Modris Baum writes..

"'One rumor has it that these are pseudomorphs after shortite. The morphology (orthorhombic) fits but fresh shortite at MSH is only found in the marble xenoliths whereas this stuff is from the Poudrette pegmatite. (But if the rumor is true, I wish I had collected more of it – there was plenty available. But I claim nothing except calcite and fluorite. If you know something more about these please contribute via the talk page.) '.... concerning this specimen


When I saw this pic I thought the crystals looked a lot like this specimen (below) I found in Gatineau, Quebec, not that far from the locality of above specimen


I'm pretty sure my specimen is scapolite, based on A. Sabina's report as cited in my pic. I know nothing about these matters... just thought I'd chime in.
Regards,
John



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 04/29/2012 07:24PM by John Montgomery.

Hi John,

All suggestions welcome!

Scapolite (meionite) does occur at MSH. But as far as I know, it is found only in a "sort of" skarn zone near some marble xenoliths - not in pegmatites. And I don't think it's been found in well formed xls.

But MSH is a very complex place full of surprises (and rumors).

Modris

John - your sample looks like clinopyroxene, with minor alteration to amphibole.

Thanks Modris.

Hi Phil...thanks!... A Sabina does indeed list "pyroxene" in her Report 41... I should have put that up under Identity Help....is there a test I do that you can suggest? ...
John