Rock Ignites in Pocket?

[Vulcan59]

Need help in translating this article 'Enigmas de la madre piedra.' The story (using Google translate) sounds very similar to this story here, from Orange County, California. Thanks.

 

[mabar]

Yes, it sounds quite similar: rocks exploding by themselves, Im working on it.

 

[Vulcan59]

Yes, it sounds quite similar: rocks exploding by themselves, Im working on it.

Thanks mabar. :)

 

[mabar]

translated from: _http://www.montevideo.com.uy/notnoticias_203477_1.html

An strange object was found in Piriápolis
Mother Earth enigmas
14.06.2013 13:12
A strange stone was found in the Piriápolis zone by a retired soldier that was fishing at Punta Negra’s beach. According to what was informed to Montevideo Portal, the man put the stone in his pocket and, after a few minutes the object exploded, getting second grade burns. Armada's spokeman, Sergio Bique, asked those who may find a similar object, avoid any contact and, contact the police station.
The finding was wendsday night, when a retired soldier that was fishing at Punta Negra’s beach found a stone that was shinning, according to what was informed this Friday in FM Gente
The public relations chief of the Army, Sergio Bique, informed to Montevideo Portal, that the object was perceived by a 78 years old man that after not being able to fish anything decided to take a walk by the beach.
The man with J. C. B. M. initials saw a green fluorescent object of 2 or 3 centimetres, took it and put it on his pocket, after a few steps, the object made an explosion, partially burning the sport pantaloons the man was wearing, that in trying to blow out the fire, he burnt his left hand.
From the general hospital in which he was translated, a phone call was made to the subprefecture of Piriápolis, and immediately a patrol was sent to find a similar object, but nothing was found.
The clothes were sent to Montevideo for being analyzed by Forensic Technical Institute, disposed by the peace judge of the 5º Turn of Maldonado.
Next week, results of the investigation will be given in order to know what was what provokes the burns, for what the institute have the burnt clothes and minimal remains from the stone.
Bique asked to alert the population that in case to find a similar object, avoid contact and notify the authorities

Montevideo Portal

 

[mabar]

Found it on sott, about the woman from Orange County, from last year: there is a comment made by weitew, it coments about Flint stones that after rubbing with each other may produce a sparks ... http://www.sott.net/article/245560-Mysterious-Rocks-Burn-California-Woman

From wikipedia:

Flint is a hard, sedimentary cryptocrystalline form of the mineral quartz,[1][2] categorized as a variety of chert. It occurs chiefly as nodules and masses in sedimentary rocks, such as chalks and limestones.[3][4] Inside the nodule, flint is usually dark grey, black, green, white, or brown in colour, and often has a glassy or waxy appearance. A thin layer on the outside of the nodules is usually different in colour, typically white and rough in texture. From a petrological point of view, "flint" refers specifically to the form of chert which occurs in chalk or marly limestone. Similarly, "common chert" (sometimes referred to simply as "chert") occurs in limestone.

...

To ignite fire or gunpowder[edit]
Assorted reproduction firesteels typical of Roman to Medieval period.When struck against steel, a flint edge will produce sparks. The hard flint edge shaves off a particle of the steel that exposes iron which reacts with oxygen from the atmosphere and can ignite the proper tinder. Prior to the wide availability of steel, rocks of iron pyrite would be used along with the flint, in a similar (but more time-consuming) way. These methods are popular in woodcraft, bushcraft, and among those who wish to use traditional skills.

Although, with the translate story from Uruguay, the rock/stone seems to be different, at least in color difined as fluorescent green color.

About what made the stones ignited in the shorts of the woman in Orange County, they –the authorities- had not found much.

Results of the tests by the state lab, released Thursday, confirmed initial testing by the Orange County Public Health Department that found elevated levels of phosphate on the rocks, but provided no explanation of its presence.
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Chemistry experts have said they do not believe the phosphate was naturally occurring and have speculated that the rocks could have been coated with phosphorus, which can spontaneously ignite when exposed to oxygen.

…
The Orange County Public Health Department, which took the case because the Hiners live in the county, said Thursday that its involvement in the investigation is concluded.
“Since the land is owned by the United States Marine Corps, operated by State Park Rangers, and the rocks were located in the County of San Diego, any future inquiries on this matter should be directed to the appropriate authorities,” it said in a statement.

 

[Mal7]

I wonder if the "exploding trousers" story is relevant. Farmers using the herbicide sodium chlorate in the 1930s would sometimes get it on their clothes, and then their clothes would later catch fire, sometimes triggered by an impact. Dropping a rock into your pocket might make be enough of an impact to trigger the explosion, whether the explosive material is on the rock or on the clothes.

_http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exploding_trousers