Name that rock?

[beyond the blue]

Anybody want to identify this for me, it's very white, very flakey and very sharp. Rockology isn't a strong point of mine.

 

[Alastair]

That's Reg. Just like his Dad, very much a chip off the old block.

.. I'll get my coat.. ..​

 

[Graham W]

Gypsum. Mined round these parts for fertilizer and as the main component in plaster. (That's my guess anyway).
Where is it?

 

[the black fox]

or it could be quartz

 

[sirch]

Where abouts on the planet is the rock?

 

[beyond the blue]

Where is it?

In my back garden. I bought a load of rockery stone off gumtree and half of it was this stuff. I don't need it all so I'm going to sell what's left.

 

[Graham W]

In my back garden. I bought a load of rockery stone off gumtree and half of it was this stuff. I don't need it all so I'm going to sell what's left.

If it's gypsum it'll be quite crumbly.

 

[beyond the blue]

If it's gypsum it'll be quite crumbly.

It's not crumbly as such, no. It was a very popular stone to use for rockeries when I was a kid, but not so much now. As I said earlier I bought this lot off Gumtree which was mostly "water worn" Limestone ( apparently you can't buy this commercially anymore in this country) and I only needed the Limestone

 

[Graham W]

This is a big lump of gypsum just down the road from me. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Fauld_explosion#/media/File:RAF_Fauld_Explosion_memorial.jpg

 

[Alastair]

As I said earlier I bought this lot off Gumtree which was mostly "water worn" Limestone ( apparently you can't buy this commercially anymore in this country) and I only needed the Limestone

They banned ripping up the limestone pavements for rockeries some time ago, these provided the "water worn" limestone. They're a rare and fragile habitat.

 

[beyond the blue]

This is a big lump of gypsum just down the road from me. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Fauld_explosion#/media/File:RAF_Fauld_Explosion_memorial.jpg

It has the same colouration but not the texture. All the pieces I have are extremely sharp to touch, as all the cuts on my hands will prove and I've been wearing gloves.

 

[sphexx]

Tufa?

 

[zendog]

I'm thinking some sort of industrial slag with a glassy inclusions for the sharp.

 

[ancient_mariner]

Tufa?

Tufa usually has a smoother, finer structure.

 

[Cobra]

Tufa usually has a smoother, finer structure.

And comes in pairs,
You know, Tufa the price of one.

(Sorry )

 

[ancient_mariner]

And comes in pairs,
You know, Tufa the price of one.

(Sorry )

You can BOGOF for that comment.