FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[chandrew]

Hi all..this is my first post. Glad to have joined.

We found minerals in old core samples near a gold mine in Canada that we believe may be cubanite yet it highly resembles pyrite. We are amateur collectors and do not have know enough about this mineral to easily identify it. Are there visual clues that would help us distinguish cubanite from pyrite such as crytalization shape, cleavage, colour, hardness or carrier rock?? please advise, any help is appreciated! thanks.

PS: is cubanite a sought after mineral by collectors or industry?

[Tracy]

Welcome to FMF chandrew -

Do you have any photos that you can post for others to look at, also more specific details like the precise locality where you were collecting? Canada's the biggest country in the world...

Be sure to provide dimensions to go with your pics. I'm sure the experts will do their best with whatever you provide, but the more info the better. :) Be forewarned that identifying minerals long-distance is not an easy thing to do.

- Tracy

[Maggie Wilson]

Hi there - there was recent discussion on Mindat about cubanite - David Joyce has written an article with lots of good pictures - see his site:
https://www.davidkjoyceminerals.com
(link normalized by FMF)
and look for the "articles" link - it is called "Cubanite in Canada"

Maggie

[chandrew]

I'll try to get photos asap. We found the samples in Northeastern ontario, not far from the Quebec border. Good article by the way