[Dave757]

Hi David,

I used to live fairly close to Alum Rock, and I was told that the stuff
was found somewhere around there, although I haven't a clue where.

We had a piece of it which looked like a greyish opaque crystal, and it
was used to rub on your face if you cut yourself shaving. It stung like hell
but was very effective in stopping the bleeding. Commercially it
was (and still is I think) sold as a styptic pencil for the same purpose.
A rectractable rod of it was fixed in a dispenser, rather like a lipstick.

I met Ken Perfect (G3FIK) on several occasions many years ago, and
I used to shoot at an army range which was right opposite the shop.
Local amateurs referred to it as The Rock Shop.

Kind regards
Dave G0ELJ