Empathy List Archives

AK

Andrea Koziol

Tue, Oct 28, 2025 8:20 PM

In intro labs and mineralogy labs, the USA penny is a useful hardness
testing item.
Well they are now being phased out and no more are being made. Hoard your
pennies!
What will we use when pennies are completely gone?

Andrea Koziol
Still looking for more #MineralMonday posts - send them to my email address.

--

Dr. Andrea Koziol, emerita
Dept. of Earth and Environmental Geosciences
300 College Park
Dayton OH 45469-2364
akoziol1@udayton.edu

In intro labs and mineralogy labs, the USA penny is a useful hardness testing item. Well they are now being phased out and no more are being made. Hoard your pennies! What will we use when pennies are completely gone? Andrea Koziol Still looking for more #MineralMonday posts - send them to my email address. -- ************************************************************ Dr. Andrea Koziol, emerita Dept. of Earth and Environmental Geosciences 300 College Park Dayton OH 45469-2364 akoziol1@udayton.edu *************************************************************

PB

Pamela Burnley

Tue, Oct 28, 2025 9:28 PM

Hi Andrea,

Short lengths (1-2 inches) of 22 gauge copper wire work well. Pennies
haven't been made of copper since the late 60s

Cheers

Pamela

On 10/28/2025 1:20 PM, Andrea Koziol via MSA-talk wrote:

In intro labs and mineralogy labs, the USA penny is a useful hardness
testing item.
Well they are now being phased out and no more are being made. Hoard
your pennies!
What will we use when pennies are completely gone?

Andrea Koziol
Still looking for more #MineralMonday posts - send them to my email
address.

--

Dr. Andrea Koziol, emerita
Dept. of Earth and Environmental Geosciences
300 College Park
Dayton OH 45469-2364
akoziol1@udayton.edu

MSA-talk mailing list --msa-talk@minlists.org
To unsubscribe send an email tomsa-talk-leave@minlists.org

--
Dr. Pamela C. Burnley, Professor (she/her/hers)
Department of Geoscience
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada 89154-4010
Phone (702)895-5460

Hi Andrea, Short lengths (1-2 inches) of 22 gauge copper wire work well. Pennies haven't been made of copper since the late 60s Cheers Pamela On 10/28/2025 1:20 PM, Andrea Koziol via MSA-talk wrote: > In intro labs and mineralogy labs, the USA penny is a useful hardness > testing item. > Well they are now being phased out and no more are being made. Hoard > your pennies! > What will we use when pennies are completely gone? > > Andrea Koziol > Still looking for more #MineralMonday posts - send them to my email > address. > > -- > ************************************************************ > Dr. Andrea Koziol, emerita > Dept. of Earth and Environmental Geosciences > 300 College Park > Dayton OH 45469-2364 > akoziol1@udayton.edu > ************************************************************* > > _______________________________________________ > MSA-talk mailing list --msa-talk@minlists.org > To unsubscribe send an email tomsa-talk-leave@minlists.org -- Dr. Pamela C. Burnley, Professor (she/her/hers) Department of Geoscience University of Nevada, Las Vegas Las Vegas, Nevada 89154-4010 Phone (702)895-5460

PN

Philip Neuhoff

Wed, Oct 29, 2025 2:30 AM

It’s best to use pennies made before 1982…during 1982 the US Mint switched from the copper alloy that has the hardness Andrea references to a zinc core coated with a copper alloy (at that time trying to deal with the same fiscal issue that has led to pennies being discontinued now).

Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone

On Tuesday, October 28, 2025, 3:49 PM, Andrea Koziol via MSA-talk msa-talk@minlists.org wrote:

In intro labs and mineralogy labs, the USA penny is a useful hardness testing item.Well they are now being phased out and no more are being made. Hoard your pennies!What will we use when pennies are completely gone?
Andrea KoziolStill looking for more #MineralMonday posts - send them to my email address.

Dr. Andrea Koziol, emeritaDept. of Earth and Environmental Geosciences300 College ParkDayton OH 45469-2364akoziol1@udayton.edu*_______________________________________________
MSA-talk mailing list -- msa-talk@minlists.org
To unsubscribe send an email to msa-talk-leave@minlists.org

It’s best to use pennies made before 1982…during 1982 the US Mint switched from the copper alloy that has the hardness Andrea references to a zinc core coated with a copper alloy (at that time trying to deal with the same fiscal issue that has led to pennies being discontinued now). Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone On Tuesday, October 28, 2025, 3:49 PM, Andrea Koziol via MSA-talk <msa-talk@minlists.org> wrote: In intro labs and mineralogy labs, the USA penny is a useful hardness testing item.Well they are now being phased out and no more are being made. Hoard your pennies!What will we use when pennies are completely gone? Andrea KoziolStill looking for more #MineralMonday posts - send them to my email address. -- ************************************************************Dr. Andrea Koziol, emeritaDept. of Earth and Environmental Geosciences300 College ParkDayton OH 45469-2364akoziol1@udayton.edu*************************************************************_______________________________________________ MSA-talk mailing list -- msa-talk@minlists.org To unsubscribe send an email to msa-talk-leave@minlists.org

JW

John W. Valley

Wed, Oct 29, 2025 2:49 AM

Hi Andrea

The current US pennies that are being discontinued are actually Cu coated zinc. Old pennies are solid Cu and work well. I have also used short pieces of Cu plumbing pipe or fittings.

John W. Valley

Charles R. Van Hise Professor

Department of Geoscience

1215 W. Dayton St

University of Wisconsin

Madison, WI 53706, USA

email: valley@geology.wisc.edu mailto:valley@geology.wisc.edu

From: Andrea Koziol via MSA-talk msa-talk@minlists.org
Date: Tuesday, October 28, 2025 at 4:12 PM
To: MSA-Talk msa-talk@minlists.org
Subject: [MSA-talk] For USA members: the penny is being phased out

In intro labs and mineralogy labs, the USA penny is a useful hardness testing item.
Well they are now being phased out and no more are being made. Hoard your pennies!
What will we use when pennies are completely gone?

Andrea Koziol
Still looking for more #MineralMonday posts - send them to my email address.

--

Dr. Andrea Koziol, emerita
Dept. of Earth and Environmental Geosciences
300 College Park
Dayton OH 45469-2364
akoziol1@udayton.edu mailto:akoziol1@udayton.edu

Hi Andrea The current US pennies that are being discontinued are actually Cu coated zinc. Old pennies are solid Cu and work well. I have also used short pieces of Cu plumbing pipe or fittings. John W. Valley Charles R. Van Hise Professor Department of Geoscience 1215 W. Dayton St University of Wisconsin Madison, WI 53706, USA email: valley@geology.wisc.edu<mailto:valley@geology.wisc.edu> From: Andrea Koziol via MSA-talk <msa-talk@minlists.org> Date: Tuesday, October 28, 2025 at 4:12 PM To: MSA-Talk <msa-talk@minlists.org> Subject: [MSA-talk] For USA members: the penny is being phased out In intro labs and mineralogy labs, the USA penny is a useful hardness testing item. Well they are now being phased out and no more are being made. Hoard your pennies! What will we use when pennies are completely gone? Andrea Koziol Still looking for more #MineralMonday posts - send them to my email address. -- ************************************************************ Dr. Andrea Koziol, emerita Dept. of Earth and Environmental Geosciences 300 College Park Dayton OH 45469-2364 akoziol1@udayton.edu<mailto:akoziol1@udayton.edu> *************************************************************

PD

Perkins, Dexter

Wed, Oct 29, 2025 2:13 PM

Copper nails work very well, too.

Dexter Perkins
Dept. Geology and Geological Engineering
University of North Dakota
Grand Forks ND 58202
(701)777-2991o; (701)757-0579h
dexter.perkins@engr.und.edu
From: John W. Valley via MSA-talk msa-talk@minlists.org
Sent: Tuesday, October 28, 2025 9:50 PM
To: Andrea Koziol akoziol1@udayton.edu; MSA-Talk msa-talk@minlists.org
Cc: John W. Valley jwvalley@wisc.edu
Subject: [MSA-talk] Re: For USA members: the penny is being phased out

Hi Andrea

The current US pennies that are being discontinued are actually Cu coated zinc. Old pennies are solid Cu and work well. I have also used short pieces of Cu plumbing pipe or fittings.

John W. Valley

Charles R. Van Hise Professor

Department of Geoscience

1215 W. Dayton St

University of Wisconsin

Madison, WI 53706, USA

email: valley@geology.wisc.edu mailto:valley@geology.wisc.edu

From: Andrea Koziol via MSA-talk <msa-talk@minlists.org mailto:msa-talk@minlists.org>
Date: Tuesday, October 28, 2025 at 4:12 PM
To: MSA-Talk <msa-talk@minlists.org mailto:msa-talk@minlists.org>
Subject: [MSA-talk] For USA members: the penny is being phased out
In intro labs and mineralogy labs, the USA penny is a useful hardness testing item.
Well they are now being phased out and no more are being made. Hoard your pennies!
What will we use when pennies are completely gone?

Andrea Koziol
Still looking for more #MineralMonday posts - send them to my email address.

--

Dr. Andrea Koziol, emerita
Dept. of Earth and Environmental Geosciences
300 College Park
Dayton OH 45469-2364
akoziol1@udayton.edu mailto:akoziol1@udayton.edu

Copper nails work very well, too. Dexter Perkins Dept. Geology and Geological Engineering University of North Dakota Grand Forks ND 58202 (701)777-2991o; (701)757-0579h dexter.perkins@engr.und.edu From: John W. Valley via MSA-talk <msa-talk@minlists.org> Sent: Tuesday, October 28, 2025 9:50 PM To: Andrea Koziol <akoziol1@udayton.edu>; MSA-Talk <msa-talk@minlists.org> Cc: John W. Valley <jwvalley@wisc.edu> Subject: [MSA-talk] Re: For USA members: the penny is being phased out Hi Andrea The current US pennies that are being discontinued are actually Cu coated zinc. Old pennies are solid Cu and work well. I have also used short pieces of Cu plumbing pipe or fittings. John W. Valley Charles R. Van Hise Professor Department of Geoscience 1215 W. Dayton St University of Wisconsin Madison, WI 53706, USA email: valley@geology.wisc.edu<mailto:valley@geology.wisc.edu> From: Andrea Koziol via MSA-talk <msa-talk@minlists.org<mailto:msa-talk@minlists.org>> Date: Tuesday, October 28, 2025 at 4:12 PM To: MSA-Talk <msa-talk@minlists.org<mailto:msa-talk@minlists.org>> Subject: [MSA-talk] For USA members: the penny is being phased out In intro labs and mineralogy labs, the USA penny is a useful hardness testing item. Well they are now being phased out and no more are being made. Hoard your pennies! What will we use when pennies are completely gone? Andrea Koziol Still looking for more #MineralMonday posts - send them to my email address. -- ************************************************************ Dr. Andrea Koziol, emerita Dept. of Earth and Environmental Geosciences 300 College Park Dayton OH 45469-2364 akoziol1@udayton.edu<mailto:akoziol1@udayton.edu> *************************************************************

KC

Kevin Cole

Wed, Oct 29, 2025 6:56 PM

I had a 40 foot role of 99% Cu, 1% Sn that I cut into 1"x3/4"x1/8" pieces I used in class, I purchased it for $5 and it worked very well. I got it at a surplus store and a week later purchased all the rest they had-$20 for 100 yards

From: John W. Valley via MSA-talk msa-talk@minlists.org
Sent: Tuesday, October 28, 2025 10:49 PM
To: Andrea Koziol akoziol1@udayton.edu; MSA-Talk msa-talk@minlists.org
Cc: John W. Valley jwvalley@wisc.edu
Subject: [MSA-talk] Re: For USA members: the penny is being phased out

Hi Andrea

The current US pennies that are being discontinued are actually Cu coated zinc. Old pennies are solid Cu and work well. I have also used short pieces of Cu plumbing pipe or fittings.

John W. Valley

Charles R. Van Hise Professor

Department of Geoscience

1215 W. Dayton St

University of Wisconsin

Madison, WI 53706, USA

email: valley@geology.wisc.edu mailto:valley@geology.wisc.edu

From: Andrea Koziol via MSA-talk msa-talk@minlists.org
Date: Tuesday, October 28, 2025 at 4:12 PM
To: MSA-Talk msa-talk@minlists.org
Subject: [MSA-talk] For USA members: the penny is being phased out

In intro labs and mineralogy labs, the USA penny is a useful hardness testing item.
Well they are now being phased out and no more are being made. Hoard your pennies!
What will we use when pennies are completely gone?

Andrea Koziol
Still looking for more #MineralMonday posts - send them to my email address.

--

Dr. Andrea Koziol, emerita
Dept. of Earth and Environmental Geosciences
300 College Park
Dayton OH 45469-2364
akoziol1@udayton.edu mailto:akoziol1@udayton.edu

I had a 40 foot role of 99% Cu, 1% Sn that I cut into 1"x3/4"x1/8" pieces I used in class, I purchased it for $5 and it worked very well. I got it at a surplus store and a week later purchased all the rest they had-$20 for 100 yards ________________________________ From: John W. Valley via MSA-talk <msa-talk@minlists.org> Sent: Tuesday, October 28, 2025 10:49 PM To: Andrea Koziol <akoziol1@udayton.edu>; MSA-Talk <msa-talk@minlists.org> Cc: John W. Valley <jwvalley@wisc.edu> Subject: [MSA-talk] Re: For USA members: the penny is being phased out Hi Andrea The current US pennies that are being discontinued are actually Cu coated zinc. Old pennies are solid Cu and work well. I have also used short pieces of Cu plumbing pipe or fittings. John W. Valley Charles R. Van Hise Professor Department of Geoscience 1215 W. Dayton St University of Wisconsin Madison, WI 53706, USA email: valley@geology.wisc.edu<mailto:valley@geology.wisc.edu> From: Andrea Koziol via MSA-talk <msa-talk@minlists.org> Date: Tuesday, October 28, 2025 at 4:12 PM To: MSA-Talk <msa-talk@minlists.org> Subject: [MSA-talk] For USA members: the penny is being phased out In intro labs and mineralogy labs, the USA penny is a useful hardness testing item. Well they are now being phased out and no more are being made. Hoard your pennies! What will we use when pennies are completely gone? Andrea Koziol Still looking for more #MineralMonday posts - send them to my email address. -- ************************************************************ Dr. Andrea Koziol, emerita Dept. of Earth and Environmental Geosciences 300 College Park Dayton OH 45469-2364 akoziol1@udayton.edu<mailto:akoziol1@udayton.edu> *************************************************************