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Smallcleugh Mine, Nenthead, Alston Moor District, North Pennines, North and Western Region (Cumberland), Cumbria, England, UK
Detailed Mineral List:
| Ankerite |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Formula: | Ca(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2 | |
| Colour: | White to creamy | |
| Description: | Ankerite is the most common constituent of the metasomatic deposits in this mine and many others in the orefield. The colour is white-creamy in unoxidized specimens showing typical saddle shaped crystals to 1cm. Oxidised examples from the Nenthead mines varies in colour from pale creamy brown and yellow to black. | |
| Reference: | Dunham Sir K C, Geology of the Northern Pennine Orefield, Vol 1, Tyne to Stainmore. HMSO | |
| Photo: © HW. Ankerite from Smallcleugh Mine, Nenthead, Alston Moor District, North Pennines, North and Western Region, Cumbria, England, UK | ||
| Annabergite |  | |
| Formula: | Ni3(AsO4)2 · 8H2O | |
| Colour: | white to very pale green | |
| Description: | Some annabergite from this mine is Sb enriched. (Pale green translucent balls and small botryoidal masses, where at first thought also to be annabergite, furthere anaysis has found Mg, Ni and Ca) | |
| Reference: | Sb rich annabergite Natural History Museum London, and S Rust Collection. | |
| Photo: © S Rust. Annabergite from Smallcleugh Mine, Nenthead, Alston Moor District, North Pennines, North and Western Region, Cumbria, England, UK | ||
| Aragonite |  | |
| Formula: | CaCO3 | |
| Colour: | Colourless to white | |
| Description: | Forming radial acicular white colourless crystals to 0.5mm, and small mats of crystals to 1cm+. | |
| Reference: | S.Rust collection | |
| Photo: © Steve Rust. Aragonite from Smallcleugh Mine, Nenthead, Alston Moor District, North Pennines, North and Western Region, Cumbria, England, UK | ||
| Baryte |  | |
| Formula: | BaSO4 | |
| Colour: | Colourless to tinted yellow | |
| Description: | The Smallcluegh Mine lays mostly out side the Baryte Zone. There for baryte is not at all common from the mine, and may be considered rare. Baryte from this mine is restricted to very few areas forming as a primary and secondary mineral. | |
| Reference: | S.Rust Collection | |
| Photo: © S Rust. Baryte from Smallcleugh Mine, Nenthead, Alston Moor District, North Pennines, North and Western Region, Cumbria, England, UK | ||
| Beaverite-(Cu) |  | |
| Formula: | Pb(Fe3+,Cu)3(SO4)2(OH)6 | |
| Colour: | Yellow to brown | |
| Description: | Usually as a yellow powdery crust to seveal cms, and as pustules to 4mm dia. Very rarely forms sparkling vitreous crystal druses composed of minute yellow to yellow-brown micro-crystals | |
| Reference: | S.Rust Collection | |
| Photo: © Steve Rust. Beaverite-(Cu) from Smallcleugh Mine, Nenthead, Alston Moor District, North Pennines, North and Western Region, Cumbria, England, UK | ||
| Bottinoite |  | |
| Formula: | Ni2+[Sb(OH)6]2 · 6H2O | |
| Colour: | Light blue-green | |
| Description: | Bottinoite from the Smallcleugh Mine is comparable with the same mineral from Hendra Fellen Mine in Mid-Wales in terms of crystal form, although only found on 7 specimens from Smallcleugh Mine. | |
| Reference: | Nat Hist Museum London and S.Rust collection | |
| Photo: © Steve Rust. Bottinoite from Smallcleugh Mine, Nenthead, Alston Moor District, North Pennines, North and Western Region, Cumbria, England, UK | ||
| Brianyoungite |  | |
| Formula: | Zn3(CO3,SO4)(OH)4 | |
| Colour: | White | |
| Description: | Specimens of hydrozincite from this mine should be tested to confirm that they are not brianyoungite. Some of the brianyoungite crystals associated with a small nickel rich area in the mine are tinted pale light green, possibly due to a very small amount of Ni in the chemical structure. It only takes a very very small amount of Ni to give some minerals the green colouration. | |
| Reference: | Min.Mag.: 57:665-670. | |
| Photo: © Steve Rust. Brianyoungite from Smallcleugh Mine, Nenthead, Alston Moor District, North Pennines, North and Western Region, Cumbria, England, UK | ||
| Brochantite |  | |
| Formula: | Cu4(SO4)(OH)6 | |
| Colour: | Emerald green | |
| Description: | As emerald green scattered micro-crystals and small thin drusy crusts covering areas to 1cm +. Associated with gypsum, beverite-Cu, schulenbergite, and possible serpierite. | |
| Reference: | University Manchester Museum, and NHM London | |
| Photo: © Steve Rust. Brochantite from Smallcleugh Mine, Nenthead, Alston Moor District, North Pennines, North and Western Region, Cumbria, England, UK | ||
| Calcite |  | |
| Formula: | CaCO3 | |
| Colour: | Translucent white to colourless | |
| Description: | A common mineral throughout the mine, forming crystals to 3 cms in diameter displaying major shallow pyramid faces with minor development of the prism faces. Commonly forming crystals richly scattered over an ankerite matrix. An area near the Bogg Shaft, from a brecciated area has in the past furnished cabinet size specimens of typical calcite crystals to 2.5cm dia. | |
| Reference: | Collected by many collectors over many years . | |
| Photo: © Steve Rust. Calcite from Smallcleugh Mine, Nenthead, Alston Moor District, North Pennines, North and Western Region, Cumbria, England, UK | ||
| Cerussite |  | |
| Formula: | PbCO3 | |
| Colour: | White | |
| Description: | Occurs as a minute crystalline alteration of galena,as micro prismatic, and bladed twinned crystals <0.4mm. | |
| Reference: | NHM London & S. Rust Collection. | |
| Photo: © Steve Rust. Cerussite from Smallcleugh Mine, Nenthead, Alston Moor District, North Pennines, North and Western Region, Cumbria, England, UK | ||
| Chalcanthite ? | ||
| Formula: | CuSO4 · 5H2O | |
| Description: | No analysis written or collector reference has been found to substantiate the occurrence of chalcanthite from this mine. Possibly blue-green sulphates where thought to be this species. | |
| Reference: | No reference listed | |
| Chalcopyrite |  | |
| Formula: | CuFeS2 | |
| Colour: | Metallic yellow with various tarnish colours. | |
| Description: | Occasionally found as crystals to 0.8cm on annkerite, and has been seen from the dumps in crystals to 0.5cm richly investing an ankerite matrix to 10cm x 7cm. | |
| Reference: | Collected by many collectors. | |
| Photo: © Steve Rust. Chalcopyrite from Smallcleugh Mine, Nenthead, Alston Moor District, North Pennines, North and Western Region, Cumbria, England, UK | ||
| Cuprite |  | |
| Formula: | Cu2O | |
| Colour: | Red to maroon | |
| Description: | So far only found on a few micro-specimens derived from a specimen collected in Nov 2010. | |
| Reference: | S.Rust Collection | |
| Photo: © Steve Rust. Cuprite from Smallcleugh Mine, Nenthead, Alston Moor District, North Pennines, North and Western Region, Cumbria, England, UK | ||
| Dolomite |  | |
| Formula: | CaMg(CO3)2 | |
| Colour: | White to colourless, yellow. | |
| Description: | Most of the specimens which have been classified as dolomite are actually ankerite. But dolomite has been found as Zn/Mg enriched crystals associated with a nickel berring area in the mine. Tests should be under take to confirm that a specimen is dolomite. | |
| Reference: | Dunham, Sir K C, Geology of the Northern Pennine Orefield, Vol 1 Tyne to Stainmore. HMSO. Zn/Mg rich dolomite S.Rust Collection | |
| Photo: © Richard De Nul. Dolomite from Smallcleugh Mine, Nenthead, Alston Moor District, North Pennines, North and Western Region, Cumbria, England, UK | ||
| Epsomite ? |  | |
| Formula: | MgSO4 · 7H2O | |
| Description: | So far no written analysis or collector reference has been found to confirm the occurrence at this mine | |
| Photo: © HW. Epsomite from Smallcleugh Mine, Nenthead, Alston Moor District, North Pennines, North and Western Region, Cumbria, England, UK | ||
| Fluorite |  | |
| Formula: | CaF2 | |
| Description: | Fluorite from the Nenthead mines dose not form in the abundance it dose in the Weardale area., being restricted to some localised areas in the mines of the Nenthead area. Judging from dump material above the Smallcleugh mine shallow shafts penetrating the sandstone members, fluorite appears to be ‘more abundant’. Although all the crystals so far collected are small from the sandstone horizons. | |
| Reference: | [J.Ralph Collected] | |
| Photo: © Peter Haas. Fluorite from Smallcleugh Mine, Nenthead, Alston Moor District, North Pennines, North and Western Region, Cumbria, England, UK | ||
| Galena |  | |
| Formula: | PbS | |
| Colour: | Grey | |
| Description: | Cubic and cubo-octahedral crystals to 10cms have reputedly been collected from the large cavities in the replacement ore body; crystals are common in the 2.5cm range. | |
| Reference: | Dunham Sir K C, Geology of the Northern Pennine Orefield, Vol 1, Tyne to Stainmore. HMSO | |
| Photo: © Don Rust. Galena from Smallcleugh Mine, Nenthead, Alston Moor District, North Pennines, North and Western Region, Cumbria, England, UK | ||
| Goslarite | ||
| Formula: | ZnSO4 · 7H2O | |
| Reference: | Manchester University Museum | |
| Gypsum |  | |
| Formula: | CaSO4 · 2H2O | |
| Colour: | Colourless to white | |
| Description: | Found in most areas in the mine. | |
| Reference: | Found by many collectors | |
| Photo: © De Nul, Richard. Gypsum from Smallcleugh Mine, Nenthead, Alston Moor District, North Pennines, North and Western Region, Cumbria, England, UK | ||
| Hydromagnesite |  | |
| Formula: | Mg5(CO3)4(OH)2 · 4H2O | |
| Colour: | White | |
| Description: | Forms white balls to 1mm and botryoidal area to several mm. | |
| Reference: | NHM London & S.Rust Collection; | |
| Photo: © Steve Rust. Hydromagnesite from Smallcleugh Mine, Nenthead, Alston Moor District, North Pennines, North and Western Region, Cumbria, England, UK | ||
| Hydroniumjarosite ? | ||
| Formula: | (H3O)Fe3+3(SO4)2(OH)6 | |
| Colour: | Light Yellow | |
| Reference: | SEM image on Mineral Paradice Webb Site. This appears to be Hydroniumjarosite (priv com David Green); | |
| Hydrozincite |  | |
| Formula: | Zn5(CO3)2(OH)6 | |
| Colour: | White | |
| Description: | Many so called hydrozincite specimens from this mine should be tested to confirm that it is not brianyoungite. | |
| Reference: | No reference listed | |
| Photo: © Ian Jones. Hydrozincite from Smallcleugh Mine, Nenthead, Alston Moor District, North Pennines, North and Western Region, Cumbria, England, UK | ||
| Jarosite | ||
| Formula: | KFe3+ 3(SO4)2(OH)6 | |
| Description: | SEM image on Mineral Paradice Webb Site. See Hydroniumjarosite (priv com David Green) | |
| Reference: | Mineral Paradice Webb Site | |
| Ktenasite |  | |
| Formula: | Zn(Cu,Zn)4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 6H2O | |
| Colour: | Blue-green | |
| Description: | All of the ktenasite from this mine should be tested to see if it is ktenasite or the Zn analog of ktenasite. | |
| Reference: | Livingstone, A. (1991): The zinc analogue of ktenasite from Smallcleugh and Brownley Hill mines, Nenthead, Cumbria. J. Russel Soc. 4, 13-15. | |
| Photo: © Steve Rust. Ktenasite from Smallcleugh Mine, Nenthead, Alston Moor District, North Pennines, North and Western Region, Cumbria, England, UK | ||
| Malachite | ||
| Formula: | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 | |
| Colour: | Green | |
| Description: | Found as hemispheres <0.5mm on and near crystals of chalcopyrite | |
| Reference: | [] | |
| Melanterite |  | |
| Formula: | FeSO4 · 7H2O | |
| Colour: | Pale green to almost white | |
| Description: | All though no analysis has been found to confirm that melanterite occurs at the Smallcleugh mine it is probably a very good bet that it dose. | |
| Reference: | No reference listed | |
| Photo: © HW. Melanterite from Smallcleugh Mine, Nenthead, Alston Moor District, North Pennines, North and Western Region, Cumbria, England, UK | ||
| Millerite |  | |
| Formula: | NiS | |
| Colour: | Metallic yellow | |
| Description: | Very rare restricted to 2 or 3 areas in the mine, usually found as micro-acicular crystals in various states of alteration to Ni secondary mineral. | |
| Reference: | NHM London & S.Rust Collection | |
| Photo: © Steve Rust. Millerite from Smallcleugh Mine, Nenthead, Alston Moor District, North Pennines, North and Western Region, Cumbria, England, UK | ||
| Namuwite |  | |
| Formula: | (Zn,Cu)4(SO4)(OH)6 · 4H2O | |
| Colour: | Light blue-green | |
| Description: | Found in one restricted area in the mine, in the Second Sun Vein. | |
| Reference: | Handbook of Mineralogy - Anthony, Bideaux, Bladh, Nichols. Livingstone, A., Bridges, T. F. and Bevins, R. E. (1990): Schulenbergite and namuwite from Smallcleugh Mine, Nenthead, Cumbria. J. Russell Soc. 3, 23-24.; American Mineralogist, Volume 81, pages 238-243, 1996 | |
| Photo: © Steve Rust. Namuwite from Smallcleugh Mine, Nenthead, Alston Moor District, North Pennines, North and Western Region, Cumbria, England, UK | ||
| Oxyplumboroméite | ||
| Formula: | Pb2Sb2O6O | |
| Colour: | Dirty yellow | |
| Description: | Identified while investigating small nickel bering ankerite veinlets in the mine. Forms as very rare dull yellow pseudomorphs after probable ullmannite crystals. | |
| Reference: | S. Rust collection | |
| Pyrite |  | |
| Formula: | FeS2 | |
| Colour: | Pale metallic yelow, commonly tarnished | |
| Description: | Crystals usually small <5mm cubic, although crystals have been found to over 2cm. And as Hemispherical forms to 1cm and small botryoidal groups. | |
| Reference: | Collected by many collectors. | |
| Photo: © Steve Rust. Pyrite from Smallcleugh Mine, Nenthead, Alston Moor District, North Pennines, North and Western Region, Cumbria, England, UK | ||
| Quartz |  | |
| Formula: | SiO2 | |
| Colour: | Translucent white to colourless | |
| Description: | A common mineral forming rare veins to a few cms wide, and crystals to 1cm. Quartz from this mine normally only develop the pyramid faces with very little growth of the prism. Fine beds of pyramidal colourless to white quartz have been noted lining replacement cavities to 20cms. | |
| Reference: | Collected by many collectors | |
| Photo: © Steve Rust. Quartz from Smallcleugh Mine, Nenthead, Alston Moor District, North Pennines, North and Western Region, Cumbria, England, UK | ||
| Schulenbergite |  | |
| Formula: | (Cu,Zn)7(SO4,CO3)2(OH)10 · 3H2O | |
| Colour: | Light blue-green | |
| Description: | Crystals are minute hexagonal <0.2mm, sometimes forming small aggregates to a few mm. | |
| Reference: | Livingstone, A., Bridges, T. F. and Bevins, R. E. (1990): Schulenbergite and namuwite from Smallcleugh Mine, Nenthead, Cumbria. J. Russell Soc. 3, 23-24. | |
| Photo: © Steve Rust. Schulenbergite from Smallcleugh Mine, Nenthead, Alston Moor District, North Pennines, North and Western Region, Cumbria, England, UK | ||
| Serpierite |  | |
| Formula: | Ca(Cu,Zn)4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 3H2O | |
| Colour: | Light blue-green | |
| Description: | Forms micro-lath-like crystals. Some supposed serpierite specimens appear not to be this species, test are under way to prove or disprove this assumption | |
| Reference: | Bridges, T,F.(1987): Serpierite and develline from the North Pennine Orefield. Proceedings of the Yorkshire Geo Soc. 46, 169. | |
| Photo: © De Nul, Richard. Serpierite from Smallcleugh Mine, Nenthead, Alston Moor District, North Pennines, North and Western Region, Cumbria, England, UK | ||
| Siderite |  | |
| Formula: | FeCO3 | |
| Colour: | Brown, oxidised examples black | |
| Description: | By far the least common carbonate species in the mine, from brown to black. | |
| Reference: | S. Rust Collection | |
| Photo: © Richard De Nul. Siderite from Smallcleugh Mine, Nenthead, Alston Moor District, North Pennines, North and Western Region, Cumbria, England, UK | ||
| Smithsonite ? | ||
| Formula: | ZnCO3 | |
| Description: | No written or collector reference has been found to substantiate the occurrence of smithsonite from this mine. | |
| Reference: | [] | |
| Sphalerite |  | |
| Formula: | ZnS | |
| Colour: | Black, dark brown | |
| Description: | Specimens are dark brown to black due to the presence of iron in solid solution. Small crystals less than 2mm are sometimes of the ruby variety. Of particular interest and great rarity are specimens from the replacement deposit above the Hydraulic Shaft, which have fossils coated by white calcite and sprinkled with black sphalerite crystals to 1cm. The deposit was originally discovered by David Lloyd, and Richard Barstow in the 1970's. David was testing the level wall for hollow sounds indicating a possible cavity, when part of the wall collapsed in leading to this remarkable deposit. | |
| Reference: | Dunham K C, Geology of the Northern Pennine Orefield , Vol 1, Tyne to Stainmore. HMSO | |
| Photo: © Harjo. Sphalerite from Smallcleugh Mine, Nenthead, Alston Moor District, North Pennines, North and Western Region, Cumbria, England, UK | ||
| Sulphur |  | |
| Formula: | S8 | |
| Colour: | Almost colourless to pale yellow. | |
| Description: | Forms micro rounded crystals to 0.75mm, and small crystal clusters to 2mm. Of particular interest are well formed sulphur micro-crystals very sparsely scattered amongst contrasting white micro-crystal mats of brianyoungite. | |
| Reference: | Richard De Nul collection | |
| Photo: © De Nul, Richard. Sulphur from Smallcleugh Mine, Nenthead, Alston Moor District, North Pennines, North and Western Region, Cumbria, England, UK | ||
| Ullmannite |  | |
| Formula: | NiSbS | |
| Colour: | Metallic grey | |
| Description: | Crystals are small <0.5mm in inter-grown clusters to 1.5mm. Commonly replaced by various Ni-secondary species. | |
| Reference: | S.Rust Collection | |
| Photo: © Steve Rust. Ullmannite from Smallcleugh Mine, Nenthead, Alston Moor District, North Pennines, North and Western Region, Cumbria, England, UK | ||
| 'Unnamed (Zn-analogue of Ktenasite)' | ||
| Formula: | Zn(Zn,Cu)4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 6H2O | |
| Colour: | White | |
| Reference: | Livingstone, A. (1991) The zinc analogue of ktenasite from Smallcleugh and Brownley Hill mines, Nenthead, Cumbria. Journal of the Russell Society. 4, 13-15 | |
39 entries listed. 38 valid minerals.
References
- Bridges, T.F. (1983): An occurrence of annabergite in Smallcleugh Mine, Nenthead, Cumbria. J. Russell Soc. 2, 18.
- Bridges, T.F.(1987): Serpierite and devilline from the North Pennine Orefield. Proceedings of the Yorkshire Geo Soc. 46, 169.
- Livingstone, A., Bridges, T. F. and Bevins, R. E. (1990): Schulenbergite and namuwite from Smallcleugh Mine, Nenthead, Cumbria. J. Russell Soc. 3, 23-24.
- Livingstone, A. (1991): The zinc analogue of ktenasite from Smallcleugh and Brownley Hill mines, Nenthead, Cumbria. J. Russell Soc. 4, 13-15.
- Livingstone, A., Champness, P.F. (1993): Brianyoungite,a new mineral related to hydrozincite, from the north of England orefield. Mineral. Mag., 57, 665-670.
- Bridges, T.F.(1987): Serpierite and devilline from the North Pennine Orefield. Proceedings of the Yorkshire Geo Soc. 46, 169.
- Livingstone, A., Bridges, T. F. and Bevins, R. E. (1990): Schulenbergite and namuwite from Smallcleugh Mine, Nenthead, Cumbria. J. Russell Soc. 3, 23-24.
- Livingstone, A. (1991): The zinc analogue of ktenasite from Smallcleugh and Brownley Hill mines, Nenthead, Cumbria. J. Russell Soc. 4, 13-15.
- Livingstone, A., Champness, P.F. (1993): Brianyoungite,a new mineral related to hydrozincite, from the north of England orefield. Mineral. Mag., 57, 665-670.
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Updated Mineral Entry: TyroliteFrom Jolyon & Katya Ralph, 18th Jun 2013 07:03:58