ClassMac 2001: Nothing is the Same (literally)

What Is This?
Last updated 3/4/01

The below 'rock' was found about a month ago while out looking at some land for sale. It was partially covered by dirt on a hillside in Central Texas. We are not geologists and thus have no idea what this is (although the guesses are snail fossil or mastodon tusk). To satisfy our curiosity, if anyone has a clue or knows right off the bat what it is, please email me.
I took some pictures to help identify the rock. Click the thumbnails below to see a larger copy if you need to. Some of the pictures are 150K, so allow time to load.

The rock is 1 lb. 1.7 oz. in weight. The interior looks crystalline and broken up into 'cells' while the outside is rocky, rough, and striated. Notice the bumps or 'dunes' on the glossy sides of the rock. as well.

Update: There is a thread I started on the SD message board about this rock. Since then, there have been several suggestions and as a result I added more pictures below. Thanks to all who took a shot at it!

NEW! These lines go in the opposite direction of the more noticeable lines from the side of the rock. These also look crosshatched. NEW! These are lines from the inside curve of the rock. Again, you can see the crosshatch look.

This is a top view that shows the smooth curvature. Oh, baby! This is a top view with a quarter as a size comparator. It's a big momma.

This is the rock on the side, showing the ridges and even bumps along the 'spine' of the rock. This is a very close-up shot of the crystalline interior. You can make out the 'cells' in the shot.

This is a good close-up where you can really make out the cell structure of the rock. The crater shown is actually very small, about half the size of a pinkie nail. Here is another shot. I adjusted the contrast to bring out the color so you can see more detail.

This is a side view where you can see the lines and deep ridges along the side of the rock. NEW! Here is a better shot of the bumps on the top of the rock. The material in the interior is very smooth but not reflective like common quartz.

Know More?

Higgins is the bomb.


NEW! These lines go in the opposite direction of the more noticeable lines from the side of the rock. These also look crosshatched.	NEW! These are lines from the inside curve of the rock. Again, you can see the crosshatch look.


This is a top view that shows the smooth curvature. Oh, baby!	This is a top view with a quarter as a size comparator. It's a big momma.


This is the rock on the side, showing the ridges and even bumps along the 'spine' of the rock.	This is a very close-up shot of the crystalline interior. You can make out the 'cells' in the shot.


This is a good close-up where you can really make out the cell structure of the rock. The crater shown is actually very small, about half the size of a pinkie nail.	Here is another shot. I adjusted the contrast to bring out the color so you can see more detail.


This is a side view where you can see the lines and deep ridges along the side of the rock.	NEW! Here is a better shot of the bumps on the top of the rock. The material in the interior is very smooth but not reflective like common quartz.