Passaic Pit, Sterling Hill, Ogdensburg, Franklin Mining District, Sussex Co., New Jersey, USA

Harold,

No problem. Post whenever. We collected malachite there back inn the early 90's. It was altering out of primary sulfides in a veinlet in the marble.

Cool, yeah, I've seen it there for years, just finally found a little piece worth paying the fee for (actually it was so small it didnt register...) :)

Here is a specimen (3554) I picked up at the SHMM garage sale last Saturday. It is pyrite, chalcopyrite and magnetite (very magnetic and black streak) in calcite. The label just says Sterling Hill, but when I checked out at the register, an elderly fellow on the staff mentioned he remembered collecting it and kinda gestured out toward the south. With all that was going on a failed to ask specifically where it came from, but seemed it might have been a boulder in the Passaic Pit. So, wondering if anyone remembers so it can be properly attributed before posting to the gallery.

Also attached is a specimen (3553) I picked up the same place that didnt have a label but I recognized its Passaic Pit origin because I bought another just like it that did have a label. On both specimen the mineral forms small spherical rosettes or radiating aggregates of tiny platy crystals, with bright broken surfaces and seems to match very well Dunn's description of chalcophanite. However, the labeled specimen says it is hetaerolite. I dont have a lot of experience with these older Mn oxides so would appreciate input on the species before posting. I will take a microphoto of the aggregates soon.
Thanks

Here are the microphotos. Tough to do, combination of black with specular reflections makes them come out a bit garish. Anyway, the FOV of 3553bst is 5.5mm and the FOV of 3553cst is 2.39mm. The overall bluishness fits the description of chalcophanite as well.

Harold, the pic's are indeed chalcophanite crystal clusters. Nice photos.
Steve.