True. Quartz is a mineral, and can be deposited in any number of ways. In this case, based on gross physical appearance, I'd say the shiva lingams are likely made of a type of jasper, but I'm not qualified to tell. Given the fact that they're definitely more coarse-grained than other varieties like chalcedony and agate, I'm not even sure 'cryptocrystalline is the correct way to describe them - perhaps someone else who has a background in geology/mineralogy and is familiar with shiva lingams can comment here. The layering that can be seen in them is reminiscent of banded claystones; that's why I said sedimentary, but I could well be wrong. Jason
On Mon, Sep 21, 2009 at 5:29 PM, Jerry Flaherty <[email protected]> wrote: > Quartz ain't sedimentary > > -------------------------------------------------- > From: "Leigh Anne DelRay" <[email protected]> > Sent: Monday, September 21, 2009 6:45 PM > To: "Jason Utas" <[email protected]>; > <[email protected]> > Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Shivalingams impactites? > >> Crypto-crystalline quartz (I think) >> >> On Sun, Sep 20, 2009 at 11:32 AM, Jason Utas <[email protected]> >> wrote: >>> >>> Hello Mel, >>> Shiva Lingams are ordinary stones that have been polished by people >>> into their respective shapes to create the religiously symbolic stones >>> that people so seem to like. They are generally made of ordinary >>> rocks with nothing really special about them - unless you believe in >>> their religious/spiritual nature. I suppose you could have one made >>> out of impactite, or even a meteorite, but I have *never* seen one >>> made of said materials. They're typically made of that odd >>> dichromatic sedimentary stone (at least I'm fairly sure it's >>> sedimentary given the texture), but I'm not exactly sure as to what it >>> is. >>> Regards, >>> Jason >>> >>> On Sun, Sep 20, 2009 at 4:24 AM, Melanie Matthews >>> <[email protected]> wrote: >>>> >>>> Good morning list. >>>> >>>> I was told once by the store owner of a local rock shop that >>>> shivalingams are the result of meteor impacts in India... think I recall >>>> her >>>> claim was backed by info from a rock/mineral book that she uses for >>>> reference. Is this true? I haven't found anything on google that mentions >>>> anything on that.. >>>> >>>> Regards >>>> - Mel >>>> >>>> _________________________________________________________________ >>>> New! Open Messenger faster on the MSN homepage >>>> http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9677405 >>>> ______________________________________________ >>>> http://www.meteoritecentral.com >>>> Meteorite-list mailing list >>>> [email protected] >>>> http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list >>>> >>> ______________________________________________ >>> http://www.meteoritecentral.com >>> Meteorite-list mailing list >>> [email protected] >>> http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list >>> >> ______________________________________________ >> http://www.meteoritecentral.com >> Meteorite-list mailing list >> [email protected] >> http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list > > ______________________________________________ http://www.meteoritecentral.com Meteorite-list mailing list [email protected] http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
