Francon Quarry Montreal Quebec UK#5

More than 30 years ago, I collected some cream colored material at Francon, identified by the GSC as UK#5.

I've spent hours looking for a cross-reference, to no avail.

Does anyone know what name finally was given to this material?

Thanks in advance,

Basil

Basil,

I believe that Francon UK #5 is Franconite - tiny white balls, sometimes on Weloganite - very attractive, I think. Are yours tiny white balls ?

Bill

Bill,

There are some that fit that description, but with some sparse dawsonite, dresserite (beige) coating, together with minor cryolite. Regrettably, if there was an arrow, it has fallen off...

Thanks,

Basil

Basil,

You should be able to differentiate between Franconite and Dresserite visually because Franconite usually occurs as tiny porcelaneous white balls. Dresserite is very different. Check out the article by Horvath et al in Min Rec 2006, vol 1. Also, at Francon, Franconite is not fluorescent and Dresserite is. I'll send you some photos if you send me a PM with your email.

Bill

Bill, we should have posted photos of Francon material at here mindat. If not could you please supply some.Thanks

Hi Rob,

I just checked and there are 113 photos on Francon minerals on mindat, two of which, both Galena, are mine. Some species which occur at Francon are not represented, but I hesitate to post more photos on mindat because then I lose control over my work. I have tried to remove photos in the past and I was refused. I was advised essentially that I should have read the directions about posting photos beforehand. I am still smarting from this. If you wish to discuss this matter further, please send me a PM.

Bill

I'll see what we can do for Francon photos. It might take some time, but I think we can improve what is up there. I'll look into the matter of UK#5 also.

The MR jan-feb 2006 is an issue about Francon Quarry. Sabinaite is mentioned with APS, an Ann P Sabinal-ist of (then) unknows. Franconite is APS 10.

Sorry,
I seem to have made a mistake while typing the previous message (a foreign language and some data together make it difficult)

"sabinaite is mentioned with APS number 5"

APS #5 is definitely sabinaite. I'll bet I ran between three and five thousand small camera Debye-Scherrer powder mounts of Francon material for Ann Sabina during my first number of years (in the 1970's) working in the X-ray lab at the GSC. After a while, I almost didn't have to compare films against standards; I could sight identify just by looking at the film when I was taking it out of the fixer tray. She kept me pretty busy for quite a number of years. As an aside, she is, as well as I am, an emeritus scientist at the GSC and still comes into the office on Booth Street on a regular basis.


Andy Roberts

Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea culpa ....
Bill

Hello all,

Thanks to everyone for helping me out!

Regards,

Basil