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Darren
Joined: 09 Aug 2009
Posts: 91
Location: New Mexico
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Posted: Sep 20, 2009 22:35 Post subject: Jarilla Mountains, Orogrande, Otero County, New Mexico, USA Andradite and Hematite |
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Over the last few months I have had the opportunity to collect a few times in the Jarilla Mountains in Otero County, New Mexico. Mines in this small range have produced gold (at least 2 "rushes", with extensive mining to begin this fall), Copper, Iron Ore and Turquoise. The intrusives that emplaced the economic deposits also created extensive skarns, and one location, in particular, continues to produce spectacular hematite and very nice andradite.
In addition, another location nearby has very nice epidote and actinolite and I'll try to post about that later, but for now, some of the recent hematite and andradite.
There is an open cut, or pit, that produces these. One looks for blocks of coarsely-crystalline garnet shot-through with calcite veins. Treating the pieces with calcite exposes the minerals. In addition, digging in the pit, you find large "nodules" of a garnet/calcite mix that, when acid-treated, exposes the andradite. Hope you enjoy these!
Some were taken by my wife (the family photographer!) in natural light, and some were taken in artificial light - so please be kind!!!!!
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3 cm pocket of small andradite |
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13278 Time(s) |
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3 cm andradite-hematite-quartz piece |
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13242 Time(s) |
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2.5 cm picec with andradite |
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3 cm piece with small andradites |
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13220 Time(s) |
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Nice golden-colored andradite on a 6 cm piece |
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8 cm piece with etched andradite and quartz |
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Another view of the previous |
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Choice 6 cm group of small hematite rosettes |
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Choice miniature, 4 cm, of scultural hematite rosettes |
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Another view of the above |
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Great andradite in deep vugs |
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Darren
Joined: 09 Aug 2009
Posts: 91
Location: New Mexico
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Posted: Sep 20, 2009 22:38 Post subject: Re: Jarilla Mountains, Orogrande, Otero County, New Mexico, USA Andradite and Hemati |
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Here are a few more!
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A 15 cm piece of andradite-hematite-chlorite-quartz. Much cleaner than it appears in the photo! |
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13278 Time(s) |
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Large 12 piece with andradite and hematite |
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13261 Time(s) |
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Darren
Joined: 09 Aug 2009
Posts: 91
Location: New Mexico
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Posted: Sep 20, 2009 22:39 Post subject: Re: Jarilla Mountains, Orogrande, Otero County, New Mexico, USA Andradite and Hemati |
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More Orogrande stuff coming tomorrow! thanks for taking a look!
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Jordi Fabre
Overall coordinator of the Forum
Joined: 07 Aug 2006
Posts: 4904
Location: Barcelona
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Posted: Sep 21, 2009 01:28 Post subject: Re: Jarilla Mountains, Orogrande, Otero County, New Mexico, USA Andradite and Hemati |
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Very interesting Darren, thanks to share with us.
Some chance to see photos of the mining area or of the Calcite-Garnets as them appear in the skarn?
Jordi
_________________ Audaces fortuna iuvat |
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