Brannerite

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Can you help make this a better article? What good localities have we missed? Can you supply pictures of better specimens than those we show here? Can you give us more and better information about the specimens from these localities? Can you supply better geological or historical information on these localities?



Brannerite
(U⁴⁺,Ca)(Ti,Fe³⁺)₂O₆


The Handbook of Mineralogy says indistinct prismatic crystals up to 30 cm exist, but do not specify the locality. Also as indistinct prismatic crystals, some showing an orthogonal prism zone; more typically as rounded, detrital grains and pebbles and as irregular embedded grains and masses. Found as a primary mineral in granite pegmatite and in granitic gneiss: in silicified pebble conglomerates; in hydrothermal quartz and calcite veins.¹ The type material was taken from a gold placcer near the head of Kelly Gulch in western Custer County, Idaho as detrital crystals and grains.²
1. Handbook of Mineralogy, Anthony, Bideaux, Bladh, Nichols Vol.III, p.76
2. Palache, C., H. Berman, and C. Frondel (1944) Dana's system of mineralogy, 7th edition), v. I, 774-775.


Brannerite
Austria
Salzburg, Hohe Tauern Mts, Gastein valley, Böckstein, Naßfeld Valley


We need for someone to tell us about the specimens from this locality


Brannerite
Spain
Andalusia, Córdoba, Hornachuelos, Sierra Albarrana, El Cabril, Dieresis Mine

This mine would appear to have produced by far the largest well formed crystals of Brannerite yet found to date, but we need someone to tell us about them, when they were found, how big they got and how many were found as well as something of the geology of the deposit, associated minerals and the history of the place. Was it in fact a mine?


Brannerite
Sweden
Västmanland, Lindesberg, Håkansboda

We need someone to tell us more about these specimens and the locality. Apparently there are micro Arsenopyrites frequently found embedded in these crystals.


Brannerite
Switzerland
Ticino (Tessin), Riviera, Lodrino, Iragna

This is what Graeser et al. (1998) in: Mineralienlexikon der Schweiz, Wepf (Basel), 579 pp. say about Brannerite:

"The most important finds of brannerite come from two neighbouring pegmatite veins in a quarry near Lodrino, TI: flattened prismatic crystals to 2 cm, completely metamict, black to brown-black, dull, with traces of yellowish uranium secondaries, associated with (among other minerals) smoky quartz, rutile, ilmenite, scheelite and molybdenite.

Other occurrences of brannerite: In the Lengenbach quarry, one single small brannerite crystal was found as an inclusion in sartorite: elongated crystal, 0.6 mm in length, only partially metamict, with fine expansion cracks. - Brannerite was also found as fine-grained inclusions in uranium minerals of the Mürtschenalp, GL, from the Weisstannen valley, SG, and from trun, GR."

All references to the locality near Lodrino talk about "a quarry near Lodrino", "a quarry between Iragna and Lodrino", "a quarry along the road leading from Lodrino to Iragna", or simply of "Lodrino" or "Iragna", with no mention of a specific quarry. If you look at the satellite view, you can barely make out two quarries that have now overlapped into a large single pit.

Unless we can obtain specific information from somebody who has collected there, we should leave the entry as it is.
Vandal King has a specimen labeled Ghisletta Quarry, Lodrino, Switzerland
[Peter Haas 2009]



Brannerite
USA
Colorado, Chaffee Co., Mt Antero

I would be happier about this specimen in the image above if it had had a proper analysis.


Brannerite
USA
Colorado, Chaffee Co., Nathrop, Upper Browns Creek area, California Mine

I would like to know who did the ID work on this specimen.



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Rock Currier
Crystals not pistols.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 12/28/2012 08:27PM by Rock Currier.

Hello Rock
In case this is still of interest to you (since your posting dates back a year): The place that produced (and still produces) brannerite along with rutile, molybdenite and some other things in pegmatite is a small quarry among several bigger ones in the Lodrino area that don't have pegmatites. Therefore, one might easily get the quarries confused. However, here's how to get a detailed view of it: Enter "Blonco" on Google Maps; you'll be presented with several choices, among which is in "Iragna, Svizzera". Clicking that, you'll get a close-up view of the orange-roofed houses that belong to the quarry. The quarry is not well visible on the satellite image (there's a spot without trees left of the houses). Need coordinates?
Cheers from Switzerland,
Andy

Andy,
Yes I am still interested. Thanks for your note about the quarry that produces the Brannerite. Just to be absolutely sure I know what you are talking about, this small quarry is the only one in the area that has a pegmatite and it is that one that produces the Brannerite rutile, molybdenite and some other things? Does the quarry have a name that would distinguish it from the other quarries? Is it still operating? Are specimens still being found from time to time? How often do the quarry workings intersect the pegmatite?

Rock Currier
Crystals not pistols.

hi there Rock
somehow i came across your website,i am from Namibia and have a new location,are you interrested ?
i havent done much yet other than have the samples annylised as brannerite!
would like to hear from you.
regards
Jasper Uys

Jasper,
Of course we would be interested in a new Brannerite locality. Can you give us the particulars and perhaps send some pictures?

Rock Currier
Crystals not pistols.