Freshwater Sponge/Algae ????

[Harold Smith]

Can anyone identify this for me please.

The photograph was taken in one the many streams in the Forest of Dean in October 1980. (I'm currently transferring my slide collection to digital)



There was a lot of Copper and Coal mining in the FoD. Unfortunately I did not record which part I discovered it. However, whatever it is may have nothing to do with mining.

Regards,

Harold.

[AndyC]

It is an iron compound of some sort deposited by a small spring. It is common in some parts of the southwest (and presumably all over the country?) even in areas with no mining.

Hopefully someone will come along with the proper term for this stuff as I can't for the life of me remember it at the moment, and I can't find it on google


Andy

[zan]

Yeah, it's an iron oxide (ferrous oxide Fe2+ I *think* - rather than ferric, Fe3+). It's from iron in the soil oxidising on contact with the air (oxygen) and is really common.

[Harold Smith]

Thank you very much for the information.

Though I suspected it may be something to do with metals in the water I really was not sure!

Regards,

Harold.