can anyone identify these

[TenOunce Tone]

Hi all, I am trying to id the pinkish material. Oddly it is picked up by a rare earth magnet.. they are translucent and quite small. Around 30 - 50 mesh.. pinkish - buff hue under natural light.
I think they are a type of garnet. Found in South Palmer region.
Sorry for poor image quality.

Cheers Tone

 

[The Green Wanderer]

Could be garnets tone, pink spinel is also weakly attracted to rare earths as it contains a few iron ions as are any gems with a metal ion in their structure. A weak colour indicates few ions while stronger more vibrant colours contain a higher ion concentration.

 

[TenOunce Tone]

Thanks TGW, here is a clearer pic.

These are the really small ones, they are up to 1-2mm in size, the black/grey material is not magnetic, just the pink/reddish stuff..

 

[headbut]

I would say Garnets too Tone

http://gemstonemagnetism.com/template.html

 

[Heatho]

Ha, I didn't know that, cool read Paul. Sound like Garnets for sure Tone, they look quite nice too, pity no bigger ones yet. Look like maybe some Zircons there too?

 

[The Green Wanderer]

No worries Tone, they sure are a nice colour up close. I wonder if theyve been washed down from somewhere up in the daintree??

 

[TenOunce Tone]

Dont know the origin, I have heaps of them, most this size some a bit larger, I will check for any pickers now I know what I am looking at, who knows, may even find a cuttable stone in the mix..

Cheers, Tone

 

[Newbie]

Are they heavy? Are they getting to the bottom Centre of the sieve?

 

[TenOunce Tone]

Yes, they are in the cons.. with the non magnetic black sand

Cheers, Tone

 

[The Green Wanderer]

You never know your luck, thats part of the fun!