Mindat Mineralogy Messageboard - Best Minerals A

Re: Anglesite

Valere Berlage — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 10:52:22 +0000

Hello Rock!

I uploaded a few pictures!
There are in my profile, so I guess it worked!
Best regards
Val

Re: Anglesite

Rock Currier — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:37:37 +0000

Valere,
I checked your membership status and you should be able to upload pictures. I think there is a limit on the size of the images you can upload. I try and keep mine between 1 & 2 mags. Find the exact locality you want in the mindat and then click the add photo button and use the browse button and select the image you want to upload and then follow the instructions. If you have problems, get back to me and Ill try and walk you through it. Its not that hard really.

Re: Anglesite

Valere Berlage — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:27:58 +0000

Hello Rock!

I have never uploaded a picture in the gallery, When I tried, I could just fill a request
May be it is not the correct procedure? It might be fun to try to take pictures of my best minerals to post them

Morocco is an amazing country for geology, unfortunately, I started to collect seriously and went there too late... (at least for the best azurites and gem anglesites).

Your article is amazing and I guess it required a tremendous amount of searching! A pleasure to see agan the famous English piece!

Best regards

Valere Berlage

Re: Anglesite

Rock Currier — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:27:41 +0000

Valere,
That is a pretty big anglesite. Could you upload that image to the Mindat gallery? Ill put it in the article. The Hnadbook of minerals says they are known up to half a meter, but does not specify which locality.

Re: Anglesite

Valere Berlage — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 07:22:57 +0000

Here is a special crystal of anglesite, neither complete, nor perfect (it did not have enough room to grow),
but it is the largest crystal of my collection (secondary Cu, Zn and Pb minerals)!
size of the crystal:33 cm
Sorry for the bad quality of the picture
Val

Re: Albite

Rock Currier — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 03:35:07 +0000

Albite Localities and image links

Papachacra Mts, Belen Department, Catamarca, Argentina
[www.mindat.org]

Huonville Stn, Yancowinna Co., New South Wales, Australia
[www.mindat.org]

Harts Ranges (Hartz Ranges), Northern Territory, Australia
[www.mindat.org]

Re: Anglesite

Rock Currier — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:54:29 +0000

Marco & Erich,
Thanks for the corrections, all corrections are gratefully received.

Re: Anglesite

erik vercammen — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:50:23 +0000

a few corrections:

Angleite (=> angleSite)
Mexico
Baja California Sur, Mun. de Mulegé, Boleó District, Santa Rosalía (El Boleó), Amelia Mine

Anglesite & Boleite ~<2cm wide © J.N. Wingard

These specimens are very uncommon. There may have been thousands of them in the ore when the deposit was being mined, but very few were saved. The locality is an old French run copper mine that quit operations more than 50 years ago and the mine is much better known for specimens of Boleite and Cumegeite (=> cumeNgeite)on Anglesite.

Re: Anglesite

Marco Barsanti — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 07:14:29 +0000

Hi Rock:

a couple of corrections on Sardinia anglesites:

R. De Nul anglesite: 40 mm millimeters not centimeters "cm" as written (wish it were so great!!)

Marco Barsanti anglesite: 7 cm is the specimen overall size, while crystal size is only up to 1.5 cm

Re: Anatase

Marco Barsanti — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 07:05:34 +0000

Hi, some interesting anatase crystals not only with "classic" habit but also with tabular shape came out also from Buca della Vena mine, Stazzema, Lucca Prov., Tuscany, Italy. If you want to add them, follow these links:

"classical" shape

[www.mindat.org]

[www.mindat.org]

tabular shape

[www.mindat.org]

[www.mindat.org]

[www.mindat.org]

Re: Anatase

Steve Stuart — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 14:42:01 +0000

Harjo,

Check the MinDat gallery for Mont Saint-Hilaire.

Regards,

Steve Stuart

Anatase

Harjo Neutkens — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 10:05:39 +0000

Can you help make this a better article? What good localities have we missed? Can you supply pictures of better specimens than those we show here? Can you give us more and better information about the specimens from these localities? Can you supply better geological or historical information on these localities?

Anatase
TiO₂ Tetragonal, Trimorphic with Rutile & Brookite


Anatase on Albite from Hardangervidda, Norway, Anatase crystals of 0,7 and 1,4 cm	© Chinellato Matteo

If you want a specimen of Anatase in your collection you usually want one from the older localities in Switzerland or one from the newer ones from Norway. Which locality has produced better specimens? I prefer the ones from Switzerland, but also want a good one from Norway. There are many localities for Anatase and many localities produce beautiful sharp crystals that micromounters cherish. You could probably put together a collection of Anatase from over fifty localities if you tried. Most of the specimens would look rather nondescript and the Anatase crystals on them would be best appreciated under a microscope. Many micro sized crystals of Anatase are sharp, steeply bipyramidal and a translucent blue or brown in colour. Often they are growing on beautifully contrasting white quartz or Albite and make for striking specimens under the microscope.

Anatase is a commonly found in small quantities in alpine pockets where it can occur with its too other polymorphs. It is also found in many igneous and metamorphic rocks and as a fine-grained alteration product of various titanium bearing minerals. The number of localities that produce fine large crystals is quite limited but the number of localities that produce good micro crystals is much larger.

Anatase
Australia
South Australia, Mt Lofty Ranges, North Mt Lofty Ranges, Gulnare


6mm anatase crystal on quartz crystals.	© R. Bottrill

Gulnare Anatase are not commonly seen or collected, but are amongst the best from Australia

Anatase
Austria
Carinthia, Hohe Tauern Mts, Ankogel group, Ankogel area


Anatase, FOV 0,3cm	© Chinellato Matteo


Anatase, FOV 0,3cm	© Chinellato Matteo


Anatase, FOV 0,3cm	© D. Preite


Anatase, FOV 0,22cm	© SMS 2007

Area famous for orange to red Anatase crystals, especially Grauleiten mountain hasdelivered some outstanding red Anatase. Brown to almost black Anatase crystals come from the Plattenkogel mountain.
This area includes the mountains located in close vicinity to Ankogel mountain (3246 m), which is the second highest elevation in the Ankogel group and one of the highest elevations in the Eastern Alps. Specimens coming from this area are often simply labelled 'Ankogel'. However, the latter actually refers to Ankogel mountain only.

Anatase
Austria
Salzburg, Hohe Tauern Mts, Gastein valley, Böckstein, Municipal quarry (Dick quarry)


Anatase, FOV 0,4cm	© 0


Anatase, FOV 0,35cm	© 0

Quarry (long abandoned) with mineralized clefts in a granite-gneiss, disseminated by aplite and pegmatite veins.
Located east of Böckstein.

Anatase
Austria
Salzburg, Hohe Tauern Mts, Habach valley, Gamseck Mt. area, Leffler Brunnen


Anatase, Adularia FOV 0,8cm	© Harjo


Anatase, Adularia FOV 0,8cm	© Harjo


Anatase, Quartz FOV 0,6cm	© Harjo


Anatase, Adularia FOV 0,6cm	© Harjo


Anatase FOV 0,6cm	© Harjo


Anatase, Adularia FOV 0,8cm	© Harjo

In 2005 a very interesting and prolific Anatase locality was discovered near the Leffler source in the lower Habach valley. Several Quartz fissures in black Phylite (Schwarzphylit, a grey to black Schist) were encountered holding hundreds of Anatase accompanied by Brookite, Rutile, Ilmenite, Apatite, Synchysite, Calcite, Aragonite, Adularia and Quartz crystals. Most of the Anatase crystals show a tabular habit and have an almost opaque black colour although blue Anatase crystals showing a double pyramidal habit have also been found in 2007. Two other noteworthy Anatase localities in the lower Habach valley close to the Leffler source are the Windbach and the Schönbach valleys, it is said that in the early 1900s or late 1800s an Anatase crystal has been found in the Schönbach area measuring 4 cm. Nowadays it is still quite easy to find nice blue Anatase in the Schönbach up to 0,5 cm in length. The best locality for Anatase in the upper Habach valley is the Teufelsmüle area, an area most famous for fantastic finds of electric green Sphene.
[Harjo Neutkens 2009]

Anatase
Austria
Salzburg, Hohe Tauern Mts, Obersulzbach valley, Hopffeld area, Hopffeldboden


Anatase FOV 0,2cm	© D.Preite


Anatase, FOV 0,2cm	© D. Preite

Rocksled material, consisting mainly of aplitic gneisses with small miarolitic cavities hosting some rare minerals. many fine Anatase specimens have been found, most notoriously interestingly twinned Anatase crystals.

Anatase
Austria
Salzburg, Hohe tauern Mts, Rauris valley, Grieswies


Anatase FOV 0,4cm	© Stephan Wolfsried


Anatase, Rutile FOV 0,4cm	© Volker Betz

Many fine Anatase specimens have been found in the Rauris valley, especially from the Grieswies area, a shallow slope on the eastern side of Grieswies-Schwarzkopf mountain, adjoined by steep cliffs to the west. These rocks contain numerous clefts, some of which reach very large dimensions. The Grieswies itself is composed of rocksled material, dating back to prehistoric times when a large part of the northeast slope of Hocharn mountain slipped off.

Anatase
Belgium
Luxembourg Province, Bertrix, La Haie forest, Houthoofdt-Collette quarry


Anatase FOV 0,8cm	© Harjo


Anatase, FOV 0,8cm	© Harjo


Anatase FOV 0,7cm	© Harjo


Anatase, FOV 0,1cm	© J.Dehove

In 2005 very nice orange to red Anatase crystals up to 0,3 cm in length were discovered in a quarry south of the small provincial town of Bertrix. The Anatase crystals sit on Quartz and are accompanied by Brookite, Rutile, Apatite, Albite, Fuchsite and Xenotyme-(Y).
[Harjo Neutkens 2009]

Anatase
Belgium
Brabant Province, Walhain, Nil-St Vincent-St Martin


Anatase FOV 0,2cm	© Jose Dehove


Anatase, FOV 0,2cm	© Jose Dehove

Old quarry. Many fine Anatase specimens with crystals in excess of 1 cm were found there.

Anatase
Belgium
Brabant Province, Incourt, Opprebais


Anatase FOV 0,4cm	© Richard De Nul


Anatase, FOV 0,6cm	© Jose Dehove

Old quarry. Many fine Anatase specimens were found there, the Anatase crystals could reach up to 1 cm in length.

Anatase
Brazil
Northeast Region, Bahia, Paramirim


Anatase 1,5cm	© Martins da Pedra


Anatase, Rutile FOV 1cm	© T. Kennedy 2002

Mineralogical Record, 16 (2), 111-115
Info needed.

Anatase
Brazil
Southeast Region, Minas Gerais


Anatase crystals up to 2cm	©


Anatase cluster, 2,8cm	©

Minas Gerais, Minas Novas. In 1986 Ed Swoboda came to Tucson with “a superb lot of large, bluish black anatase crystals on matrix from Minas Novas…The largest crystal measures nearly 3 cm; most are 1 cm or so. The habit is typically bipyramidal; the matrix is smoky quartz. About 25 really good specimens and a couple of flats of mediocre material comprised the find.”1 Also, probably found at the same locality “sleek blue-black bipyramids to 2.5 cm long on brown quartz crystal matrixes; a 3.5 x 3.5-cm matrix with 2+ cm anatase crystals sold for $220.”2 The author was talking about some specimens at the Ste. Marie-aux-Mines mineral show in France in 1988. The locality Lavrinha means only little mine in Portuguese and is probably little more than a small pit.
1 Mineralogical Record, Vol.17, 1986 p207. - 2 Mineralogical Record Vol.20 1989 p146.

Anatase
Canada
Ontario, Wilberforce, Cardiff Mine. “Some of the titanite crystals from the Cardiff mine have been replaced by anatase resulting in light brown “leucoxene” pseudomorphs after titanite. Leucoxene is a discredited name, one that was given to a mixture of iron and titanium minerals.”1 George Robinson tells me via email that these pseudomorphs were found loose in the soil or in coarse calcite-syenite matrix. He says that he found crystals up to 7 cm, but the largest crystal was only a partial crystal and the most abundant associated minerals were allanite, pyroxene and microcline.
1 Mineralogical Record, Vol.13, 1982 p80.
Photos needed.

Anatase
Canada
Ontario, Bancroft, Madawaska Mine property.
Photos needed.
Here “Fine crystals of ilmenite weighing more than 30kgs have been found associated with magnetite, biotite, microcline and apatite in a small calcite vein-dike…”1 Some of these crystals are replaced by anatase. These and the pseudomorphs are a little rough for the tastes of most collectors.
1 Mineralogical Record, Vol.13, 1982 p76.

Anatase
Canada
Québec, Mégantic Co., St-Pierre-de-Broughton, Broughton Mine (Luzcan mine; Carrière rang XV)


Anatase, 1 cm crystal	© F Schuster

This crystal measures approximately 1 cm long. It was collected by Mr Roseberry of Thetford Mines in an alpine type vein with brookite crystals

Anatase
Czech Republic
Bohemia (Böhmen, Boehmen), Ústí Region, Krušné Hory Mts (Erzgebirge), Krupka (Graupen), Steinknochen (Lux vein) area


Anatase FOV 0,4cm	© Petr Fuchs


Anatase, FOV 0,3cm	© Petr Fuchs

Info needed.

Anatase
France
Brittany, Morbihan, Grans-Champ, Poulmarc'h Quarry


Anatase FOV 0,3cm	© P Le Roc\'h


Anatase FOV 0,3cm	© P Le Roc\'h

Quarry in operation, just west of the junction of Pino. Recently analysis proved Röntgenite on some of the Anatase crystals (info Pierre le Roc'h)

Anatase
France
Brittany, Morbihan, Plumelin, La Lande quarry


Anatase FOV 0,2cm	© JM. Johannet


Anatase FOV 0,3cm	© Vítězslav Snášel

Active quarry.

Anatase
France
Midi-Pyrénées, Hautes-Pyrénées, Arrens-Marsous


Anatase FOV 0,3cm	© JM. Johannet


Anatase FOV 0,4cm	© JM. Johannet

Info needed.

Anatase
France
Rhône-Alpes, Isère, Bourg d'Oisans, St Christophe-en-Oisans, Plan-du-Lac


Anatase FOV 0,25cm	© JM. Johannet


Anatase FOV 0,5cm	© Chinellato Matteo


Anatase crystal 2,5x2cm	© Denis Mantel


Anatase group 1,9x1,4cm	© Denis Mantel

Dumps from a roadcut.
St Christophe-en-Oisans is the type locality for Anatase.

Anatase
France
Rhône-Alpes, Savoie, La Lauzière massif


Anatase crystal 3,1cm	© Paul De Bondt


Anatase cluster 1,4cm	© Paul De Bondt


Anatase cluster 1,4cm	© Paul De Bondt


Anatase FOV 0,2cm	© JM. Johannet


Anatase FOV 0,4cm	©


Anatase, Rutile FOV 0,85cm	© D.Preite

Many fine Anatase specimens have been found in the Lauzière massif, most notably at la Madelaine pass and Entre Deux Roches localities. Some crystal exceeded 4 cm in length. The Anatase found at Madelaine pass often show an elongated habit.

Anatase
Germany
Baden-Württemberg, Black Forest, Haslach, Steinach, Artenberg quarry


Anatase FOV0,3cm	© Stephan Wolfsried

Operating gneiss quarry with mineralised calcite and quartz veins, as well as calcsilicate rocks. The quarry is known for nice flat tabular Anatase crystals. Access is strictly prohibited.

Anatase
Germany
Bavaria, Franconia, Franconian Forest, Hof, Feilitzsch


Anatase FOV 0,6cm	© Stephan Wolfsried

Diabas Quarry known for some of the best Anatase specimens of Germany. The crystals range in colour from brown to blue and can reach up to 0,5 cm and a great variety of forms are encountered. The Anatase are often accompanied by Rutile, Titanite and nice Brookite crystals that can reach up to 1,5 cm.

Anatase
Germany
Saarland, Merzig, Orscholz, Saarschleife


Anatase FOV 0,8cm	© TK


Anatase FOV 0,8cm	© TK

Outcrops of Taunus quartzite on the steep slopes above the "Saarschleife", a horseshoe bend of the river Saar.
Located about 1 km ESE of Orscholz (near Mettlach) and about 500 m NW of Dreisbach.
Many fine Anatase specimens with crystals up to 1 cm have been found accompanied by Brookite and Monazite (up to 0,8cm!)

Anatase
Germany
Saxony, Vogtland, Oelsnitz


Anatase FOV 3cm	© Chinellato Matteo


Anatase FOV 3cm	© Chinellato Matteo

Near the provincial town of Oelsnitz Anatase can be found in an old quarry near the village of Bösenbrunn and on the dumps of a former mine near the village of Schönbrunn. The Anatase are quite small and rarely exceed 0,2 cm but they show atractive colours (yellow, orange, brown, black).

Anatase
Italy
Aosta Valley, Courmayeur, Monte Bianco Massif (Mont Blanc Massif)


Anatase FOV 0,8cm	© Chinellato Matteo


Anatase FOV 0,4cm	© D. Preite


Anatase crystal, 0,4cm	© Marco Barsanti


Anatase FOV 0,4cm	© Chinellato Matteo

Anatase crystals occuring in Alpine type fissures. Notable localities for good Anatase crystals are the edges of the Brenva, Miage and Triolet glaciers as well as the Petite Mont Blanc mountain.

Anatase
Italy
Aosta Valley, La Thuile


Anatase FOV 0,4cm	© Chinellato Matteo


Anatase crystals up to 0,4cm	© Chinellato Matteo

Info needed.

Anatase
Italy
Emilia-Romagna, Bologna Province, Gaggio Montano, Ca' dei Ladri (Silla)


Anatase FOV 0,3cm	© Chinellato Matteo


Anatase crystals up to 0,3cm	© Chinellato Matteo

Area with cretaceous sedimentary rocks with hydrothermal veins that contain interesting minerals.
Info needed on specimens from this locality.

Anatase
Italy
Liguria, Genova, Monte Bregaceto


Anatase group 0,3cm	© Chinellato Matteo


Anatase crystals up to 0,4cm	© Chinellato Matteo

Yellow anatase crystals to a few mm associated with platy orange brookite crystals that measure 2 cm in length and 1 cm in length on matrix.
The mineralized rock is represented by an Oligocenic sandstone. It is very much fractured and crossed by quartz and albite veins, which often host interesting minerals.

Anatase
Italy
Piedmont, Torino Province, Susa Valley


Anatase FOV 0,3cm	© Germano Fretti


Anatase FOV 0,2cm	© D. Preite


Anatase FOV 0,3cm	© Chinellato Matteo


Anatase FOV 0,3cm	© Chinellato Matteo

Info needed.

Anatase
Italy
Piedmont, Verbano-Cusio-Ossola Province, Formazza Valley


Anatase FOV 0,4cm	© Chinellato Matteo


Anatase FOV 0,3cm	© D. Preite

Info needed.

Anatase
Italy
Piedmont, Verbano-Cusio-Ossola Province, Ossola Valley


Anatase FOV 0,4cm	© Chinellato Matteo


Anatase FOV 0,8cm	© Chinellato Matteo


Anatase FOV 0,4cm	© Enrico Bonacina


Anatase FOV 0,4cm	© D. Preite


Anatase FOV 0,4cm	© Chinellato Matteo


Anatase FOV 0,3cm	© D. Preite

Info needed.

Anatase
Italy
Trento-Alto Adige, Bolzano Province (South Tyrol), Vizze valley (Pfitsch Valley


Anatase FOV 0,2cm	© Chinellato Matteo


Anatase crystal, 0,2cm	© Chinellato Matteo


Anatase FOV 0,3cm	© Chinellato Matteo


Anatase FOV 0,3cm	© D. Preite

Info needed.

Anatase
Madagascar
Antananarivo province, Vakinankaratra Region (Betafo - Antsirabé region), Betafo Department, Mahaiza Commune, Mahaiza


Anatase crystals up to 0,3cm	© Antonio Borrelli


Anatase FOV 0,6cm	© Chinellato Matteo

Mahaiza is a small town and a market place about 20 km west of the city Antsirabe and 10 km south of the city Betafo in the central highland of Madagascar. The town is easily accessible by car. Many minerals from numerous different localities, mostly south of Mahaiza -many as far away as 30-40km- are been brought here by local people for sale. Among the localities you'll f.ex. find the Tsaramanga (Itongafeno) pegmatite known for its beryl with the Tongafeno blue-colour and large good columbite xls. Or f.ex the Antsongombato gem mine, famous for its large londonite crystals. Minerals bought here in Mahaiza and which finds their way to foreign mineral collections are very often labeled just Mahaiza.

Anatase
Norway
Hordaland, Hardangervidda National Park


Hardangervidda Anatase on Quartz specimen of 40cm, WOW	© OT. Ljostad


Anatase, 1,5x1,2cm	© 2002 John H. Betts


Anatase FOV 4cm	© Chinellato Matteo


Anatase 3x2,5cm	© fabreminerals.com


Anatase crystals 1,4 and 0,7cm	© Chinellato Matteo


Anatase crystals up to 2cm	© Christian Bracke


Anatas in the Kongsberg museum	© OT. Ljostad

Hordaland Fylke, Ullensvang Statsallmenning, Matskorhae. This locality has also been know as Hardangervidda (vidda=high plateau). Local collectors informally call it “Grisebingen” which means the pig pen. The name is a derogatory Norwegian term for mineral pigs which would loosely be translated as “rockhound” and to the very dirty working conditions at the locality. Because of the deep snow the deposit can be worked only one or two months a year.1 The specimens show sharp blue-black steep bipyramidal anatase crystals, frequently doubly terminated, usually growing on well formed sharp transparent quartz crystals. Some of these anatase crystals are a deep blue if you hold them to a strong light. Most crystals are in the cm range, but fine crystals as large as 6 cm have been found, some of them on matrix. Many of the specimens from this locality are clusters of prismatic quartz crystals, lustrous and fairly transparent with cm size bipyramidal dark blue anatase crystals growing on them. On larger specimens the quartz crystals tend to be broken and the small anatase crystals tend to get lost against the overall aspect of the specimen. Two spectacular small matrix specimens from this locality with crystals of 2.5 and 6 cm each respectively are pictured in Rocks and Minerals Magazine, Nov/Dec 2002, p400-402. A good one of these will cost you over a thousand dollars and one of the best, perhaps $5000 or more.

Anatase
Norway
Oppland, Valdres


Anatase crystal, 3x2,8cm	© Joseph A. Freilich


Anatase crystal, 1,4cm	© Rob Lavinsky


Anatase crystal 1,8x1,3cm	© fabreminerals.com


Anatase crystal 2,3x1,5cm	© Rob Lavinsky

Near Gudbransdalen, “Valdres region.” “At Siegbert Zecha’s stand were a few mostly thumbnail specimens of a remarkable new anatase from Norway, not to be confused with the older “Hardangervidda” or “Matskorhae” anatase – pointed blue-black bipyramids to 1 cm at most. These older ones, scattered on sometimes immense quartz crystal groups…. The new crystals feature, by contrast, flat basil terminations on the bipyramids; the matrix where present is drusy albite; and, though as dark-looking at first glance as the older crystals, these are not really blue but red, with richly glinting rubous highlights. Most often the crystals come as loose singles to 2.5 cm long, but sometimes they form parallel groupings which are extremely bright and handsome. The best matrix-free thumbnails of this sort cost around $200. Apparently the largest crystal yet found, now in the Kongsberg Mining Museum, is r.8 cm long… . The locality is (no surprise) very vague. “Valdres region” appears on some labels, and the big one (mentioned above) displayed by the Kongsberg museum at the recent Tucson show is labeled as coming from “near Gudbransdalen.[Mineralogical Record, Vol. 20, 1989, p 483]

Some of the specimens with Valdres labels are in fact from Dyrfonni. It should be noted though, that this locality has been staked out as a claim , and according to Norwegian mining laws it is considered as a theft to collect at this site without permission from the holder of the claim. Even so, at the end of the 1990s several people collected here illegally more than 200 pieces of anatase specimens and sold it to mineral shows in USA and Germany. Some collectors have thus been legally prosecuted. Specimens of anatase from this locality have been erroneously labelled as coming from "Valdres", probably to avoid prosecution or to keep the locality a secret.

Anatase
Norway
Vestfold, Holmestrand, Solumsåsen quarry


Anatase, FOV 0,2cm	© Fred Kruijen


Anatase, FOV 0,3cm	© D. Preite

Quarry in operation. Minerals occurs in amygdales and small gas cavities in rhombic porphyry (RP2-lava)

Anatase
Pakistan
Balochistan (Baluchistan), Dalbandin


2.4 x 2.2 cm	© H. Obodda

Info needed.

Anatase
Pakistan
Balochistan (Baluchistan), Raskoh Mts., Zard Mts


Anatase crystal, 1cm	© Christian Bracke


Anatase crystals up to 0,5cm	© Christian Bracke


Anatase crystal, 4,6cm	© Enrico Bonacina


Anatase crystal, 1,2x1,2cm	© Rob Lavinsky

The Zard mountains are the central area of the Raskoh mountains, west of Kharan. This seems to be the most detailed location name for the new Brookite and Anatase specimen sold under location Kharan.

Anatase
Pakistan
Northern Areas, Gilgit District


Anatase FOV 1cm	© Petr Fuchs


Anatase FOV 2cm	© Petr Fuchs

Info needed.

Anatase
Russia
Eastern-Siberian Region, Saha Republic (Sakha Republic; Yakutia), Aldan Shield, Chara and Tokko Rivers Confluence, Murunskii Massif, Kedrovyi alkaline Massif


Anatase crystal, 1,9x1,5cm	© Pavel M. Kartashov

Loacated 5km from Murun Massif; part of the Murun Alcaline Complex. Massive anatae-brookite-quartz ores with 40-60 mas.% TiO₂ form here whole titanium deposit of industrial grade.

Anatase
Russia
Western-Siberian Region, Polar Urals, Tyumenskaya Oblast'


Anatase up to 1,1cm	© C. Stefano '09


Anatase, 0,9cm	© Chinellato Matteo

Many fine Anatase specimens have come out of the mines of Dodo and Lapcha. The Anatase crystals usually sit on Quartz (mostly smoky) and are accompanied by Brookite and other Ti minerals.

Anatase
Russia
Far-Eastern Region, Khabarovkiy Kray, Aldan Province, Udacha pegmatite field


Anatase 0,9x0,3x0,3cm	© Pavel M. Kartashov


Anatase 0,8x0,8x0,4cm	© Pavel M. Kartashov

Complex Anatase crystals found in miarolitic pegmatites.

Anatase
Spain
Andalusia, Almería, Adra, Adra-Motril highway


Anatase FOV 0,2cm	© Christian Rewitzer


Anatase FOV 0,2cm	© Christian Rewitzer

Extensive field of alpine-type veins in schist discovered in roadcuts during construction of the Adra-Motril highway.

Anatase
Spain
Catalonia, Lleida (Lérida), Pallars Sobirà, Espot


Anatase FOV 0,8cm	© J. Rosell

Info needed.

Anatase
Spain
Castile and Leon, León, Santiago Millas, Del Moro Quarry


Anatase crystal, 0,2cm	© Rafa Muñoz Alvarado


Anatase crystal, 0,3cm	© Rafa Muñoz Alvarado

Info needed.

Anatase
Switzerland, Graubünden Canton, Grapsteigberg.
Fine yellow to dark brown anatase crystals are also found at this locality in canton Graubünden. Many of these appeared at the Altdorf show in Switzerland in 1977. One dealer had a number of specimens for sale of this material with many specimens with crystals over 1 cm. One specimen displayed in a club case showed a crystal 2.5 cm in length even with one end of the crystal being broken off.1
1 Mineralogical Record, Vol.9, 1978 p79.
Photos needed.

Anatase
Switzerland
Grischun (Grisons; Graubünden), Vorderrhein Valley, Tujetsch (Tavetsch)


Anatase FOV 0,42cm	© 2008 D. Schläfli


Anatase FOV 0,4cm	© Chinellato Matteo


Anatase FOV 0,4cm	© Chinellato Matteo


Anatase FOV 0,6cm	© Stephan Wolfsried


Anatase FOV 0,7cm	© Chinellato Matteo


Anatase FOV 0,3cm	© Stephan Wolfsried

Many fine Anatase specimens have been found in Tujetsch. One of the first written accounts about Anatase in Tujetsch can be found in Wiser (1841). he wrote about Anatase crystals up to 2,5 cm in length although normally the Anatase from Tujetsch don't exceed 0,5 cm. Among the best localities in Tujetsch for Anatase are Val Nalps, Val Curnera, Cavradi gorge and Druntobel although probably the best Tujetsch Anatase locality remains the area around the Sontga Brigida chapel.
[Harjo Neutkens 2009]

Anatase
Switzerland
Ticina (Tessin), Levantina, Bedretto valley, Valleggia Valley, Valleggia Glacier


Anatase, Quartz FOV 1,2cm	© Stephan Wolfsried


Anatase, Quartz FOV 0,2cm	© Stephan Wolfsried

Locality famous for orange Anatase crystals sprinkled on slender Rock Crystal.

Anatase
Switzerland
Ticino (Tessin), Levantina, Central St Gotthard Massif


Anatase FOV 0,9cm	© Stephan Wolfsried


Anatase FOV 0,6cm	© Chinellato Matteo


Anatase FOV 0,4cm	© D. Preite


Anatase FOV 0,3cm	© Chinellato Matteo


Anatase FOV 0,4cm	© Chinellato Matteo


Anatase FOV 0,5cm	© Chinellato Matteo

The area around the St Gotthard pass. In a geological sense, the St Gotthard massif encompasses the area from the Nufenen pass (Novena pass) in the west to the southern side valleys of the Tujetsch (Tavetsch) in the east. Hence, many of the localities in the upper Wallis, in northern Ticino (on the north slopes of the Bedretto valley and in the valleys northeast of the upper Leventina), and in western Grischun are actually situated in the St Gotthard massif. Though, this is not explicitly noted, except in some locality descriptions.
Anatase crystals in excess of 2 cm have been found in the St Gotthard massif.

Anatase
Switzerland
Ticino (Tessin), Levantina, Piora Valley, Pizzo Taneda


Anatase FOV 0,4cm	© Stephan Wolfsried


Anatase FOV 0,6cm	© Stephan Wolfsried

Info needed.

Anatase
Switzerland
Ticino (Tessin), Maggia valley


Anatase FOV 0,4cm	© Harjo


Anatase FOV 0,8cm	© Chinellato Matteo


Anatase FOV 0,3cm	© Stephan Wolfsried


Anatase FOV 0,4cm	© D. Preite

Good localities for Anatase can be found in the two upper Maggia valleys; Bavona valley and Lavizzara valley.
Many Anatase crystals can be found on the slopes of Mount Basòdino near Lago del Zött, in the region around Pizzo del Arzo and the Cavagnoli glaciers in the upper Bavona Valley. Colours range from yellow, brown, red to black. The Anatase crystals are accompanied by Rutile (often as Sagenite), Brookite, Apatite, Titanite and Hematite (often as Eisenrose). They can be found in-situ as well as in landslide material.
[Harjo Neutkens 2009]

Anatase
Switzerland
Uri, Urseren, Realp


Anatase FOV 0,3cm	© Stephan Wolfsried


Anatase FOV 1cm	© Stephan Wolfsried

Info needed.

Anatase
Switzerland
Wallis (Valais), Binn Valley


Anatase FOV 0,3cm	© 2007 D. Schläfli


Anatase FOV 0,5cm	© Stephan Wolfsried


Anatase FOV 0,3cm	© Stephan Wolfsried


Anatase FOV 0,8cm	© Stephan Wolfsried


Anatase, scale 1 Inch, rule 1cm	©


Anatase, scale 1 Inch, rule 1cm	©

Some collectors feel that the best anatase specimens come from the older and more classical Swiss localities like the ones from the Binntal. Here crystals can be found up to about 5 cm that are amber or brown in color. Several different crystal habits are found here. There is a matrix specimen in the Museum of Natural History in Geneva that has rough brownish black crystal on it that measures 1.8 x 4.5 cm. Another somewhat rough brown crystal on matrix in the Smithsonian Institute in the Carl Bosch collection from Alp Lercheltini, Binntal, measures 3.5x5.0 cm, another one measuring over 4 cm is in the Geneva museum. Most collectors would like their crystals to be sharper than these, but these are perhaps the reigning monsters, so far as Anatase is concerned. Lärcheltini is a zone high up in the Binntal that can be subdivided in several localities famous for good Anatas finds: Gorb, Riggi, Kollergraben and Spissen. The last one is known for the very typical "Spissen-habit" Anatase and in the lower Kollergraben very nice long prismatic yellow Anatase have been found in recent years. Other localities for Anatase in the Binn valley are: Tälligletscher, Balmen, Bochtenhorn, Ofenhorn, Mittlenberg, Turbenalp, Fäldbachtal, Blausee area, Cherbadung and Fleschsee. An interesting recent discovery from the Binn valley is the find of Niobian Anatase. To get a great one from the Binntal is like trying to leap a tall building in a single bound but the occasional superman succeeds. I don’t think I have ever seen a great one for sale. It would certainly cost you several thousand dollars. Here are some spellings for this famous locality that have been put on labels over the years. (Binntal also Binn, Binntales, Binnatal, Binnental, Binnenthal).

Anatase
Switzerland
Wallis (Valais), Goms, Furka pass area


Anatase FOV 0,4cm	© Chinellato Matteo


Anatase FOV 0,3cm	© Stephan Wolfsried

Info needed.

Anatase
United Kingdom
England, Cornwall, Mount's Bay District, Porthleven, Wheal Penrose


Anatase FOV 0,5cm	© G.Curtis


Anatase FOV 0,5cm	© G.Curtis

Info needed.

Anatase
United Kingdom
Wales, Denbighshire (Clwyd), Glyn Ceiriog, Hendre Quarry


Anatase FOV 0,2cm	© Steve Rust


Anatase FOV 0,3cm	© Martin Stolworthy

Info needed.

Anatase
United Kingdom
Wales, Gwynedd (Caernarvonshire), Prenteg, Fron Olau, Twll Maen Grisial


Anatase crystals to 0,3cm	© Peter Haas


Anatase crystal, 0,5cm	© Peter Haas

Locality for some of the best Anatase crystals in the UK.
Brookite from this location was originally referred to as being from "near Snowdon" by Sowerby (1809), but this was later confirmed by Sowerby (1838) to be Prenteg. Also incorrectly called "Fonolen" by Greg and Lettsom (1858) and elsewhere described as "8 miles from Snowdon, between Beddgelert and Tremadoc".

Anatase
USA
Arkansas, Hot Spring Co., Magnet Cove, Jones Mill (Martin Marietta) Quarry (Highway 51 Quarry; Mid-State Quarry)


Anatase FOV 0,21m	© SMS 2008


Anatase on Quartz, 4cm	©


Anatase FOV 0,6cm	© 2008 Peter Cristofono


Anatase on Syenite, 3,5x2,5cm	© Bruce T. Mitchell

A huge, active quarry situated on the contact of the Magnet Cove alkaline complex.

Anatase
USA
California, Mono Co., White Mts.


Anatase FOV 0,32cm	© Dick Dionne


Anatase crystal, 0,8cm	© Knut Eldjarn

Info needed.

Anatase
USA
New Hampshire, Hillsborough Co.,Nashua, Mine Falls Park


Anatase FOV 0,32cm	© Scott Whittemore


Anatase FOV 0,13cm	© Scott Whittemore

S. Whittemore (1990) Recent Mineral Discoveries at Mine Falls Park, Nashua, Hillsborough County, New Haqmpshire. Rocks & Minerals 65:432-437

Anatase
USA
North Carolina, Cleveland Co., Lattimore, Yates Brooks Farm


Anatase FOV 0,6cm	© JBS 2007


Anatase FOV 0,4cm	© JBS 2007

Muscovite deposits that outcrop on a small farm.

Anatase
United States, Wisconsin,
At Rib Mountain near the town of Rib Mountain, Marathon County is a zone of pegmatites that produces pockets of quartz etc. including black lustrous anatase crystals to 8 mm. These were produced mostly from one pocket. The average size is generally less than 0.5 mm.
Photos needed.

[Harjo Neutkens 2009]

Re: Andalusite

Simone Citon — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 07:27:44 +0000

Yes, let me know when the article is in production...

Re: Andalusite

Rock Currier — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:59:34 +0000

Simone, Thats a very nice Andalusite and it should be included in the article when it is written. Do you have any information about the locality and how abundant the stuff is there, how big the crystals get etc?

Re: Andalusite

Simone Citon — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:52:03 +0000

Rock, I just added an italian andalusite sample that, with the others from the same place, is representative for the specie in italy:
[www.mindat.org]
but at the andalusite page, localities, is missing the link to this locale (val Bregaglia). Un ciao da Simone

Re: Anglesite

Rock Currier — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:39:54 +0000

Ruth,
I am so glad someone is really reading these things with a critical eye. Thank you for the correction. Usually I select the chemical formula from the data page of a particular mineral here on mindat and then copy/paste it into the articles. But on something as simple as lead sulfate, what could go wrong....!? I must assume that the same gremlins that have afflicted my spelling and typing all my life are still alive and well. It is only with the input of people like yourself chiming in with corrections and suggestions that these articles will ever achieve the degree of usefulness that I originally envisioned.

Re: Anglesite

ruth raubenheimer — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:28:38 +0000

Hi Rock
As usual fantastic. A small misprint at the beginning: Lead is Pb and not Ps in the chemical formula.
Ruth

Re: Anglesite

Rock Currier — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:30:08 +0000

The first draft of the Best Minerals article on Anglesite has been finished.

Re: Andalusite

Rock Currier — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 10:12:20 +0000

Bill Bessie brought this to our attention.

[books.google.com]

Re: Andalusite

Rock Currier — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 11:55:18 +0000

The Italian locality needs to be placed in this list and illustrated.

I have specimen from Lisens Alp, Selraintal, Tyrol, Austria, according to the label. I find on Mindat a reference to Sellrain valley, North Tyrol, Tyrol, Austria, but not Lisens Alp. I take it that "tal" probably means valley, so this sounds close. By Googling "Lisens Alp", I find Miers, Henry A. (1902), Mineralogy: An Introduction to the Scientific Study of Minerals, page 445. This is on Google Books. It has "Lisens Alp", Tyrol, same spelling.

Is this a locality that should be added, one that should be note as a "same as", or is this a lanuage translation issue?

Attached is a photo of my specimen (looks like ones from Lüsens valley, Sellrain valley, North Tyrol, Tyrol, Austria) and the original label.

Bill

Bill Besse

[www.mindat.org]

[www.mindat.org]

Re: Amblygonite

Ronald John Gyllenhammer — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 21:33:07 +0000

I understood anyway Pavel. Your english is generally very good. Намного лучше, чем мой русский!

Re: Amblygonite

Pavel Kartashov — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 21:20:49 +0000

Sorry Ronald,
it is my English. :? I had want to write not almost, but absent.:D

Re: Amblygonite

Ronald John Gyllenhammer — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 19:34:12 +0000

Yes but the key word here is almost, one triclinic the other monoclinic. :)

Re: Amblygonite

Pavel Kartashov — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 19:12:10 +0000

Li⁺ and Na⁺ ions has too different sizes, so izovalent isomorphism between them is quite problematic. Really there almost complete series between Amblygonite LiAl(PO₄)F and Lacroixite NaAl(PO₄)F and they has different symmetry.

Re: Amblygonite

Ronald John Gyllenhammer — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 18:33:17 +0000

Hi Rock,

I uploaded an image of a labeled "Amblygonite" thumbnail earlier in the day in an attempt to contribute a specimen image, but after reading your earlier posts I did some research and changed the species name to Montebrasite as I feel this is correct.

Here is a good paper proposing that most gem "Amblygonite" from Brazil is really "Montebrasite" and should be termed as such, just as you also previously mentioned Rock.

Rondeau B, Fritsch E, Lefevre P, Guiraud M, Fransolet A M, Lulzac Y (2006) A Raman investigation of the amblygonite—montebrasite series, The Canadian Mineralogist, 44, 1109-1117

[rruff.info]

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Also, Mindat shows Amblygonite as (Li,Na)Al[(F,OH)|PO₄] and Montebrasite as LiAl[(OH,F)|PO₄], which are ok I guess since they do something with the Na that is present, although if Amblygonite shows Na, why not in Montebrasite as well (it is typically present), i.e., (Li,Na)Al[(OH,F)|PO₄]. My question is this, "where do these formulas come from? Mindat (as well as IMA) references; Anthony, Bideaux, Bladh & Nichols (2000), Handbook of Mineralogy, Vol. IV for both species. Here, the formulas are given as; Amblygonite LiAl(PO₄)(F,OH) and Montebrasite LiAl(PO₄)(OH, F). RRUFF cites the paper above by Rondeau et al. and they give end member type "ideal formulas" of LiAlPO₄F for Amblygonite and LiAlPO₄OH for Montebrasite. Now, I think the formulas posted are fine and perhaps the best but shouldn't we have a published reference for the formulas posted on Mindat?

Ron

Re: Amblygonite

Rock Currier — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:48:10 +0000

Thats good stuff Pavel. It should go in the article.

Re: Amblygonite

Pavel Kartashov — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 09:28:06 +0000

Hi Rock,
if you want to obtain real Amblygonite, you should to look for it not in any pegmatite, but in greisens. In such case your chances for success will increase on 1000%. ;)
This is classic for Russia analysed Amblygonite with ~8.4 % F content - [www.mindat.org]
I know only two localities in all territory of former USSR producing real Amblygonite - Kester and Tigrinoe. Both are greisen type. All pegmatite localities from Kola to Eastern Siberia contain only Montebrasites with different F contents.
Unfortunately Amblygonite form good crystals in greisens EXTREMELY rare, but its monograins able reach here some 1000 cm³.

Re: Amblygonite

Rock Currier — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 02:05:18 +0000

Hardly any Amblygonites are Amblygonite. Adjust the articles accordingly when written.

Dear Rock,

Was searching through the morass called the message board and found you query about amblygonite. There are no good amblygonite crystals from Maine. Anything that was any good and historically called amblygonite have all been re-identified as montebrasite and the great crystals from Newry (several locations) and Hebron are montebrasite.

BTW "Until the Brazilian material came along, the crystals from Maine were considered the best. Maine has produced very few decent specimens. Some collectors however, would murder their grandmother for the wonderful single crystal pictured here. In A Popular Guide to Minerals, 1912 Gratacap says that Clarence Bement’s amblygonites “were the despair of his colleagues.”" Wasn't this said about his herderites? They, of course, are all re-identified as hydroxylherderites.

Van King

PS I think the same has happened with the South Dakota amblygonite - "gone to montebrasite every one."
In fact, I don't know of a single Brazilian crystal which has proven to be amblygonite. It's definitely a rare species.

Re: Andradite

Matteo Chinellato — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 11:04:27 +0000

here all the info of the photos, for the translation the article on Rivista Mineralogica Italian its a bit long

[www.mindat.org]

Re: Andradite

Rock Currier — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 10:53:28 +0000

Those are very nice garnet specimens. would you consider uploading them to Mindat? Could someone help me with the translation from the Italian? What is the locality of these garnets and their size?