mendip mineral identification

[chris1984]

Hey everyone was hoping someone could help identify this mineral ore that I have found,it's from a natural cave which looks as though miners may have been there before,it's a dull metallic grey which has some weight to it,looks like it could be lead but can't find any pictures that match it

 

[AR]

Could you post a picture of your find?

 

[Wayland Smith]

Not Lead (look up Galena pictures on Google.
Most likely Iron ore of some type.
I.M.H.O.

 

[chris1984]

Yeah I have looked at pictures of gelena and it does not match any of this,I did not know there was a black iron ore or oxide I shall have a look

 

[blackshiver]

PM sent

 

[AR]

Anhydrous iron oxides are black(ish), as is Magnetite - if it's the latter, as the name suggests, it'll be magnetic. Other possibilities are manganese oxide or zinc sulphide, though it doesn't superficially look to me like either of those.

 

[Mike Wood]

Could be psilomelane

 

[mikem]

From BGS website:
"Manganese is a common mineral associated with iron and ochre deposits, and is typically found as dull black, soft oxides known as ?wad?, a mixture chiefly of pyrolusite (MnO2) and psilomelane, another manganese oxide.

http://www.greatrough.com/rough_psilomelane.shtml

Apparently it has been recorded from Higher Pitts Mine:
http://www.mindat.org/locentry-8920.html

Although there are quite a lot of other minerals to consider:
http://www.minersoc.org/pages/Archive-MM/Volume_26/26-174-67.pdf
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/249387786_Turner_RW_and_Rumsey_MS_2010_Mineral_Relationships_in_the_Mendip_Hills_Journal_of_the_Russell_Society_13_3-47

Mike

 

[Brains]

If it is a mix of iron oxides it will leave a rusty brown streak when scatched across the back of a ceramic tile, and pyrolusite will leave a black streak. However this applies to individual crystals, a big lump could give anomalous results, and/or be a mix of compounds.
What does a freshly broken face look like?

 

[chris1984]

Thanks for all your help it seems to have nawrowed it down a little,it does look like it it is a type of manganese,I'm gonna get someone to have a look at it in person to get a proper look,here is a picture of a freshly broken peice

also I have found my first price of man made something here is a pic

 

[nice but damp]

Looks like an old Blakey Heel Cleat........Great little find

Tim

 

[dugadig]

Looks like an old Blakey Heel Cleat........Great little find

Tim

I would go with that too. Certainly an old one.. Early 19th Century perhaps?