Mindat Mineralogy Messageboard - Best Minerals E http://www.mindat.org/msgboard-71.html Tue, 21 May 2013 13:50:22 +0000 Phorum 5.2.15a http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,71,183026,291877#msg-291877 Re: Epidote http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,71,183026,291877#msg-291877 www.mindat.org]
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[webmineral.ru]]]> Pavel Kartashov Best Minerals E Sun, 21 Apr 2013 17:19:14 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,71,289264,291875#msg-291875 Re: Elbaite, Pakistan to Zambia http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,71,289264,291875#msg-291875 -------------------------------------------------------
> Štěpán
> Thank you very much for your excellent comments
> about the Malchan Pegmatites. I have rewritten
> them a bit and placed them in the article and you
> should read what I have placed there and tell me
> if I have gotten it right. I have given you credit
> for the addition. Although I have in the past
> purchased specimens from there at the Samosveti
> company in Irkutsk I never got out to the locality
> and from others living in Irkutsk, about all I
> knew about the locality is that I didn't know
> enough about the locality to say anything about
> it. I wish many others would step up and give us
> similar information about the many localities in
> Best Minerals where there are no comments at all
> or to add to the comments that are not very
> complete.

This is just basic information, much more could be written. I was lucky enough to be two times on the deposit and have seen exploration of tourmaline-bearing pockets. I have some photos too but waiting for uploading them until article about recent finds from Sosedka body will appear.

I checked the article and the end of the rewritten text does not give the sense - I guess half of sentence is missing.]]> Štěpán Krejsek Best Minerals E Sun, 21 Apr 2013 16:43:27 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,71,289264,289870#msg-289870 Re: Elbaite, Pakistan to Zambia http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,71,289264,289870#msg-289870 Thank you very much for your excellent comments about the Malchan Pegmatites. I have rewritten them a bit and placed them in the article and you should read what I have placed there and tell me if I have gotten it right. I have given you credit for the addition. Although I have in the past purchased specimens from there at the Samosveti company in Irkutsk I never got out to the locality and from others living in Irkutsk, about all I knew about the locality is that I didn't know enough about the locality to say anything about it. I wish many others would step up and give us similar information about the many localities in Best Minerals where there are no comments at all or to add to the comments that are not very complete.]]> Rock Currier Best Minerals E Sun, 31 Mar 2013 20:47:19 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,71,289264,289866#msg-289866 Re: Elbaite, Pakistan to Zambia http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,71,289264,289866#msg-289866 Here are some basic information
Pegmatite district was found in early 1980s, about 400 pegmatites found, about 40 of which are gem-bearing.
20 of them was mined, in present only Mokhovaya and Sosedka bodies are mined.
Tourmaline (elbaite -liddicoatite series) usually occurs in pockets as crystals up to 50 x 20 cm accompanied by quartz, feldspar, lepidolite, cleavelandite, danburite and hambergite. Pockets can reach up to 12 x 6 x 1,5 m.
Color can be pink to purple to orange/yellow to green. Basic parts of crystal are composed of black tourmaline schorl.
One of the best specimens come from Mokhovaya vein where gemmy, pink to purple crystals have been found.

General problem is very limited amount of material of good quality. Russian miners are not much interested in preserving crystals undamaged as they can sell damaged material as gem rough. Sometimes they destroy part or all pocket during blasting. I saw big quartz cluster floater (aprox. 40 cm in diameter) with elbaite crystal on the top, with one "minor" damage - somebody saw part of it.]]> Štěpán Krejsek Best Minerals E Sun, 31 Mar 2013 20:10:22 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,71,289264,289292#msg-289292 Re: Elbaite, Pakistan to Zambia http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,71,289264,289292#msg-289292 If you will read the introduction to Elbaite at the start of the Elbaite, Afghanistan to Nigeria, I cover exactly that point.]]> Rock Currier Best Minerals E Tue, 26 Mar 2013 03:06:16 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,71,289264,289274#msg-289274 Re: Elbaite, Pakistan to Zambia http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,71,289264,289274#msg-289274 Steve Hardinger Best Minerals E Mon, 25 Mar 2013 21:57:06 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,71,289264,289264#msg-289264 Elbaite, Pakistan to Zambia http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,71,289264,289264#msg-289264 Best Minerals and here for Tourmaline group minerals, here for Chromium-dravite, here for Chromo-alumino-povondraite, here for Dravite, here for Elbaite, Afghanistan to Nigeria, here for Elbaite, Pakistan to Zambia here for Feruvite, here for Fluor Buergerite here for Fluor-dravite, here for Fluor-elbaite, here for Fluor-feruvite, here for Fluor-liddicoatite, here for Fluor-schorl, here for Foitite, here for Liddicoatite, here for Luinaite-(OH), here for Magnesiofoitite, here for Olenite, here for Oxy-dravite, here for Oxy-rossmanite, here for Oxy-schorl, here for Povondraite, here for Rossmanite, here for Schorl, here for Tsilaisite and here for Vanadium-dravite. Click here for Best Minerals T and here for Best Minerals A to Z and here for Fast Navigation of completed Best Minerals articles.




Elbaite
Pakistan
Azad Kashmir, Kara Valley

Elbaite,Albite 6cm© exceptionalminerals



Elbaite
Pakistan
Azad Kashmir, Muzaffarabad district, Neelum Valley

Elbaite, Quartz, Albite 3.2cm wide© Rob Lavinsky



Elbaite
Pakistan
Gilgit-Baltistan (Northern Areas), Astor District (Astore District), Astor Valley (Astore Valley)

Elbaite 5cm tall© 2006, Jesse Fisher
Elbaite 8cm tall© 2001 John H. Betts



Elbaite
Pakistan
Gilgit-Baltistan (Northern Areas), Baltistan, Skardu District

Elbaite & Quartz 4.2cm© Lavinsky
Elbaite 3.9cm tall© Weinrich
Elbaite 3.1cm© Lavinsky


Elbaite on Quartz 2.9cm tall© Henry Minot 2008



Elbaite
Pakistan
Gilgit-Baltistan (Northern Areas), Baltistan, Skardu District, Braldu Valley, Chhappu

Elbaite, DT 6cm tall© 2007 Jesse Fisher
Elbaite 2.6cm tall© Rob Lavinsky



Elbaite
Pakistan
Gilgit-Baltistan (Northern Areas), Baltistan, Skardu District, Haramosh Mts., Chamachhu

Elbaite & Albite 5cm tall© jdehaye



Elbaite
Pakistan
Gilgit-Baltistan (Northern Areas), Baltistan, Skardu District, Haramosh Mts., Chamachhu, Chamachhu Pegmatites

Elbaite, Quartz, Fluorapatite 6.5cm tall© Eric Graff



Elbaite
Pakistan
Gilgit-Baltistan (Northern Areas), Baltistan, Skardu District, Haramosh Mts., Shengus (Shingus)

Elbaite, Albite, Quartz 10.9cm© Lavinsky
Elbaite, mica 4cm wide© Jose Zendrera


Elbaite & Albite 5.4cm tall© quebulfineminerals
Elbaite 2.7cm tall© quebulfineminerals


Elbaite
Pakistan
Gilgit-Baltistan (Northern Areas), Baltistan, Skardu District, Haramosh Mts., Stak Nala

Elbaite & Albite 9cm tall© Fisher
Elbaite & Albite 4.5cm tall© Lavinsky


Elbaite/Schorl & Albite 4cm tall© Lavinsky
Elbaite, Calcite 10.3cm© Lavinsky


Elbaite & Quartz 3cm tall© Lavinsky
Elbaite/Schorl & Albite 6.2cm© Carles Millan


Elbaite/Schorl & Albite 6.5cm wide© H. Obodda
Elbaite/Schorl 5cm tall© Rizzo


Elbaite, Albite, Quartz 6.6cm wide© Lavinsky
Elbaite & Albite 9.1cm wide© Carles Millan

Elbaite & Quartz 4.8cm wide© Lavinsky
Elbaite,Quartz 4.4cm© Lavinsky


Elbaite & Albite 3.3cm wide© Dr. Perry Silver
Elbaite 4.7cm tall© Rob Lavinsky

Elbaite & Albite 6.2cm tall© Lavinsky
Elbaite & Albite 5.5cm wide© Lavinsky

Elbaite & Albite 4.2cm tall© Lavinsky
Elbaite & Albite 7.7cm tall© Weinrich


Elbaite & Albite 5.2cm tall © Russell G. Rizzo
Elbaite & Albite 4.5cm wide© Marin Mineral


Elbaite & Quartz 6.4cm tall© Lavinsky
Elbaite & Albite 5.9cm tall© Lavinsky


Elbiate & Albite 8cm wide© Lavinsky
Elbaite & Albite 8.8cm tall© J.Scovil


Elbaite & Albite 9.6cm long© Carles Millan
Elbaite & Albite 9.7cm long© Carles Millan

Elbaite & Albite 10.2cm wide© Carles Millan

Stak Nala was a very prolific locality and produced thousands of specimens and most of them are distinctive enough with big white Albite blades to be identified at sight. Many of these crystals had black or very dark olive green bases and the better ones became a nice green and or pink color as you reached the terminations. There are some here that are very good.


Elbaite
Pakistan
Gilgit-Baltistan (Northern Areas), Baltistan, Skardu District, Skardu

Elbaite 5cm tall© Betts
Elbaite, apatite etc 7.5 cm tall© Sudcowsky



Elbaite
Pakistan
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (North-West Frontier Province), Kail, Gowinggo Mine

Elbaite 8.2cm© Lavinsky
Elbaite 12.9cm© Lavinsky
Elbaite 12.2cm© Lavinsky



Elbaite
Russia
Eastern-Siberian Region, Transbaikalia (Zabaykalye)

Elbaite 15cm tall© Betts
Elbaite 5.8cm tall© Lavinsky





Elbaite
Russia
Eastern-Siberian Region, Transbaikalia (Zabaykalye), Chitinskaya Oblast'

Elbaite 7.4cm tall© Lavinsky



Elbaite
Russia
Eastern-Siberian Region, Transbaikalia (Zabaykalye), Chitinskaya Oblast', Krasnyi Chikoy, Malkhan pegmatite field (Malchan; "Malechansk")

Elbaite 6cm tall© INS
Elbaite 6cm tall© Lavinsky
Elbaite 6.1cm tall© Rizzo


Elbaite, largest is 6cm wide© J.Ralph


Elbaite,Quartz 14cm© Lavinsky
Elbaite 8.1cm tall© Lavinsky
Elbaite 16.3cm tall© Lavinsky


Elbaite 6.7cm tall© Lavinsky


The Malchan Pegmatite district was found in early 1980s. About 400 pegmatites were found. About 40 of them are gem-bearing and about 20 of them were mined. Now only the Mokhovaya and Sosedka pegmatites are mined. The tourmalines are in the elbaite/liddicoatite series and usually occur in pockets as crystals up to 20 cm by 50 cm accompanied by quartz, feldspar, lepidolite, cleavelandite, danburite and hambergite. Pockets can reach up to 12m x 6m x 1.5 m. Color can be pink to purple to orange/yellow to green. Basic parts of the crystals are composed of black tourmaline schorl. Some of the best specimens come from Mokhovaya vein where gemmy, pink to purple crystals have been found. The general problem is that a very limited amount of material is of good quality. Russian miners are not much interested in preserving crystals undamaged because they can sell damaged material as gem rough. Sometimes they destroy part or all of a pocket during blasting. I saw a big quartz cluster floater (aprox. 40 cm in diameter) with an elbaite crystal on the top.
[Štěpán Krejsek 2013]


Elbaite
Russia
Eastern-Siberian Region, Transbaikalia (Zabaykalye), Chitinskaya Oblast', Krasnyi Chikoy, Malkhan pegmatite field (Malchan; "Malechansk"), Danburitovaya pegmatite vein

Elbaite, largest is 6cm tall© 2002, Jesse Fisher



Russia, Eastern-Siberian Region, Transbaikalia (Zabaykalye), Chitinskaya Oblast', Krasnyi Chikoy, Malkhan pegmatite field (Malchan; "Malechansk"), Mokhovaya pegmatite vein

Elbaite 9cm tall© 2006, Jesse Fisher
Elbaite, Quartz, mica 7cm tall© J.Ralph 2008

Elbaite 3.1cm tall© INS



Elbaite
Russia
Eastern-Siberian Region, Transbaikalia (Zabaykalye), Chitinskaya Oblast', Krasnyi Chikoy, Malkhan pegmatite field (Malchan; "Malechansk"), Sosedka pegmatite vein

Elbaite 4.4cm tall© INS
Elbaite 4.7cm tall© Igor Savin
Elbaite 11.9cm tall© Lavinsky


Elbaite 4.2cm tall© fabre



Elbaite
Russia
Urals Region, Middle Urals, Ekaterinburgskaya (Sverdlovskaya) Oblast', Rezh District, Lipovka pegmatite field, Lipovka Mine (Lipovskaya Mine; Lipovaya Mine)

Elbaite 5cm tall© 2008 Jesse Fisher
Elbaite 4.3cm long© Oleg Lopatkin



Elbaite
Tajikistan
Viloyati Mukhtori Gorno-Badakhshan (Viloyati Badakhshoni Kuni), Pamir Mts, Rangkul' Highlands, Mika pegmatite

Elbaite 3.7cm tall© Rob Lavinsky



Elbaite
Tanzania
Tanzania, Tanga Region, Umba River (Umba Valley)

Elbaite 1.8cm© Betts



Elbaite
USA
California, Placer Co., Ophir District (Auburn District), Ophir, California-Crandell vein (California-Crandall vein), Crandell Mine (Cox & Dunton Mine)

Elbaite 3.1cm tall© J.Scovil
Elbaite 3.7cm tall© J.Scovil



Elbaite
USA
California, San Diego Co., Mesa Grande District, Gem Hill, Himalaya Mine (Himalaya dikes; Himalaya pegmatite)

Elbaite 5.5cm tall© Lavinsky
Elbaite, tallest is 3.2cm tall© Lavinsky


Elbaite 5.6cm tall© Lavinsky
Elbaite 16.9cm tall© 2003 SLR
Elbaite & Quartz 22cm tall© Lavinsky


Elbaite & Quartz 6cm tall© Lavinsky
Elbaite 12cm tall© Lavinsky

Elbaite 8.7cm tall© Lavinsky
Elbaite 4.4cm tall© Lavinsky
Elbaite 8.0cm tall© Lavinsky


Elbaite 7.4cm© Lavinsky
Elbaite 10cm tall© Lavinsky
Elbaite on Quartz 6cm tall© Lavinsky


Elbaite 7.3cm tall© Lavinsky
Elbaite 7.4cm tall© Lavinsky
Elbaite 9.6cm tall© Weinrich


Elbaite, longest is ~7.5cm long©


Elbaite 11.9cm long© Cindy Hasler


Elbaite 17.2cm© Lavinsky
Elbaite 6.0cm© Minerals
Elbaite,Albite 8.3cm© 0
Elbaite 5.4cm tall© Lavinsky


Elbaite 7.5cm© Lavinsky
11.8cm© Lavinsky
9cm© Lavinsky
Elbaite 15.3cm tall© J.Scovil


Elbaite 6.1cm long© Lavinsky

Elbaite 5.7cm long© Lavinsky

Collectors who collect specimens produced from the many mines and prospects in San Diego are sometimes called County collectors and it is assumed the listener will understand that it is San Diego County that is being talked about. Though the tourmaline specimens produced by the Queen Mine at Pala may be more famous for the few fine specimens that it produced, no other mine has produced the quantity of specimens that the Himalaya mine has. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, hundreds of kilograms of specimens were mined and sent to China for the manufacture of snuff bottles The crystals mined were typically pink and green and the green portions of the crystals were broken away from the pink sections because it was only the pink that was wanted. Stories have been told how more modern diggers in the mine exploring the old parts of the mine found many kilograms of broken green crystals buried in the floor of the old workings. The pegmatite is more flat lying than vertical and and not often more than a meter or two thick. The country rock is not very hard and some of the miners who worked the mine like Fred Rynerson often used an auger to drill blast holes in the foot wall of the pegmatite. His book "Exploring and Mining Gems and Gold in the West" is a must read for anyone interested in pegmatite mining and especially specimens from the County. He talks about things like blasting into a big pocket area in the Himalaya and encountering tourmaline crystals laying in the adit floor 20 feet from the blast. He also talks about working in pockets and removing tourmalines for days on end till they were so sick of it that they went off to other parts of the mine to do regular development work which consisted of drilling and blasting and hauling out rocks to the dump in wheelbarrows. Fine matrix specimens from the mine are quite rare. The mine is best known to collectors for the large numbers of doubly terminated bi and multicolored tourmalines and for wonderfully transparent bi colored "gem" pencils some of which are pictured above. Sometime after Rynerson mined the Himalaya, a man named Ralph Potter owned and ran the mine. I visited him once in his home in Borrego Springs, California and remember him showing me several hundred fine tourmaline crystals in drawers and a small box with plastic trays about six inches square full of gem pencils which would tinkle like wind chimes when you moved your fingers through them. That was back in the 60's, and I think I was earning 100 dollars a week and could not afford to buy very much. Ralph Potter sold the Himalaya mine to a group of ten different people, each having a 10% interest in the mine. Eventually this group worked out a deal with Ed Swaboda and Bill Larson of Pala Properties to mine the property. During their mining of the property hundreds of pounds of bicolored red and green tourmaline crystals. Today the mine is inactive and considering the mine safety requirements of the various State and Federal agencies that include regulations concerning storage and use of explosives, it many never be mined again.
[Rock Currier 2013]


Elbaite
USA
California, San Diego Co., Pala District, Pala, Chief Mountain, Elizabeth R. Mine (Hazel W. claim), Oceanview Mine (Oceanview adits)

Elbaite 3cm long©
Elbaite, longest is 5.5cm©

Elbaite on Albite 5.3cm wide© Jeffrey R. Hapeman

This mine is better known for its production of fine kunzite crystals. Its production of tourmaline crystals has been sparse.


Elbaite
USA
California, San Diego Co., Pala District, Pala, Chief Mountain, Pala Chief Mine (Chief mine; MS 6452; Salmons mine)

Elbaite 5.7cm tall© Fisher
Elbaite 5cm tall© Fisher

Elbaite ~20cm tall© Cristofono
Elbaite 6.8cm tall© Hapeman

Elbaite, longest ~4cm long©

The Pala Chief mine has produced a few fine specimens, it is better know for its production of kunzite. The small crystals pictured below represent the best tourmalines dug in 1965 by Bob Bartsch, a dedicated field collector. These were the results from several months of drilling and blasting.


Elbaite
USA
California, San Diego Co., Pala District, Pala, Tourmaline Queen Mountain (Pala Mtn; Queen Mtn), Stewart Mine (MS 6162; Stewart Lithia mine)

Elbaite 6cm long© Lavinsky
Elbaite 9cm tall© Lavinsky

Elbaite 5.7cm tall© Lavinsky
Elbaite 4.3cm tall© Lavinsky
Elbaite 5cm© exceptionalminerals


Elbaite 4.6cm tallest© Lavinsky
Elbaite & lepidolite 8.5cm© 2009 EMC


Elbaite 4.5cm tall©
Elbaite in Lepidolite 12.8cm tall© Weinrich


The Stewart mine has been mined for at least 100 years. It has produced a lot of tourmaline, but few good specimens. Almost all of its production of pink tourmaline has come from collapsed pockets almost always full of clay and as a result, you hardly ever see a matrix specimen of pink tourmaline from this mine. The last picture of those pictured from the mine is a specimen of pink tourmaline in fine grained lepidolite which the mine produced in abundance. Certainly over the years at least several hundred tons of this material have been taken from the mine. It has found its way into hundreds of collections all over the world. Although by no stretch of the imagination would a serious collector call this a fine specimen, the material is so ubiquitous that I felt it must be included here. During the 60's the Stewart mine was abandoned and was the happy hunting ground for local field collectors. You would never find all that much, but just enough to keep you coming back in hope of a big hit which never seemed to happen.
[Rock Currier 2013]


Elbaite
USA
California, San Diego Co., Pala District, Pala, Tourmaline Queen Mountain (Pala Mtn; Queen Mtn), Stewart Mine (MS 6162; Stewart Lithia mine), Little Joe No. 2 adit (Joe 2 adit; Little Joe II adit)

Elbaite, Quartz, Albite 11.5cm wide© Rob Lavinsky



Elbaite
USA
California, San Diego Co., Pala District, Pala, Tourmaline Queen Mountain (Pala Mtn; Queen Mtn), Tourmaline King Mine (Gem claim; King mine; MS 4500; MS 4926; Schuyler mine; Wilke mine)

Elbaite 6.4cm tall© Lavinsky
Elbaite up to 1.5cm long© Sudcowsky

Elbaite 8cm tall© Fisher
Elbaite 5.5cm tall© Fisher


Elbaite 9.4cm tall© Lavinsky
Elbaite 8.1cm wide© Rob Lavinsky


Elbaite,Quartz 32cm wide© Penland; NMNH
Elbaites to 25cm, Albite, Quartz © Filip Kopecky


In the 1960s the Tourmaline King mine appeared to be abandoned and most field collectors in Southern California spent time in this mine trying to find specimens. We all knew of the wonderful things that had been found there in the past. We never found anything there and were amazed in the extent of its lower workings, all in blank pegmatite that had been made searching for more of the fine tourmalines that it had produced it the early days.
[Rock Currier 2013]


Elbaite
USA
California, San Diego Co., Pala District, Pala, Tourmaline Queen Mountain (Pala Mtn; Queen Mtn), Tourmaline Queen Mine (MS 6458; Queen mine; Toumaline Queen group; Tourmaline Queen No. 1 claim; Tourmaline Queen No. 2 claim; Tourmaline Queen No. 3 claim)

Elbaite 4cm tall© 2005, Jesse Fisher
Elbaite 8cm tall© 2006, Jesse Fisher


Elbaite & Quartz 26cm© MJB, 2009
Elbaite crystals up to ~25cm© 2001 SLR

Elbaite, Quartz, Albite ~20cm wide
Elbaite, Quartz, Albite ~25cm wide© J.Ralph

Elbaite 4cm tall© Lavinsky
Elbaite, Albite, Quartz 25cm tall© J.Ralph
Elbaite 10.2cm tall© Lavinsky


Elbiate,Quartz 10cm© J.Ralph
Elbaite,Albite~9cm© J.Ralph
Elbaite on Quartz 12.5cm© Lavinsky


Elbaite, Beryl & Quartz ~20cm wide© J.Ralph
Elbaite 6.2cm tall© Copyright 2011, Jesse Fisher


Elbaite 7.6cm tall© Lavinsky
Elbaite 5cm tall©


The Queen mine has been mined intermittently since early in the 20th century. In 1972 Bill Larson and Ed Swaboda of Pala Properties operated the mine and found a spectacular pocket of pink tourmalines that had blue caps and have since been called blue caps. Some of them even had well formed morganite beryl crystals growing on them. The pocket was not large compared to other tourmaline pockets that have been found, but were well advertised and are cherished by by any collectors who have been fortunate enough to get their hands on one. One of the specimens from this pocked even ended up on a USA postage stamp. A good description of the mining of the Queen and the Stewart mine by Pala Properties can be found here. [www.palagems.com]


Elbaite
USA
California, San Diego Co., Ramona District, Ramona, Little Three Mine (Little 3 mine)

Elbaite 6.8cm tall© Lavinsky
Elbaite 6.1cm tall© Lavinsky


Elbaite & Quartz 5.4cm tall© Lavinsky
Elbaite & Mica 6.1cm tall© Lavinsky
Elbaite 5cm tall© Lavinsky


Elbaite on Quartz ~8cm© Jesse Fisher, 2008

The Little Three mine has been mined for many years by Lew Spalding and is better known for its Spessartine garnets rather than its tourmaline crystals.


Elbaite
USA
California, San Diego Co., Warner Springs District, Warner Springs, Cryo-Genie Mine (Cindy B-Cryogenie claim; Lost Valley Truck Trail prospect)

Elbaite 9.5cm tall© Lavinsky
Tourmaline 4.2cm tall© 2005 SLR


Elbaite & Albite 7.3cm wide© Lavinsky

8.8cm©
Elbaite, Quartz, Albite 16.8cm wide© Lavinsky
Elbaite 14.5cm tall© Lavinsky


Elbaite 19.5cm long© Bob Griffis

This mine was not a prolific producer, but a lot of hard work produced at least one pocket of fine tourmaline specimens. One of the best of them is on display at the Los Angeles Museum of Natural History.


Elbaite
USA
Connecticut, Middlesex Co., Haddam, Haddam Neck, Gillette Quarry (J-J Mine; Haddam Neck Quarry)

Elbaite ~10cm long© 2007 Peter Cristofono


Elbaite on Quartz 12.9cm© Lavinsky
Elbaite 4.5cm tall© Polityka
Elbaite 4.4cm tall© Lavinsky


Elbaite 8.7cm tall© Moritz
Elbaite xls FOV 27cm wide© 2010 Harold Moritz
Elbaite 7cm tall© Rob Lavinsky

The heyday of this quarry occurred more than 100 years ago when it was worked for feldspar for ceramics, but the tourmalines collected were for sale as well. Today you will rarely see specimens from this locality for sale. Click here for more information about the locality.


Elbaite
USA
Connecticut, Middlesex Co., Portland, Collins Hill, Strickland pegmatite (Strickland-Cramer Quarry; Strickland-Cramer Mine; Strickland-Cramer Feldspar-Mica Quarries), Schoonmaker Mine (Cramer Mine)

Elbaite 4cm tall© Albini




Elbaite
USA
Maine, Androscoggin Co., Auburn, East Mount Apatite District

Elbaite 7.1cm tall© Lavinsky



Elbaite
USA
Maine, Oxford Co., Newry, Dunton Gem Quarry

Elbaite 4cm tall© Lavinsky
Elbaite 4.2cm tall© Lavinsky
Elbaite 5.5cm tall© Lavinsky


Elbaite 8.5cm tall© Lavinsky
Elbaite, largest ~2.5cm long©


Elbaite ~3cm tall©
Elbaite 6.1cm wide© Lavinsky


Elbiate, big xl ~19cm tall©
Elbaite 8.1cm tall©
Elbaite 27cm tall© Van King


This is an old tourmaline locality that dates back to 1898, but it was not till 1972 that a large pocket of green and pink tourmaline was discovered. The pocket produced several hundred kilograms of crystals but few matrix specimens. Some of them are pictured here. Pictured here is a polished section of a tourmaline crystal with a green rim and a pink center. It is from this color combination that the term "watermelon tourmaline" was named. These have been made, sometimes in large quantities from tourmaline crystals from many other localities often showing different color combinations besides the classical green and pink combination seen here. They are popular with jewelry makers.


Elbaite
USA
Maine, Oxford Co., Paris, Mount Mica Quarry

3.6cm©
Elbaite, largest ~1.9cm© Lavinsky


Elbaite 3.3cm© Lavinsky
Elbaite ~1.5cm largest©


Mount Mica was one of the first tourmaline localities found in the United States and its discovery dates back to 1820 when amateur naturalists Elijah Hamlin and Ezekiel Holmes virtually tripped over a clear green crystal.



Elbaite
USA
South Dakota, Pennington Co., Keystone District, Keystone, Bob Ingersoll Mine (Ingersoll Mine; Ben Butler Mine; Horace Greely Mine)

Elbaite in Mica 9.7cm wide© Russell G. Rizzo



Elbaite
Zambia
Central Province, Mkushi District, Mkushi, Mkushi Pegmatite Region, Jagoda Mine

Elbaite 2.4cm tall© Danny Jones
Elbaite & Quartz ~7cm wide© S. Vrána




Click here to view Best Minerals and here for Tourmaline group minerals, here for Chromium-dravite, here for Chromo-alumino-povondraite, here for Dravite, here for Elbaite, Afghanistan to Nigeria, here for Elbaite, Pakistan to Zambia here for Feruvite, here for Fluor Buergerite here for Fluor-dravite, here for Fluor-elbaite, here for Fluor-feruvite, here for Fluor-liddicoatite, here for Fluor-schorl, here for Foitite, here for Liddicoatite, here for Luinaite-(OH), here for Magnesiofoitite, here for Olenite, here for Oxy-dravite, here for Oxy-rossmanite, here for Oxy-schorl, here for Povondraite, here for Rossmanite, here for Schorl, here for Tsilaisite and here for Vanadium-dravite. Click here for Best Minerals T and here for Best Minerals A to Z and here for Fast Navigation of completed Best Minerals articles.


[First draft complete on 3/30/2013 Rock Currier]
We would like to thank George Holloway for proofreading this article.
]]> Rock Currier Best Minerals E Mon, 25 Mar 2013 20:41:04 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,71,279140,279140#msg-279140 Elbaite, Afghanistan to Nigeria http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,71,279140,279140#msg-279140 Best Minerals and here for Tourmaline group minerals, here for Chromium-dravite, here for Chromo-alumino-povondraite, here for Dravite, here for Elbaite, Afghanistan to Nigeria, here for Elbaite, Pakistan to Zambia here for Feruvite, here for Fluor Buergerite here for Fluor-dravite, here for Fluor-elbaite, here for Fluor-feruvite, here for Fluor-liddicoatite, here for Fluor-schorl, here for Foitite, here for Liddicoatite, here for Luinaite-(OH), here for Magnesiofoitite, here for Olenite, here for Oxy-dravite, here for Oxy-rossmanite, here for Oxy-schorl, here for Povondraite, here for Rossmanite, here for Schorl, here for Tsilaisite and here for Vanadium-dravite. Click here for Best Minerals T and here for Best Minerals A to Z and here for Fast Navigation of completed Best Minerals articles.


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?


Elbaite: Trigonal: Elbaite-Liddicoatite Series, Dravite-Elbaite Series, and the Elbaite-Schorl Series
Na(Li 1.5Al1.5)Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)

Elbaite & Quartz, Queen Mine, Pala, San Diego Co., California, USA ~17cm wide© J.Ralph

There is more eye candy for mineral collectors here than in any of the other tourmaline group minerals, possibly more than all of the other tourmaline group minerals combined. When looking at the specimens pictured below, keep in mind that tourmaline group mineral names can not be assigned by color only and can be accurately given only after careful analysis. Usually the reason the name elbaite has been assigned to the specimens below because one or two specimens from the locality have been analysed, and on the strength of that analysis, it is assumed that other similar looking tourmaline crystals from that locality are also elbaite, which in many cases is probably true but is certainly not a guarantee. Very few if any of the specimens shown below have actually been analysed, and it is not likely that most of them ever will be because. This is because a through analysis of the crystals would require them to be cut open and different parts of the crystal(s) analysed to be sure that that another tourmaline group did not dominate the structure. A few of the specimens below have been labeled elbaite/schorl indicating that the crystal contains both elbaite & schorl in the same crystal. Also keep in mind that photographers and editors seeking to increase the appeal of their "product" play lighting games with these specimens and use programs like Photoshop to enhance their colors. Some of the beautiful specimens pictured below would be much less attractive in hand than they appear in their pictures. Like centerfold models in Playboy magazine, many of the specimens pictured below are substantially less attractive in real life.

Most tourmaline crystals, especially elbaite, are found as single crystals and much more rarely as good matrix specimens, doubly terminated crystals or as clusters of intergrown terminated crystals. So collectors tend to favor those over just single crystals. Tourmaline sometimes comes associated with crystals of minerals other than quartz, mica and albite, and those combinations are particularly sought after by collectors.

Mindat currently [Jan 2013] lists 506 localities for elbaite. Historically, the best source of this mineral was from the Island of Elba, Italy. Then good specimens were found in Russia, Maine and San Diego, California, USA followed by abundant localities in Brazil, Madagascar and other places. Crystals of red elbaite tourmaline (rubellite) to about a meter long have been found at the Jonas mine near Conselheiro Peña in Minas Gerais, Brazil. The two great specimens from this find are currently in a private mineral collection in the United States. Although we do not currently have any images of these amazing specimens in our database, the pictures that we do have will give the viewer a hint of what the really great ones look like. Other localities in Brazil have produced a large number of amazingly fine tourmaline specimens and some of the large but almost always repaired specimens from the Pederneira mine look like they came from outer space. Other sought after elbaites are from San, Diego County, California, USA, particularly those from the Queen mine at Pala and the Himalaya mine near Mesa Grande. The best specimens from the giant pegmatites in Afghanistan have also produced remarkable tourmalines. Which are the best? Well, that you must decide.
[Rock Currier 2013]


Elbaite
Afghanistan
Konar Province (Kunar Province; Konarh Province; Konarha Province; Nuristan)

Elbaite & Quartz 9cm tall© Rob Lavinsky
Elbaite, Quartz, Albite 9cm tall© Knut Eldjarn

Elbaite 7.9cm© Lavinsky
Elbaite 7.5cm© Lavinsky
Elbaite 6.1cm© Rob Lavinsky


Elbaite 4.7cm tall© Rob Lavinsky


Elbaite
Afghanistan
Konar Province (Kunar Province; Konarh Province; Konarha Province; Nuristan), Chapa Dara District, Dara-i-Pech (Darra-i-Pech; Darra-e-Pech; Pech; Peech; Page) pegmatite field

8.1cm© Lavinsky
8.4cm© Lavinsky
4.4cm© Lavinsky
9.3cm© Lavinsky


Elbaite 8.4cm tall© fabreminerals.com
Elbaite 8.7cm tall© Rob Lavinsky
,
Elbaite 3.6cm wide© Rob Lavinsky

Elbaite, Spodumene 5.5cm© Lavinsky
Elbaite 9.3cm tall© Rob Lavinsky
Elbaite 6cm tall© Rob Lavinsky


Elbaite & Topaz 7.5cm tall© Rob Lavinsky
Elbaite 5.6cm tall© Rob Lavinsky
Elbaite 8.2cm tall© Rob Lavinsky

Elbaite & Albite 12.3cm wide© Rob Lavinsky
Elbaite & Quartz 4.5cm wide© Rob Lavinsky


Afghanistan is a somewhat remote country. The area in the north of the country where the gem producing pegmatites are found is particularly remote. For much of their recent history, the region has been governed by war lords rather than the central government in Kabul. This makes travel and trade in the area particularly difficult. During the Russian occupation, Russian geologists made the first modern professional assessments of the pegmatites in the 1960s. Their descriptions of the pegmatites and their huge size and richness are amazing. There are no roads to many of the pegmatites and even today, many of them are accessible only by foot paths and may require a day or more of walking to reach them. Specimens from these pegmatites first reached the bazaars in Kabul where they were sold now and then to a few foreigners who happened by. One story is told of an American dealer who taped more than 100 tourmaline crystals to his body in order to get them past the local customs and out of the country. During the Russian occupation most of the material was smuggled across the border to Peshawar, Pakistan which quickly became and still is today the center for the Afghanistan and Pakistani gemstone and specimen trade. This is likely to remain the case untill peace returns to Afghanistan and it becomes possible for people to travel freely with goods in the country, something I don't think I will see in my lifetime. Initially most of the tourmalines were broken from their matrix and placed, without wrapping, into sacks to make it easier to carry them across the mountains into Pakistan. How many good matrix specimens were destroyed in this process is anyone's guess, but certainly not less than a few tons.


Elbaite
Afghanistan
Konar Province (Kunar Province; Konarh Province; Konarha Province; Nuristan), Dara-i-Pech District (Pech District), Manogay (Mano Gai; Manugie; Managi)

Elbaite on Quartz 12cm tall© Rob Lavinsky



Elbaite
Afghanistan
Laghman Province (Lagman Province; Nuristan)

Elbaite on Microcline 9cm wide© Betts
Elbaite on Quartz 10cm wide© Weinrich

Elbaite 8cm tall© 2001 John H. Betts
Elbaite 10cm tall© Rob Lavinsky

Elbaite 8.7cm tall© J.Scovil
Elbaite, Quartz & Albite 8.6cm tall© Weinrich

Elbaite 7cm tall© Dan & Diana Weinrich Minerals


Elbaite
Afghanistan
Nuristan Province (Nurestan Province; Nooristan Province; Nuristan), Du Ab District, Nilaw-Kolum pegmatite field, Mawi pegmatite

Elbaite 8cm long© 2006, Jesse Fisher
Elbaite & Quartz 6.8cm wide© Rob Lavinsky

Elbaite 5.2cm tall© Dan Weinrich
Elbaite 8.4cm tall© Rob Lavinsky


Elbaite
Afghanistan
Nuristan Province (Nurestan Province; Nooristan Province; Nuristan), Kamdesh District, Paprok Mine (Papruk Mine; Paprowk Mine)

Elbaite, Quartz & Albite 8cm wide© 2002, Jesse Fisher
Elbaite & Quartz 8.2cm wide© Rob Lavinsky

Elbaite 8.2cm tall © Rob Lavinsky
Elbaite on Microcline 5.3cm wide© finestminerals

Elbaite 19.3cm tall© Lavinsky
Elbaite 17.3cm tall© Lavinsky
Elbaite 16.5cm tall© Lavinsky

Elbaite on Quartz 12cm tall© Rob Lavinsky
Elbaite, Quartz etc. 9cm wide© Rob Lavinsky

Elbaite 8.5cm tall© Oleg Lopatkin
Elbaite 11cm tall© Rob Lavinsky

Elbaite 14cm long© Oleg Lopatkin
Elbaite 6.8cm wide© Carles Millan

Elbaite 8.2cm tall© Rob Lavinsky
Elbaite 8.6cm long© Lopatkin Oleg

Elbaite & Quartz 14.6cm tall© Weinrich
Elbaite © J.Ralph

Elbaite 9.8cm© Weinrich
Elbaite 10cm© Carles Millan
Elbaite 12.2cm© Lavinsky


Elbaite 5.5cm wide© Weinrich Minerals, Inc.
Elbaite, Quartz & Albite 8.9cm wide© Rob Lavinsky

Elbaite & Quartz 14.5cm wide© J.Scovil
Elbaite, Quartz & Albite 21cm wide© J.Scovil
.
Elbaite, Albite & Quartz 12.6cm wide© J.Scovil

Elbaite & Albite 7cm tall© Rob Lavinsky
Elbaite 5.7cm tall© Carles Millan


Elbaiite
Australia
South Australia, Kangaroo Island, Dudley Peninsula, Penneshaw, Dudley pegmatite

Elbaite 1.4cm tall© Patrick Gundersen



Elbaite
Brazil
Minas Gerais, Doce valley, Água Boa, Benedito mine

Elbaite & Quartz 12.4cm tall© J.Scovil



Elbaite
Brazil
Minas Gerais, Doce valley, Conselheiro Pena, Ferruginha, Sapo mine

Elbaite 4.4cm tall© Rob Lavinsky



Elbaite
Brazil
Minas Gerais, Doce valley, Conselheiro Pena, Jonas Mine (João Pinto mine)

Elbaite & Lepidolite ~6cm©
Elbaite & Lepidolite 5cm tall©
Elbaite & Albite ~10cm© Albert Russ


Elbaite & Lepidolite 9.2cm© J.Scovil
Elbaite 12cm wide© Renee Teresa Polityka

When the big pocket of rubellite crystals at the Jonas mine was discovered in 1978 it was a sensation and specimens from the mine were sold at very high prices. They were found was a walk-in size pocket and the specimens were found so clean they did not need to be cleaned with acid. The miners called the pocket the bamboo pocket. The best and largest specimens from the pocket were purchased by an American collector for what, at the time, seemed like an incredible amount of money. One of the crystals from the pocket was about a meter in length and many of the crystals had substantial gem value. The best specimens from this discovery are rated by some as the best and most valuable mineral specimens ever found. None of the very good specimens are pictured above, but the modest specimens from the pocket that are shown here will hint at how fine the best ones are.


Elbaite
Brazil
Minas Gerais, Doce valley, Governador Valadares, Golconda pegmatite

Elbaite 4.5cm tall© Betts
Elbaite 4cm tall© Lavinsky


Elbaite ~13cm tall© J. Wingard
Elbaite 10cm wide© Rob Lavinsky


A classical locality for tourmaline. This mine produced some of the best and every collector would love to have a good one from this mine.


Elbaite
Brazil
Minas Gerais, Doce valley, Governador Valadares, Golconda pegmatite, Golconda III Mine

Elbaite ~20cm tall©



Elbaite
Brazil
Minas Gerais, Doce valley, Itambacuri, Santa Rosa mine

Elbaite 4.5cm© fabre
Elbaite 3.6cm© fabre
Elbaite 20cm©



Elbaite
Brazil
Minas Gerais, Doce valley, São José da Safira, Chiar mine

Elbaite 12.3cm tall© Lavinsky
Elbaite 4.1cm tall© Weinrich
Elbaite 12cm tall© DSW 2010



Elbaite
Brazil
Minas Gerais, Doce valley, São José da Safira, Cruzeiro mine

Elbaite 8.8cm tall© Lavinsky
Elbaite 9.6cm tall© Lavinsky
Elbaite 26.5cm tall© Lavinsky


Elbaite 5.5cm tall© Lavinsky
Elbaite 7.5cm tall© Lavinsky
Elbaite 6.2cm tall© Lavinsky


Elbaite 7.7cm tall© Lavinsky
Elbaite 4cm tall© Lavinsky
Elbaite 9.2cm tall© Lavinsky


Elbaite 5.1cm wide© Lavinsky
Elbaite 4.1cm tall© Lavinsky

Elbaite & Quartz 4cm tall© Lavinsky
Elbaite & Quartz ~12cm wide©

Elbaite 4.5cm tall© Lavinsky
Elbaite 4.2cm tall© Lavinsky
Elbaite ~11cm tall©


Elbaite 11.5cm tall© Lavinsky
Elbaite & Quartz 6.2cm tall© A&M
Elbaite 10cm tall© Rob Lavinsky


Elbaite ~6cm tall©


The Cruzeiro mine has been mined for many years and is a big one with numerous workings. Some of the specimens from this mine are wonderful, but many specimens are not very pretty, with colors grading from dark olive green to black. On my one visit to the mine in the 1980s, just after a big pocket of tourmaline had been found, I was shown two rooms full of specimens, all of them a dark olive green and all of which had suffered a lot of damage. I got to visit the underground pocket they came from and it was a good size room. There were still a lot of little areas in the walls that could have been worked for more specimens, and I wished I had some tools and a couple of days to dig there, but it gave me a taste of what other parts of the mine must have been like when other big pockets were encountered.
[Rock Currier 2013]


Elbaite
Brazil
Minas Gerais, Doce valley, São José da Safira, Pederneira claim

Elbaite 4.7cm tall© Trinity Mineral
Elbaite 14 cm tall© Lueg

Elbiate 13cm tall© Sarah Sudcowsky
Elbaite, Quartz, Albite 70cm wide© Van King

Elbaite, Quartz, Albite 21cm wide© Lavinsky
Elbaite 14cm©

Elbaite & Albite 17cm wide© Rob Lavinsky
Elbaite 9.5cm© Rob Lavinsky

Elbaite & Lepidolite 35cm tall© Polityka
Elbaite 10.3cm wide© Lavinsky

Elbaite 13.8cm© Lavinsky
Elbaite & Albite 17.5cm wide© R. Lang 2009

Elbaite 5.9cm tall© Lavinsky
Elbaite on Quartz 25.3cm© Lavinsky
Elbaite & Quartz 14.5cm© Lavinsky


When these specimens were found, several high end dealers competed to get them. Many of the larger specimens were damaged and had to be reconstructed. This this was done with considerable skill and I am sure that in the process the art of repairing and enhancing specimens was improved. Some of the specimens have ten or more repairs on them, but although the repairs were disclosed to customers, it seems not to have detracted from the value of the specimens. When a specimen gets good enough, repairs don't seem to affect the price at all.


Elbaite
Brazil
Minas Gerais, Jequitinhonha Valley, Coronel Murta

Elbaite 5.5cm© Lavinsky
Elbaite, Albite, Lepidolite 7.5cm tall© Lavinsky
Elbaite 7.8cm© Lavinsky


Elbaite 6.5cm tall© Lavinsky
Elbaite 11.5cm tall© J.Scovil



Elbaite
Brazil
Minas Gerais, Jequitinhonha Valley, Coronel Murta, Barra de Salinas

Elbaite ~30cm tall© Albert Russ

The Barra de Salinas mine has produced very many fine specimens and I am surprised that more of them are not pictured here on Mindat. Perhaps the best known and desired by collectors are the bi-colored tourmaline "scepters" with pink/red heads and green stems. The ones we have here are in fact not all that good compared to the best from this locality.


Elbaite
Brazil
Minas Gerais, Jequitinhonha Valley, Coronel Murta, Barra de Salinas, Barra de Salinas district

Elbaite 4cm tall© fabre
Elbaite & Lepidolite 10.8cm wide© fabre


Elbaite
Brazil
Minas Gerais, Jequitinhonha valley, Coronel Murta, Terra Corrida claim (Baixão claim)

Elbaite 10.1cm© Lavinsky



Elbaite
Brazil
Minas Gerais, Jequitinhonha valley, Itinga, Monte Belo, Pirineus claim

Elbaite 4.6cm tall© fabre
Elbaite 4.7cm tall© fabre


Elbaite 4.9cm wide© fabre



Elbaite
Brazil
Minas Gerais, Jequitinhonha valley, Itinga, Monte Belo, Urubu mine (Vulture mine; Uruba mine)

Elbaite 3.9cm tall© 2005 SLR
Elbaite on Orthoclase 13cm wide© Martins da Pedra

Elbaite & Lepidolite 5.4cm wide© Eric Graff
Elbaite 6.3cm tall©


Elbaite
Brazil
Minas Gerais, Jequitinhonha valley, Itinga, Taquaral, Baixão mine

Elbaite 3.6cm wide© www.mwminerals.com



Elbaite
Brazil
Minas Gerais, Jequitinhonha valley, Itinga, Teixerinha mine

Elbaite on Microcline 5.2cm © Rob Lavinsky
Elbaite,,Lepidolite 5.2cm© Rob Lavinsky

Elbaite ~4.5cm tall© Rob Lavinsky



Elbaite
Brazil
Minas Gerais, Jequitinhonha valley, Virgem da Lapa

Elbaite 14.6cm© Lavinsky
Elbaite 9.4cm© Lavinsky
Elbaite 12.7cm tall© Lavinsky


Elbaite 11.9cm tall© Lavinsky
Elbaite 5.8cm tall© Lavinsky
Elbaite 7cm tall© Weinrich


Elbaite 6.2cm tall© fabre
Elbaite 10.3cm©


This mine is better known for the wonderful blue topaz crystals it produces, but, as you can see, it has also produced good specimens of tourmaline.


Elbaite
Brazil
Minas Gerais, Jequitinhonha valley, Virgem da Lapa, Manoel Mutuca Mine

Elbaite 6.1cm tall© Lopatkin Oleg



Elbaite
Brazil
Minas Gerais, Marilac, Veadinho claims (Viadinho claims)

Elbaite 8.7cm tall© Weinrich
Elbaite 8.5cm tall© Weinrich
Elbaite 5.4cm tall© Lavinsky


Elbaite on Quartz 7.7cm wide© Lavinsky



Elbaite
Brazil
Minas Gerais, Santa Maria do Suaçui

Elbaite 8.4cm tall© Lavinsky



Elbaite
Brazil
Minas Gerais, São Sebastião do Maranhão

Elbaite, Hydroxylherderite ~5cm tall©


Frequently tourmaline is associated with quartz, albite and lepidolite, but sometimes it occurs with good crystals of other, more uncommon minerals. Here is an example of tourmaline associated with herderite. Combination specimens always bring a high price and are cherished by knowledgeable collectors.


Elbaite
Brazil
Paraíba, Borborema mineral province, Salgadinho, São José da Batalha, Batalha mine

Elbaite 3.2cm tall© fabre
Elbaite & Quartz 5.2cm tall© Weinrich


Elbaite 2cm wide© fabre


Elbaite 1.6cm tall© J.Scovil
Elbaite 1.1cm tall© Lavinsky
Elbaite 2.4cm tall© Lavinsky

Although these specimens don't appear to be all that wonderful compared to others from Brazil, copper give them their particularly attractive blue and green colors, and when faceted, they make exceptionally beautiful and valuable gems. Here are a few of the natural crystals from the deposit that have been saved from the cutters wheel.


Elbaite
Burma (Myanmar)
Mandalay Division, Pyin-Oo-Lwin District, Mogok Township

Elbaite & Schorl 3cm tall© Sarah Sudcowsky
Elbaite 3.5cm tall© Sarah Sudcowsky

Elbaite & Quartz 3.7cm tall© Danny Jones
Elbaite & Quartz 6.1cm© Carles Millan

Elbaite on feldspar 3.5cm wide© Safaa Yu


Tourmaline from Burma has been known of for a long time. There is one fine specimen in the British Museum for which a huge price was paid back in the late 1800s. More recently many specimens that look a little like pink mushrooms have been trickling out of Burma. These crystals are not all elbaite and some, if not most of them also contain Schorl and olenite in their structures.


Elbaite
Burma (Myanmar)
Mandalay Division, Pyin-Oo-Lwin District, Singu Township, Letpanhla

Elbaite & Albite 5.7cm tall© Henry Minot 2008
Elbaite & Albite 4.3cm wide© Eric Graff

Elbaite, Quartz, Stibiotantalite 12.9cm wide© Rob Lavinsky



Elbaite
Burma
Mandalay Division, Pyin-Oo-Lwin District, Singu Township, Letpanhla, Marla

Elbaite 3.5cm wide© Dr. Perry Silver


Elbaite
Burma
Shan State, Kyaukme District, Momeik Township

Elbaite 3cm wide© 2008 Dr. M. Lueg
Elbaite & Quartz 3cm tall© Eric Graff

Elbaite 3.2cm wide© Weinrich
Elbaite 4.6cm tall© Weinrich

Elbaite 4.4cm wide© Weinrich
Elbaite 12.5cm wide© Weinrich Minerals Inc.

Elbaite on feldspar 5cm tall© David J. Eicher
Elbaite & Quartz 4cm wide© Rob Lavinsky

Elbaite 5.5cm wide© Rob Lavinsky



Elbaite
Burma
Shan State, Kyaukme District, Momeik Township, Molo quarter, Khetchel village (Cache village; Khat Che village), Palelni mine

Elbaite 3cm tall© fabre
Elbaite on Calcite 4.8cm tall© fabre

Elbaite & Quartz 5.5cm wide© fabre
Elbaite & Quartz 4.2cm wide© fabre


Elbaite
Canada
Northwest Territories, O'Grady Lake area, Stargazer Claim

Elbaite & Quartz ~6cm tall© jonathan levinger
2.5cm Elbaite on matrix© jonathan levinger



Elbaite
China
Xinjiang (Xinjiang-Uygur) Autonomous Region, Yili Hasake (Ili Kazakh) Autonomous Prefecture, Aletai (Altay) Prefecture

Elbaite on Quartz 9cm tall© fabre



Elbaite
Germany
Saxony, Limbach-Oberfrohna, Pegmatite occurrences, Bräunsdorf

Elbaite1.2cm tall© Lars Epple


This is a small specimen, but quite remarkable in that one does not think of Germany as producing nice tourmaline specimens.



Elbaite
India
Jammu and Kashmir

Elbaite 12.7cm tall© Weinrich
Elbaite 9.5cm© Weinrich



Elbaite
India
Jammu and Kashmir, Ladhak

Elbaite 8.6cm long© fabre



Elbaite
Italy
Lombardy, Brescia Province, Adamello-Brenta Natural Park, Adamello Massif, Mt. Foppa, Forcel Rosso Pass

Elbaite & Albite 3cm wide© Sarah Sudcowsky


Elba may be the first locality that was particularly noted for its tourmalines and the species is named after this island off the coast of Italy. We don't have many pictures of good ones here, but undoubtedly as time passes, more and better ones will be uploaded to Mindat. Particularly classic are those that the Germans called morenkopf (black head). These are crystals of colored tourmaline, often pink and green with black tips. I was thrilled when I got my first undamaged matrix specimen from this classic locality, but over the years, so many fine tourmalines from other localities have been found that today it looks a little drab in comparison.
[Rock Currier 2013]


Elbaite
Italy
Tuscany, Livorno Province, Elba Island, Campo nell'Elba, San Piero in Campo, Fonte del Prete

Elbaite & Quartz 8.1cm wide© Chinellato Matteo



Elbaite
Italy
Tuscany, Livorno Province, Elba Island, Campo nell'Elba, Sant'Ilario in Campo, Catri

Elbaite & Quartz 5.5cm© Chinellato
Elbaite 3 & 3.7cm tall© Chinellato



Elbaite
Italy
Tuscany, Livorno Province, Elba Island, Campo nell'Elba, Sant'Ilario in Campo, Catri, Easter Vein

Elbaite, Fluorapatite, Albite 2cm tall© Sudcowsky



Elbaite
Madagascar
Antananarivo Province, Vakinankaratra Region, Betafo District, Andrembesoa Commune, Ampanivana area, Ampanivana pegmatite

Elbaite 6cm tall© Weinrich


Madagascar has produced many fine specimens of tourmaline for more than 100 years. Most of the pegmatites that produce tourmaline crystals are deeply weathered, so that the matrix upon which the crystals grew, (mostly feldspar) has turned into clay and as a result you rarely ever see matrix specimens of tourmaline from Madagascar. When better analytical instrumentation became available to mineralogists they found that not all tourmalines were the same, and their new instruments allowed a better understanding of the structure of tourmaline and the arrangement of especially the light elements in their structure. Many of the crystals of tourmaline from Madagascar because of their somewhat different composition and structure were given the name of liddicoatite rather than elbaite. However, it is likely that at least some of the Madagascar elbaites pictured here are really liddicoatite.


Elbaite
Madagascar
Antananarivo Province, Vakinankaratra Region, Sahatany Pegmatite Field (Mt Ibity area)

Elbaite 4.7cm tall© Lavinsky



Elbaite
Madagascar
Antananarivo Province, Vakinankaratra Region, Sahatany Pegmatite Field (Mt Ibity area), Sahatany Valley

Elbaite 7.9cm tall© Lavinsky
Elbaite 7.5cm tall© Lavinsky
Elbaite 4.2 cm tall© Lavinsky



Elbaite
Madagascar
Fianarantsoa Province, Matsiatra Region, Ikalamavony Pegmatite Field

Elbaite 4.7cm tall© Lavinsky



Elbaite
Mexico
Baja California (Baja California Norte; BC Norte)

Elbaite 2.2cm tall© Lavinsky


The pegmatites of Baja California, Norte have produced a few decent specimens of tourmaline. Some finds may be made in the future, but a quick walk around the localities showed lots of small pegmatites but little promise of new finds. But nevertheless collectors in the Southwest cherish the few modest specimens they have been able to get..
[Rock Currier 2013]



Elbaite
Mexico
Baja California (Baja California Norte; BC Norte), Mun. de Ensenada, El Socorro, Delicias Mine

Elbaite, largest 2.5cm tall© Lavinsky



Elbaite
Mozambique
Zambezia Province, Alto Ligonha District

Elbaite 5.5cm© Da Pedra
Elbaite 5.2cm tall© Lavinsky
Elbaite 8.1cm tall© Lavinsky


Elbaite,Quartz 8.2cm© Weinrich
Elbaite 8.7cm tall© Lavinsky
Elbaite 5cm tall© Weinrich


Elbaite 5.3cm tall© Lavinsky
Elbaite 5.6cm tall© Lavinsky


Elbaite 8cm wide© Rui Nunes 2006



Elbaite
Mozambique
Zambezia Province, Alto Ligonha District, Muiâne pegmatite

Elbaite 6.5cm tall© da Pedra
Elbaite 5cm tall© Edelmin
Elbaite 6cm tall© Edelmin


Elbaite 8.7cm tall© Weinrich
Elbaite 4.8cm tall© Weinrich



Elbaite
Mozambique
Zambezia Province, Alto Ligonha District, Naipa mine

Elbaite 3.3cm tall© Weinrich



Elbaite
Mozambique
Zambezia Province, Namitála

Elbaite 5.9cm© Lavinsky



Elbaite
Namibia
Erongo Region, Karibib District, Otjimbingwe Farm 104

Elbaite 9cm© Lavinsky



Elbaite
Namibia
Erongo Region, Karibib District, Otjua Farm 37, Otjua Mine

Elbaite 5.2cm© Rizzo
Elbaite 4.9cm tall© Rob Lavinsky
Elbaite 4.5cm tall© 2007 Jesse Fisher


Elbaite 3.9cm wide© Rob Lavinsky
Elbaite, largest 2.9cm wide© Rob Lavinsky

Elbaite,Quartz 12.5cm© Lavinsky
Elbaite 3cm tall© Lavinsky
Elbaite,Apatite 5.5cm© Lavinsky


Elbaite,Lepidolite 9cm© Weinrich
Elbaite,Lepidolite 9.7cm© J.Scovil


Elbaite & Albite 7.4cm wide© Weinrich



Elbaite
Namibia
Erongo Region, Karibib District, Usakos

Elbiate 8cm long© Debbie Woolf



Elbaite
Namibia
Erongo Region, Omaruru District

Elbaite 7.8cm tall© Weinrich



Elbaite
Nepal
Kosi Zone (Koshi Zone), Sankhuwasabha District (Sankhuwa Sahba; Shankuwa-Sava), Hyakule

Elbaite 5.5cm tall© Lavinsky
Elbiate 7cm tall© Weinrich
Elbaite 5.2cm tall© Weinrich



Nepal, Kosi Zone (Koshi Zone), Sankhuwasabha District (Sankhuwa Sahba; Shankuwa-Sava), Sonomla (Sunamla)

Elbaite 4.3cm tall© Rob Lavinsky



Elbaite
Nigeria
Oyo State, Ofiki

Elbaite 5.2cm tall© Weinrich
Elbaite 3.2cm tall© Weinrich



Elbaite
Nigeria
Oyo State, Ogbomosho (Ogbomoso)

Elbaite 5.7cm tall© 2008 Jesse Fisher


In the summer of 1998 a new tourmaline deposit was discovered in a farming area 25 miles from the city of Ibadan, Nigeria, near the border with Benin. Gem dealers have noted that this is one of the finer discoveries of tourmaline in many years. The deposit is alluvial in nature; many of the tourmaline crystals have a frosted skin resulting from natural abrasion and weathering. Other crystals have sharp terminations indicating that they have not traveled far from their original source. The crystals were found under a relatively shallow overburden of soil (about six feet), and the deposit stretched for about 1000 meters. A flood of miners rapidly moved into the area and removed over 1,000 kilograms of fine tourmaline. The worn tourmaline crystals show very good clarity and range in color from pale pink to raspberry pink, to orangish pink to burgundy red. Some of the crystals show distinct color zoning (see above). The fashionable colors, combined with the remarkable clarity and size of the rough gem material, have made this tourmaline a hit with gemstone dealers and the public. Because of the large supply of material, average prices for faceted stones at the 1998 Tucson gem and mineral shows were as low as $60 to $100 per carat. Because this source is largely worked out, the depressed price of these fine tourmalines is not likely to persist.
[Roger Dery 2011: [www.pricescope.com]]


Elbaite
Nigeria
Plateau State, Jos Plateau

Elbaite 4.3cm© Lavinsky
Elbaite 5.5cm tall© Weinrich
Elbaite 7cm© Lavinsky


Elbaite, largest 5cm tall© Lavinsky
Elbaite 7.8cm tall© Lavinsky



Click here to view Best Minerals and here for Tourmaline group minerals, here for Chromium-dravite, here for Chromo-alumino-povondraite, here for Dravite, here for Elbaite, Afghanistan to Nigeria, here for Elbaite, Pakistan to Zambia here for Feruvite, here for Fluor Buergerite here for Fluor-dravite, here for Fluor-elbaite, here for Fluor-feruvite, here for Fluor-liddicoatite, here for Fluor-schorl, here for Foitite, here for Liddicoatite, here for Luinaite-(OH), here for Magnesiofoitite, here for Olenite, here for Oxy-dravite, here for Oxy-rossmanite, here for Oxy-schorl, here for Povondraite, here for Rossmanite, here for Schorl, here for Tsilaisite and here for Vanadium-dravite. Click here for Best Minerals T and here for Best Minerals A to Z and here for Fast Navigation of completed Best Minerals articles.


[First draft complete on 3/30/2013 Rock Currier]
We would like to thank George Holloway for proofreading this article.
]]> Rock Currier Best Minerals E Fri, 14 Dec 2012 11:24:04 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,71,129393,238969#msg-238969 Re: Best E Minerals - Welcome http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,71,129393,238969#msg-238969 Jeff Krueger Best Minerals E Thu, 20 Oct 2011 16:39:08 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,71,216206,223986#msg-223986 Re: Edenite series http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,71,216206,223986#msg-223986 Yanick Beaudet Best Minerals E Tue, 17 May 2011 10:06:19 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,71,216206,223980#msg-223980 Re: Edenite series http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,71,216206,223980#msg-223980 Here in the Best Minerals section of the Message board, unless you specify otherwise, you are addressing the person who wrote the particular article in the thread you are in. In this case it is Olav Revheim or perhaps myself, Rock Currier. I do not think either of us are looking to make teeshirts with mineral pictures on them, though the image leading into this article is certainly juicy enough to qualify if that is what we wanted to do. If you would like to know the purpose of Best Minerals and what we are trying to do click on this link: Welcome to the Best Minerals Forum.

Each person here on mindat that contributes to the site does so on a volunteer basis so each of us work here for various reasons. I am what is called a manager and Olav is almost one. There are currently 36 managers here on mindat, so when you leave a post like the one above, you should realize that your are addressing not some ultimate manager who says yes and no to all things on Mindat but to the mindat community at large unless you are replying to a particular thread posting or specify the person you are speaking to.

I think Jolyon Ralph, the founder of Mindat, was considering putting one or more images on teeshirts to promote Mindat. If you wanted to petition for a particular image to be placed on a Mindat teeshirt you should address a message to him in the General forum. The image is not a public domain image, and Chinellato Matteo holds the copyright on the image and he would have to be asked first if he would give permission to use the image for such a purpose. If your petition does not bear fruit with Jolyon, you might consider contacting Chinellato Matteo for permission to use the image and find someone to put it on a teeshirt for you. It is indeed a wonderful photo.]]> Rock Currier Best Minerals E Tue, 17 May 2011 08:39:21 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,71,216206,223968#msg-223968 Re: Edenite series http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,71,216206,223968#msg-223968 Yanick Beaudet Best Minerals E Tue, 17 May 2011 07:13:38 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,71,216206,223964#msg-223964 Re: Edenite series http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,71,216206,223964#msg-223964 I do not understand what you want. You will have to explain yourself more clearly. Your English is very bad.]]> Rock Currier Best Minerals E Tue, 17 May 2011 06:40:18 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,71,216206,223962#msg-223962 Re: Edenite series http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,71,216206,223962#msg-223962 Yanick Beaudet Best Minerals E Tue, 17 May 2011 06:29:41 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,71,216206,223855#msg-223855 Re: Edenite series http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,71,216206,223855#msg-223855
Thats a really good effort. I wish I knew enough about these minerals to make meaningful suggestions. You might tweak the size of your images a bit to make them look a little better. If for example you would like to put a little space between the second and third small images in the micros from New Zeland, just put a . (period) after the second one.

[ pic id=63097 width=221 float=right] Edenite FOV 5,5mm[/pic]

[ pic id=63097 width=221 float=right] Edenite FOV 5,5mm[/pic]. like this.

You can make this space smaller or larger by selecting the period and then changing the font size by using the tool bar above the edit box. The t/T button.]]> Rock Currier Best Minerals E Mon, 16 May 2011 11:26:56 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,71,216206,216229#msg-216229 Re: Edenite series http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,71,216206,216229#msg-216229
Can you make some comments about how much of this stuff there is? Which localities produce the best specimens? Has it historically been called by other mineral names?]]> Rock Currier Best Minerals E Mon, 07 Mar 2011 21:22:19 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,71,216206,216213#msg-216213 Re: Edenite series http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,71,216206,216213#msg-216213
Cut & paste error. :)

Olav]]> Olav Revheim Best Minerals E Mon, 07 Mar 2011 19:21:55 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,71,216206,216208#msg-216208 Re: Edenite series http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,71,216206,216208#msg-216208 USA
New York, Orange Co., Town of Warwick, Edenville,

Photo is from Franklin]]> David Von Bargen Best Minerals E Mon, 07 Mar 2011 18:27:12 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,71,216206,216206#msg-216206 Edenite series http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,71,216206,216206#msg-216206 First draft



Click here to view Best Minerals E , and here for Best Minerals A to Z and here for Fast Navigation for finished Best Minerals articles.



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?

The Edenite series minerals are minerals in the Amphibole group, see Amphibole Group main article for an overview of the group. The series contains the following minerals:

Edenite
Na Ca2Mg5(Si7Al)O22OH2

Ferroedenite
Na Ca2Fe5(Si7Al)O22OH2

Fluoro-edenite
Na Ca2Mg5(Si7Al)O22(F,OH)2

Parvo-mangano-edenite
Na(CaMn2+)Mg5(Si7Al)O22(F,OH)2

Chloropotassic Ferroedenite- IMA status Named
K Ca2Fe5(Si7Al)O22(Cl,OH)2

Fluoroedenite 0,92mm crystals from Biancavilla Mt Calvario, Italy © Chinellato Matteo


Edenite is one of the classic amphibole minerals, first described from Edenville, New York USA in 1839. The Edenville location is one of the many great amphibole localities in New York and Ontario in the marbles and contact rocks formed during the Grenville orogeny. Large and well formed edenites are found here, although many of the classic edenites has proven to be pargasite or other amphiboles rather than an edenite- series mineral. Even at the type locality the occurance of edenite has been questioned ( Handbook of mineralogy).

The edenite molecule (magnesium end member) is unstable and pure edenite has not been found in nature, and it has even been impossible to make synthetic . (Oberti et all. 2006). It has been found that Fe and F stabilizes the edenite molecule and therefore will any edenite found in nature always contain some Fe and/or F and ferroedenite and fluoroedenite are more stable and more common than edenite.

The edenite series minerals are primarily found in marbles and calc-silicate/skarn rocks and as microcrystals in volcanic rocks. It can also be found in the alkali rocks in Russia and Norway.

The largest crystals are those of the marbles of New York, US and Ontario Canada, where well formed crystals and crystal clusters can be freed from marble. The not so well formed crystals in the alkalipegmatites at the Langesundfjord may also exceed 10cm, but as they are not as attractive as the American crystals.

Edenite-series minerals from Mogok in Burma can be gem quality, and is sometimes faceted. These gem quality crystals is probably the most attractive for collectors due to their color and gemminess.

Attractive edenite-series micro-crystals can be found in relatively recent lava flows at many locations.

Edenite-series minerals do not form visually appealing display specimens and are therefore not often displayed in museums or other prominent collections, except for presentation of local or regional minerals. The New York State Museum’s web presentation of amphibole minerals found in New York is a very good example.


Edenite
Burma(Myanmar)
Mandalay Division, Sagaing District, Mogok,

Edenite 3,5 cm ©


The identification of this specimen is confirmed by X-ray diffraction and chemical analysis (rruff.info).

The Mogok Tract of Myanmar is known as one of the most famous locations for gem rubies, sapphires and spinels. The area is also host for more obscure gem minerals, such as edenite and fluoroedenite, found during occational mining for mineral specimensl.

The edenite appears to be found in the same geological environment as the rubies and other gems. The Mogok tract is predominantly a marble belt formed from Proterozoic sediments (>750 MYa) metamorphosed by collision with a Gondwana fragment (Burma Block) in Cretaceous time (~150 MYa) and later with the Indian block in Eocene time (~50 MYa).

The gem and collector minerals are formed in the marble itself during metamorphosis, or by metasomatic and pneumalytic processes in the contact zone between the marble and the surrounding rock. The marble is in contact with a wide range of igneous rocks, both granitic, mafic and alkali rocks of various ages and compositions. This gives an extensive mineral suite, of which edenite is one of the minerals.

Mogok edenite is not easily available on the market, and it is difficult to say how good the crystals get. Their qualiy is outstanding for an amphibole, and faceted gems exceeding 5 carats has been made. It is difficult to estimate the value of edenite specimens from Mogok, as the gem value of the specimen may come into play. There should be no doubt that a gemmy, well formed edenite crystal would be considered a “high end” amphibole.


Fluoroedenite
Burma (Myanmar)
Mandalay Division, Sagaing District, Pein Pyit (Painpyit), Pyant Gyi mine (Pyan Gyi)

Fluoroedenite 2,5x2 cm© Pavel M. Kartashov


The Pyant Gyi mine was originally opened to extract pinkish red spinels and pink scapolite from alluvial sediments. Later the mining operations extended into solid rock and today several small mines. High quality specimens of the rare mineral johachidolite has been found in a pegmatite in one of the mines together with other attractive mineral specimens . As a result, specimen mining both from the pegmatites and the marble/skarn has become interesting, and even some fluoroedenite has been secured, probably from the marble.

As the caption of the photo says, this particular specimen is of intermediate composition between edenite, fluoroedenite and pargasite, and falls barely within the fluoroedenite composition. The two Burmese entries illustrates the impossibility of naming amphiboles from appearance, as these two identically looking specimens from the “same” location are different minerals


Edenite
Canada
Ontario, Haliburton Co., Monmouth Township

Edenite 4,5 cm © John Sobolewksi


Haliburton County is a highly metamorphosed terrane comprising granitic,basic, ultramafic and feldspathoidal intrusives and a sedimentary sequence of marbles, calc-silicate gneisses, quartzites and intermediate paragneisses. Interesting mineralizations are found in the contact zones between the marbles and various intrusives. The amphiboles was originally described as tremolites, actinolites and hornblende. The new nomenclature and modern analytical techniques has revealed several different amphibole species in the calcic subgroup, edenite being one of them. The amphiboles previously identified as hornblende are very difficult to identify, and chemical and structural analysis will be necessary to distinguish them. Several species may also be present at the same location. ( ref F.C. Hawthorne and R. Oberti et al: "Short range order in amphiboles from the Bear Lake Diggings. Ontario, Canada" )

Well formed crystals up to 30 cm has been described.


Edenite
Canada
Ontario, Haliburton Co., Monmouth Township ,Wilberforce

Edenite some 12 cm across© 2007 Peter Cristofono


Also from this location, large well formed edenite crystals can be found in the conatct between marble and intrusives.


Edenite
Canada
Ontario, Hastings Co., Faraday Township, Town of Bancroft

Edenite 2,2 cm© Rob Lavinsky


This specimen should probably be attributed to the general Bancroft area, rather than from the Town of Bancroft itself, see Link to Mindat forum.


Edenite
Canada
Ontario, Renfrew Co., Renfrew

Edenite 5mm©


Apparently, edenite crystals can be found in the contact zone between marble and intrusives also here. Edenite from Renfrew is not listed in Mindat, but the identification of the pictured specimen is confirmed by RRUFF.


Fluoroedenite
France
Auvergne , Puy-de-Dôme , Monts-Dore massif, Chastreix , Roc de Courlande

Fluoroedenite FOV 3mm© JM. Johannet
Fluoroedenite FOV 2,4mm© Robert Vernet


The fluoroedenite has been found as beautiful microcrystals in vugs in mafic enclaves in trachy-andesite dome-flow, , coming from Mont Redon. Good outcrops on the road to Chastreix-Sancy ski station, just below the Roc de Courlande.

The Monts-Dore Massif has had active vulcanism since 15 mill. years ago. The fluoroedenite from this and the next location is found in the last lava flows ( 450.000 - 200.000 years ago) in reølatively short ( 500m-3km) and thick (10-20m) lava flows.


Fluoroedenite
France
Auvergne , Puy-de-Dôme , Rochefort-Montagne, Le Mont-Dore Massif, Ravin des Chèvres (Rivaux Grands)

Fluoroedenite FOV 2 mm© SMS 2009
Fluoroedenite FOV 2,7mm© SMS 2009



Fluoroedenite FOV 2,7mm© Robert Vernet
Fluoroedenite FOV 3mm© Robert Vernet


Fluoroedenite has been found as beautiful microcrystals in vuggy mafic enclaves contained in trachytic ("sancyite" ) matrix. Enclaves have been collected in the streambed of the "Ravin des Chèvres" ravine, and come from the cliffs below Puy de Cliergue.

Locality first described by A. Lacroix (Minéralogie de la France) under the name Rivaux Grands, but Ravin des Chèvres is a more accurate name.


Fluoroedenite
Italy
Novella Quarry (Cava Novella), Ercolano, Campania, Naples Province, Somma-Vesuvius Complex , Monte Somma

Fluoroedenite FOV 4mm© Enrico Bonacina

Fluoroedenite FOV 5,5mm© D. Preite - E.B.
Fluoroedenite FOV 7,72mm© Chinellato Matteo


Monte Somma is an igneous, arc-shaped mountain that represents the remnants of an older volcanic cone destroyed in a cataclysmic event in 79 d.c. (when Pompei and Ercolano were destroyed and where Plinius the Old died trying to study the eruption). Mt. Vesuvius is the current cone over the vent.

The age of the oldest products in outcrop is about 25,000 years.The latest round of activity seems to have ended with the eruption of March 1944. This eruption was the beginning of a resting phase characterized by modest signs of seismic activity and fumarole (Arno et al., 1987).
More than 230 species has been found in this area, and is one of the most interesting places in Europe. There are in principle four different mineral forming environments, each with a different mineral assemblage;
I. Minerals that are found in the ejected limestone blocks of Monte Somma.2
II. Pneumatolytic minerals formed in cavities of leucotephrites and conglomeratic blocks ejected by Monte Somma and Vesuvius, or coating the walls of ancient lavas.
III. Fumarolic products.
IV. Minerals that occur as rock constituents of Vesuvius and Monte Somma.
Amphibole minerals can be found in all of these mineral forming environments

Collecting in the Somma Vesuvius comples has been banned since 1995, but Fluoroedenite has been found and identified from old samples. Fluoroedenite occurs widely in miarolic cavities in lava fragments. The crystals up to a mm long is amber in color, have monoclinic prismatic habitus acicular and are longitudinally striated. The mineral is typically associated with hematite.

The occurance is confirmed in Russo, M., Della Ventura, G., Campostrini, I. & Preite, D. (2009). Nuove specie minerali al Monte Somma:I. Fluoro-edenite. MICRO (notizie mineralogiche), 2/2009, 173-174.


Fluoroedenite
Italy
Sicily, Catania Province, Etna Volcanic Complex, Biancavilla Mt Calvario

Fluoroedenite 0,92mm crystals© Chinellato Matteo


Fluoroedenite FOV 15 mm© Antonio Borrelli
Fluoroedenite FOV 4 mm© ELmar Lackner


Fluoroedenite FOV ~3 mm© Frank de Wit
Fluoroedenite 1,06 mm crystal© Chinellato Matteo


This is the type locality for fluoroedenite, but it was a rather unpleasant situation that led to its discovery. Italian health authorities had found higher than normal frequency of malignant pleural mesothelioma in the Biancavilla area. This was found to be caused by the presence of asbestiform amphiboles in local rocks used for building material. It was originally believed that these amphiboles where tremolite or actinolite, but closer investigations revealed a hitherto unknown mineral, fluoroedenite.

Fluoroedenite are found as fibrous masses in cavities in the rock, but also as mm sized prismatic or agicular crystals of an intense yellow color. The host rock is a relatively recent benmoretic lava, and it is believed that fluoroedenite is formed by late –stage hydrothermal fluids


Edenite
Ferroedenite
New Zealand
North Island, Bay of Plenty , Rotorua, Mt. Ngongotaha, Hendersons Quarry

Edenite FOV 2mm© Judy Rowe
Edenite FOV 5,5mm©
Edenite FOV 9mm©


Ferroedenite 3mm crystal© Leon Hupperichs
Ferroedenite FOV 3mm© Judy Rowe



Ferroedenite 0,61mm crystal© Chinellato Matteo


This location is a quarry that produces road gravel for the local market. It is located in a rhyolittic lavaflow from Mount Ngongotaha. Mount Ngongotaha with it’s 757m above sealevel is the largest of several rhyolitic dome vulcanoes in the Rotura volcanic centre. Although located in an active volcanic zone, the Mount Ngongotaha has been dormant for more then 150.000 years.
The edenite is formed by late hydrothermal activity and micro-crystals (mm sized) can frequently be found in cavities in the rhyolite together with numerous other minerals.
Edenite and fluoroedenite is confirmed by SEM-EDS.


Ferroedenite
Norway
Vestfold, Larvik, Langesundsfjorden, Barkevik area, Skutesundskjær (Skudesundskjær)

Ferroedenite 6.45cm x 4.75cm x 2.7cm
specimen		© Jasun McAvoy


Ferroedenite can be found as a rock forming mineral throughout large parts the Langesundfiord larvikite) district. The larvikite rock ( for the most part a alkali-monzonite) covers an area of more than 1000 sq. Km, and it is worked extensivly as a decoration stone. The larvikite hosts a large number of alkali pegmatites that carry a wide variety of minerals, some of them very rare.

.According to Larsen et.al. 2010, the amphibole from the eastern part of the Langesundfjord and Tvedalen are generally ferro-edenite. This includes most of the specimens labeled by the old, now discredited name “barkevikite”. Numerous other amphiboles may also be found in the various rocks in the Larvik pluton.

Ferroedenite are abundant in this area, and in pegmatites they may reach a size of more than 1 dm. They are normally embedded in feldspar and normally crude and not very well formed.


Fluoroedenite
Russia
Northern Region, Murmanskaja Oblast', Kola Peninsula , Mt., Khibiny Massif , Yum'echorr (Yumjechorr)

Fluoroedenite FOV 12x10 mm© Pavel M. Kartashov


Yum'echorr is part of the alkaline Khibiny pluton. This is an nepheline-syenite ( foyalite) intrusion some 30km in diameter, which consists of numerous varieties of nepheline syenite arranged in concentric circles/arcs. The intrusion is horseshoe shaped with the opening towards the east.Minerals occure in 4 different environments,
  1. the nepheline syenite itself
  2. in xenholites (rock fragments) from the “ceiling” of the pluton
  3. in metasomaticrocks on the borderline between the nepheline syenite and the surrounding gneiss
  4. in hydrothermal zones.

This variety of different mineral forming environment has created at least 25(!) different amphibole species, fluoroedenite being one of them. Edenite-series amphiboles can be found in one of the minor nepheline syenite arcs as crystals up to 3cm in size.


Edenite
Fluoroedenite
USA
Franklin, Franklin Mining District, Sussex Co., New Jersey, USA
Edenite 4,8 cm tall© Cindy Hasler


Edenite occurs in the contact zones between the Franklin marble and the surrounding rocks metamorphosed in the Grenville oregony. Edenite is not found in connection with the ore deposits but it is widely disseminated in the Franklin limestone, especially near pegmatitic contacts and crystals up to 5 in. are reported.

There are other amphiboles present in this area, and most of the amphibole specimens named edenite are in fact pargasite or magnesiohornblende, (ref Pete J. Dunn franklin-sterlinghill.com) with pargasite as the most frequently occurring amphibole. Also fluoro-edenite are identified from the Franklin marble (ref: MINERAL SYSTEMATICS AND FLUORINE DISTRIBUTION IN THE AMPHIBOLES FROM TWO GRENVILLE MARBLE BODIES IN NEW YORK STATE LUPULESCU, Marian V.)


Edenite
USA
New York, Orange Co., Town of Warwick, Edenville,

Edenite 4x6cm tall© Arliguie M


Kearns (1977) says that this locality, his loc. 29, is also the probable type locality of edenite. Brown amphibole from this locality is near the ideal composition of edenite, and large well formed crystals are known.

It should be noted that the Handbook of Mineralogy questions the identification of edenite from here: “Name: For the locality at Edenville, New York, USA, although it is not certain to occur there.”

The minerals of the Amity-Edenville area occur almost exclusively in the Franklin Marble, a mid Protorozoic, granulite facies, calcite-rich metacarbonate. The Franklin Marble contains numerous horizons, often seen as isolated, elongated lenses but sometimes distributed in continuous trends.


Parvomanganoedenite
USA
New York, St Lawrence Co. , Fowler , Arnold Mine

Parvomanganoedenite, FOV 1cm © Caltech


Parvomanganoedenite occur intergrown with Parvomanganotremolite as 0,2-0,5mm grains in a manganiferous pod in the Grenville marble of the Arnold open pit, The manganiferous pod consists of stratifed rocks in
which layers 0.5 to 3.5 mm thick, containing mostly polycrystalline braunite, alternate with pale pinkish-brown layers composed mostly of calciferous Mn-rich amphibole with minor garnet


Fluoroedenite
USA
Oregon, Douglas Co., Lemolo Lake Quarry

Fluoroedenite © DM 01/08


This location lies in the same area as the location described below, and I assume that the geology and occurance is similar to the Summit Rock.


Fluoroedenite
USA
Oregon, Klamath Co , Summit Rock

Fluoroedenite FOV 12x10 mm© 2008, JGW


Summit Rock is a small andesitic plug dome in the High Cascade Range near Diamond Lake, Oregon. The upper 30 m of the interior of the plug were exposed in 1961 when it was quarried for crushed rock. Crystallized minerals are found in cavities in the upper part of the dome where it has formed form from volatile phases in the later stage of the cooling of the magma. Lots of rock still remains and micro collectors may still find nice material.

Fluoro-edenite has been identified by microprobe. Originally this material was called hornblende, then magnesio-hornblende before the similarity of this location to European occurrences was noted and closer investigations carried out. The mineral has almost an identical golden brown color to that of the more frequently found enstatite, so it does not easily stand out. Crystals may be long thin needles or short stubby prisms, but the defining feature is that the prisms tend to have six sides, and the termination is very blunt and flat, a (I0Ī) face predominating at a very slight angle from being straight across. The typical crystal size is about 1,5mm


Click here to view Best Minerals E , and here for Best Minerals A to Z and here for Fast Navigation for finished Best Minerals articles.]]> Olav Revheim Best Minerals E Mon, 07 Mar 2011 18:22:04 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,71,183026,196770#msg-196770 Re: Epidote http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,71,183026,196770#msg-196770
The Epidotes labeled "California, Inyo Co., Death Valley National park, Saline Valley" [www.mindat.org] should be relabeled (matter of fact all Epidotes accredited to that locality) to "Bird Springs Garnet claim (Nelson Range deposit), Nelson Range, Death Valley National Park, Inyo Co., California, USA" [www.mindat.org].

Early on Saline Valley is all the field collectors would give out and in a way it is correct as it is in the Saline Valley drainage, but no where near as accurate. I have collected here many times.

Bill]]> William W Besse Best Minerals E Wed, 15 Sep 2010 21:34:19 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,71,183026,196760#msg-196760 Re: Epidote http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,71,183026,196760#msg-196760
Bob]]> Robert Meyer Best Minerals E Wed, 15 Sep 2010 20:10:39 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,71,183026,196753#msg-196753 Re: Epidote http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,71,183026,196753#msg-196753 www.mindat.org]
The crystals were self collected around 1966. The largest is 10cm in length and is excellent in morphology, showing striations and very dark green color. Minor quartz crystals are associated. The most interesting aspect is that these are only the terminations of what were up to 2', or longer, crystals.

Gene Cisneros]]> Mineralogical Research Company Best Minerals E Wed, 15 Sep 2010 18:33:02 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,71,183026,183200#msg-183200 Re: Epidote http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,71,183026,183200#msg-183200 Harjo Neutkens Best Minerals E Mon, 17 May 2010 09:49:40 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,71,183026,183199#msg-183199 Re: Epidote http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,71,183026,183199#msg-183199 You might also want to include the Bessemer Ridge. Washington locality for epidotes that are no more (pseudomorphs)
[www.mindat.org]]]> David Von Bargen Best Minerals E Mon, 17 May 2010 09:35:31 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,71,183026,183108#msg-183108 Re: Epidote http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,71,183026,183108#msg-183108 Pistacite is not recommended to be used as a name but rather as a way of expressing the Fe3+ content in the epidote. Your sample looks like a dead on for epidote (pistachio green), the pistacite content would need to be determined with microprobe or something comparable.

Epidote group minerals are great at incorporating impurities as substitutions for Fe3+ and Ca2+ and can be fascinating petrologically because of this.

Cheers.
Ian Merkel


There are two lattice sites where Fe can go, but only one of them makes epidote out of clinozoisite. If there is less than 5% Fe by wt then there is not enough Fe to make epidote and so it must be Clinozoisite. I don't know if the Fe preferentially occupies one or the other of its possible lattice postions, but there will be a wt % of Fe that allows for filling the irrelvant postion completely and just more than half the species determining site. Any iron content above that % will definately be epidote. Anything in between must be determined by single xl x-ray work to find the species. However this range can be narrowed somewhat as Cinozoisite is optically positive and Epidote is optically negative, but that may not be the case close to the midpoint between the species and there single xl work really is necesary. I think this is a silly use of the "dominant lattice site" rule and there should only be one species and two colour varieties.

Rob Woodside


Yes, clinozoisite is a member of the epidote group - essentially epidote with very little Fe. A lot of mineralogists would consider that epidote should be called ferroan clinozoisite but its been around a long time. So the difference, whether by Fe content or optics or colour is quite arbitrary really, and the names are almost interchangable to many mineralogists and collectors. I don't think that pistacite (i.e. an epidote with Fe>Al) has yet been found in nature, even synthetically (but someone may correct me?) it only exists as a hypothetical endmember. I dont think there is any significant difference in Fe/Al partitioning between the sites else someone would have tried to define an ordered epidote as a new mineral.
"optically positive/negative" refers to optical effects under polarised light microscopy, not very useful info unless you have a petrological microscope, and not used so much these days with microprobes etc so accessible.

Ralph Bottrill

[attachment 20747 epidote5.jpg]
[attachment 20748 epidote1.jpg]
5.5x4x3.5 cm terminated crystal of Epidote from famous skarn deposit of Southern Ural. Crystaline forms m {110}, n {111} and o {011} are well developed on its "termination" (which in reality is prismatic belt of the crystal in standart orientation). Usually epidote crystals in this mine are much more larger (up to 1 m long and more) and it was difficult for me to obtain such small and perfectly terminated specimen.

Pavel Kartashov]]> Harjo Neutkens Best Minerals E Sun, 16 May 2010 20:51:09 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,71,183026,183026#msg-183026 Epidote http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,71,183026,183026#msg-183026 Best Minerals E and here for Best Minerals A to Z and here for Fast Navigation of completed Best Minerals articles.


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?

Epidote
{Ca2}{Al2Fe3+}[O|OH|SiO4|SiO7] Monoclinic

Epidote from the Knappenwand, Austria© Harjo


Epidote is a common mineral found in low to moderately regionally metamorphosed rocks. Epidote also occurs in contact metamorph limestone, especially near ore deposits. In granitic rocks Epidote is found in small fissures.
Until the advent of the discovery of the Knappenwand Epidote was not a popular collectors mineral.
When the first Knappenwand specimens saw the daylight the Strahlers didn't know what they found, only that the crystals were extremely beautiful. Some specimens were then handed over to a dealer who got them analysed. From then on the news travelled fast, spreading over Europe and soon arriving in the USA.
Most of the early specimens consequently landed in the USA where many still reside.
For a long time the Knappenwand remained the only locality delivering outstanding specimens.
The first locality since the Knappenwand that delivered very good specimens was Green monster Mountain in Alaska, followed by localities in Pakistan and Iran in recent years.
Outstanding specimens from either of the top localities command very high prices with the Knappenwand ranking first, for the amount of money needed to buy a really top class Knappenwand specimen one can also buy a house......or two..


Epidote
Australia
Northern Territory, Harts Ranges (Hartz Ranges)

Epidote 3,8cm© Mark Rheinberger09
Epidote 3,2cm© Maggie Wilson

Info about specimens from the Harts Ranges.


Epidote
Austria
Salzburg, Hohe Tauern Mts, Krimmler Ache valley, Söllnkar

Epidote 2x2cm©
Epidote 4,3cm© www.mineralienkluft.at

Epidote 5,3cm© www.mineralienkluft.at
Epidote 4cm© www.mineralienkluft.at

Exposures of garnetitic rock and of epidote-amphibolites of the Knappenwandmulde series, disseminated by aplitic veins.


Epidote
Austria
Hohe Tauern Mts, Obersulzbach valley, Seebach valley, Seebach lake, Seekar (Seebachkar)

Epidote FOV 0,6cm© 2001 D. Schläfli
Epidote 3,8cm© Rob Lavinsky

Mineralized clefts in amphibolites. Located northwest of the Seebach lake.


Epidote
Austria
Salzburg, Hohe Tauern Mts, Untersulzbach valley, Knappenwand area, Knappenwand

Epidote 6cm© Harjo
Epidote 4cm© Harjo

Epidote scale 1 inch, rule 1cm©
Epidote scale 1 inch, rule 1cm©

Epidote scale 1 inch, rule 1cm©
Epidote scale 1 inch, rule 1cm©

Epidote scale 1 inch, rule 1cm©
scale 1 inch, rule 1cm©

Epidote 6,5cm©
Epidote 9,2cm© www.mineralienkluft.at

Epidote 6cm© fabreminerals.com
Epidote 8cm© fabreminerals.com

Epidote FOV 0,6cm© Harjo
Epidote FOV 1,5cm© Harjo

Clefts in epidote-amphibolites of the so-called Knappenwandmulde series. The well known mineralization with outstanding epidote crystals is restricted to places where these clefts intersect with an aplite vein. The locality owes its discovery in 1865 to prospection works in search of copper ores, which occur at several places both at the Knappenwand and in its vicinity. Rarely, fine bornite crystals occur in association with epidote. The first Epidote crystals were discovered by the famous Strahler Alois Wurnitsch. The deposit was intermittently worked for epidote until 1956. Later, specimens were recovered during a scientific project guided by staff from the National History Museum of Vienna.
Presently (2007), the site is leased by the Zukunftkollegium Neukirchen and mined for specimens.
Epidote from the Knappenwand are generally regarded as the best Epidote specimens in the world. No other locality has produced that many outstanding specimens, outstanding in every aspect; clarity, morphology, lustre etc. Quality specimens from the Knappenwand command very high prices on the market and top class specimens are only affordable for the happy few, or the collectors that dare take an extra mortgage on their house......


Epidote
Azarbaijan
Dashkesan, Daşkəsən (Daskasan; Dashkyasan) District, Dashkesan, Dashkesan (Dashkezan) Co-Fe deposit

Epidote, Quartz 6,3cm© fabreminerals.com
Epidote, Quartz 10cm© Vítězslav Snášel

Info about specimens from Dashkesan.


Epidote
Belgium
Walloon Brabant, Rebecq, Quenast, Porphyry quarries

Epidote 6cm© Harjo
Epidote 8cm© Harjo

Epidote 13,8cm© Paul De Bondt
Epidote 5cm© L.Bernard

Epidote, Calcite 20cm© Harjo
Epidote 30cm© Harjo

Epidote, Calcite 10cm© Harjo
Epidote 13cm© Michel Blondieau

Epidote FOV 0,8cm© Harjo
Epidote FOV 1cm© Harjo

The quarry of Quenast is one of several quarries (along with Lessines, Deux-Acren and Bierges) located in the zone with magmatic intrusions along the southern border of the Brabant massif (look for a detailed history of the quarries on the Quenast end Lessines locality pages).
Mineralised zones only occur at the contact zone with the adjoining Quartzite slate, an approximately 2 to 3 meters wide metamorphosed zone. Sporadically, about once every ten years according to the quarry geologist, larger cavities are encountered that can sometimes contain very nice Epidote crystals along with Quartz (crystals up to 50 cm have been found), Axinite, Apatite, Calcite, Orthoclase, Albite and other minerals.
The Epidote crystals are usually found on plates consisting of radiating sprays of crystals up to 5 cm long, although larger crystals have been found.
Given the sporadic nature of the encountered cavities and the fact that the management does not allow collecting in the quarry the specimens from Quenast are hard to come by on the market and top class specimens are extremely rare.


Epidote
Brazil
Southeast Region, Minas Gerais, Jequitinhonha valley, Capelinha, Fazenda Rubin Pimenta Mine

Epidote 11,2cm© Rob Lavinsky
Epidote 4cm© Rui Nunes 2007

Epidote 7,4cm© Dan & Diana Weinrich Minerals
Epidote 6,1cm© JSS

Information about specimens from Capelinha.


Epidote
Bulgaria
Smolyan Oblast, Rhodope Mts, Madan ore field, Krushev dol mine, Krushev dol deposit

Epidote, Quartz 10cm© www.SpiriferMinerals.com


Information about specimens from Krushev dol.


Epidote
China
Guangdong Province, Shaoguan Prefecture

Epidote 8,8cm© Jiangbin
Epidote, Aragonite size?© Jiangbin

Info about specimens from Guangdong.


Epidote
China
Giuzhou Province, Qianxi'nan Autonomous Prefecture, Anlong Co., Getang Au-Sb deposit

Epidote, Prehnite 5,4cm© MinFans.com
Epidote, Quartz, Prehnite 6cm© MinFans.com

Information about specimens from Getang.


Epidote
China
Hebei Province, Handan Prefecture

Epidote 2,4cm© Jiangbin
Epidote 3,6cm© Jiangbin

Epidote 2,6cm© Sapphirious
Epidote 4,2cm© Jiangbin

Information about specimens from Hebei.


Epidote
China
Sichuan Province, Leshan Prefecture, Ebian Co., Jinkouhe

Epidote 14,2cm© Rob Lavinsky
Epidote 6,4cm© Rob Lavinsky

Information about specimens from Jinkouhe.


Epidote
China
Sichuan Province, Liangshan Autonomous Prefecture, Meigu Co., Hongquizhen quarry

Epidote, Quartz 17cm© rare-X.com
Epidote 13cm© Rob Lavinsky

A small quarry in a hillside, worked by local farmers.


Epidote
China
Yunnan Province, Nujiang Autonomous Prefecture, Gaoligong Mts (Gaoligong Shan)

Epidote 3cm© rare-X.com
Epidote 3,6cm© rare-X.com

Highlands west of the Nu river (Nu Jiang) valley.
Located in northwestern Yunnan Province, close to the border to Myanmar (Burma).


Epidote
Czech Republic
Moravia (Mähren, Maehren), Olomouc Region, Šumperk (Mährisch Schönberg), Sobotín (Zöptau; Zoeptau)

Epidote scale 1 inch, rule 1cm©
Epidote 4cm© Filip Kopecký

Information about specimens from Sobotin.


Epidote
France
Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Hautes-Alpes, Saint-Véran

Epidote, Albite 7cm© J.Dehove
Epidote FOV 0,6cm© J.Dehove

Information about specimans from Saint-Veran.


Epidote
France
Rhône-Alpes, Savoie, Maurienne valley, Glandon Pass

Epidote 3cm© Georges BRET
Epidote 12cm© G.BRET

The Glandon pass is located between Bourg d'Oisans and the Maurienne valley.


Epidote
Greece
Thraki (Thrace; Thracia) Department, Xánthi Prefecture

Epidote 8cm© AL
Epidote 3,5cm© Ch. Spirom. & Greekrocks.com

Information about specimens from Xanthi.


Epidote
Iran
Markazi Province, Tafresh city, Saveh town, Kuhandan village, Khowrin Mt (Khorram Mt), Epidote locality

Epidote 8cm© Vachik Hairapetian Dec. 2006
Epidote 5cm© 2002 John H. Betts

Epidote 8cm© 2002 John H. Betts
Epidote 3,5cm© 2002 John H. Betts

A locality on Khowrin Mt (Kuh-e Khowrin; Kuh-e Khorram) near Kuhandan village, famous for gemmy epidote crystals. Now quite exhausted (Vachik Hairapetian, pers. comm., 2006). Located SE of Tafresh area, near Saveh town.
NOTE: Specimens from this locality were also erroneously/insufficiently labeled as coming from "Zagros Mts (Kuhha-ye Zagros)".


Epidote
Italy
Aosta valley, Châtillon, Bellecombe

Epidote 2,5cm© Rob Lavinsky

Epidote 0,4cm© Chinellato Matteo
Epidote 0,6cm© Chinellato Matteo

Information about specimens from Bellecombe.


Epidote
Italy
Liguria, Genova Province, Ne, Graveglia Valley, Nascio

Epidote 6,5cm© Simone Citon
Epidote 3,7cm© Rob Lavinsky

Basalt outcroppings near the village of Nascio.


Epidote
Italy
Piedmont, Cuneo Province, Varaita Valley

Epidote, Albite 4,7cm© fabreminerals.com
Epidote 4,7cm© Rob Lavinsky

Information about specimens from Varaita.


Epidote
Italy
Piedmont, Torino Province, Canavese District, Chiusella Valley, Traversella

Epidote scale 1 inch rule 1cm©


Information about specimens from Traversella.


Epidote
Italy
Piedmont, Torino Province, Sesia-Lanzo zone, Lanzo Valley, Viù Valley

Epidote 0,5cm© Chinellato Matteo
Epidote 0,3cm© Chinellato Matteo

Epidote 3,3cm© Rob Lavinsky
Epidote 3,4cm© Rob Lavinsky

Rodingite dykes in serpentinite.
Known for excellent epidote crystals.


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

Epidote 2,2cm© Chinellato Matteo
Epidote 3cm© Chinellato Matteo

Epidote 9cm© FRANCO LAZZARI
Epidote 0,4cm© D. Preite

Several good localities for Epidote in Ossola Valley, among others: Rivasco quarry in Antigorio valley, Antrona valley and Mount Cervandone.


Epidote
Italy
Trentino-Alto Adige, Trento Province, Fiemme Valley, Costa di Viezzena (Porta di Viezzena)

Epidote 19cm© Manuele Moro
Epidote 6cm© Manuele Moro

Information about specimens from Costa di Viezzena.


Epidote
Kenya
North Eastern Province

Epidote 7,2cm© Dan & Diana Weinrich Minerals
Epidote scale 1 inch rule 1cm©

Information about specimens from Kenya.


Epidote
Mali
Kayes Region

Epidote, Prehnite 7cm© Tony Peterson
Epidote, Prehnite 12,5cm© Rob Lavinsky

Epidote, Prehnite 4,8cm©
Epidote, Prehnite 3,7cm© Rob Lavinsky

Several good localities (Djouga, Diakon, Sandaré, Sadiola Hill) for Epidote and Prehnite combination specimens.


Epidote
Mexico
Baja California Norte

Epidote 8cm© 2002 John H. Betts
Epidote 3cm© 2001 John H. Betts

scale 1 inch rule 1cm©
Epidote 5cm© Rob Lavinsky

Several good localities (Isla Guadalupe, Pino Solo, San Quintin) for excellent Epidote specimens.


Epidote
Morocco
Meknès-Tafilalet Region, Er Rachidia Province, High Atlas Mts, Imilchil

Epidote 2cm©
Epidote 6,7cm© fabreminerals.com

Location for nice typical bow-tie fans of Epidote crystals.


Epidote
Norway
Østfold, Halden, Berg, Svingen quarry

Epidote, Quartz 11cm© A. Michalsen
Epidote 12,5cm© A. Michalsen

Information about specimens from Svingen.


Epidote
Pakistan
Balochistan (Baluchistan)

Epidote, Quartz 9,8cm© H. Obodda
Epidote 6,6cm© Steve Hardinger

Several localities (Zard Mts, Wadh, Kharan) for excellent Epidote specimens.


Epidote
Pakistan
Balochistan (Baluchistan), Kharan, Raskoh Mts.

Epidote 6.9cm wide© Christian Bracke
Epidote 7.7cm wide© Christian Bracke


Epidote 7.2cm wide© Christian Bracke
Epidote 7.2cm wide© fabreminerals.com


These showed up in 2011 and there appear to be quite a few of them. They seem to come in two strange crystal forms. One is rather flat tables that appear to be almost hexagonal and the other almost octahedral. Sometimes both habits occur on the same specimen. Some of them are magnetic, probably from tiny included magnetite crystals, and some appear to be slightly yellow which appears to be due to a dusting of micro Titanite crystals. Most of the specimens are not very shiny and perhaps the largest crystals are less than 10 cm across.



Epidote
Pakistan
Northern Areas, Baltistan, Skardu District

Epidote 2,5cm©

Epidote 5,3cm© Rob Lavinsky
Epidote 7cm© 2001 John H. Betts

Epidote 8,2cm© Christian Bracke
Epidote 5,5cm© Rob Lavinsky

Epidote 5,2cm© Carles Millan
Epidote 7,5cm© Dan & Diana Weinrich Minerals

Epidote 3,7cm© Daniel Svensson
Epidote 4cm© Michael Shaw

A wealth of very good localities (Skardu Road, Hurchas, Hachupa, Dassu, Alchuri, Shigar valley, Tormiq valley) for outstanding Epidote crystals. When these specimens entered the market it was the first time that Epidote was seen that came near the quality of the Knappenwand specimens, especially the typical "faden" groups.


Epidote
Peru
Ancash Department, Bolognesi Province, Huallanca, Chiurucu (Chiuruco), La Gringa Mine

Epidote, Calcite 3,9cm© fabreminerals.com
Epidote, Calcite 5,4cm© fabreminerals.com

Information about specimens from La Gringa.


Epidote
Peru
Huancavelica Department, Castrovirreyna Province, Castrovirreyna District

Epidote 6,9cm© Rob Lavinsky
Epidote, Calcite 5cm© Rob Lavinsky

Epidote 5,1cm© Dan & Diana Weinrich Minerals
Epidote 5,3cm© Rob Lavinsky

Very good localities for Epidote including: San Genaro mine (most famous one for Ag sulfosalts), Caudalosa mine, Rapida mine, La Griega mine, Madona mine, Bonanza mine, Seguridad mine, Lira mine, Carmen mine.


Epidote
Peru
Ica Department, Pampa Blanca

Epidote, Quartz 6,8cm© Rob Lavinsky
Epidote 6,5cm© Rob Lavinsky

Epidote, Quartz 7,3cm© Rob Lavinsky
Epidote 8cm© Tony Peterson

Information about specimens from Pampa Blanca.


Epidote
Poland
Lower Silesia (Dolnośląskie), Strzegom-Sobótka Massif, Świdnica District,Strzegom (Striegau)

Epidote, Chabazite 5cm© Tony Peterson
Epidote 4,5cm© Volker Betz

Miarolitic pegmatites in the Strzegom-Sobótka massif.


Epidote
Portugal
Leiria District, Óbidos, Senhora da Luz

Epidote 5,5cm© Rui Nunes 2008
Epidote 4cm© Martins da Pedra

Gypsum quarry.


Epidote
Russia
Urals Region, Middle Urals, Ekaterinburgskaya (Sverdlovskaya) Oblast'

Epidote scale 1 inch rule 1cm©
Epidote 7,5cm© Joseph A. Freilich

Good localities for Epidote including Katsna Yama and Mor's Pit.


Epidote
Spain
Extremadura, Monesterio, Aguablanca Mine (Agua Blanca Mine)

Epidote Quartz Andradite 10cm© fabreminerals.com
Epidote Quartz Andradite 12,5cm© fabreminerals.com

The Aguablanca nickel mine is Rio Narcea's first nickel sulphide mine in Western Europe, producing nickel-copper-PGM concentrate.
The deposit is hosted by a subvertical magmatic breccia.
Excellent combination specimens of Epidote with Quartz and Andradite have been found in the mine.


Epidote
Spain
Valencian Community, Alicante, Albatera, Hondón de los Frailes, Los Serranos Quarry

Epidote, Quartz 4,1cm© Steve Hardinger
Epidote, Quartz 4cm© Martins da Pedra

The Serranos quarry is at the moment (2006) in activity. In this quarry a dolerite (alkaline subvolcanic rock) outcrop is exploited, which is used for highways. The dolerite forms sills in Triassic rocks (Keuper facies): marls, gypsum and carbonated rocks.
The quarry is in the township of Albatera, but can by accessed only from Hondón de Los Frailes country. For this reason, the locality name includes Hondón.
Very nice and sometimes large plates covered with Epidote and clear Quartz crystals have abundantly been found in the quarry.


Epidote
Sweden
Lappland, Kiruna district, Svappavaara, Leveäniemi Mine

Epidote 5,5cm© Jorge M. Alves
Epidote 4cm© Martins da Pedra

An iron open-pit mine active 1964-83.


Epidote
Switzerland
Grischun (Grisons, Graubünden), Misox (Mesolcina Valley), Calanca Valley, Arvigo, Gneiss quarries

Epidote FOV 0,5cm© 2007 D. Schläfli
Epidote FOV 0,6cm© Stephan Wolfsried

Quarries in biotite gneisses.
Access and collecting is strictly forbidden since 2007 following a massive landslide.


Epidote
Switzerland
Ticino (Tessin), Maggia Valley, Riveo, Gneiss quarries

Epidote, Albite 5cm© Harjo
Epidote Albite Apatite 4cm© Harjo

Epidote FOV 0,8cm© Harjo
Epidote FOV 0,8cm© Harjo

Quarries in biotite-plagioclase gneiss along the road from Riveo to Cevio.
Minerals (Epidote, Apatite, Apophylite, Albite, Quartz, Titanite and others) can be found in the scarce (usually) funnel shaped Alpine type clefts containing an Albite/Epidote breccia.


Epidote
Switzerland
Wallis (Valais), Zermatt-Saas Fee area, Matt Valley, Zermatt

Epidote Diopside 5cm© fabreminerals.com
Epidote 5,9cm© Rob Lavinsky

Good localities, especially the Gorner glacier area, for Epidote, sometimes in nice combination specimens with Diopside.


Epidote
USA
Alaska, Price of Wales-Outer Ketchikan Borough, Prince of Wales Island

Epidote Quartz 9cm© Dan & Diana Weinrich Minerals
Epidote 6,5cm© Dan Weinrich

Epidote Quartz 5cm© 2003 John H. Betts
Epidote Quartz 5cm© 2001 John H. Betts

Epidote Quartz 9cm© Chris Tucker
Epidote 4cm© 2001 John H. Betts

Copper Mountain and Green Monster Mountain rank amongst the top Epidote localities in the world. The best specimens can compete with specimens from Pakistan and Iran, some even come close to Knappenwand specimens. Especially attractive are combination specimens with lustrous Epidote and Quartz as well as single large blocky crystals.


Epidote
USA
California, Calaveras Co.

Epidote scale 1 inch rule 1cm©
Epidote 6cm© WWB

Epidote 3,5cm© 2005 Jake Harper
Epidote 4,6cm© 2008 Steve Hardinger

The Sierran bedrock complex in Calaveras county consists of a series of northwest trending beds of metamorphic rocks that have been intensely folded and faulted and intruded by a series of intrusive igneous rocks, chiefly Granitic. Interpretation of the geologic structure in the metamorphic rocks can be extremely difficult due to its complexity, the destruction of bedding by shearing and the absence of key horizons. These metamorphic rocks are characterized by beds and foliation that strike northwest, parallel to the trend of the Sierra Nevada; vertical or steep easterly and northeasterly dips; and overturned, nearly isoclinal folds. The repetition of beds, particularly those of the Mariposa Slate and Greenstone west of the Mother Lode, results from this folding.

The Mother Lode vein system extends across Calaveras county in a northwest direction. It is a major fault zone in which there has been reverse movement, but the amount of displacement is largely unknown. Gold bearing Quartz veins have been deposited within the resulting fissures. Ultrabasic intrusions west of the Mother Lode are largely serpentinized and trend northwest as well, thus reflecting the major structural trend of the region.

Nice Epidote specimens have been found on Garnet Hill and in the Miracle Mountaine Mine.


Epidote
USA
California, Inyo Co., Death Valley National park, Saline Valley

Epidote Grossular 3,2cm© Dan & Diana Weinrich Minerals
Epidote 9,7cm© Dan & Diana Weinrich Minerals

Information about specimens from Saline Valley.


Epidote
USA
Colorado, Chaffee Co., Turret District, Calumet Mine

Epidote 8cm© Rob Lavinsky
Epidote Quartz 10cm© 2001 John H. Betts

Epidote 7cm© 2001 John H. Betts
Epidote 8,4cm© Rob Lavinsky

Information about specimens from Calumet Mine.


Epidote
USA
Nevada, Mineral Co.

Epidote 6,3cm© Wm. C. van Laer
Epidote 4,7cm© Eric Graff

Information about specimens from Mineral Co.


Epidote
USA
Vermont, Orleans & Lamoille Cos., Lowell & Eden, Belvidere Mountain Quarries

Epidote 6,2cm© Rob Lavinsky
Epidote 0,5cm© 2005 Peter Cristofono

Asbestos was first discovered on Belvidere Mountain before 1823 (in Lowell, formerly Kellyvale). In 1899, a prospect was developed at the east base of the mountain which was later mined by the Lowell Lumber & Asbestos Company. Another company, New England Asbestos Mining and Milling, began mining the southwest side in 1902.

The excavations for this asbestos deposit are virtually continuous and overlapping. Many collectors maintain a distinction without a difference as to the names of particular pits. Although there are historical references to particular sub-locations such as the C-area, etc., specimens from these locations have been distributed without specific labels to identify which pit or exact spot they have come from. The largest two levels are at the north end of the excavations the Lowell quarry and, consequently, which have produced most of the specimens, and are largely in Lowell, but exceptional specimens have also been found in Eden on the southern end of the quarry area (T-area). (Have fun figuring out how to label specimens from this area!)


Pseudomorph after Epidote
USA
Washington, King Co., North Bend, Green Mountain, Bessemer Ridge

Hematite after Epidote, scale 1 inch rule 1cm©
Hematite after Epidote, Quartz, 8,8cm© Rob Lavinsky

Very interesting locality on the north summit of Green Mountain (discovered by Bart Cannon) for pseudomorphs of Hematite after Epidote, in turn these pseudomorphs have sometimes been completely overgrown with small Quartz crystals.


A lot of information is still needed for individual localities. Any help in providing this information will be greatly appreciated ;-)

[Harjo Neutkens 2010]



Click here to view Best Minerals E and here for Best Minerals A to Z and here for Fast Navigation of completed Best Minerals articles.]]> Harjo Neutkens Best Minerals E Sun, 16 May 2010 08:47:58 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,71,129393,129393#msg-129393 Best E Minerals - Welcome http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,71,129393,129393#msg-129393
Ideally what we want to know about each significant mineral from each locality is:

1. What is the largest crystal of the mineral that the locality has produced?
2. What do the best specimens from this locality look like and where can one be seen?
3. Does the locality produce a variety of different kinds of specimens of this species, and what do the best of each type look like and how many of them were found etc.
4. What are the associated minerals found with this species and what is its geological setting?
5. How abundant are these specimens and when were they found? A type locality? In other words, how rare are they.
6. How do they compare to other specimens of the same mineral from other localities?
7. How much is it worth. This should probably be optional, but in cases where specimens are worth thousands of dollars we should probably say something of the value of these things.
8. What kind of care and feeding do these specimens require? Are they delicate, radioactive, unstable, color changeable etc.?
9. Are the specimens commonly faked, and if so, how to tell if they are?
10. Are there any interesting stories relating to the collecting of these specimens or their discovery as a new mineral?

Of course this is in reality impractical, but if we keep these questions in mind, we will do a lot better job when writing about them.]]> Rock Currier Best Minerals E Fri, 06 Mar 2009 10:55:13 +0000