Mindat Mineralogy Messageboard - Identity Help Want to identify an unknown specimen? Ask here! http://www.mindat.org/msgboard-11.html Wed, 22 May 2013 14:42:16 +0000 Phorum 5.2.15a http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,11,290194,294479#msg-294479 Re: Cornog Quarry Area Mystery Crystal http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,11,290194,294479#msg-294479
Throwing my guess into the mystery. It appears that we see a partially broken crystal-like formation in matrix. The "crystal" also appears to show at least two or more faces. It has a metalllic, and at one point, tarnished luster.

My best guess at this point is a single pyrrhotite crystal. It is listed on the Keystone Trap Rock Quarry page on Mindat. Look for pyrhottite on page 34 of the listing. You may also note a slight magnetic reaction if you use a sensitive magnet on it.

If we could clearly establish the matrix holding this formation, or magnetic properties, it may prove conclusive.

I don't believe the geological environment is right for andalusite is not right. Pyrite is close. Also considered, Clinozoisite is out.

The quarry itself is flooded. However, I've been told there are hiking trails all over the area. As long as you walk in, non-descript, and don't carry hammers or heavy equipment, you may find some dump piles.

The Brandywine Creek may hold some mineral specimens. Last fall I found six different mineral species including blue quartz in the creek.


Keep On Rocking!

Don ;-)]]> Don Kauffman Identity Help Wed, 22 May 2013 14:40:47 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,11,293767,294477#msg-294477 Re: MINERALS IN THE MOVIES http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,11,293767,294477#msg-294477 el cascaillou Identity Help Wed, 22 May 2013 14:16:07 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,11,290194,294474#msg-294474 Re: Cornog Quarry Area Mystery Crystal http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,11,290194,294474#msg-294474 Jeff Weissman Identity Help Wed, 22 May 2013 13:50:55 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,11,290194,294464#msg-294464 Re: Cornog Quarry Area Mystery Crystal http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,11,290194,294464#msg-294464 of Jay collection they are very nice light purple crystals i can not tell what your picture is,but keep
looking,is the quarry under water?Jon]]> Jonathan Ertman Identity Help Wed, 22 May 2013 11:12:59 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,11,294391,294460#msg-294460 Re: black crystals on Mimetite from Tsumeb http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,11,294391,294460#msg-294460
Lefteris.]]> Lefteris Rantos Identity Help Wed, 22 May 2013 08:30:22 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,11,290194,294459#msg-294459 Re: Cornog Quarry Area Mystery Crystal http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,11,290194,294459#msg-294459 Spencer Ivan Mather Identity Help Wed, 22 May 2013 07:19:53 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,11,294452,294458#msg-294458 Re: Aragonite unknown location, Europe. http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,11,294452,294458#msg-294458
Spencer.]]> Spencer Ivan Mather Identity Help Wed, 22 May 2013 07:10:32 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,11,290194,294455#msg-294455 Re: Cornog Quarry Area Mystery Crystal http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,11,290194,294455#msg-294455

MRH]]> Mark Heintzelman Identity Help Wed, 22 May 2013 04:41:15 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,11,294452,294452#msg-294452 Aragonite unknown location, Europe. http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,11,294452,294452#msg-294452

]]> Greg Dainty Identity Help Wed, 22 May 2013 02:06:10 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,11,294391,294436#msg-294436 Re: black crystals on Mimetite from Tsumeb http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,11,294391,294436#msg-294436
Thanks for the suggestion, that seems like a very reasonable guess :)]]> Chris Stefano Identity Help Tue, 21 May 2013 21:42:41 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,11,294391,294435#msg-294435 Re: black crystals on Mimetite from Tsumeb http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,11,294391,294435#msg-294435
Looks like smithsonite to me.
If you look at the big crystal at the center and elsewhere, you can see a kind of twisted bowtie.
The form is rare at Tsumeb but the paragenesis with mimetite is common.

I hope this helps.

Take care and best regards.

Paul.]]> Paul De Bondt Identity Help Tue, 21 May 2013 21:07:06 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,11,294411,294431#msg-294431 Re: Rastvetaevite-eudialyte http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,11,294411,294431#msg-294431 Pavel Kartashov Identity Help Tue, 21 May 2013 20:00:11 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,11,294411,294430#msg-294430 Re: Rastvetaevite-eudialyte http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,11,294411,294430#msg-294430
Knut]]> Knut Eldjarn Identity Help Tue, 21 May 2013 19:53:13 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,11,294391,294428#msg-294428 Re: black crystals on Mimetite from Tsumeb http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,11,294391,294428#msg-294428 Knut Eldjarn Identity Help Tue, 21 May 2013 19:49:14 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,11,294411,294411#msg-294411 Rastvetaevite-eudialyte http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,11,294411,294411#msg-294411 Hans Kloster Identity Help Tue, 21 May 2013 17:14:38 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,11,294391,294409#msg-294409 Re: black crystals on Mimetite from Tsumeb http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,11,294391,294409#msg-294409 Chris Stefano Identity Help Tue, 21 May 2013 17:00:41 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,11,290194,294408#msg-294408 Re: Cornog Quarry Area Mystery Crystal http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,11,290194,294408#msg-294408 Uwe Kolitsch Identity Help Tue, 21 May 2013 16:53:06 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,11,294391,294407#msg-294407 Re: black crystals on Mimetite from Tsumeb http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,11,294391,294407#msg-294407 Steve Hardinger Identity Help Tue, 21 May 2013 16:48:14 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,11,294391,294391#msg-294391 black crystals on Mimetite from Tsumeb http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,11,294391,294391#msg-294391 Chris Stefano Identity Help Tue, 21 May 2013 14:44:20 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,11,294319,294390#msg-294390 Re: American Tunnel mine carbonate http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,11,294319,294390#msg-294390
I had deduced that the American Tunnel was an access or perhaps drainage adit serving several localities - it's great to have your confirmation. I had found the story about Lake Emma voiding through it - what an event! Even at this distance in time it is a great relief to know that no lives were lost. Reminds me of a local story here: when the Chessy blue mine flats collapsed around 1875, it happened during a change of shift, and again no lives were lost... Perhaps the kobolds were in a good mood!

I too am surprised that calcite is so seldom listed for the localities in the area - perhaps the original publications didn't mention it as being just too common...

Many thanks for all the help

Tim]]> Timothy Greenland Identity Help Tue, 21 May 2013 14:29:13 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,11,294319,294388#msg-294388 Re: American Tunnel mine carbonate http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,11,294319,294388#msg-294388
I am not an expert, but calcite is very common throughout the Silverton area. I failed to mention that the Sunnyside lies on the Eureka Graben within the Silverton Caldera.]]> Mark & Linda Mahlum Identity Help Tue, 21 May 2013 13:43:54 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,11,294319,294384#msg-294384 Re: American Tunnel mine carbonate http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,11,294319,294384#msg-294384
In June, 1979 the American Tunnel gained some notoriety when Lake Emma in Sunnyside Basin broke through a stope and drained out the American Tunnel. Eyewitnesses say that timbers were spat out like toothpicks. A locomotive in the tunnel was destroyed. Because it happened on a Sunday when the mine was vacant, hundreds of lives were saved.

I've also seen the Sunnyside placed at Howardsville. That is inaccurate. The Sunnyside is above Eureka. The American Tunnel is located at Gladstone. Both are several miles from Howardsville. The confusion might be a result of the fact that Sunnyside ores were trucked to and treated at the Mayflower Mill near Howardsville. That is some 10 road miles from the American Tunnel. I believe that specimens labelled "American Tunnel" should really say "Sunnyside Mine". They were mined in the Sunnyside workings and merely brought to the surface through the American Tunnel.]]> Mark & Linda Mahlum Identity Help Tue, 21 May 2013 13:18:09 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,11,294319,294375#msg-294375 Re: American Tunnel mine carbonate http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,11,294319,294375#msg-294375 very like the ones on my specimen. I thank Dan's nailed it! I hadn't found the Sunnyside mine on my search - it took me straight to the Howardsville mine...

Bravo and again many thanks

Tim]]> Timothy Greenland Identity Help Tue, 21 May 2013 09:34:17 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,11,294319,294373#msg-294373 Re: American Tunnel mine carbonate http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,11,294319,294373#msg-294373
Many thanks

Tim]]> Timothy Greenland Identity Help Tue, 21 May 2013 09:24:30 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,11,294319,294370#msg-294370 Re: American Tunnel mine carbonate http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,11,294319,294370#msg-294370 www.mindat.org]

The Sunnyside Mine has calcite listed on the database.

The other "American Tunnel," at Howardsville, listed on Mindat doesn't have calcite listed, but given the proximity and mineralogy of the area (as well as the ubiquitous nature of calcite), I would guess that calcite is present there as well.

In my limited experience with the Silverton specimens, especially rhodos, the majority originate from the Sunnyside Mine. Just my two cents.]]> Dan R. Lynch Identity Help Tue, 21 May 2013 07:30:05 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,11,294319,294369#msg-294369 Re: American Tunnel mine carbonate http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,11,294319,294369#msg-294369
It is not always very easy to get chemical reagents in France as a private individual - but I'll probably find a solution (in both senses of the term!) one day...

What I am hoping for is someone to tell me if they have seen or heard of specimens of calcite and/or aragonite from the Silverton area...

Cheers

Tim]]> Timothy Greenland Identity Help Tue, 21 May 2013 06:37:35 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,11,293767,294361#msg-294361 Re: MINERALS IN THE MOVIES http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,11,293767,294361#msg-294361 Sorry, I should have been clearer. I have nearly all of Tolkien's work several times throughout my life and I am aware of how Mithril is portrayed in the books. What I was wondering about is what would be considered its real life equivalent. But, I think that is a topic for a different posting thread. :-)]]> Scott Sadlocha Identity Help Mon, 20 May 2013 23:50:03 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,11,294319,294350#msg-294350 Re: American Tunnel mine carbonate http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,11,294319,294350#msg-294350 Steve Hardinger Identity Help Mon, 20 May 2013 18:35:55 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,11,294319,294335#msg-294335 Re: American Tunnel mine carbonate http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,11,294319,294335#msg-294335
Cheers

Tim]]> Timothy Greenland Identity Help Mon, 20 May 2013 15:34:09 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,11,294319,294331#msg-294331 Re: American Tunnel mine carbonate http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,11,294319,294331#msg-294331 Steve Hardinger Identity Help Mon, 20 May 2013 14:04:33 +0000