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Nanisivik Mine, Nanisivik, Baffin Island, Nunavut Territory, Canada

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This is a Precambrian Mississippi Valley-type massive lead zinc sulfide deposit, hosted in carbonate rock, that was subsequently reworked. Almost all the marcasite pseudomorphed to pyrite. Blades, twins and even fivelings are now pyrite. The incredibly diverse forms of pyrite are unique to this locality. Owned by Nanisivik Mines, Ltd. and operated from 1976 to 2002.



References:
- Rocks & Minerals: 62: 115.
- Gait, R.I. et al. (1990): "Minerals of the Nanisivik mine Baffin Island Northwest Territories (Canada)." Mineralogical Record, 21(6), 515-534.
- Symons, D.T.A., Symons, T.B., and Sangster, T.F. (2000): Paleomagnetism of the Society Cliffs dolostone and the age of the Nanisivik zinc deposits, Baffin Island, Canada. Mineralium Deposita 35, 672-682.

- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanisivik_Mine





 Map Reference: 72°0'N , 85°0'W

This locality information is for reference purposes only. You should never attempt to visit any sites listed in mindat.org without first ensuring that you have the permission of the land and/or mineral rights holders for access and that you are aware of all safety precautions necessary.



Mineral List:
  		•  Anglesite
    PbSO
     
    4
    Reference: [MinRec 21:533]
  		•  Ankerite
    Ca(Fe
    2+
     
    		 ,Mg,Mn
    2+
     
    		)(CO
     
    3
    		)
     
    2
    Reference: [Specimen in personal collection - Bill Morgenstern]
  		•  Baryte
    BaSO
     
    4
    Reference: [MinRec 21:533]
  		•  Bianchite
    (Zn,Fe)SO
     
    4
    		·6H
     
    2
    		O
    Reference: [MinRec 21:533]
  		•  Boyleite
    (Zn,Mg)SO
     
    4
    		·4H
     
    2
    		O
    Reference: [MinRec 21:533]
  		•  Calcite
    CaCO
     
    3
    Habit: scalenohedra to several cm
    Colour: yellow
    Reference: [MinRec 21:533]
    Site Photo
    Nanisivik Mine, Nanisivik, Baffin Island, Nunavut Territory, Canada
    © 2002 John H. Betts
  		•  Chalcanthite
    CuSO
     
    4
    		·5H
     
    2
    		O
    Reference: [MinRec 21:533]
  		•  'Chalcedony'
    Reference: [No reference listed]
  		•  Chalcopyrite
    CuFeS
     
    2
    Habit: simple sphenoidal xls to a few mm
    Colour: yellow
    Fluorescence: none
    Reference: [MinRec 21:533]
  		•  Copiapite
    Fe
    2+
     
    		Fe
    3+
    4
    		[OH|(SO
     
    4
    		)
     
    3
    		]
     
    2
    		 · 20H
     
    2
    		O
    Reference: [MinRec 21:533]
  		•  Covellite
    CuS
    Reference: [MinRec 21:533]
  		•  Dolomite
    CaMg(CO
     
    3
    		)
     
    2
    Habit: Simple rhombs to several cm
    Colour: white
    Description: Pyrite even pseudomorphed the dolomite!
    Reference: [MinRec 21:533]; Symons, D.T.A., Symons, T.B., and Sangster, T.F. (2000): Mineralium Deposita 35, 672-682.]
    Site Photo
    Nanisivik Mine, Nanisivik, Baffin Island, Nunavut Territory, Canada
    © Cindy Hasler www.canadianminerals.net
  		•  Galena
    PbS
    Habit: melted cubes
    Colour: grey
    Fluorescence: none
    Description: The Lead is surprisingly rare for a Mississippi lead zinc deposit
    Reference: [MinRec 21:533]; Symons, D.T.A., Symons, T.B., and Sangster, T.F. (2000): Mineralium Deposita 35, 672-682.]
  		•  Goethite
    α-Fe
    3+
     
    		O(OH)
    Reference: [MinRec 21:533]
  		•  Greenockite
    CdS
    Reference: [MinRec 21:533]
  		•  Gunningite
    (Zn,Mn)SO
     
    4
    		·H
     
    2
    		O
    Reference: [MinRec 21:533]
  		•  Gypsum
    Ca[SO
     
    4
    		] · 2H
     
    2
    		O
    Reference: [MinRec 21:533]
  		•  Hexahydrite
    MgSO
     
    4
    		·6H
     
    2
    		O
    Reference: [MinRec 21:533]
  		•  Ice
    H
     
    2
    		O
    Description: Crystal pockets are full of ice. One mines the rock around the ice and then lets the ice melt to reveal the treasures
    Reference: [MinRec 21:519, 21:522, 21:524]
  		•  Jarosite
    KFe
    3+
     
     
    3
    		[(OH)
     
    3
    		|SO
     
    4
    		]
     
    2
    Reference: [MinRec 21:533]
  		•  Marcasite
    FeS
     
    2
    Habit: Wedge shaped prisms to a few mm
    Colour: greeny yellow
    Fluorescence: none
    Description: The only surviving Marcasite is the reverse epitaxi of the pyrite on marcasite. Small cubes of pyrite with pyritohedral modifications have marcasites in epitaxi only on the cube faces.
    Reference: [MinRec 21:533]
  		•  Melanterite
    FeSO
     
    4
    		·7H
     
    2
    		O
    Reference: [MinRec 21:533]
  		•  Pyrite
    FeS
     
    2
    Habit: Quite variable and quite unique, forms present: cube, octo, dodec, trapezohedron, pyritohedron.
    Colour: yellow
    Fluorescence: none
    Description: Much of the pyrite pseudomorphs marcasite and started in epitaxi on the marcasite before replacing it. This yields bizarre and unique habits
    Reference: [Symons, D.T.A., Symons, T.B., and Sangster, T.F. (2000): Mineralium Deposita 35, 672-682.]
    Site Photo
    Nanisivik Mine, Nanisivik, Baffin Island, Nunavut Territory, Canada
    © 2002 John H. Betts
  		•  Pyrrhotite
    Fe
     
    7
    		S
     
    8
    		, (-4M), also given as Fe
     
    1-x
    		S (x = 0 - 0.2)
    Reference: [MinRec 21:533]
  		•  Quartz
    SiO
     
    2
    Habit: Terminated prisms to several cm
    Colour: clear to smokey
    Fluorescence: none
    Reference: [MinRec 21:533]
  		•  Rozenite
    FeSO
     
    4
    		·4H
     
    2
    		O
    Reference: [MinRec 21:533]
  		•  Siegenite
    from CoNi
     
    2
    		S
     
    4
    		 to NiCo
     
    2
    		S
     
    4
    Habit: Octos and spinel twins to a few mm
    Colour: grey
    Fluorescence: none
    Description: Every Mississippi Pb Zn ought to have a thyospinel
    Reference: []
  		•  Sphalerite
    (Zn,Fe
    2+
     
    		)S
    Habit: complex tetrahedral twins to a cm
    Colour: brown black
    Fluorescence: none
    Description: Shalerite is the major ore
    Reference: [MinRec 21:533]; Symons, D.T.A., Symons, T.B., and Sangster, T.F. (2000): Mineralium Deposita 35, 672-682.]
    Site Photo
    Nanisivik Mine, Nanisivik, Baffin Island, Nunavut Territory, Canada
    © Rob Lavinsky
  		•  Sulphur
    S
     
    8
    Reference: [MinRec 21:533]
  		•  Wurtzite
    (Zn,Fe)S
    Reference: [MinRec 21:533]; Symons, D.T.A., Symons, T.B., and Sangster, T.F. (2000): Mineralium Deposita 35, 672-682.]
  		•  Zincocopiapite
    ZnFe
    3+
    4
    		[OH|(SO
     
    4
    		)
     
    3
    		]
     
    2
    		 · 18H
     
    2
    		O
    Reference: [Mineralogical Record: 21: 533.]


    31 entries listed. 30 valid minerals.

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    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2009. Jobs in Nunavut Territory, Canada Site Map. Locality, mineral & photograph data are the copyright of the individuals who submitted them.Further information contact the Site hosted & developed by Jolyon Ralph. Mindat.org is an online information resource dedicated to providing free mineralogical information to all. Mindat relies on the contributions of hundreds of members and supporters. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register. Current server date and time: 17th Nov 2009 15:16:48