We use cookies to show content based on your preferences. If you continue to browse you accept their use and installation. More information. >

FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board
The place to share your mineralogical experiences


Spanish message board






Newest topics and users posts
27 Mar-19:47:08 Re: 2 unknowns co-occurring with caledonite, grand reef mine, az (Pete Richards)
27 Mar-16:15:44 Re: 2 unknowns co-occurring with caledonite, grand reef mine, az (Cfrench58)
27 Mar-15:18:59 Re: 2 unknowns co-occurring with caledonite, grand reef mine, az (Alfredo)
27 Mar-14:39:29 2 unknowns co-occurring with caledonite, grand reef mine, az (Cfrench58)
27 Mar-05:21:48 Re: the mim museum in beirut, lebanon (Mim Museum)
27 Mar-05:03:26 Re: trying to find information on rose/pink quartz and tourmaline associations. (Ning)
27 Mar-02:39:50 Re: the mim museum in beirut, lebanon (Tobi)
27 Mar-00:23:28 Re: collection of volkmar stingl (Volkmar Stingl)
26 Mar-00:53:41 Re: collection of volkmar stingl (Volkmar Stingl)
25 Mar-13:32:10 Re: collection of michael shaw (Michael Shaw)
25 Mar-00:25:58 The mizunaka collection - quartz (Am Mizunaka)
23 Mar-13:35:22 Re: collection of firmo espinar (Firmo Espinar)
22 Mar-08:32:28 Re: collection of michael shaw (Michael Shaw)
22 Mar-04:20:41 Re: the mim museum in beirut, lebanon (Mim Museum)
21 Mar-22:49:19 Re: green seam. Looks like it in a state of decay. (Ning)
21 Mar-22:47:40 Re: green seam. Looks like it in a state of decay. (Ning)
21 Mar-22:45:25 Re: green seam. Looks like it in a state of decay. (Ning)
21 Mar-15:34:23 Re: the mizunaka collection - quartz (Am Mizunaka)
21 Mar-14:35:08 Re: jim’s mineral collection (Jim Wilkinson)
21 Mar-14:15:36 The 4th phoenix heritage mineral show (phms) hosted by mineralogical society of arizona (m (Chris Whitney-smith)
21 Mar-04:36:10 Re: the mizunaka collection (Tobi)
21 Mar-04:11:47 Re: jim’s mineral collection (James Catmur)
20 Mar-23:34:15 The mizunaka collection - quartz (Am Mizunaka)
20 Mar-18:13:16 Re: jim’s mineral collection (Jim Wilkinson)
20 Mar-14:06:43 Re: dry gill mine, caldbeck fells, cumbria, uk (Forrestblyth)

For lists of newest topics and postings click here


RSS RSS

View unanswered posts

Why and how to register

Index Index
 FAQFAQ RegisterRegister  Log inLog in
 {Forgotten your password?}Forgotten your password?  

Like
111799


The time now is Mar 28, 2024 03:38

Search for a textSearch for a text   

A general guide for using the Forum with some rules and tips
The information provided within this Forum about localities is only given to allow reference to them. Any visit to any of the localities requires you to obtain full permission and relevant information prior to your visit. FMF is strictly against any illicit activities related to collecting minerals.
Two questions on Bolivian danburite
  
  Index -> Minerals and Mineralogy
Like
2


View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message

Antonio Alcaide
Site Admin



Joined: 23 Aug 2009
Posts: 314
Location: Spain


Access to the FMF Gallery title=

View user's profile

Send private message

PostPosted: Mar 25, 2013 07:18    Post subject: Two questions on Bolivian danburite  

I would like to know what rock is the matrix of bolivian danburites from Alto Chapare. I have read something of dolomite-smectite, talc... It does not look like talc and smectite is a group of minerals. Both of them appear in the locality on Mindat.

I also want to confirm if the grey color of these crystals is due to magnesioriebeckite inclusions (I know Alto Chapare is the type locality for this species).

Regards



danburita 1.jpg
 Description:
Danburite on matrix
Alto Chapare District, Chapare Province, Cochabamba Department, Bolivia
8 x 6,5 x 4 cm
 Viewed:  11451 Time(s)

danburita 1.jpg



danburita 3.jpg
 Description:
Danburite
Alto Chapare District, Chapare Province, Cochabamba Department, Bolivia
8 x 6,5 x 4 cm
Doubly terminated danburite crystal. Size: 1,5 cm
 Viewed:  11425 Time(s)

danburita 3.jpg



_________________
Life is the shortest crystal
Back to top
Reply to topic Reply with quote
Like
1
   

alfredo
Site Admin



Joined: 30 Jan 2008
Posts: 979


Access to the FMF Gallery title=

View user's profile

Send private message

PostPosted: Mar 25, 2013 07:51    Post subject: Re: Two questions on Bolivian danburite  

Hello, Antonio!

The matrix for the Alto Chapare danburites is an altered saltdome caprock, now composed mainly of anhydrite (more or less altered to gypsum), magnesite, dolomite, smectites (species undefined), talc, more rarely pyrite, boracite... all in varying proportions. In contrast to saltdome caprocks in other countries, there is no calcite or native sulfur, probably because of absence of hydrocarbons which are necessary for the bacterial reduction of gypsum.

Very very rarely (a few tens of specimens among the tens of thousands of known danburite crystals) the danburites are coloured blue by inclusions of magnesioriebeckite. This only happens at the contact between the metaevaporite and the magnesioriebeckite asbestos ores. The rest of the danburites, 99.9%+, are grey, not blue, and do not contain magnesioriebeckite. The grey colour can sometimes be seen under high magnification to be due to included pyrite dust, but perhaps there are other materials causing the colour too. Some people have suggested carbon, but there are no analyses.

Nevertheless, some dealers have "optimistically" labelled all the grey danburites as "blue" danburites and said the "blue" colour (which I lack the imagination to see) is caused by magnesioriebeckite. Caveat emptor.

If you ever have a chance to visit Bolivia, I'll take you to the sites of both the grey and blue danburites. I did several months of research in that area for a government agency in the early 1990s. It's a very wet tropical jungle - quite different from the "normal" bolivian mineral localities!

Cheers,
Alfredo
Back to top
Reply to topic Reply with quote
Like
   

Antonio Alcaide
Site Admin



Joined: 23 Aug 2009
Posts: 314
Location: Spain


Access to the FMF Gallery title=

View user's profile

Send private message

PostPosted: Mar 25, 2013 16:52    Post subject: Re: Two questions on Bolivian danburite  

Hi Alfredo, thank you very much for such a complete explanation. I see the situation regarding "optimistic" dealers :-)

Magnesioriebeckite reminded me of La Juanona Quarry, close to my home, as a possible inclusion for the deep blue color of its quartzs. But I understand that it is responsible for blue color, not for this grey color. However, nice danburites.

And I have to thank you for your invitation, this time for Bolivia. It sounds marvellous. I also remember you inviting me to Franklin... but I am afraid it is more likely you come here to collect some Andalusian minerals...

Cheers

_________________
Life is the shortest crystal
Back to top
Reply to topic Reply with quote
Like
   

vhairap




Joined: 11 Jun 2012
Posts: 37


Access to the FMF Gallery title=

View user's profile

Send private message

PostPosted: Nov 14, 2021 10:42    Post subject: Re: Two questions on Bolivian danburite  

alfredo wrote:
Hello, Antonio!

The matrix for the Alto Chapare danburites is an altered saltdome caprock, now composed mainly of anhydrite (more or less altered to gypsum), magnesite, dolomite, smectites (species undefined), talc, more rarely pyrite, boracite... all in varying proportions. In contrast to saltdome caprocks in other countries, there is no calcite or native sulfur, probably because of absence of hydrocarbons which are necessary for the bacterial reduction of gypsum.

Very very rarely (a few tens of specimens among the tens of thousands of known danburite crystals) the danburites are coloured blue by inclusions of magnesioriebeckite. This only happens at the contact between the metaevaporite and the magnesioriebeckite asbestos ores. The rest of the danburites, 99.9%+, are grey, not blue, and do not contain magnesioriebeckite. The grey colour can sometimes be seen under high magnification to be due to included pyrite dust, but perhaps there are other materials causing the colour too. Some people have suggested carbon, but there are no analyses.

Nevertheless, some dealers have "optimistically" labelled all the grey danburites as "blue" danburites and said the "blue" colour (which I lack the imagination to see) is caused by magnesioriebeckite. Caveat emptor.

If you ever have a chance to visit Bolivia, I'll take you to the sites of both the grey and blue danburites. I did several months of research in that area for a government agency in the early 1990s. It's a very wet tropical jungle - quite different from the "normal" bolivian mineral localities!

Cheers,
Alfredo


Hi
A few weeks ago, I have received very nice specimens of grey (dark, light grey) Danburite from Larak Island, Persian Gulf, (very similar to Bolivian specimens) where salt diapirs are well exposed. Magnesioriebeckite is also found there and the matrix looks to be altered rhyolite with lots of other minerals including anhydrite, actinolite, pyrite, epidote, ...

_________________
Vachik Hairapetian
Back to top
Reply to topic Reply with quote
Like
   

lluis




Joined: 17 Nov 2006
Posts: 710

View user's profile

Send private message

PostPosted: Nov 14, 2021 11:14    Post subject: Re: Two questions on Bolivian danburite  

Nevertheless, I own at least one danburite from Alto Chapare, Bolivia, that looks blue to my eyes.
What causes color, no idea (magnesioriebeckite, well, I never thought in...), But still, blue(ish)... Not grey.

With best wishes

Lluís
Back to top
Reply to topic Reply with quote
Like
   

vhairap




Joined: 11 Jun 2012
Posts: 37


Access to the FMF Gallery title=

View user's profile

Send private message

PostPosted: Nov 14, 2021 12:04    Post subject: Re: Two questions on Bolivian danburite  

lluis wrote:
Nevertheless, I own at least one danburite from Alto Chapare, Bolivia, that looks blue to my eyes.
What causes color, no idea (magnesioriebeckite, well, I never thought in...), But still, blue(ish)... Not grey.

With best wishes

Lluís


I wonder if there is any paper in which Bolivian danburite is mineralogically described? Anyhow, my eyes see this (Bolivian) grey color. I have attached two photographs of Larak danburite.

All the best



VHF_3819a.jpg
 Mineral: Danburite
 Locality:
Iran
 Dimensions: Largest crystal is c. 2.5 cm
 Description:
 Viewed:  6291 Time(s)

VHF_3819a.jpg



_________________
Vachik Hairapetian
Back to top
Reply to topic Reply with quote
Like
   

vhairap




Joined: 11 Jun 2012
Posts: 37


Access to the FMF Gallery title=

View user's profile

Send private message

PostPosted: Nov 14, 2021 12:14    Post subject: Re: Two questions on Bolivian danburite  

And this nice cluster


VHF_3665-6a.jpg
 Dimensions: Larger crystal in back is c. 2.5 cm
 Description:
 Viewed:  6277 Time(s)

VHF_3665-6a.jpg



_________________
Vachik Hairapetian
Back to top
Reply to topic Reply with quote
Like
1
   

alfredo
Site Admin



Joined: 30 Jan 2008
Posts: 979


Access to the FMF Gallery title=

View user's profile

Send private message

PostPosted: Nov 14, 2021 14:42    Post subject: Re: Two questions on Bolivian danburite  

Vachik, Federico Ahlfeld (after whom the mineral ahlfeldite is named) published a detailed study of Bolivian danburite at the University of Córdoba, Argentina, back in 1946. I have a copy of his paper somewhere. It's a rather obscure publication and hard to find, but I managed to get a photocopy of it in Argentina in the early 1990s. Ahlfeld however did not recognize the host rock as a saltdome caprock.

I have some danburites from Hormuz island, Iran, which look very much like the Bolivian ones in habit, although the Hormuz danburites are more transparent than the Bolivian ones. I suspect that the geological origin is the same - saltdome caprocks.
Back to top
Reply to topic Reply with quote
Like
   

vhairap




Joined: 11 Jun 2012
Posts: 37


Access to the FMF Gallery title=

View user's profile

Send private message

PostPosted: Nov 14, 2021 14:54    Post subject: Re: Two questions on Bolivian danburite  

alfredo wrote:
Vachik, Federico Ahlfeld (after whom the mineral ahlfeldite is named) published a detailed study of Bolivian danburite at the University of Córdoba, Argentina, back in 1946. I have a copy of his paper somewhere. It's a rather obscure publication and hard to find, but I managed to get a photocopy of it in Argentina in the early 1990s. Ahlfeld however did not recognize the host rock as a saltdome caprock.

I have some danburites from Hormuz island, Iran, which look very much like the Bolivian ones in habit, although the Hormuz danburites are more transparent than the Bolivian ones. I suspect that the geological origin is the same - saltdome caprocks.


Very very Interesting, Alfredo. Bolivian and Larak are very similar in origin, mineralogical association and host rock as well. Those from Hormuz Island are bit different in crystal habit and indeed they are transparent. Some from Hormuz are indeed gemmy, grayish-green, gray (dull), and colorless. I will post some photographs of Hormuz material as well. Next step is to analyze the crystals to know more on the elements and inclusions. ICP, microprobe, ...

It would be nice to get Ahlfeld's paper anyway. Thanks
All the best,
Vachik

_________________
Vachik Hairapetian
Back to top
Reply to topic Reply with quote
Like
   
Display posts from previous:   
   Index -> Minerals and Mineralogy   All times are GMT - 5 Hours
Page 1 of 1
    

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You can download files in this forum


All pictures, text, design © Forum FMF 2006-2024


Powered by FMF