Sp
PostPosted: Thu May 11, 2017 3:19 pm 
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Hello,
Pickus wrote:I did this test with a needle yesterday and repeated it today again. The needle pierces the surface and regarding the smell, it feels like something in the middle of piney odor and plastic odor.
I would think if the Needle pierces the surface, Glass is not a likely Option.Looking at the Picture, Amber isn't very likely either. :smt017
Any chance that it might be Copal ??
best of luck
Gemse


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 Post subject: Re: Found a huge yellowish crystal on Mediterranean coast Sp
PostPosted: Thu May 11, 2017 3:49 pm 
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Would we expect to find copal on the beaches of Spain?

Also...Pickus, let's be a little more proactive. Make that supersaturated salt solution and report back. You could just chip of a small bit and make a supersaturated glass of water.


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 Post subject: Re: Found a huge yellowish crystal on Mediterranean coast Sp
PostPosted: Thu May 11, 2017 4:22 pm 
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Thanks everyone for your opinions!
I will do the test today and can't wait to see what will happen. I will write here as soon as I find enough salt for the test :D

Thanks again!


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 Post subject: Re: Found a huge yellowish crystal on Mediterranean coast Sp
PostPosted: Thu May 11, 2017 5:45 pm 
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150 grams of salt per litre of fresh water.
15 grams of salt per 0,1 litre of fresh water.

The test works fine - although a little percentage of plastic items tend to float too.
Especially since this sample seems to be full of holes which might retain air. Make sure to empty these cavities of their air bubbles when you do the test.
Glass will sink.


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 Post subject: Re: Found a huge yellowish crystal on Mediterranean coast Sp
PostPosted: Sat May 13, 2017 12:45 pm 
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Hi everyone again!
So I did the test. It didn't float :( That was quite sad :(
I also have tried to burn a little piece of it again, and it burns.

Since I can't think of any stone than burns besides amber, do I assume right that it can be only plastic? :)


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