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I'm still curious about the result of my project.

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For your information, I've used XRD to determine the element of the 'rock'. If you remember, I'd sent you a micrograph pictures (using SEM) of the 'rock' last week.

I've attached some result of XRD. Hope you can give your opinion either it is fossil or not. I really appreciate your cooperation. Million thanks..:)

Question Date: 2011-04-15
Answer 1:

You have gone to wonderful lengths here to obtain an XRD spectrum of the mineralogical summation of the specimen - Unfortunately this exceeds my expertise as I am not trained in geochemistry. My sense is that this array of minerals does suggest the possibility that these are indeed formed naturally, rather than by impregnation of a single human-applied chemical solution of either Calcium carbonate or silica.

The inclusion of the Mount keithite is (to my mind) a bit odd as that is a low temperature hydrothermal nickel sulphide associated mineral.... Silica, calcium, selenium and iron seem more like minerals that might be encountered in a surficial setting or a granite-based hydrothermal setting....



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