#petrology

Natural glossy terminated quartz having petroleum and water inclusions.

Video: the_collector_choice

okay, but hear me out, martian rocks — nakhlite edition.

The crystal inside has grown and later turned into agate. It’s absolutely stunning.

Born of Impact and Fire Desert Glass

Libyan Desert. Circa 29 Million Years Ago. Glass (silica).

In 1922, history was forever changed when British archaeologist Howard Carter stepped into the untouched tomb of Tutankhamen, the boy king who reigned over Egypt nearly 3,300 years ago. Among the treasures of unimaginable splendor, one object stood apart, a magnificent breastplate, fashioned in gold and silver, and set with a gemstone of strange, unearthly beauty, carved as a scarab. Libyan desert glass. 

Those shiny bits are called mica. More specifically this type of mica is called muscovite and it's (i think?) the most common type of mica

Mica is a mineral, well technically it's a group of 37 silicate minerals. It forms in thin flakey sheets and it's heat resistant and it doesn't conduct electricity! Its used to line the batteries in phones and sometimes it's crushed up to form natural glitter for cosmetics! Historically large transparent sheets of it have been used in place of glass windows!

These bits of mica were found in granite which is an igneous rock but they can be found in metamorphic and sedimentary rocks as well! It can also be used as filler in paints and plastic and rubber and for fire resistant materials!