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Tried using a regular hammer versus a rock pick on some basalt near Sedona

I was trying to get a clean sample from a basalt flow outside Sedona last month. First I used a regular framing hammer for about 20 minutes and just made a mess of crushed rock. Then I switched to my geology rock pick with the chisel end. Two good hits and it split right along a cooling fracture. The pointed tip and the right weight made all the difference for controlled breaking. Anyone have a favorite brand of pick for hard igneous rock like that?

2 comments

2 Comments

graywright10d ago

Yeah rubybarnes has a point about the hammer. My Estwing pick has lasted years on that Arizona basalt, the steel holds up.

rubybarnes10d ago

Made a mess of crushed rock" is why we don't bring framing hammers to a geology fight. What did you think would happen?