http://www.mindat.org/msgboard-89.html Wed, 25 Nov 2009 23:51:15 +0000 Phorum 5.2.8-RC1 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,89,129416,129416#msg-129416 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,89,129416,129416#msg-129416
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 W Fri, 06 Mar 2009 11:30:07 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,89,115741,115741#msg-115741 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,89,115741,115741#msg-115741



Wulfenite
PbMoO₄ tetragonal

Wulfenite, Red Cloud Mine, La Paz Co. Arizona, USA, 6.3cm wide	© Carles Millan

Mindat currently lists about 1300 localities for wulfenite, but only a tiny fraction of those localities produce crystals that are of interest to collectors. There may be something like a dozen localities that have produced really fine specimens and of those, the crystals from the Red Cloud Mine in Arizona, USA are perhaps the most highly regarded by collectors. For some reason, many of the good wulfenite producing localities are found in Southern Arizona, and Northern Mexico. Why they should have been concentrated here is open to speculation. It is usually not a robust mineral, and if you have specimens of it, you should treat them gently, for many of them are quite fragile. Perhaps the most robust of them are the highly regarded blocky orange crystals from Los Lamentos, Mexico. Which are really the best? Well you will have to look at the eye candy below and make up your own mind. Keep in mind that the pictures shown are only of specimens that have been uploaded to the mindat image gallery and that in many cases there are better specimens lurking out there. Sometimes, when Wulfenite is found in mines, it is found in large quantities and tons of specimens are available, but most of the time they are shipped off to the smelter. The largest size for Wulfenite is listed as 11cm in the Handbook of Mineralogy. Dick Bideaux, the principal author of this work, had a substantial interest in wulfenite and though he does not say which locality produced the 11 cm crystal I suspect that it was from the Glove mine in Arizona. I also think that crystals this large and larger have been produced at Mvouti (M'Fouati), Mvouti Prefecture, Kouilou Region, Republic of Congo (Brazzaville)


Wulfenite
Argentina
Río Negro, Sierra Grande, Complejo Gonzalito district, Gonzalito mine

Wulfenite, 7cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Wulfenite, FOV 7mm	© Karl Volkman04/05

Wulfenite
Australia
Western Australia, Pilbara Region, Roebourne Shire, Whim Creek

Wulfenite, 4.8cm wide	© JSS

Wulfenite, 3.1cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Wulfenite, 3.4cm wide	© CCURTO08

Wulfenite & Calcite, 7.5cm	© Mark Rheinberger 08

Wulfenite ~1.1mm	© Enrico Bonacina

Wulfenite xls ~1.8mm wide	© D. Preite

Wulfenite, FOV 1cm	© R. Tanaka

Wulfenite xl 3mm with Chrysocolla	©

The Wulfenite specimen thus far produced in Australia are quite modest compared to Mexico and the USA and tend to be mostly micro crystals, though they have certainly produced some fine micro crystals.


Wulfenite
Austria
Carinthia, Gailtaler Alpen & Karnische Alpen Mts, Bleiberg District, Bad Bleiberg, Stefanie Mine

Wulfenite, 8.1cm tall	© mineraliepietre

Wulfenite, 3.2cm wide	© 0

Wulfenite, 2.5cm wide	© Volker Betz

Wulfenite, 4.5cm wide	© 2001 John H. Betts

Wulfenite, 9.5cm wide	© Gerd Stefanik

Wulfenite, 4.5cm wide	© 0

The specimens from various Austrian localities were at one time abundant and should be better know than they are. Be badly need someone more knowledgeable than I to tell us about the specimens from these famous localities.
(Rock Currier 2009)


Wulfenite
Austria
Carinthia, Gailtaler Alpen & Karnische Alpen Mts, Bleiberg District, Heiligengeist, Franz Josef Mine

Wulfenite, 12.5cm wide	© Gerd Stefanik

Wulfenite
Austria
Carinthia, Gailtaler Alpen & Karnische Alpen Mts, Bleiberg District, Heiligengeist, Kadutschen, Alt-Stefanie Mine (dump)

Wulfenite 13cm wide	© Gerd Stefanik

Wulfenite
Austria
Carinthia, Gailtaler Alpen & Karnische Alpen Mts, Kötschach-Mauthen, Dellach, Jaukenhöhe Mt.

Wulfenite, 2.3cm wide	© 0

Wulfenite, FOV 1.1cm	© 0

Wulfenite
Austria
Carinthia, Karawanken Mts, Hochobir Mt., Zauchen, Schäffler Alp District

Wulfenite, xls ~.7mm	© 0

Wulfenite, FOV 5mm	© 0

Wulfenite
Belgium
Luxembourg Province, Stavelot Massif, Vielsalm, Cahai (Cahay), Tier des Carrières

Wulfenite, FOV 1mm	© JDehove

Wulfenite, FOV 1mm	© JDehove

Certainly not great wulfenite specimens, but the white one is quite unusual, but I think that pure lead molybdate should be white if pure. Also, whou would have thought that Belgium would have any Wulfenites at all?
[edit Harjo: Apart from the Stavelot massif Wulfenite has been found in the Quartz veins around Bastogne and Bertrix as well as Richelle]


Wulfenite
Chile
Antofagasta Region, Tocopilla Province, Tocopilla District, Santa Ana Mine (Chapacase Mine)

Wulfenite 9.6cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Wulfenite
Chile
Atacama Region, Copiapó Province, Cachiyuyo de Llampos district, Dulcinea de Llampos Mine

Wulfenite & Mimetite, FOV 4mm	© A. Bleeker

Chile has produced little in the way of Wulfenite specimens. Mostly micro material and perhaps the largest crystals are in the cm range.


Wulfenite
China
Sichuan

Wulfenite, 5.5cm	© Crystal Classics

Wulfenite
China
Sichuan Province, Liangshan Autonomous Prefecture, Mianning Co., Maoniuping REE deposit

Wulfenite on Barite, 3.9cm wide	© fabreminerals.com

wulfenite, FOV 1.1mm	© Dick Dionne

Wulfenite on Barite, FOV 1cm	© Brian Ahola

Wulfenite
China
Xinjiang (Xinjiang-Uygur) Autonomous Region, Bayin'gholin (Bayingolin; Bayinguoleng) Autonomous Prefecture, Ruoqiang (Qakilik; Chaqiliq) Co., Jianshan Mine

Wulfenite, 7.6 cm tall	© Rob Lavinsky

Wulfenite, 5.4cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Wulfenite, 9.6cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Wulfenite, 8.4 cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Wulfenite, 5.8 cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Wulfenite, 3cm tall	© Rob Lavinsky

Wulfenite, 5.2cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Wulfenite, 4.7cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Wulfenite, 8.1cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Wulfenite, 4.1cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Wulfenite, 4.2cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Wulfenite, 1.4cm	© Sapphirious

Wulfenite, 5.2cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Wulfenite, 7cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

China has only recently begun to produce specimens of Wulfenite, but from the pictures shown here you can easily understand why most collectors would like to have one in their collection. The demand for these is greater than the supply.


Wulfenite
Czech Republic
Bohemia (Böhmen; Boehmen), Ústí Region, Krušné Hory Mts (Erzgebirge), Krupka (Graupen), Barbora adit, Knöttel (Knötel; Knödel) area

Wulfenite, 1.5mm	© Petr Fuchs

Wulfenite
Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre)
Katanga (Shaba), Katanga Copper Crescent, Central area, Shinkolobwe, Shinkolobwe Mine (Kasolo Mine)

Wulfenite & Uranophane, FOV 2mm	© Elmar Lackner 2009

So far the only crystals that have been produced by the mines of the Democratic Republic of the Congo are micromounts, but their association with nice crystals of various uranium minerals makes them popular with micromount collectors, if they can get one. Though it is not likely, one wonders if radiation can turn wulfenite black as it does most Quartz crystals.
[Rock Currier, 2009]


Wulfenite
Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre)
Katanga (Shaba), Katanga Copper Crescent, Western area, Kolwezi, Musonoi Mine

Wulfenite, Kasolite etc. FOV 3mm	© JM. Johannet

Wulfenite, Kasolite etc. FOV 4mm	© Stephan Wolfsried

Wulfenite xl .8mm on Malachite	© Brent Thorne

Wulfenite
France
Rhône-Alpes, Ardèche, Ste Marguerite Lafigère, Rouvière mine

Wulfenite xl. 4mm with Anglesite	© Pierre Houssin

Wulfenite
France
Rhône-Alpes, Rhône, Lantignié, Monterniers Mines

Wulfenite, 9.7cm tall	© G,De'Young

Wulfenite on Mimetite, 2cm wide	© Yannick Vessely

Wulfenite xl. 1mm & Mimetite	© Yannick Vessely

Wulfenite on Barite ~6cm wide	© D.Steiner

Wulfenite xls, 6mm wide	© DR

Wulfenite & Pyromorphite?FOV 3.5mm	© jo-esche 2009

Wulfenite
Germany
Baden-Württemberg, Black Forest, Wolfach, Oberwolfach, Rankach valley, Clara Mine

Wulfenite on Pyromorphite, FOV 3mm	© Stephan Wolfsried

Wulfenite
Greece
Attikí (Attica; Attika) Prefecture, Lavrion (Laurion; Laurium) District, Lavrion District Mines, Plaka

Wulfenite ~5.2cm wide	© Jasun McAvoy

Wulfenite xl. 1.2mm wide	© D. Preite

Wulfenite
Greece
Attikí (Attica; Attika) Prefecture, Lavrion (Laurion; Laurium) District, Lavrion District Mines, Plaka, Plaka Mines, Adami No. 02 Mine ("Adayir" Mine) & Others

Wulfenite, 5.5cm wide	© Colleen Thomson

Wulfenite 1cm wide	©

Wulfenite
Greece
Attikí (Attica; Attika) Prefecture, Lavrion (Laurion; Laurium) District, Lavrion District Mines, Plaka, Plaka Mine No. 80, Plaka Mines

Wulfenite on Mimetite, FOV 1.2 cm	© 2005 M. Kampf

Wulfenite
Iran
Esfahan Province (Isfahan Province; Aspadana Province), Anarak District, Chah Kharboze (Tchah-Kharboze),Chah Kharboze Mine (Tchah-Kharboze Mine; Chah-Karbuzeh Mine)

This is the best locality in Iran for Wulfenite. It is a small mine and at one time Wulfenite crystals were the main ore of the mine and I was told that women used to gather the crystals in baskets to take to the smelter. In the 70s I went to the mine site and though it had been abandoned for a number of years, one could see thousands of tiny shards of red Wulfenite crystals in the soil at the mine site. I have never seen a crystal from here even as large as one inch, but the crystals were almost all a very intense red color. Not many specimens were saved. At least one group of German collectors made a trip to the mine and collected there before the lower level where the best crystals were found were flooded. Perhaps one of them will tell us the story about their collecting trip there.
[Rock Currier, 2009]


Wulfenite
Iran
Esfahan Province (Isfahan Province; Aspadana Province), Anarak District

Wulfenite, 8mm wide	© 2007 D. Schläfli

Wulfenite xl. .6mm wide	© R.D.Green

Wulfenite
Iran
Esfahan Province (Isfahan Province; Aspadana Province), Anarak District, Madan-e Nakhlak (Ma'dan-e-Nahlak), Nakhlak Mine (Nekhlak Mine)

Wulfenite, Cerussite 16cm	© Vachik Hairapetian May 2006

Wulfenite xls. 4mm on Cerussite	© Maziar Nazari

Wulfenite
Italy
Lombardy, Bergamo Province, Seriana Valley, Riso Valley, Oneta

Wulfenite, large xl. 1.2cm	© gianniperacchi

Wulfenite, 9cm	© gianniperacchi

Wulfenite, largest xl. 1cm	© gianniperacchi

Wulfenite xl. 4.3mm	© Enrico Bonacina

Wulfenite
Italy
Lombardy, Lecco Province, Abbadia Lariana, Linzanico, Monastero Valley, Cascina Mugarola, "Delle Grigne" Lead Mine

Wulfenite, 5cm wide	© Marco Macchieraldo

Wulfenite
Italy
Piedmont, Biella Province, Cervo Valley, Quittengo, Le Forche

Wulfenite, 1mm	© Luigi Mattei

Wulfenite
Mexico
Chihuahua, Mun. de Ahumada, Los Lamentos Mts (Sierra de Los Lamentos)

Wulfenite, 3.5cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Wulfenite, 2cm wide	© Michael C. Roarke

Wulfenite, 5.3cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Wulfenite, 3.8cm wide	© Kristalle and Crys

Wulfenite, 4cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Wulfenite, 5.8cm tall	© Rob Lavinsky

Wulfenite 18 cm wide	© www.exceptionalminerals.com

Wulfenite ~6cm wide	© Joseph A. Freilich

Wulfenite, 6.3cm tall	© fabreminerals.com

Wulfenite, 7.2cm	© www.exceptionalminerals.com

Wulfenite, 8.5cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

wulfenite, 4cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Wulfenite, 3.9cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Wulfenite & Calcite, 5.8cm wide	© fabreminerals.com

Wulfenite, 4.4cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Wulfenite, 8.9cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Wulfenite, 7.7cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Wulfenite, 3cm wide	© 1995-2001 Trinity Mineral Co.

Wulfenite, 4.4cm wide	© fabreminerals.com

Wulfenite, 6.5cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

This mine is thought by many collectors to have produced the best specimens of Wulfenite of any mine in Mexico, but some think the San Francisco mine produced as good or better specimens. Many of the specimens from the mine were characterized by block orange crystals that have been likened to chunks of caramel candy. Some specimens were more than a foot across. Specimens from this mine were collected and sold to collectors for many years. For many years in the 50 and 60s collectors from the United States, possibly most California and Arizona made collecting trips to this mine and returned with hundreds of specimens that were sold and traded all over the world. Today, even good small specimens from this locality can rarely be found for less than $1000. Crystals rarely exceeded two inches and most of the fine specimens have crystals that are much smaller. As you can see from the pictures above that many different kinds of Wulfenite crystals were produced at this mine.
[Rock Currier 2009]


Wulfenite
Mexico
Chihuahua, Mun. de Coyame, Cuchillo Parado, Aurora Mine

Wulfenite, 3cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Wulfenite
Mexico
Durango, Mun. de Mapimí, Mapimí, Ojuela Mine

Wulfenite, 8.2cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Wulfenite, 5.5cm tall	© Rob Lavinsky

Wulfenite, 3.7cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Wulfenite on Mimetite, 6.7cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Wulfenite, 6.5cm tall	© Rob Lavinsky

Wulfenite, 6.2cm tall	© Rob Lavinsky

Wulfenite on Mimetite, 5.8cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Wulfenite on Mimetite, 4.6cm wide	© fabreminerals.com

Wulfenite xl. 5mm, Calcite, Mimetite	©

Wulfenite on Mimetite, 5cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Wulfenite on Mimetite, 4cm	© fabreminerals.com

Wulfenite & Mimetite, 3.9cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Wulfenite on Mimetite, 3cm wide	© Joseph A. Freilich

Wulfenite, FOV 1.5mm	© A. Bleeker

Wulfenite & Mimetite, FOV 1.7mm	© A. Bleeker

Wulfenite xl. 3mm & Mimetite	© Chinellato Matteo

Wulfenite, Calcite & Mimetite, 5.9cm tall	© Rob Lavinsky

Wulfenite on Mimetite, 5cm wide	© Martins da Pedra

Wulfenite & Mimetite, 4.2cm wide	© fabreminerals.com

For most of its productive life, the Ojuela mine was better know for Mimetite, Legrandite and Adamite specimens rather than Wulfenite. Most of the Wulfenite produced in the 20th century were limited to very thin yellow and often rather transparent Wulfenite crystals, often in the cm size range, frequently associate with a light green Mimetite. Recently however, a small number of miners/collectors from the nearby town of Mapimi have gone into the old workings and have collected considerable numbers of strikingly good specimens of prismatic pyramidal orange Wulfenite crystals, many of them growing with and on dark green Mimetite. Hundreds of specimens have been produced, and some of the better ones are shown above.
[Rock Currier, 2009]


Wulfenite
Mexico
Sonora, Mun. de Cucurpe, Cucurpe, Cerro Prieto, San Francisco Mine (Cerro Prieto Mine)

Wulfenite on Mimetite, 4.5cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Wulfenite on Mimetite 3.5cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Wulfenite & Mimetite, 4cm wide	© Mike Hopkins

Wulfenite ~5cm wide	© Joseph A. Freilich

Wulfenite on Mimetite, 4cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Wulfenite & Barite, 6cm wide	© Michael Shaw

Wulfenite, 7cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Wulfenite, 4cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

In the last part of the 20th century, this mine was exploited by a number of groups of collectors to produce many fine specimens of Wulfenite. The crystals from this mine were almost always thin and delicate and sometimes associated with little red balls of Mimetite which made them particularly attractive to collectors. Today a fine example of Wulfenites form this mine will bring thousands of dollars. Because the Wulfenite crystals from this mine are so delicate, many of the specimens have become chipped and broken.


Wulfenite
Mexico
Sonora, Mun. de Rayón, Rayón, Socorro Mine

Wulfenite on Mimetite, 9.2cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Wulfenite
Morocco
Meknès-Tafilalet Region, Khénifra Province, Midelt, Upper Moulouya lead district, Mibladene (Mibladén; Mibladan; Miblanden)

Wulfenite, 4.5cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Wulfenite, 7.5cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Wulfenite
Morocco
Oriental Region, Oujda-Angad Province, Touissit District

Wulfenite & Dolomite, 4.1cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Wulfenite on Dolomite, 5.5cm wide	© Eric Graff

Wulfenite, 10cm wide	© R. Lang 2004

Wulfenite, 7cm wide	© Greg Murray

Wulfenite, 3.5cm wide	© Kristalle and CC

Wulfenite, Wulfenite, 6cm wide	© CCURTO08

Wulfenite
Namibia
Otjikoto (Oshikoto) Region, Tsumeb, Tsumeb Mine (Tsumcorp Mine)

Wulfenite on Dolomite, 6cm tall	© Rob ++++++++

Wulfenite on Dolomite, 2cm	© Kristalle and Crys

Wulfenite on Dolomite, 10cm	© Rob ++++++++

Wulfenite on Dioptase, 4.1cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Wulfenite, Dioptase, 1.7cm	© Kristalle and Crys

Wulfenite, 5cm wide	© Rob ++++++++

Wulfenite on Dolomite, 8cm wide	© Rob ++++++++

Wulfenite, 3.5cm wide	© 2002 John H. Betts

Wulfenite, 4.2 cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Wulfenite, 3.5cm tall	© 2002 John H. Betts

Wulfenite, 4cm tall	© Rob Lavinsky

Wulfenite on Dolomite, 5.8cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Wulfenite & Mimetite, 3cm wide	© 2002 John H. Betts

Wulfenite, 4.7cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Wulfenite, 9cm wide	© Rob ++++++++

Wulfenite, 3.5cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Wulfenite on Dolomite, 4.8cm wide	© JSS

The mine at Tsumeb is not particularly known for its Wulfenite specimens, but it has produced some good ones, as you can see from the above images. Perhaps the most striking thing about the Wulfenite specimens from Tsumeb is the large number of different kinds of crystals that it has produced. Usually the pockets with Wulfenite specimens that are found are all different from each other and the pockets were always small and in most cases did not produce more than a few flats of specimens.


Wulfenite
Congo, Republic of (Brazzaville)
Kouilou Region, Mvouti Prefecture, Mvouti (M'Fouati)

Wulfenite, 1.5cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Wulfenite, 11cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Wulfenite
Slovenia
Mežica (Miess)

Wulfenite, 8.1cm wide	© Collectors Edge

Wulfenite, 3.5cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

The Wulfenite specimens from Miess have been known for perhaps 100 years and at times have been abundant. We need someone more familiar than I with these specimens to tell us about them.


Wulfenite
Sloveina
Mežica (Miess), Črna (Schwarzenbach), Helena Mine

Wulfenite, 4cm wide	© fabreminerals.com

Wulfenite, 6.8cm wide	© I. Dolinar 2008

Wulfenite & Calcite, 2.5cm wide	© I. Dolinar 2008

Wulfenite, 8.6cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Wulfenite & Calcite, 4cm wide	© I. Dolinar 2008

Wulfenite, 4cm wide	© I. Dolinar 2008

Wulfenite, 5cm wide	© Peter Haas

Wulfenite, 3.5cm wide	© Tony Peterson

Wulfenite
Slovenia
Mežica (Miess), Mežica Mine

Wulfenite, 6cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Wulfenite ~4cm wide	© 2002 Thames Valley Minerals

Wulfenite
Slovenia
Mežica (Miess), Mežica Mine

Wulfenite, 7cm wide	© Dan Weinrich Minerals

Wulfenite
Slovenia
Mežica (Miess), Staro Igrčevo Mine

Wulfenite, 1.1cm wide	© I. Dolinar 2008

Wulfenite, 2.5cm wide	© I. Dolinar 2008

Wulfenite, 2.1cm wide	© I. Dolinar 2008

Wulfenite
Slovenia
Mežica (Miess), Union Mine

Wulfenite, 40cm wide/25kg	© I. Dolinar 2009

Wulfenite, 4.6cm wide	© I. Dolinar 2008

Wulfenite, 2.5cm wide	© I. Dolinar 2008

Wulfenite, 2cm wide	© I. Dolinar 2008

Wulfenite, 6cm wide	© 2002 John H. Betts

Wulfenite
Spain
Andalusia, Granada, Albuñuelas, Barranco del Humo mines (Cortijo del Humo mines)

Wulfenite, 16x14cm	© Harjo

Wulfenite, 6x3,5cm	© Harjo

Wulfenite, 14cm	© Harjo

Wulfenite fov 0,8cm	© Harjo

Wulfenite fov 0,8cm	© Harjo

Wulfenite fov 1cm	© Harjo

Wulfenite
Spain
Andalusia, Granada, Albuñuelas, Los Lastonares mines

Wulfenite, 6,2x3,4cm	© fabreminerals.com

Wulfenite fov 0,3cm	© Christian Rewitzer

Several mines near the town of Albuñuelas, about one hour south of Granada, were mined for Galena from the 19th century up to their closure in the 1920s. During the war interest in the mines revived because the Molybdenum that was thrown on the dumps during the active mining period was in demand for the industry. Therefore hardly any dumps are visible and collecting is best done inside the mine. [personal info Paco Lopez]
Very nice specimens have come out of the mines, Wulfenite in a variety of colours (brown, red, orange, yellow, green, gray, colourless) and a wide range of different forms.
Individual crystals can get up to about 1 cm and large cabinet specimens have been found.
The names of the individual mines in the area are: Barranco del Humo mines (Cortijo del Humo mines), Cerro de la Cruz mine, Cerro de la Jara mine, Cerro del Capón mines, Cortijo del Cura mine, El Centenillo mine, La Cunilla mine (El Cuco mine), Laura mine, Los Lastonares mine and San Antonio de Padua mine.


Wulfenite (Var: Chillagite)
Spain
Catalonia, Barcelona, Vallès Oriental, Sant Fost de Campsentelles, Teresita mine

Chillagite, 2,3x2,1cm	© fabreminerals.com

Chillagite, 4,2x3,4cm	© fabreminerals.com

Classic Spanish locality for the Tungstenian variety of Wulfenite, Chillagite.


Wulfenite
USA
Cochise Co., Chiricahua Mts, California District, Rustler Park, Hilltop Mine (Hand Mine; Kasper tunnel; Gray Mine; Dunn shaft; Blacksmith shaft; Rhem adit)

Wulfenite, 6.1cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Wulfenite
USA
Arizona, Cochise Co., Dragoon Mts, Turquoise District (Courtland-Gleeson District), Gleeson, Costello Mine group (Costello claims), Defiance Mine

Wulfenite & Calcite, 8.5cm wide	© Michael Shaw

Wulfenite, 4.8cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Wulfenite, 7.5cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Wulfenite, 9.3cm wide	© John Sobolewski

Wulfenite, 9.5cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

wulfenite, 3cm wide	© 2008 Michael C. Roarke

Wulfenite, 3cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Wulfenite ~10cm tall	© Alan Goldstein

Wulfenite, 10cm wide	©

Wulfenite, 6.5cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

The specimens from this mine at one time were abundant, but because of their delicate nature, many of them have been damaged or destroyed. Many of the specimens from this mine are instantly recognizable by their pagoda shaped crystals. Many of the specimens were found with tiny white calcite crystals growing on the tops of the Wulfenite crystals. Many specimens have had the calcite crystals removed to better show the Wulfenite. Some crystals are a rather brown color and others grade almost to a shiny orange color. Of course the brighter colors are worth more to collectors.


Wulfenite
USA
Arizona, Cochise Co., Dragoon Mts, Turquoise District (Courtland-Gleeson District), Gleeson, Costello Mine group (Costello claims), Silver Bill Mine

Wulfenite, 2.2cm tall	© fabreminerals.com

Wulfenite
USA
Arizona, Cochise Co., Dragoon Mts, Turquoise District (Courtland-Gleeson District), Gleeson, Mystery Mine (Mystery Tunnel Mine; Minerals Exploration Co. property)

Wulfenite, 7cm wide	© Greg Murray

Wulfenite
USA
Cochise Co., Tombstone Hills, Tombstone District, Tombstone, Toughnut Mine (Tough Nut Mine; Northwest Mine; Hoodoo stopes; Tombstone group)

Wulfenite, 3.5cm wide	© WS-08

Wulfenite
USA
Arizona, Gila Co., Dripping Spring Mts, Banner District, Hayden area, Chilito, 79 Mine (79th Mine; Seventy-Nine Mine; Seventy-Nine property; McHur prospect)

Wulfenite, 2.4cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Wulfenite on Aurichalcite, 5.7cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Wulfenite, 2.3cm wide	© 2001 John H. Betts

Wulfenite, 1.2cm wide	© Michael Cline

Wulfenite, 2.9cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Wulfenite, 2.8cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Wulfenite, 3.3cm wide	© Ron Gyllenhammer

Wulfenite, 5cm wide	© Dan Weinrich

This mine produced a lot of Wulfenite specimens, but few of them were good. The most attractive of them were the thin yellow crystals growing on a black matrix. Most of these specimens were small.
[Rock Currier, 2009]


Wulfenite
USA
Arizona, Gila Co., Dripping Spring Mts, Banner District, Hayden area, Chilito, Keystone Gulch, Finch Mine (Barking Spider Mine), Reagan claims (Regan/Reagan Camp prospects; Lee Reagan property; Lee Reagan prospects; Kullman-McCool group)

Wulfenite & Quartz, 4.6cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Wulfenite xls to .9cm under Quartz	© Karl Volkman 2002

Wulfenite
USA
La Paz Co., Trigo Mts, Silver District, Pure Potential Mine (North Geronimo Mine)

Wulfenite, 5.8cm tall	© Rob Lavinsky

Wulfenite, 4.9cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Wulfenite
USA
Arizona, La Paz Co., Trigo Mts, Silver District, Red Cloud Mine

Wulfenite, largest xl.=1.9cm	© Dan Weinrich

Wulfenite, 3cm wide	© 2003 John H. Betts

Wulfenite crystal, .9cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Wulfenite, .9cm wide	© Chinellato Matteo

Wulfenite, 7.7cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Wulfenite, 7cm wide	© MikeHaritos

Wulfenite, 4.8cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Wulfenite, 4.2cm tall	© Rob Lavinsky

Wulfenite xls up to 2.5cm	© Rob Lavinsky

Wulfenite, 6.3cm	© Carles Millan

Wulfenite, 7.2cm wide	© Edwards Minerals

The Red Cloud mine is famous among collectors for the beauty and quality of the red Wulfenite crystals that it produced. The specimens ere never abundant and you were lucky if you could come away after two or three days collecting in the mine with two or three flats of specimens, and these were with very rare exceptions never of the best quality. For years access to the mine was more or less unrestricted and the biggest worry was if your car could make it up the sandy road to the mine. Many collectors, myself included made many trips to the mine and never came away with a really fine specimen. The Red Cloud was a very small old silver mine and almost all the specimens produced from this mine were collected by collectors after the mine has ceased operation. It consisted of a steep incline and a vertical shaft. You could get down and up it without a rope, but almost all of us who collected in the mine used a rope to help navigate the incline. It went down perhaps 150 feet to a haulage level that intersected with the bottom of the shaft. The incline continued even more steeply below the haulage level, but after a fire burnt out the wooden ladder that led to the lower level, few collectors bothered to access this part of the mine. There was little incentive to go there because almost all of the good Wulfenite specimens were to be found in the stopped areas of the vein above the haulage level. The mine was also known for how dirty it was. After collecting there for a day, you always came out impregnated with the fine red limonite dust that was everywhere in the mine. You would take off your shirt, and if you were wearing a white undershirt, the undershirt was pink. If you took off the undershirt as well, you skin was a light pink color. Sometimes it took several baths to remove this dust completely from your body and often for a day or two after, if you blew your nose, you could still see evidence of this fine red dust still in your system.

In the early part of the 20th century crystals were supplied to Wards Natural History establishment, but the first find of really good specimen, and some collectors still say the best were collected by the legendary field collector Ed Over in 1938. They were sold mostly back east by his partner Arthur Montgomery. The letters that Ed Over wrote to Arthur Montgomery about the find have been published in the Mineralogical record and they are the stuff of collecting legends. Some of the crystals he found were about two inches across, and some of the best ones, which Arthur kept in his collection will be shown above as soon as I can get my slide scanner up and running again. Other fine specimens were recovered when the main vein at the deposit was open pitted by a group of collectors and a number of fine specimens were produced from several small narrow pockets of less than 2 meters in length. "On the 9th (of February) I tried another brecciated seam that has pocketed three times... each pocket has been bigger and better. I can't compare this stuff with anything I've seen before...But I will say that these single crystals , clusters and groups are the finest wulfenite I've ever seen...the Pocket bottoms are covered with loose crystals...I think this seam is one in a million. I am shipping 8 boxes, 6 1/2 are from this place. P.S. Note large rose shaped cluster of crystals especially."¹ Today any of the better specimens would bring thousands of dollars each and some specimens would probably sell for more than $100,000. From the second find of good specimens that was mined by Wayne Thompson's group in 1973 when they open pitted the vein, I even broke down and paid several thousand dollars for a decent, specimen from this find. It was not one of the best ones, but I knew that this would be probably my last change to get a good Wulfenite from this mine and after spending more than 100 hours collecting in the dirty old hole, I wanted a good one.
1, Mineralogical Record, Vol. 11, #3, May-June 1980: The Red Cloud Mine, Gary M. Edison, p141 to 152.
[Rock Currier, 2009]


Wulfenite
USA
Arizona, Maricopa Co., Painted Rock Mts, Painted Rock District, Theba, Rowley Mine (Rawley Mine; Reliance Mine; Reliance Copper Mine; Rainbow Mine; Theba Mine; San Carlos patented claim #4524)

Wulfenite & Mimetite, 2cm wide	© Michael C. Roarke

Wulfenite & Mimetite, 4cm wide	©

Wulfenite on Barite, 8cm wide	© Anton Watzl

Wulfenite on Barite, 4.8cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Wulfenite, 8.8cm wide	© D. Richerson

Wulfenite on Barite, 5cm	© Rob Lavinsky

Wulfenite, 2cm wide	© C. Stefano '09

Wulfenite & Mimetite, 2.7cm wide	© Joseph A. Freilich

The Rawley mine was accessible to collectors for years by collectors and at one time it was difficult to find a field collector who had not visited the mine at least once. Wulfenite was an abundant mineral in the mine, but you rarely good a good specimens from there. They were characterized by being small crystals, usually growing on Baryte, but very clear and delicate. You usually came away with several flats of specimens but rarely anything very good. It was a small mine and accessed by a fairly large incline shaft. I nearly got squashed by a big boulder that fell from the ceiling less than six inches from where I was standing. I don't go back to collect there after that.
[Rock Currier 2009]


Wulfenite
USA
Arizona, Pima Co., Tucson Mts, Amole District, Saguaro National Monument, Old Yuma Mine (Yuma Mine)

Wulfenite, 2.4cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Wulfenite, 2.1cm wide	© Michael Cline

The Old Yuma Mine is located right on in the outskirts of Tucson and many years after it stopped production, the property was purchased by Dick Bideaux who could never get permission to open it up and collect in a part of the mine what was productive of specimens. He did so in his youth, and wanted to do so again, but was never able to. He fought with the government for years to patent the claim and in the end sold it to the government for a good price. We need someone like Gene Schlep who is still with us to tell us about the mine and the specimens it produced.


Wulfenite
USA
Arizona, Pinal Co., Mammoth District, Tiger, St. Anthony deposit, Mammoth-Saint Anthony Mine (Mammoth-St Anthony Mine; Mammoth Mine; St. Anthony Mine)

Wulfenite, 6cm wide	© Dan Evanich (Calminco)

Wulfenite & Mimetite, 12.4cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Wulfenite & Dioptase, FOV ~4.5cm	© Jasun McAvoy

Wulfenite & Dioptase, 5.5cm wide	© Edwards Minerals

Wulfenite, 8.5cm wide	© Dan Weinrich

Tiger produced some good Wulfenite specimens, but they are quite delicate and you rarely see one today. In the early days, before it was called Tiger, the locality was generally know as Schulz, Arizona. The mine at that time produced some nice specimens of bladed orange Wulfenite that has a sort of smoky orange color. A fine example of this king is in the collection of Harvard University.
[Rock Currier]



Wulfenite
USA
Arizona, Santa Cruz Co., Santa Rita Mts, Tyndall District, Cottonwood Canyon, Amado, Devil's Cash Box ridge, Glove Mine (Sunrise Mine), Glove Mine group (Zombie & Zeco claims; Festiago-Franklin; Blacksmith adit)

Wulfenite, 8cm tall	© 2002 John H. Betts

Wulfenite, 7.1cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Wulfenite, 6.5cm tall	© Rob Lavinsky

Wulfenite, 2.9cm wide	© WS-09

Wulfenite on Psilomelane, 3cm wide	© WS-09

Wulfenite on Psilomelane 8cm wide	© 2002 John H. Betts

Wulfenite & Calcite, 9cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Wulfenite, 5.3cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

This mine produced a large variety of Wulfenite specimens, but the specimens from this mine are dominated by specimens from a huge pocket of bladed curved brown/orange crystals that were dug by Al Haag and Dick Bideaux in the late 50s. When a "cave" full of Wulfenite was encountered at the mine, a deal was struck with the mining company to collect the specimens. Dick said they could collect the specimens as long as they did not disrupt the mining process. He told of walking on a mine tunnel that was covered with Wulfenite crystals that would crunch beneath his boots and laying in part of the pocket, collecting and handing out specimens as the miners were drilling holes near his feet to prepare for a blast that would destroy the specimens in that huge pocket of Wulfenite. He had to place some canvas in the bottom of the pocket to keep the sharp thin Wulfenite crystals from cutting his back. Several hundred good specimens were collected, but you rarely see them offered for sale today.
[Rock Currier, 2009]


Wulfenite
United States
California, Inyo County, Darwin, 1208 oxide stope

Wulfenite, 8.9cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Wulfenite largest xl 0.3mm	© Chris Tucker

The best wulfenite from Darwin was found in the roof at the far end of the 1208 stope in 1973. Most of the little orange crystals found here were less than 5 mm but some were as large as 12 mm and most of these larger crystals were not particularly attractive. Most of the specimens were clusters of wall to wall small bright orange crystals. Most of the specimens were collected by Wolfgang Mueller during one evenings collecting. He collected about 15 flats of specimens of various qualities. The best specimen is a matrix specimen 10 x 15 cm tapering to a point on one in with excellent coverage of the small crystals which are associated with micro prismatic orange, mimetite crystals which are not evident until you look closely for them. Some of the better specimens sold for as much as $400. The best specimen was available for the price of a new Chevrolet Blazer and still is.¹
1. Personal communication, Wolfgang Mueller 2000 aprox.
[Rock Currier 6 November 08]


Wulfenite
USA
Montana, Broadwater Co., Radersburg District (Cedar Plains District; Lone Mountain District), James R. Lee Mine

Wulfenite, 5.5cm wide	© Chris Tucker

Wulfenite, 4cm tall	© Chris Tucker

Wulfenite
USA
Montana, Madison Co., Silver Star District, Silver Star, Broadway Mine (Victoria Mine; Bowery; Delaware)

Wulfenite ~5cm wide	© Chris Tucker

Wulfenite, 5cm wide	© Chris Tucker

Wulfenite
USA
New Mexico, Doña Ana Co., Organ District, Stevenson-Bennett Mine (Stephenson-Bennett Mine)

Wulfenite, 4cm wide	© 2001 John H. Betts

Wulfenite, 5.2cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Wulfenite, 4.3cm wide	© 2004 Mark Massis

Wulfenite, 5cm wide	© Rob Lavinsky

Wulfenite
USA
New Mexico, Grant Co., Burro Mountains District, Tyrone Area, Tyrone Mine

Wulfenite, 3cm	© Arliguie M

Wulfenite
USA
New Mexico, Grant Co., Central District, Vanadium, Groundhog Mine, Lucky Bill Mine (Lucky Bill shaft)

Wulfenite ~6cm wide	© 2008 Peter Cristofono

Wulfenite
USA
Pennsylvania, Chester Co.Schuylkill Township, Phoenixville Mining District, Wheatley Mines

Wulfenite on Pyromorphite, ~12cm	© 2007 Peter Cristofono

Wulfenite, 4cm wide	© M.Heintzelman

The mine is much better know for its Pyromorphite crystals but I thought I would throw in a couple of pictures of the Wulfenite crystals from this famous old mine just to put thing in perspective. They rarely got to be larger than a mm or two.


Wulfenite
USA
Utah, Beaver Co., Star Range, Star and North Star Districts, Milford, Harrington-Hickory Mine (Rocky; The Gomer Shaft)

Wulfenite, 4.5cm wide	© Rockpick Legend Co.

Wulfenite
USA
Utah, Box Elder Co., Pilot Range, Lucin District, Tecoma Hill Mines

Wulfenite, 6.5cm	© Chris Tucker

]]> Rock Currier Best Minerals W Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:30:39 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,89,115739,115739#msg-115739 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,89,115739,115739#msg-115739

Willhendersonite (micro crystals)
K_0-1Ca_1.5-1.0[Al₃Si₃O₁₂]·5H₂O triclinic
Willhendersonite is a zeolite group mineral whose crystals are almost always less than a mm.


Willhendersonite
Italy
Vispi Quarry, near the town of San Venanzo, Province of Terni, Umbria, Italy.

Willhendersonite ~2cm wide	© vasco trancoso

Willhendersonite FOV 12mm	© luigi chiappino

The best locality appears to be the Vispi Quarry where trellis like twinned aggregates of white crystals up to about 3 mm. are found. “…very characteristic twinned specimens which have a very striking appearance. …the twinned aggregates (width are less than 1.0 mm in diameter) consist of crystals in three different orientations, each with faces approximately perpendicular to those of the others and arranged in most specimens to have a “trellis-like” appearance.”₁ Willhendersonite is often intergrown with radiating sprays of colorless phillipsite. Found with and formed after them are colorless spheres of thomsonite and white frosted but translucent anhedral apophyllite. Some specimens grow in vugs lined or partially lined with well-formed crystals of brown phlogopite. Melilite and other minerals are also found on some specimens. The minerals are found in vugs in quarternary basic potassic basalts. The mineral is fairly abundant in the quarry, or at least was at one time and I think that everyone who wanted a specimen of the mineral could get one for a reasonable price (less than $50). It doesn’t take but a few hundred specimens of a micro white zeolite to saturate the market. However the number of minerals associated with willhendersonite at this locality and their well crystallized nature means that micromounters will be happy to have a number of different specimens from this locality, each showing different associations. Just looking at the two specimens in my collection makes me realize I could probably find at least a half dozen more that I would not mind having.
1. Willhendersonite, a new zeolite isostructural with chabazite, Donald R. Peacor, Pete J. Dunn, William B. Simmons, Ekkehart Tillmanns and Reinhard X. Fisher; American Mineralogist, Volume 60, pages 186-189, 1984.


Willhendersonite
Germany
Rhineland-Palatinate, Eifel Mts., Mayen, Ettringen, Ettringer Belleberg Mt.

Willhendersonite FOV 3mm	© Stephan Wolfsried

Willhendersonite FOV 2mm	© Stephan Wolfsried

Willhendersonite FOV 2mm	© Stephan Wolfsried

The willhendersonite found near Mayen is described as “…clear well-formed crystals averaging 60x30x20 μm in cavities in a limestone xenolith from a basalt associated with gismondine, chabazite, phillipsite, thomsonite, ettringite and thaumasite.”₁
1. Willhendersonite, a new zeolite isostructural with chabazite, Donald R. Peacor, Pete J. Dunn, William B. Simmons, Ekkehart Tillmanns and Reinhard X. Fisher; American Mineralogist, Volume 60, pages 186-189, 1984.
[Rock Currier 6 November 08]]]> Rock Currier Best Minerals W Thu, 06 Nov 2008 20:08:39 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,89,115501,115501#msg-115501 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,89,115501,115501#msg-115501

Wegscheiderite
Na₅(CO³)(HCO₃)₃ triclinic
USA
Wyoming, Sweetwater County, Green River Formation, Grierson Well #1
“In the Grierson well the new mineral is found at a depth of 1940’ as bladed crystals as much as 5 cm long in massive halite.”₁ The mineral was also found in the drill cores of two other wells where the wells penetrated the Pilkins Peak member of the green River Formation…of middle Eocene age. Trona, nahcolite and halite are also present in these drill cores. Thin sections show that Trona is replaced by Wegscheiderite, which is in turn replaced by halite. The specimen pictured in the American Mineralogist in all its black and white etched glory is rare because no one has bothered to dig down 1940 feet to the layer where the drill core intersected it. Chemically the mineral is soluble and the picture shows freestanding rounded etched crystals almost certainly because the water used in the drilling operation dissolved much of the enclosing halite. The material is almost certainly abundant in this layer and is almost certainly available in some tonnage. The mineral was first found in the Perkins Well No. 1 that is located in the NE quarter Section 32, Township. 15 North, Range 108 W in Sweetwater County where it occurs as a 3-inch stratum (depth 1609’6” to 1609’9”) colored reddish brown by approximately 4 percent organic matter. The Grierson Well # 1 where the largest crystals were found 12.5 miles north west of the Perkins Well #1. 1 The mineral has also been found in the Piceance Basin, Garfield and Rio Blanco Counties, Colorado and in the Biyang Basin, Henan Province, China. The mineral was named after Rudolph Wegscheiderite who first synthesized the compound in 1913.

When Dick Gains was working on the 8th edition of Dana he was looking up the dates for the birth and death of the people for whom the mineral had been named. He could not find any information on Wegscheider. He got on the internet and located the phone numbers of four people named Wegscheider who he thought might be descendants of Wegscheider who were living in Wyoming which was Wegscheider’s home state. The first person that answered the phone was named Wegscheider who was in his 90’s and yes, he was a geologist and yes, he knew the people who had written the description of the mineral. They aparently had not bothered to tell him however that they had named the mineral after him and he was surprised and a little irritated that they had not bothered to tell him about it.₂
1. Wegscheiderite (Na₂CO₃)●3NaHCO₃, a New Saline Mineral from the Green River Formation, Wyoming, American Mineralogist, Vol. 48, 1963, p 400, Joseph J. Fahey & K. P. Yorks, U.S. Geological Survey, Washington, D.C. and Allied Chemical Corporation, Syracuse, New York.
2. Personal communication, Richard Gains, about 1990s.
[Rock Currier, 5 November 08]


Wegscheiderite
Russia
Northern Region, Murmanskaja Oblast, Kola Peninsula, Lovozero Massif, Alluaiv Mt.

Wegscheiderite FOV 0.5cm	© 2008, J. Weissman

Wegscheiderite has been found as coarse-grained specimens with individual crystals up to 1 cm in hyperagpaitic pegmatoids at deep levels of the Mt. Alluaiv mine. Associated minerals were cryolite, villiaumite, kogarkoite and others.₁
1. Lovozero Massif, Igor V. Pekov, p.428 ISBN 5-900395-27-8
[Rock Currier, 23 December 08]]]> Rock Currier Best Minerals W Wed, 05 Nov 2008 11:29:18 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,89,115400,115400#msg-115400 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,89,115400,115400#msg-115400

Weddellite rare species collections
Ca(C₂O₄)●2H₂O tetragonal
The mineral was first discovered in sediments dredged from 4434 to 5008 meters in the Weddell Sea near Antarctica. The crystals were extremely sharp and range in size from 0.2 x 0.1 x 0.15 mm.₁ Fine transparent sharp amber colored micro crystals associated with colorless fluorite are found in England at the Milltown Quarry, but the best crystals by an oder of magnitude are those from Oregon, USA. There are more than 15 other localities and many of them are associated with organic remains in sedimentary settings. Frondell & Prien (1942 noted that weddellite was very abundant in human urinary calculi (kidney stones).₃
1. Canadian Mineralogist, Vol. 21, p.503-511, Weddellite from Biggs, Oregon, USA, J.A. Mandarino & Nobel V. Witt
2. Handbook of Mineralogy, Volume V, , Anthony, Bideaux, Bladh, Nichols, p750
3. Frondel, C. & Prien, E. L. (1942); Carbonate-apatite and hydroxyl-apatite in urinary calculi. Science 95, 431.


Weddellite
UK
England, Derbyshire, Ashover, Milltown, Milltown Quarry

Weddellite xl. 0.75mm on Fluorite	© Steve Rust

We need someone to tell us about the Weddellite specimens from this locality.


Weddellite
United States
Oregon, Sherman County, West of Biggs, Fulton Canyon Quarry, Isami (Sammi) Tsubota jasper mine

Weddellite xl ~3cm tall	©

It would appear that this locality produced by far the largest and most agree the best crystals of weddellite. “Crystals up to 5x5x40 mm occur in cavities, often a single crystal in a cavity. They are usually tan in color but sometimes have white fibrous aggregates of weddellite growing on them.”₁ The crystals are dull to vitreous in luster and often have a dark, resinous color containing an undetermined organic material. “Typically as isolated crystals, with {011} elongated along [010], terminated b {001}, to 4 cm; commonly corroded.₂ A small hand specimen at the Friends of Mineralogy symposium at Kelso, Washington in 2003 in one of the display cases that had a small vug containing a radiating spray of tan needle like crystals up to about a cm.

Good specimens of weddellite from this locality are rare and an educated guess is that there may be less than 100 of them produced over the years the quarry was active. The number may be as few as a dozen or two. It is or was found in gas pockets within jasper. Organic material in the sediment in a shallow lake decomposed, giving off methane gas that created bubbles in the sediment. Some tiny rhombic appearing mineral formed in the bottom part of the cavity followed by quartz crystals. Most of the rhombic material has been dissolved out leaving salt-sized holes. Weddellite formed on top of the quartz crystals that lined the cavities and cemented the sediment into chert or jasper. The area is famous in the rockhound community for the attractively banded jasper that is found here. There are about 20 localities where it is found and it is known to the lapidary/rockhound crowd as Biggs Jasper. A fine specimen of the jasper can bring hundreds of dollars. The jasper from the Fulton Canyon quarry did not have as good a pattern as some of the other localities, but so far, the Fulton Canyon quarry is the only one where weddellite crystals have been found. Most of the weddellite was found while they were working this quarry for jasper in the 1980's. There never were very many specimens. Nobel Witt had the best and most. A 1 inch crystal is exceptional. There is only one specimen in the Rice Museum in Hillsboro, Oregon. Nobel Witt was the man who collected most of the specimens and is listed as a co-author on the Canadian Mineralogist article about the mineral. He died more than ten years ago and part of his collection was donated to the Seattle University. Some references state that the locality was flooded by the Dalles Dam, but this is not correct. The quarry that produces the weddellite is high and dry. The jasper bed in the Fulton Canyon quarry is situated between two Columbia River Basalt flows that are about 15 million years old. Isami (Sammi) Tsubota is the owner/operator of the quarry and is 93 years old and does not get around much anymore. The quarry is inactive but has "No Trespassing" signs and the locals sometimes shoot first and ask questions later if they find anyone on their land.
[Rock Currier & Rudy Tschernich (curator Rice Museum, Hillsboro, Oregon 7November 08]]]> Rock Currier Best Minerals W Sat, 08 Nov 2008 10:02:04 +0000 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,89,115395,115395#msg-115395 http://www.mindat.org/forum.php?read,89,115395,115395#msg-115395

Wawayandaite
Ca₁₂Mn₄₂+B₂Be₁₈Si₁₂O₄₆(OH,Cl)₃₀ monoclinic
USA
New Jersey, Sussex Co., Franklin Mining District, Franklin

There appears to be no image of this mineral available but we are working on that.

The type specimen was discovered by Herb Oboda (a New Jersey mineral dealer) in the Lazard Cahn collection when it was being sold by Gene Schlep. The specimen was labeled Margarosanite with Friedelite, Willemite and Calcite, Franklin, Sussex Co., New Jersey. The Wayayandaite was apparently thought to be Margarosanite. The collection had been given to Northwestern University in Chicago after Lazard Cahn died. His micromount collection went to Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. Northwestern University needed an expensive piece of analytical equipment so they sold the collection through Gene Schlep and Dick Kelly. Herb bought a piece of strawberry red freedelite 2x3x ¾ inch that has a square inch patch of a white pearly platy material on one side of the specimen. Herb Oboda thought it might be a new mineral, which was subsequently confirmed by Pete Dunn of the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, DC.¹ The specimen was eventually returned to Herb Oboda minus some of the Wawayandaite which was used in the various analysis. The specimen is thought to be the holotype specimen. The mineral was eventually given the name of Wawayandaite.² Considerable ill feelings were created over the ownership of this specimen and its subsequent return to Herb Oboda. The specimen and various correspondence about it is now in the collection of Peter Chen.
1. American Mineralogist Vol 75 p.405-408. 2. Personal communication from Herb Obodda, ~2001.
[Rock Currier May 2009]]]> Rock Currier Best Minerals W Sun, 17 May 2009 23:45:50 +0000