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Specialty Chemistry Forums => Materials and Nanochemistry forum => Topic started by: myhands2 on July 10, 2008, 06:05:14 AM

Title: Which chemical element ?
Post by: myhands2 on July 10, 2008, 06:05:14 AM

Hello,

I have a rock (breccia, weight 2 kos.+++).
Many clasts (cemented in a rusty brown matrix) are magnetic. Among them are some with red/orange colour. When scratched with a small sharp knife a shiny metal appears (doesn't look like copper). After some time again (hours?) the metal cannot be seen and the clasts will have regained the red/orange colour all over.

Can anyone tell what metal has those properties ?

myhands2

Title: Re: Which chemical element ?
Post by: tamim83 on July 10, 2008, 10:15:19 AM

It could possibly be iron.  Iron oxidizes to form a reddish compound (Fe₂O₃ or rust) when exposed to air.