FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[nurbo]

Just got a good UK piece from Bay Minerals ex Max Freier, a rare piece indeed, Sphalerite from the Carrock mine in the Caldbeck Fells.

[nurbo]

The Mourne Mountains in Co Down is the locality for this perfect 10 mm double terminated Topaz crystal, also present are Biotite Mice, Smoky Quartz and Orthoclase.

[nurbo]

One thing that never ceases to amaze me is just how wierd the Quartz can be from the Cumberland Iron Ore Fields!! This particular sample is from the Frizington Parks/New Parkside mine area. I always wonder why the Quartz in these pieces is so unusual, its such a strange blend of forms. Some of the crystals are skeletal whilst others are kind of platy and elsewhere you will find normal Cumberland habit crystals, but all in vugs on the same piece of matrix, its unusual stuff indeed. If anyones got any knowledge of why the Quartz in this area sometimes looks like this Id be really interested to know..

[nurbo]

Just thought Id mention the Quartz in the photo I just posted is absolutely undamaged in any way, it is totally pristine, though in places it looks wrecked,

[nurbo]

Here are the photos of the piece from the "A Short Question on Epitaxy" thread, as I said Im not sure this is epitaxy, in fact it probably isnt, but the idea of similarly structured minerals in epitaxial formation is one Im still not completely sure I understand, but then there is much I dont understand about minerals and probably never will, otherwise mineral collecting would be boring.. Whatever it is, its a great example of some the minerals which form at that great man made scar on the planet that is Pike Law.

Galena corroding to Cerussite with Siderite on Fluorite, Pike Law Hushes, Teesdale, Co Durham, UK.

[nurbo]

Oh well I thought there might be some opinions about the above piece.

Here are 2 new additions, first up is a stunning Dry Gill Plumbogummite with Mimetite which would trim into a killer thumbnail, thing is that sugary Quartz matrix takes a lot of breaking and Im too paranoid Id damage the Plumbo, also the reverse has a really interesting mineral sandwich, a layer of Mimetite with Plumbo on top with a Manganese Oxide on that which is (to me anyway) very interesting indeed.

Then another Witherite from Haggs. This piece has the classic Haggs surface alteration to Baryte but still retains the Witherite underneath,

[nurbo]

Here we have a wonderful Victorian forgery, I wish I knew what kind of glue they used, its lasted over 100 years and is still holding fast, locals would glue these large Apatites onto Carrock Mine matrix and sell them to unsuspecting visitors, interesting to know that mineral frauds were going on back in those days.

Then Fluorite coloured by Haematite inclusions from the Florence Mine, which is now doing quite well as a media centre, where they have comedy shows, live music and run events as diverse as upholstery and film making, well done Gilbert for keeping the dream alive.

FInally today a European classic, gemmy blue Kyanite from Switzerland, there are a number of micro crystals which are brown, I assume from hunting around the interweb that they are Staurolite, but Im not sure..

[nurbo]

I really love the way the Florence piece has no Eisenkiesel present.

I just thought Id add my favourite self collected Baryte, this piece came from a huge chunk I found which was actually in the beck itself and heavily stained, it took a lot of treatment to clean it up to the level it now shows. but then I think the whole issue of mineral treatments is immensely hypocrytical.

[Jordi Fabre]

[nurbo]

In my usual untimely manner here are some close ups of the Calcite from the Stank mine, the one that appears on the john Betts mineral museum site. As I said I regard the inclusions as some kind of Manganese Oxide, likely Pyrolusite, (its very hard to get a good image as the pyrolusite, whoops, unknown, is below the surface and my stupid digital camera seems to focus on the nearest focal point)

the link ...
https://www.johnbetts-fineminerals.com/jhbnyc/mineralmuseum/picshow.php?id=25244
(link normalized by FMF)

while Im here I thought I'd wang my current favourite Sphalerite on too.

[Jordi Fabre]

[nurbo]

Which kind of makes the point about Manganese Oxides! Stank Calcites included with Oxides of Iron are red.

[Jordi Fabre]

[nurbo]

Hi Jordi.
Thats true they could be black, but Ive never seen one from round these parts and Ive seen quite a few.

[nurbo]

A new Fluorite, this time from the Hesselbach Mine, Ödsbach, Oberkirch, Black Forest, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

Also an unusual French Septarian nodule lined with tiny caramel coloured Baryte crystals, the locality is given as Arnayon, Rhône-Alpes, Drôme, Can anyone confirm, deny or give any more information on this locality?