What are they?
These small cube sized items were found in a creek bed while dredging for gold many years ago. The are different sizes. Some can be picked up by a magnet and others can not. The initial thought by the owner (not me) was that is may have been American Indian money and each sized piece, which are close to being perfect cubes, represented a different money value.
After looking for Indian money on Ebay I only saw round smooth stones called Indian money.
My idea is that Mother Nature could not have made these perfect cubes. I thought the were stone but since a magnet picks up a few of them (or tries to pick them up) then apparently they are not stone.
What are they?
After looking for Indian money on Ebay I only saw round smooth stones called Indian money.
My idea is that Mother Nature could not have made these perfect cubes. I thought the were stone but since a magnet picks up a few of them (or tries to pick them up) then apparently they are not stone.
What are they?
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>> standard weights for a balance scale
Would also fit with the panning story.
Would also fit with the panning story.
"The owner of these small cubes suggested that maybe each size was a different denomination of American Indian money."
They are NOT Indian Money
They are NOT Indian Money
ASKER
Google images of pyrite don't show the same sizes or shine.
It looks like they may be "Limonite Cubes" which are Limonite after Pyrite.
The images we see of Limonite cubes are close but the ones we have are alot smaller.
It looks like they may be "Limonite Cubes" which are Limonite after Pyrite.
The images we see of Limonite cubes are close but the ones we have are alot smaller.
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Your images appear rusted, having some level of iron.
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Limonite is a good call - I'd discounted it initially because true limonite doesn't form into any regular crystal form but forgotton there's a hybrid which derives from the cubic pyrites which would give you the appearance you describe. Google pseudomorphs of pyrite & you'll see what I mean - I think you've found your own answer :)
What if they're diamonds? Wouldn't that be nice? = )
(I wouldn't bet that they are, especially since I don't see anything to indicate that they are magnetic, but I found it interesting that diamonds can take on a cubic appearance. The most unhelpful comment in the thread, I agree!)
(I wouldn't bet that they are, especially since I don't see anything to indicate that they are magnetic, but I found it interesting that diamonds can take on a cubic appearance. The most unhelpful comment in the thread, I agree!)
ASKER
I think they are limonite and limonite appear to be very old pyrites that went from their original appearance to........
ASKER
These are limonite cubes.
ASKER
Dredging required removal of dirt deep in the creek bed so there were no on top of the bed. Also the colors are brown or dark red and we have many samples of fools gold and they are not fools gold.
We can try to polish one and see what we get.
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Another remote idea was that they could have been metal pieces to some kids game. We once had some very old kids toys from 100 years ago, that were made of wood and stone and in uncommon shapes compared to today's game pieces.
The owner of these small cubes suggested that maybe each size was a different denomination of American Indian money.
I'll ask them to polish one. And a more accurate notation of the colors. I briefly saw them and they looked brown and red.