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Pseudomorphs & Replacements R to Z
Posted by Rock Currier
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Pseudomorphs & Replacements R to Z November 21, 2010 10:44AM |
Click here to view Pseudomorphs & Replacements A & B. Click here to view Pseudomorphs & Replacements C. Click here to view Pseudomorphs & Replacements D to I. Click here to view Pseudomorphs & Replacements J to M. Click here to view Pseudomorphs & Replacements N to P. Click here to view Pseudomorphs & Replacements Quartz. Click here to view Best Minerals P, Click here to view and here for Best Minerals A to Z and here for Fast Navigation of completed Best Minerals articles.
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?
Rammelsbergite after Silver
Germany
Saxony, Erzgebirge, Schneeberg District
Rhabdophane after ?
Canada
Québec, Montérégie, Rouville RCM, Mont Saint-Hilaire, Poudrette quarry (Demix quarry; Uni-Mix quarry; Desourdy quarry)
Rhodochrosite after Anhydrite?
USA
Colorado, San Juan Co., Silverton District, Howardsville, Sunnyside Mine (American Tunnel; Mogul Mine; Washington Mine; Belle Creole; Gold Prince; Brenneman Mine; Sunnyside Mine Group)
Rhodochrosite after Calcite ?
Bulgaria
Smolyan Oblast, Rhodope Mts, Madan ore field
Rhodochrosite after Calcite
Greece
Macedonia Department, Chalkidiki Prefecture, Cassandra Mines, Cassandra (Kassandra) Mine
Rhodochrosite after Barite
Peru
Junín Department, Yauli Province, Morococha District, Manuelita Mine
Rhodochrosite after Calcite
Greece
Macedonia Department, Chalkidiki Prefecture, Cassandra Mines, Cassandra (Kassandra) Mine
Rhodochrosite after Calcite
Japan
Honshu Island, Tohoku Region, Aomori Prefecture
Rhodochrosite after Calcite?
Mexico
Guerrero, Mun. de Taxco, Taxco de Alarcón (Taxco; Tasco), Remedios Mine
Rhodochrosite after fossil mollusk shell
Ukraine
Crimea Oblast', Crimea peninsula, Kerch peninsula (Kertch peninsula)
The Kerch peninsula has also produce clam shells with find crystals of Anapaite growing in them and shells altered to Vivianite all of these are souht after by collectors.
Rhodochrosite after Helvite
Kazakhstan
Karagandy Province (Qaragandy Oblysy; Karaganda Oblast'), Balkhash (Balqash; Karatas; Prebalkhashie) Region, Kounrad Massif, Balkhash (Balqash)
Rhodochrosite after Serandite
Canada
Québec, Montérégie, Rouville RCM, Mont Saint-Hilaire, Poudrette quarry (Demix quarry; Uni-Mix quarry; Desourdy quarry)
Rhodochrosite after ??
Canada
Québec, Montérégie, Rouville RCM, Mont Saint-Hilaire, Poudrette quarry (Demix quarry; Uni-Mix quarry; Desourdy quarry)
Romanèchite after ?
France
Burgundy, Saône-et-Loire, La-Chapelle-de-Guinchay, Romanèche-Thorens, Manganese deposit
Romanèchite after Gypsum
Greece
Attikí (Attica; Attika) Prefecture, Lavrion (Laurion; Laurium) District, Lavrion District Mines
Romanèchite after Gypsum
Greece
Attikí (Attica; Attika) Prefecture, Lavrion (Laurion; Laurium) District, Lavrion District Mines, Agios Konstantinos [St Constantine] (Kamariza), Kamariza Mines (Kamareza Mines), Hilarion area, Hilarion Mine (Hilarion adit; Hilarion Mine No. 50)
Rosasite after Azurite
Namibia
Otjikoto (Oshikoto) Region, Tsumeb, Tsumeb Mine (Tsumcorp Mine)
Rosasite after Malachite after Azurite
USA
Arizona, Cochise Co., Dragoon Mts, Turquoise District (Courtland-Gleeson District), Gleeson, Costello Mine group (Costello claims), Silver Bill Mine
Russellite after Bismuthinite with Zeunerite
Germany & Czech Republic
Saxony & Ústí Region (Bohemia; Böhmen; Boehmen), Erzgebirge; Krusné Hory Mts, Cínovec / Zinnwald (Cinvald)
Rutile after Anatase
Brazil
Minas Gerais, Gouveia, Cuiabá District
Rutile after Brookite
USA
Arkansas, Hot Spring Co., Magnet Cove
Rutile after Ilmenite? & Pyrite
Canada
Québec, Montérégie, Rouville RCM, Mont Saint-Hilaire, Poudrette quarry (Demix quarry; Uni-Mix quarry; Desourdy quarry)
Rutile after Ilmenite & Quartz
Switzerland
Wallis (Valais), Binn Valley, Lercheltini (Lärcheltini) area, Gorb
Safflorite after Silver
Canada
Ontario, Timiskaming District, Cobalt-Gowganda region, Gowganda area, Haultain Township, Castle Mine (Castle-Trethwey Mine)
Safflorite after Silver
Germany
Hesse, Odenwald, Nieder-Ramstadt, Nieder-Beerbach, Glasberg quarry
Safflorite after Silver
Germany
Saxony, Erzgebirge, Lauta, Marienberg District
Santabarbaraite after Vivianite
Australia
Victoria, Hamilton, Wannon River, Wannon Falls
Santabarbaraite after Vivianite
Italy
Tuscany, Arezzo Province, Valdarno (Val d'Arno), Cavriglia, Santa Barbara lignite District
Santabarbaraite after Vivianite
Ukraine
Crimea Oblast', Crimea peninsula, Kerch peninsula (Kertch peninsula), Kerchenskyi (Fe)-ore basin, Kerchenskoe deposit
Saponite after Stilbite
Canada
Québec, Chaudière-Appalaches, Les Appalaches RCM, Thetford Mines
Schoepite after Lanthinite
Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre)
Katanga (Shaba), Katanga Copper Crescent, Central area, Shinkolobwe, Shinkolobwe Mine (Kasolo Mine)
Shoepite after Lanthinite
France
Poitou-Charentes, Deux-Sèvres, Saint-Amand-sur-Sèvre, La Dorgissière Mine
Schoepite after Lanthinite
Germany
Baden-Württemberg, Black Forest, Menzenschwand, Krunkelbach Valley Uranium deposit
Schoepite after Lanthinite
Germany
Baden-Württemberg, Black Forest, Wolfach, Oberwolfach, Rankach valley, Clara Mine
Schoepite after Rutherfordine
Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre)
Katanga (Shaba), Katanga Copper Crescent, Western area, Kolwezi, Musonoi Mine
Scorodite? after Cobaltite
Canada
Ontario, Sudbury District, Foster Township, Brazil Lake Occurrence (Elizabeth Lake Mine)
The main mineral of interest at this locality is cobaltite and pseudomorphs thereof. The cobaltite is found most commonly in cubic shaped crystals ( up to 3.0 cm) and more rarely as cubo-pyritohedral shaped crystals (up to 1.5cm) in a zone at the contact between a large quartz vein and gabbro host rock. The quartz vein is up to 15m wide has a vertical dip and strikes North. The contact zone varies in width and consists of mainly grey coarse grained iron rich dolomite with lesser amounts of actinolite, fine grained calcite, talc (fine to coarse grained), pyrrhotite, pyrite, halcopyrite and quartz. Cobaltite occurs mainly in the grey dolomite but is also found abundantly in a mixture of coarse actinolite and fine grained calcite and occasionally in massive pyrrhotite, and rarely in quartz. Sometime prior to 1957 a 27m long adit was driven along the vein and a raise put up to surface. The raise starts about 20m from the entrance of the adit and breaks through at surface in the bottom of a trench. The orientation of the raise is unknown and is currently filled with debris from the trench.
In 1983 I staked this property with the intention of mining it for mineral specimens. However after some drilling and blasting in the most promising area I concluded that the cost of bringing the property to lease would far exceed any possible returns from specimen mining. As a consequence I was left with an almost full case of dynamite and no place to store it. I therefore loaded it all into the bottom of the trench next to where the raise was and blew it all up. The result of this was the exposure of an alteration zone which contained cobaltite crystals in various degrees of alteration from completely altered to only altered on the surface. There are basically three types of pseudomorphs, those altered to pharmacosiderite (XRD confirmed by me), ones altered to scorodite and ones that are altered to a mixture of both. The more complete the alteration the higher the percentage of scorodite. Those that are completely altered consist of a pink sponge like mass of cobalt rich scorodite ( analyzed by Pavel M.Kartashov).
Surprisingly erythrite is very rare and occurs only as sparse needles (to 2mm) which vary in color from pink to white. The rarity of erythrite is probably due to the fact that the cobaltite is low in cobalt and high in iron. Analysis by Pavel M. Kartashov showed a composition for the cobaltite of (Co0.49Fe0.26Ni0.25)AsS . At the time of discovery of the pseudomorphs, I thought the pink ones where erythrite and traded some in 1985 to Denis Belsher in Colorado along with several hundred other cobaltite pseudomorphs. As a result there may still be some scorodite pseudos out there mislabelled as being erythrite pseudos. As far as rarity goes there are about 300 pharmacosiderite containing pseudos for every pure scorodite pseudo and only the pure scorodite pseudos are pink inside, the others vary in color from greenish-brown to brown to yellow.
Unfortunately the cobaltite crystals formed almost at the same time as the dolomite and as a result those that formed in the dolomite do not have smooth faces but always have impressions of the enclosing dolomite on their faces. Only crystals that formed in the other minerals have smooth faces. There was also some post formational faulting which fractured most of the larger crystals making complete crystals over 1cm a rare find. Also most of the larger crystals show fractures healed by calcite which break easily when trying to expose them and fall apart when etched out with acid. Because of all the natural damage to the crystals the trick to producing “good” specimens is to find a crystal in matrix and only expose some of it leaving the impression that the crystal is complete and undamaged. Unfortunately the tendency is to overexpose the crystal resulting in a not so attractive specimen with damage.
[Reiner Mielke 2013]
Segnitite after Arsenopyrite
Austria
Styria, Fischbacher Alpen Mts, Krieglach, Teschengraben, Wildfrauen grotto
Serpentine after Hydrotalcite
Russia
Urals Region, Middle Urals, Ekaterinburgskaya (Sverdlovskaya) Oblast', Asbest, Bazhenovskoe deposit
Spertiniite after copper coin
China
Sichuan Province
Shattuckite after Cerussite? & Dioptase
Namibia
Kunene Region, Kaokoveld Plateau
Shattuckite after Cuprite
Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre)
Katanga (Shaba), Katanga Copper Crescent, Central area, Kambove, M'sesa deposit
Shattuckite after Cuprite
Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre)
Katanga (Shaba), Katanga Copper Crescent, Western area, Kolwezi, Mashamba West Mine
Shattuckite after Malachite?
Namibia
Kunene Region, Kaokoveld Plateau, Kandesei
Shattuckite after Quartz
Namibia
Kunene Region, Kaokoveld Plateau, Okatumba
Siderite after Baryte
UK
England, Devon, Tavistock District, Whitchurch, Buckland Monachorum, Virtuous Lady Mine
Siderite after Calcite
Mexico
Chihuahua, Mun. de Aquiles Serdán, Santa Eulalia District, East Camp, San Antonio Mine (San Antonio el Grande Mine)
Siderite after Calcite & Quartz
Mexico
Guanajuato, Mun. de Guanajuato, La Sirena Mine
Siderite after Calcite
Poland
Lower Silesia (Dolnoslaskie), Strzegom-Sobótka Massif, Swidnica District, Borów (Bohrauseifersdorf)
Siderite afte Calcite
Romania
Caras-Severin Co., Banat Mts, Ocna de Fier-Dognecea District, Ocna de Fier (Vaskö-Moravita; Vaskö-Moravicza; Eisenstein)
Siderite after Calcite
Romania
Maramures Co., Satu Mare, Turt, Turt Mine (Ghezuri Mine)
Siderite after Calcite
South Africa
Northern Cape Province, Aggeneys
Siderite after Epididymite & Analcime
Canada
Québec, Montérégie, Rouville RCM, Mont Saint-Hilaire, Poudrette quarry (Demix quarry; Uni-Mix quarry; Desourdy quarry)
Siderite after Fluorite
UK
England, Devon, Tavistock District, Whitchurch, Buckland Monachorum, Virtuous Lady Mine
These rank among the most sought after pseudomorphs by knowledgeable collectors, unfortunately not many were found and there are not enough of these to supply the demand, and fact there are so few of them that many collectors are not even aware of them. The one pictured here at the top of this section is perhaps the best known example of these pseudomorphs and it is in the British Museum of Natural History. Even a modest example from this find will bring several thousand dollars.
Siderite after Fluorite
UK
England, Northumberland, North Pennines, East Allendale, Sparty Lea, St Peter's Mine
Siderite after Ilvaite
Russia
Far-Eastern Region, Primorskiy Kray, Dal'negorsk (Dalnegorsk; Tetyukhe; Tjetjuche; Tetjuche), Dal'negorsk B deposit, Bor Pit (Boron Pit; Bor Quarry)
Siderite after Pyrrhotite
Mexico
Chihuahua, Mun. de Aquiles Serdán, Santa Eulalia District
Siderotil after Melanterite
USA
Arizona, Cochise Co., Mule Mts, Warren District, Bisbee, Campbell Mine (Campbell shaft)
Sigloite after Paravauxite
Bolivia
Potosí Department, Rafael Bustillo Province (Bustillos Province), Llallagua, Siglo Veinte Mine (Siglo XX Mine; Llallagua Mine; Catavi)
Silver after Dyscrasite
Czech Republic
Bohemia (Böhmen; Boehmen), Central Bohemia Region, Príbram
These were found when the Soviet Union was doing deep level mining for Uranium during the Cold War. They put in several thousand miles of workings and any silver they found was just piled on a dump for eventual processing. If the ore had no uranium, they were not particularly interested in it. Local collectors discovered this in spite of the high security surrounding the mines they found out where they were dumping the silver rich ore. In spite of 24 hours security around the dumps they would crawl in under the fence at night and up on to the ore pile and without using any light at all which they feared would attract the guards, they blindly hefted rocks till they found a particularly heavy one which they put in their packs. When the packs got to the point they could barely move them, they would crawl down off the ore pile and back under the fence. When they got them home where they they would examine their specimens and clean them. The original specimens did not look like this, and it was very difficult to clean them so that the silver looked like silver and only one or two people found a way to do it properly, and I am not sure that the way to do it has ever been made public.
[Rock Currier 2011]
Silver after Dyscrasite
Czech Republic
Bohemia (Böhmen; Boehmen), Central Bohemia Region, Príbram, Uranium Mine No. 21
Skutterudite after Silver
Canada
Ontario, Timiskaming District, Cobalt-Gowganda region, Cobalt area, Coleman Township
Skutterudite after Silver 7.9cm tall
Smithsonite after Aragonite
Namibia
Otjikoto (Oshikoto) Region, Tsumeb, Tsumeb Mine (Tsumcorp Mine)
Smithsonite after Azurite
Namibia
Otjikoto (Oshikoto) Region, Tsumeb, Tsumeb Mine (Tsumcorp Mine)
Smithsonite after Calcite
Italy
Sardinia, Carbonia-Iglesias Province, Iglesias, Masua, Masua Mine
Smithsonite after Calcite
Italy
Sardinia, Carbonia-Iglesias Province, Iglesias, Monteponi Mine
Smithsonite after Calcite
Italy
Sardinia, Carbonia-Iglesias Province, Iglesias, Punta della Torre, San Giovanni Mine
Smithsonite after Calcite
Italy
Sardinia, Carbonia-Iglesias Province, Iglesias, Seddas Moddizzis Mine
Smithsonite after Calcite
Mexico
Chihuahua, Mun. de Aquiles Serdán, Santa Eulalia District, East Camp, San Antonio Mine (San Antonio el Grande Mine)
Smithsonite after Calcite
UK
England, North Yorkshire, North Pennines, Pateley Bridge District, Greenhow, Coldstones Quarry
Smithsonite after Calcite
USA
Arizona, Mohave Co., Hualapai (Hualpai) Mts, Hualapai District, Arrastra Mt., Antler Mine (Antler Gold Mine; Spuyten Duyvel Mine)
Smithsonite after Calcite
USA
Utah, Beaver Co., San Francisco Mts, San Francisco District (Frisco District)
Smithsonite after Calcite
USA
Wisconsin, Iowa Co. Upper Mississippi Valley District, Mineral Point
Smithsonite after Cerussite?
Namibia
Otjikoto (Oshikoto) Region, Tsumeb, Tsumeb Mine (Tsumcorp Mine)
Smithsonite after Dolomite
USA
Arkansas, Marion Co., Rush Creek District
Smithsonite after Dolomite
USA
Arkansas, Marion Co., Rush Creek District, Rush, Philadelphia mine
Smithsonite after Sphalerite
USA
Arkansas, Marion Co., Rush Creek District
Smithsonite after ?
Namibia
Otjikoto (Oshikoto) Region, Tsumeb, Tsumeb Mine (Tsumcorp Mine)
To the best of my knowledge, there was only one not very large pocket found of the brown ones, Hardly enough for collectors to know about.
[Rock Currier 2011]
Smithsonite after?
UK
England, Cumbria, South Eastern Region (Westmorland), North Pennines, Escarpment District, Hilton, Scordale, Hilton Mine
Smithsonite after ?
USA
New Mexico, Socorro Co., Magdalena District, Kelly Mine
Smolianinovite after Erythrite with Heterogenite & Mansfieldite
Australia
Queensland, Mt Isa - Cloncurry area, Selwyn District, Mount Cobalt Mine
Stevensite after Pectolite
USA
New Jersey, Passaic Co., Paterson, Interstate 80 roadcut
Stevensite after Pectolite
USA
New Jersey, Passaic Co., Prospect Park, Prospect Park Quarry (Sowerbutt Quarry; Vandermade Quarry; Warren Brothers Quarry)
stibiconite after Stibnite & Sulfur
China
Guizhou Province, Liupanshui Prefecture
China has produced some amazing examples of this kind of pseudomorph and the present examples above can not be compared to the best China has produced. Some sharp pseudomorphs of 60 cm or more have been produced and we will post picture of some of these specimens when we can arrange for images of them to be uploaded to Mindat.
[Rock Currier 2011]
stibiconite after Stibnite on Barite
China
Hunan Province, Loudi Prefecture, Lengshuijiang Co., Xikuangshan Sb deposit
stibiconite after Stibnite
Mexico
San Luis Potosí, Mun. de Catorce, Catorce (Real de Catorce)
Until the advent of the discovery of similar pseudomorphs from China, these from Mexico were by far the finest yet found. Now they will have to move over and share the lime light with their cousins from China.
stibiconite after Stibnite
Mexico
San Luis Potosí, Mun. de Catorce, Wadley, San José Mine
Stilbite after Analcime
UK
England, Cornwall, Lizard Peninsula, St Keverne, Dean Quarry
Stilbite after Anhydrite
USA
New Jersey, Essex Co., Montclair
Stilbite after Natrolite
UK
England, Cornwall, Lizard Peninsula, St Keverne, Dean Quarry
Stolzite after Hubnerite
USA
Montana, Granite Co., Philipsburg District (Flint Creek District), John Long Mts, Flint Creek Valley, Black Pine Mine (Combination Mine; Black Pine Tailings; Black Pine Dump)
Stolzite after Scheelite
USA
California, Inyo Co., Darwin District
For some yeas it was possible to collect these from the Thompson mine at Darwin. According to the old timers you had to climb way up on top of a big stand of square set timbers and there work the rock/earth in the ceiling of the stope. One old timer, Jack Streeter said that the best ones he ever got was when a big lump/rock fell out of the ceiling on him and nearly knocked him senseless. The material that fell on him was the source of his best specimens. There were never a lot of these specimens, and in later years, a lot of younger collectors looked for these specimens in the mine, but were never able to find them. The largest crystals were about two inched in diameter, but most of the better specimens had crystals smaller than this. You rarely see them for sale now.
[Rock Currier 2011]
Strontiopyrochlore after (Loparite?
Russia
Northern Region, Murmanskaja Oblast', Kola Peninsula, Lovozero Massif, Vavnbed Mt
Sylvite after Langbeinite
USA
New Mexico, Eddy Co., Carlsbad Potash District, Mosaic mine (Union Potash & Chemical Co. mine; International Minerals & Chemical Corp. mine)
Synchysite-(Ce) after Petersenite-(Ce) & Aegirine
Canada
Québec, Montérégie, Rouville RCM, Mont Saint-Hilaire, Poudrette quarry (Demix quarry; Uni-Mix quarry; Desourdy quarry)
Talc after Anthophyllite
USA
Washington, King Co., Taylor River & Snoqualmie Districts, Quartz Creek, Quartz Creek Mine (Rainy Mine; Western States Copper Mine)
talc after Chondrodite
USA
New York, Putnam Co., Southeast Township, Tilly Foster, Tilly Foster Iron Mine
The Tilly foster Iron Mine produced a number of interesting pseudomorphs and this is but one example. Mot of them are fairly nondescript.
Talc after Dolomite
Spain
Castile and Leon, León, Puebla de Lillo, Respina Mine
Talc after Fluorapatite
Norway
Telemark, Bramble (Bamle)
Talc after Orthoclase
Australia
Victoria, Heathcote, Red Hill
Talc after Quartz
Germany
Bavaria, Franconia, Fichtelgebirge, Wunsiedel, Göpfersgrün, Johannes Mine
The Pseudomorphs of talc after Quartz from this locality are in the range of 100 years old and are sought after by knowledgeable collectors. A collector can count himself lucky if he has a good example of this material. The locality also produced a few examples of talc after Dolomite?
Talc after Cordierite
Norway
Telemark, Bamble (Bamle)
Tarbuttite after Hemimorphite
Zambia
Central Province, Kabwe (Broken Hill)
Tennantite after Azurite
Namibia
Otjikoto (Oshikoto) Region, Tsumeb, Tsumeb Mine (Tsumcorp Mine)
Tennantite after Enargite
Peru
Huancavelica Department, Angaraes Province, Julcani District
Tennantite after Enargite
Peru
Huancavelica Department, Angaraes Province, Julcani District, Herminia Mine
Tennantite after Enargite
Peru
La Libertad Department, Santiago de Chuco Province, Quiruvilca District, Quiruvilca Mine (La Libertad Mine; ASARCO Mine)
Tennantite after Galena
Namibia
Otjikoto (Oshikoto) Region, Tsumeb, Tsumeb Mine (Tsumcorp Mine)
Tennantite after Pyrite with Hinsdalite
USA
Montana, Silver Bow Co., Butte District, Butte, Leonard Mine
Tennantite after Tetrahedrite
Romania
Maramures Co., Cavnic (Kapnic; Kapnik), Cavnic Mine (Kapnikbánya)
Tennantite after Wulfenite
Namibia
Otjikoto (Oshikoto) Region, Tsumeb, Tsumeb Mine (Tsumcorp Mine)
Tenorite after ?? & Malachite
Austria
Salzburg, Saalfelden, Leogang, Hütten, Schwarzleograben, Schwarzleo District, Daniel adit
Thenardite after Mirabilite
USA
California, Kern Co., Kramer District, Boron
These attractive specimens did not form in the borate deposit at Boron, but rather in the settling ponds west of the refinery which is also situated west of the open pit mine that has produced almost all the specimens that have made this deposit well known to collectors. At one time it was the largest underground operation in California with more than 200 miles of workings but the advent of large earth moving equipment made it more economical to mine the deposit as an open pit operation, though some day when the pit gets deep enough, mining may again shift to an underground operation if that will make it more profitable. When the ore is mined, and almost all the ore that is currently being exploited is crystalline Borax, it is crushed and run into big million gallon plus dissolving tanks. In these tanks it is mixed with hot water and large rotating mixing blades stir the borax till it is dissolved and the mud and impurities in the ore drops to the bottom of the tanks. Eventually this mud slurry is pumped out into big shallow settling ponds where the mud settles out. Sometimes when the conditions are right in these ponds, especially in the early morning when the temperature is low, beautiful big crystals of mirabilite grow in the water where they can be harvested by interested parties. This does not mean the general public, because this is a big industrial operation and access to the mine and refinery areas is strictly controlled. These specimens were collected by Jim Minette who for years worked for US Borax as a mining engineer and eventually became manager of the mining operation there. He would sometimes go out early in the morning to settling ponds and collect these specimens and lay them out on the bank to dry which didn't take very long. They Mirabilite would loose its water and convert to Thenardite. They had to be handled with great care because they were very delicate. He would take them home and spray them with Krylon plastic to preserve them.
[Rock Currier 2009]
Thermonatrite after Natron
USA
California, Kern Co., Koehn Deposit (Koehn Lake; White Rose Claim; Red Rose Claim)
Tenorite-hematite after Mosin's rifle shells
Russia
Northern Region, St Petersburg
Tenorite after Paramelaconite, Malachite & Claringbullite
Mexico
Durango, Mun. de Mapimí, Mapimí, Ojuela Mine
Thomsonite after Calcite & Mesolite
Spain
Canary Islands, Las Palmas Province, Lanzarote, Playa Blanca, Punta del Aguila
Tincalconite after Borax
China
Tibet Autonomous Region
Tincalconite after Borax
USA
California, Kern Co., Kramer District, Boron, Kramer Borate Deposit, U.S. Borax Mine (Pacific West Coast Borax; Pacific Coast Borax Co.; Boron Mine; U.S. Borax and Chemical Corp.; Kramer Mine; Baker Mine)
Most of the Tincalconite specimens from Boron have their origin as clusters of Borax crystals that have been collected from sumps and partially flooded stopes from the old underground mine. Most of them have been collected from the West Baker mine because for years it was possible to drive a vehicle through the big tunnels right to the partially flooded stopes where the collecting was done. This I think is still possible. At one time it used to be possible to drive from the West Baker mine over to the Baker mine which accessed the eastern part of the borate deposit, but I think that some breakdown from caving and the expansion of the open pit has closed access. When the specimens are fresh, they are glassy white or tan color very sharp and can make spectacular specimens. Upon exposure to the normal atmosphere, the specimens will dehydrate and turn chalk white, though still have very sharp faces. If you keep them in a cool dry place without fluctuating humidity and temperature they can last a long time, but hardly anyone has access to these conditions and the typical fate of these spciemsn is to end up as a piles of white powder in specimen boxes. Being water soluble you of course can not clean them with water.
[Rock Currier 2009]
Titanite after Beryl
Norway
Aust-Agder, Akland, Risør
Todorokite after Manjiroite
South Africa
Northern Cape Province, Kalahari manganese fields, Smartt Mine
Todorokite after Manjiroite
South Africa
Northern Cape Province, Kalahari manganese fields, Hotazel, Wessels Mine (Wessel's Mine)
Topaz after Orthoclase
Germany
Saxony, Vogtland, Klingenthal, Kielberg Mt., Schneckenstein cliff (Königskrone Topaz Mine)
These are old drop dead classics. If for no other reason, imagine the fun you can have showing how a "feldspar" crystal can scratch glass.
Topaz after Feldspar
Germany
Saxony, Vogtland, Klingenthal, Muldenberg, Saubach Fault
Tremolite after Diopside
Norway
Nordland, Rana, Storakersvatn
Turquoise after Apatite?
China
Hubei Province
Turquoise after Apatite
Mexico
Sonora, Mun. de Baviacora
Turquoise after Apatite
Mexico
Sonora, Mun. de Cananea, Cananea
Turquoise after Apatite
USA
Nevada, Mineral Co., Pilot Mountains District, Mina deposit
Turquoise after Beryl?
USA
California, San Bernardino Co., Turquoise Mountain District, Turquoise Mountain, Apache Canyon Mines
Turquoise after fossil mammal bones
South Africa
Northern Cape Province, Namaqualand
Tyuyamunite after fossil wood
Arizona
Apache Co., Navajo Indian Reservation, Monument Valley, Monument No. 2 channel, Monument No. 2 Mine
Ulexite after Borax
USA
California, Kern Co., Kramer District, Boron, Kramer Borate Deposit, U.S. Borax Mine (Pacific West Coast Borax; Pacific Coast Borax Co.; Boron Mine; U.S. Borax and Chemical Corp.; Kramer Mine; Baker Mine), U.S. Borax open pit (Boron pit)
There are places in the mine where these are very abundant, but they are so ugly that although good numbers of them have been collected and can still be occasionally collected when the mine lets collectors collect on certain of the vast dumps adjacent to the open pit during the local gem and mineral societies annual shows, most are eventually just thrown away because there is little market for them.
[Rock Currier 2011]
Uralite after Diopside and Andradite
Norway
Oppland, Grua, Lunner, Grua Tunnel
Uralite after Diopside
Spain
Asturias, Salas, Carlés, Carlés Mine
Uralite after Diopside
USA
Colorado, Chaffee Co., Turret District
Uralite after Hornblend
USA
Colorado, Chaffee Co., Turret District, Calumet Mine (Calumet; Calumet No. 2; Hecla; Hecla No. 2; Calumet Iron Mine; Calumet-Hecla-Smithville Magnetite Deposit; Patented Placer Claims: Calumet; Hecla-Williamson; Smithville No. 2; CF&I Company Mine)
Uralite after Pyroxine
USA
Alaska, Prince of Wales-Outer Ketchikan Borough, Prince of Wales Island
Valentinite? after Stibnite
China
Hunan Province, Loudi Prefecture, Lengshuijiang Co., Xikuangshan Sb deposit
Vanadinite after Wulfenite
USA
Arizona, Maricopa Co., Painted Rock Mts, Painted Rock District, Theba, Rowley Mine (Rawley Mine; Reliance Mine; Reliance Copper Mine; Rainbow Mine; Theba Mine; San Carlos patented claim #4524)
Vauxite after Wavellite
Bolivia
Potosí Department, Rafael Bustillo Province (Bustillos Province), Llallagua, Siglo Veinte Mine (Siglo XX Mine; Llallagua Mine; Catavi)
Veatchite after Probertite?
USA
California, Los Angeles Co., Lang, Tick Canyon, Tick Canyon Borate deposit, Lang Mine (Sterling Mine; Sterling Borax Mine; Tick Canyon Borax Mine)
Vésigniéite after ?
Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre)
Katanga (Shaba), Katanga Copper Crescent, Western area, Kolwezi, Mashamba West Mine
Vesuvianite after Augite
Italy
Trentino-Alto Adige, Trento Province, Fassa Valley, Monzoni Mts, Toal del Mason
Vivianite after fossil shell
Ukraine
Crimea Oblast', Crimea peninsula, Kerch peninsula (Kertch peninsula)
Vivianite after Triphylite
USA
Maine, Cumberland Co., Baldwin, Estes Quarry
Weberite after Cryolite
Ukraine
Zhytomyr Oblast' (Zhitomir Oblast'), Perzhanskoe ore field (Perga Be deposit)
Whitlockite after Gypsum
Curaçao
Curaçao
Willemite after Azurite
Namibia
Otjikoto (Oshikoto) Region, Tsumeb, Tsumeb Mine (Tsumcorp Mine)
Willemite after Cerussite
Portugal
Beja District, Moura, Sobral da Adiça, Preguiça Mine
Willemite after Cerussite
USA
Arizona, Pinal Co., Mammoth District, Tiger, St. Anthony deposit, Mammoth-Saint Anthony Mine (Mammoth-St Anthony Mine; Mammoth Mine; St. Anthony Mine)
Wolframite after Scheelite
USA
Connecticut, Fairfield Co., Trumbull
Yecoraite after Tetradymite
Mexico
Sonora, Mun. de Yécora, Yécora, San Martín de Porres Mine
? replacing Lithiophilite
USA
California, San Diego Co., Pala District, Pala, Tourmaline Queen Mountain (Pala Mtn; Queen Mtn), Stewart Mine (MS 6162; Stewart Lithia mine)
? after Kamchatkite
Russia
Far-Eastern Region, Kamchatka Oblast', Tolbachik volcano
? after Childrenite/Eosphorite
Brazil
Minas Gerais, Doce valley, Galiléia
Click here to view Pseudomorphs & Replacements A & B. Click here to view Pseudomorphs & Replacements C. Click here to view Pseudomorphs & Replacements D to I. Click here to view Pseudomorphs & Replacements J to M. Click here to view Pseudomorphs & Replacements N to P. Click here to view Pseudomorphs & Replacements Quartz. Click here to view Best Minerals P, Click here to view and here for Best Minerals A to Z and here for Fast Navigation of completed Best Minerals articles.
Images last selected December 2010 sorting on "after".
Rock Currier
Crystals not pistols.
Edited 62 time(s). Last edit at 06/03/2013 01:36AM by Rock Currier.
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?
Rammelsbergite after Silver
Germany
Saxony, Erzgebirge, Schneeberg District
Rhabdophane after ?
Canada
Québec, Montérégie, Rouville RCM, Mont Saint-Hilaire, Poudrette quarry (Demix quarry; Uni-Mix quarry; Desourdy quarry)
Rhodochrosite after Anhydrite?
USA
Colorado, San Juan Co., Silverton District, Howardsville, Sunnyside Mine (American Tunnel; Mogul Mine; Washington Mine; Belle Creole; Gold Prince; Brenneman Mine; Sunnyside Mine Group)
 | |
| Rhodochrosite after Anhydrite? 2.3cm tall | © Rob Lavinsky |
Rhodochrosite after Calcite ?
Bulgaria
Smolyan Oblast, Rhodope Mts, Madan ore field
Rhodochrosite after Calcite
Greece
Macedonia Department, Chalkidiki Prefecture, Cassandra Mines, Cassandra (Kassandra) Mine
 | |
| Rhodochrosite after Calcite 6.2cm wide | © Rob Lavinsky |
Rhodochrosite after Barite
Peru
Junín Department, Yauli Province, Morococha District, Manuelita Mine
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| Rhodochrosite after Barite 18cm | © Rob Lavinsky |
Rhodochrosite after Calcite
Greece
Macedonia Department, Chalkidiki Prefecture, Cassandra Mines, Cassandra (Kassandra) Mine
 | |
| Rhodochrosite after Calcite 9cm tall | © Rob Lavinsky |
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| Rhodochrosite after Calcite 7cm wide | © Rob Lavinsky |
Rhodochrosite after Calcite
Japan
Honshu Island, Tohoku Region, Aomori Prefecture
Rhodochrosite after Calcite?
Mexico
Guerrero, Mun. de Taxco, Taxco de Alarcón (Taxco; Tasco), Remedios Mine
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| Rhodochrosite after Calcite? 5cm tall | © Danny Jones |
Rhodochrosite after fossil mollusk shell
Ukraine
Crimea Oblast', Crimea peninsula, Kerch peninsula (Kertch peninsula)
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| Rhodochrosite @ shell w barite 4.5cm | © Bill Dameron |
 | |
| Rhodochrosite @ shell 3.8cm | © Lavinsky |
 | |
| Rhodochrosite @ shell 2.5cm | © Rob Lavinsky |
 | |
| Rhodochrosite after shell 6.5cm wide | © |
 | |
| Rhodochrosite @ shell 2.5cm tall | © Rob Lavinsky |
The Kerch peninsula has also produce clam shells with find crystals of Anapaite growing in them and shells altered to Vivianite all of these are souht after by collectors.
Rhodochrosite after Helvite
Kazakhstan
Karagandy Province (Qaragandy Oblysy; Karaganda Oblast'), Balkhash (Balqash; Karatas; Prebalkhashie) Region, Kounrad Massif, Balkhash (Balqash)
 | |
| Rhodochrosite after Helvite 6.5cm wide | © Weinrich |
 | |
| Close up of left | © Dan & Diana Weinrich Minerals |
Rhodochrosite after Serandite
Canada
Québec, Montérégie, Rouville RCM, Mont Saint-Hilaire, Poudrette quarry (Demix quarry; Uni-Mix quarry; Desourdy quarry)
 | |
| Rhodochrosite @ Serandite 5cm tall | © Lavinsky |
 | |
| Rhodochrosite @ Serandite 5.8cm tall | © Lavinsky |
 | |
| 2.7cm long Rhodochrosite @ Serandite | © Maggie Wilson |
Rhodochrosite after ??
Canada
Québec, Montérégie, Rouville RCM, Mont Saint-Hilaire, Poudrette quarry (Demix quarry; Uni-Mix quarry; Desourdy quarry)
Romanèchite after ?
France
Burgundy, Saône-et-Loire, La-Chapelle-de-Guinchay, Romanèche-Thorens, Manganese deposit
 | |
| Romancheite after ? 8.5cm wide | © Alain TUEL |
Romanèchite after Gypsum
Greece
Attikí (Attica; Attika) Prefecture, Lavrion (Laurion; Laurium) District, Lavrion District Mines
 | |
| Romanèchite after Gypsum 6.6cm wide | © CCURTO2010 |
Romanèchite after Gypsum
Greece
Attikí (Attica; Attika) Prefecture, Lavrion (Laurion; Laurium) District, Lavrion District Mines, Agios Konstantinos [St Constantine] (Kamariza), Kamariza Mines (Kamareza Mines), Hilarion area, Hilarion Mine (Hilarion adit; Hilarion Mine No. 50)
 | |
| Romanèchite after Gypsum 4.5cm tall | © Martins da Pedra |
 | |
| Romanèchite after Gypsum 5cm | © Martins da Pedra |
Rosasite after Azurite
Namibia
Otjikoto (Oshikoto) Region, Tsumeb, Tsumeb Mine (Tsumcorp Mine)
 | |
| Rosasite after Azurite 4cm tall | © Joseph A. Freilich |
 | |
| Rosasite after Azurite 5.5cm wide | © Joseph A. Freilich |
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| Rosasite after Azurite 4.4cm tall | © Rob Lavinsky |
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| Rosasite after Azurite 4.4cm wide | © Rob Lavinsky |
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| Rosasite @ Azurite with Cerussite 3cm | © Hasler |
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| Rosasite @ Azurite w Cerussite 5cm wide | © Lavinsky |
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| Rosasite after Azurite 5.5cm wide | © Jasun McAvoy |
Rosasite after Malachite after Azurite
USA
Arizona, Cochise Co., Dragoon Mts, Turquoise District (Courtland-Gleeson District), Gleeson, Costello Mine group (Costello claims), Silver Bill Mine
Russellite after Bismuthinite with Zeunerite
Germany & Czech Republic
Saxony & Ústí Region (Bohemia; Böhmen; Boehmen), Erzgebirge; Krusné Hory Mts, Cínovec / Zinnwald (Cinvald)
 | |
| Russellite @ Bismuthinite & Zeunerite FOV 2mm | © Petr Fuchs |
Rutile after Anatase
Brazil
Minas Gerais, Gouveia, Cuiabá District
 | |
| Rutile after Anatase 2.4cm tall | © Bracke |
 | |
| Rutile after Anatase 2.4cm tall | © |
Rutile after Brookite
USA
Arkansas, Hot Spring Co., Magnet Cove
 | |
| Rutile after Brookite 3.5cm wide | © 2003 John H. Betts |
 | |
| Rutile after Brookite 1.7cm wide | © |
Rutile after Ilmenite? & Pyrite
Canada
Québec, Montérégie, Rouville RCM, Mont Saint-Hilaire, Poudrette quarry (Demix quarry; Uni-Mix quarry; Desourdy quarry)
Rutile after Ilmenite & Quartz
Switzerland
Wallis (Valais), Binn Valley, Lercheltini (Lärcheltini) area, Gorb
 | |
| 3.7mm Rutile after Ilmenite & Quartz | © Enrico Bonacina |
Safflorite after Silver
Canada
Ontario, Timiskaming District, Cobalt-Gowganda region, Gowganda area, Haultain Township, Castle Mine (Castle-Trethwey Mine)
 | |
| Safflorite after Silver 3.5cm wide | © Tony Peterson |
 | |
| Another view of left | © Tony Peterson |
Safflorite after Silver
Germany
Hesse, Odenwald, Nieder-Ramstadt, Nieder-Beerbach, Glasberg quarry
 | |
| Safflorite after Silver 7.5cm wide | © Peter Haas |
Safflorite after Silver
Germany
Saxony, Erzgebirge, Lauta, Marienberg District
 | |
| Safflorite after Silver FOV 3.8cm wide | © Peter Haas |
Santabarbaraite after Vivianite
Australia
Victoria, Hamilton, Wannon River, Wannon Falls
 | |
| Santabarbaraite after Vivianite 9.5cm wide | © Judy Rowe |
 | |
| Santabarbaraite after Vivianite 13cm wide | © Judy Rowe |
Santabarbaraite after Vivianite
Italy
Tuscany, Arezzo Province, Valdarno (Val d'Arno), Cavriglia, Santa Barbara lignite District
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| Santabarbaraite @ Vivianite FOV 2.5mm | © Crawford |
 | |
| Santabarbaraite @ Vivianite 2.5cm | © M Arliguie |
Santabarbaraite after Vivianite
Ukraine
Crimea Oblast', Crimea peninsula, Kerch peninsula (Kertch peninsula), Kerchenskyi (Fe)-ore basin, Kerchenskoe deposit
 | |
| Santabarbaraite @ Vivianite 7cm | © Lavinsky |
 | |
| Santabarbaraite after Vivianite FOV 1.4cm | © Hupperichs |
 | |
| Santabarbaraite @ Vivianite FOV 3cm | © Hupperichs |
 | |
| 1cm Santabarbaraite @ Vivianite | © SpiriferMinerals |
Saponite after Stilbite
Canada
Québec, Chaudière-Appalaches, Les Appalaches RCM, Thetford Mines
 | |
| Saponite after Stilbite 2.5cm wide | © 2001 John H. Betts |
Schoepite after Lanthinite
Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre)
Katanga (Shaba), Katanga Copper Crescent, Central area, Shinkolobwe, Shinkolobwe Mine (Kasolo Mine)
 | |
| Schoepite @ Lanthinite FOV 6mm | © Stephan Wolfsried |
Shoepite after Lanthinite
France
Poitou-Charentes, Deux-Sèvres, Saint-Amand-sur-Sèvre, La Dorgissière Mine
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| Schoepite after Lanthinite, FOV 2mm | © JM. Johannet |
Schoepite after Lanthinite
Germany
Baden-Württemberg, Black Forest, Menzenschwand, Krunkelbach Valley Uranium deposit
 | |
| Schoepite after Lanthinite FOV 4mm | © Stephan Wolfsried |
Schoepite after Lanthinite
Germany
Baden-Württemberg, Black Forest, Wolfach, Oberwolfach, Rankach valley, Clara Mine
 | |
| Schoepite after Lanthinite FOV 3mm | © Stephan Wolfsried |
Schoepite after Rutherfordine
Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre)
Katanga (Shaba), Katanga Copper Crescent, Western area, Kolwezi, Musonoi Mine
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| Schoepite @ Rutherfordine, FOV 7mm | © Lackner |
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| Schoepite after Rutherfordine, FOV 4mm | © 2009, JGW |
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| Schoepite after Rutherfordine 3.5cm tall | © Rob Lavinsky |
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| Close up of left | © Rob Lavinsky |
Scorodite? after Cobaltite
Canada
Ontario, Sudbury District, Foster Township, Brazil Lake Occurrence (Elizabeth Lake Mine)
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| Scorodite? after Cobaltite 3.5cm | © Dan Weinrich |
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| Scorodite? after Cobaltite 3.2cm wide | © JSS |
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| Scorodite after Cobaltite 1.8cm wide | © Maggie Wilson |
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| corodite after Cobaltite 3.5cm wide | © Maggie Wilson |
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| Scorodite after Cobaltite 2cm tall | © Maggie Wilson |
The main mineral of interest at this locality is cobaltite and pseudomorphs thereof. The cobaltite is found most commonly in cubic shaped crystals ( up to 3.0 cm) and more rarely as cubo-pyritohedral shaped crystals (up to 1.5cm) in a zone at the contact between a large quartz vein and gabbro host rock. The quartz vein is up to 15m wide has a vertical dip and strikes North. The contact zone varies in width and consists of mainly grey coarse grained iron rich dolomite with lesser amounts of actinolite, fine grained calcite, talc (fine to coarse grained), pyrrhotite, pyrite, halcopyrite and quartz. Cobaltite occurs mainly in the grey dolomite but is also found abundantly in a mixture of coarse actinolite and fine grained calcite and occasionally in massive pyrrhotite, and rarely in quartz. Sometime prior to 1957 a 27m long adit was driven along the vein and a raise put up to surface. The raise starts about 20m from the entrance of the adit and breaks through at surface in the bottom of a trench. The orientation of the raise is unknown and is currently filled with debris from the trench.
In 1983 I staked this property with the intention of mining it for mineral specimens. However after some drilling and blasting in the most promising area I concluded that the cost of bringing the property to lease would far exceed any possible returns from specimen mining. As a consequence I was left with an almost full case of dynamite and no place to store it. I therefore loaded it all into the bottom of the trench next to where the raise was and blew it all up. The result of this was the exposure of an alteration zone which contained cobaltite crystals in various degrees of alteration from completely altered to only altered on the surface. There are basically three types of pseudomorphs, those altered to pharmacosiderite (XRD confirmed by me), ones altered to scorodite and ones that are altered to a mixture of both. The more complete the alteration the higher the percentage of scorodite. Those that are completely altered consist of a pink sponge like mass of cobalt rich scorodite ( analyzed by Pavel M.Kartashov).
Surprisingly erythrite is very rare and occurs only as sparse needles (to 2mm) which vary in color from pink to white. The rarity of erythrite is probably due to the fact that the cobaltite is low in cobalt and high in iron. Analysis by Pavel M. Kartashov showed a composition for the cobaltite of (Co0.49Fe0.26Ni0.25)AsS . At the time of discovery of the pseudomorphs, I thought the pink ones where erythrite and traded some in 1985 to Denis Belsher in Colorado along with several hundred other cobaltite pseudomorphs. As a result there may still be some scorodite pseudos out there mislabelled as being erythrite pseudos. As far as rarity goes there are about 300 pharmacosiderite containing pseudos for every pure scorodite pseudo and only the pure scorodite pseudos are pink inside, the others vary in color from greenish-brown to brown to yellow.
Unfortunately the cobaltite crystals formed almost at the same time as the dolomite and as a result those that formed in the dolomite do not have smooth faces but always have impressions of the enclosing dolomite on their faces. Only crystals that formed in the other minerals have smooth faces. There was also some post formational faulting which fractured most of the larger crystals making complete crystals over 1cm a rare find. Also most of the larger crystals show fractures healed by calcite which break easily when trying to expose them and fall apart when etched out with acid. Because of all the natural damage to the crystals the trick to producing “good” specimens is to find a crystal in matrix and only expose some of it leaving the impression that the crystal is complete and undamaged. Unfortunately the tendency is to overexpose the crystal resulting in a not so attractive specimen with damage.
[Reiner Mielke 2013]
Segnitite after Arsenopyrite
Austria
Styria, Fischbacher Alpen Mts, Krieglach, Teschengraben, Wildfrauen grotto
Serpentine after Hydrotalcite
Russia
Urals Region, Middle Urals, Ekaterinburgskaya (Sverdlovskaya) Oblast', Asbest, Bazhenovskoe deposit
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| 0.25cm Serpentine after Hydrotalcite xls | © 2008, JGW |
Spertiniite after copper coin
China
Sichuan Province
 | |
| Spertiniite @ copper coin 2.8cm | © Pavel M. Kartashov |
Shattuckite after Cerussite? & Dioptase
Namibia
Kunene Region, Kaokoveld Plateau
 | |
| Shattuckite @ Cerussite? & Dioptase 3cm | © Jasun McAvoy |
Shattuckite after Cuprite
Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre)
Katanga (Shaba), Katanga Copper Crescent, Central area, Kambove, M'sesa deposit
 | |
| Shattuckite after Cuprite 1.7cm wide | © Rob Lavinsky |
Shattuckite after Cuprite
Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre)
Katanga (Shaba), Katanga Copper Crescent, Western area, Kolwezi, Mashamba West Mine
 | |
| Shattuckite after Cuprite ~2cm wide | © Jasun McAvoy |
Shattuckite after Malachite?
Namibia
Kunene Region, Kaokoveld Plateau, Kandesei
 | |
| Shattuckite after Malachite? 5.6cm wide | © Rob Lavinsky |
 | |
| Shattuckite after Malachite? 6.8cm | © Rob Lavinsky |
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| Shattuckite after Malachite? 5.2cm wide | © Rob Lavinsky |
 | |
| Shattuckite after Malachite? 8.2cm wide | © Rob Lavinsky |
Shattuckite after Quartz
Namibia
Kunene Region, Kaokoveld Plateau, Okatumba
 | |
| Shattuckite after Quartz 3.6cm | © Ernst A. Schnaitmann |
Siderite after Baryte
UK
England, Devon, Tavistock District, Whitchurch, Buckland Monachorum, Virtuous Lady Mine
 | |
| Siderite after Baryte, 12.7cm tall | © Paul De Bondt |
Siderite after Calcite
Mexico
Chihuahua, Mun. de Aquiles Serdán, Santa Eulalia District, East Camp, San Antonio Mine (San Antonio el Grande Mine)
 | |
| Siderite after Calcite 11.5cm wide | © DSW 2010 |
Siderite after Calcite & Quartz
Mexico
Guanajuato, Mun. de Guanajuato, La Sirena Mine
 | |
| Siderite after Calcite & Quartz 7.3cm | © Rob Lavinsky |
Siderite after Calcite
Poland
Lower Silesia (Dolnoslaskie), Strzegom-Sobótka Massif, Swidnica District, Borów (Bohrauseifersdorf)
 | |
| Siderite after Calcite 8.4cm wide | © SpiriferMinerals.com |
Siderite afte Calcite
Romania
Caras-Severin Co., Banat Mts, Ocna de Fier-Dognecea District, Ocna de Fier (Vaskö-Moravita; Vaskö-Moravicza; Eisenstein)
 | |
| Siderite afte Calcite 10.2cm wide | © Weinrich |
Siderite after Calcite
Romania
Maramures Co., Satu Mare, Turt, Turt Mine (Ghezuri Mine)
 | |
| Siderite after Calcite 7.5cm wide | © Michael Shaw |
 | |
| Siderite @ Calcite on Sphalerite 6.1cm | © Michael Shaw |
 | |
| Siderite after Calcite 5cm wide | © Rob Lavinsky |
 | |
| Siderite after Calcite 7cm wide | © Stefan Koch |
Siderite after Calcite
South Africa
Northern Cape Province, Aggeneys
 | |
| Siderite after Calcite 24.7cm wide | © Rob Lavinsky |
 | |
| Siderite after Calcite12.8cm wide | © Rob Lavinsky |
 | |
| Siderite @ Calcite 9.7cm | © 2008 Michael C. Roarke |
 | |
| Siderite after Calcite 14.8cm | © Rob Lavinsky |
 | |
| Siderite after Calcite 12.4cm tall | © Rob Lavinsky |
 | |
| Siderite after Calcite 5cm wide | © Rob Lavinsky |
 | |
| Siderite @ Calcite 7.3cm wide | © Rob Lavinsky |
 | |
| Siderite @ Calcite 5.7cm tall | © Rob Lavinsky |
Siderite after Epididymite & Analcime
Canada
Québec, Montérégie, Rouville RCM, Mont Saint-Hilaire, Poudrette quarry (Demix quarry; Uni-Mix quarry; Desourdy quarry)
 | |
| Siderite @ Epididymite & Analcime 6.6cm | © fabreminerals |
Siderite after Fluorite
UK
England, Devon, Tavistock District, Whitchurch, Buckland Monachorum, Virtuous Lady Mine
 | |
| Another shot of left | © J.Ralph 2007 |
These rank among the most sought after pseudomorphs by knowledgeable collectors, unfortunately not many were found and there are not enough of these to supply the demand, and fact there are so few of them that many collectors are not even aware of them. The one pictured here at the top of this section is perhaps the best known example of these pseudomorphs and it is in the British Museum of Natural History. Even a modest example from this find will bring several thousand dollars.
Siderite after Fluorite
UK
England, Northumberland, North Pennines, East Allendale, Sparty Lea, St Peter's Mine
Siderite after Ilvaite
Russia
Far-Eastern Region, Primorskiy Kray, Dal'negorsk (Dalnegorsk; Tetyukhe; Tjetjuche; Tetjuche), Dal'negorsk B deposit, Bor Pit (Boron Pit; Bor Quarry)
 | |
| Siderite after Ilvaite 10.2cm wide | © Rob Lavinsky |
Siderite after Pyrrhotite
Mexico
Chihuahua, Mun. de Aquiles Serdán, Santa Eulalia District
Siderotil after Melanterite
USA
Arizona, Cochise Co., Mule Mts, Warren District, Bisbee, Campbell Mine (Campbell shaft)
 | |
| Siderotil after Melanterite FOV 4cm | © 2008, JGW |
Sigloite after Paravauxite
Bolivia
Potosí Department, Rafael Bustillo Province (Bustillos Province), Llallagua, Siglo Veinte Mine (Siglo XX Mine; Llallagua Mine; Catavi)
 | |
| Sigloite after Paravauxite5.8cm wide | © Peter Hargis |
 | |
| Closeup of left | © Peter Hargis |
Silver after Dyscrasite
Czech Republic
Bohemia (Böhmen; Boehmen), Central Bohemia Region, Príbram
 | |
| Silver after Dyscrasite 4.8cm tall | © fabreminerals.com |
 | |
| Back side of left | © fabreminerals.com |
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| Silver after Dyscrasite 8.5cm tall | © Rob Lavinsky |
 | |
| Silver after Dyscrasite 5.5cm wide | © Ladislav Turecky |
 | |
| Silver after Dyscrasite 6.2cm wide | © OldMinerals.com |
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| Silver after Dyscrasite FOV 8cm | © R. Lang 2006 |
 | |
| Silver after Dyscrasite 9.1cm wide | © Rob Lavinsky |
These were found when the Soviet Union was doing deep level mining for Uranium during the Cold War. They put in several thousand miles of workings and any silver they found was just piled on a dump for eventual processing. If the ore had no uranium, they were not particularly interested in it. Local collectors discovered this in spite of the high security surrounding the mines they found out where they were dumping the silver rich ore. In spite of 24 hours security around the dumps they would crawl in under the fence at night and up on to the ore pile and without using any light at all which they feared would attract the guards, they blindly hefted rocks till they found a particularly heavy one which they put in their packs. When the packs got to the point they could barely move them, they would crawl down off the ore pile and back under the fence. When they got them home where they they would examine their specimens and clean them. The original specimens did not look like this, and it was very difficult to clean them so that the silver looked like silver and only one or two people found a way to do it properly, and I am not sure that the way to do it has ever been made public.
[Rock Currier 2011]
Silver after Dyscrasite
Czech Republic
Bohemia (Böhmen; Boehmen), Central Bohemia Region, Príbram, Uranium Mine No. 21
 | |
| Silver after Dyscrasite 4cm tall | © Rob Lavinsky |
Skutterudite after Silver
Canada
Ontario, Timiskaming District, Cobalt-Gowganda region, Cobalt area, Coleman Township
Skutterudite after Silver 7.9cm tall
Smithsonite after Aragonite
Namibia
Otjikoto (Oshikoto) Region, Tsumeb, Tsumeb Mine (Tsumcorp Mine)
 | |
| Smithsonite after Aragonite 20cm tall | © Rob Lavinsky |
Smithsonite after Azurite
Namibia
Otjikoto (Oshikoto) Region, Tsumeb, Tsumeb Mine (Tsumcorp Mine)
Smithsonite after Calcite
Italy
Sardinia, Carbonia-Iglesias Province, Iglesias, Masua, Masua Mine
Smithsonite after Calcite
Italy
Sardinia, Carbonia-Iglesias Province, Iglesias, Monteponi Mine
 | |
| Smithsonite @ Calcite 6cm wide | © Rosenzweig |
Smithsonite after Calcite
Italy
Sardinia, Carbonia-Iglesias Province, Iglesias, Punta della Torre, San Giovanni Mine
 | |
| Smithsonite after Calcite 9cm wide |
Smithsonite after Calcite
Italy
Sardinia, Carbonia-Iglesias Province, Iglesias, Seddas Moddizzis Mine
 | |
| Smithsonite after Calcite 6.5cm wide | © Mauro Astolfi |
Smithsonite after Calcite
Mexico
Chihuahua, Mun. de Aquiles Serdán, Santa Eulalia District, East Camp, San Antonio Mine (San Antonio el Grande Mine)
 | |
| Smithsonite after Calcite 6cm wide | © Eric Graff |
 | |
| Smithsonite after Calcite 8.4cm wide | © Rob Lavinsky |
 | |
| Smithsonite after Calcite 7.5cm wide | © Rob Lavinsky |
 | |
| Smithsonite after Calcite 6.3cm wide | © Rob Lavinsky |
Smithsonite after Calcite
UK
England, North Yorkshire, North Pennines, Pateley Bridge District, Greenhow, Coldstones Quarry
 | |
| Smithsonite after Calcite & Fluorite ~7.9cm | © PM 2006 |
Smithsonite after Calcite
USA
Arizona, Mohave Co., Hualapai (Hualpai) Mts, Hualapai District, Arrastra Mt., Antler Mine (Antler Gold Mine; Spuyten Duyvel Mine)
 | |
| Smithsonite after Calcite 6.8cm tall | © Rob Lavinsky |
Smithsonite after Calcite
USA
Utah, Beaver Co., San Francisco Mts, San Francisco District (Frisco District)
Smithsonite after Calcite
USA
Wisconsin, Iowa Co. Upper Mississippi Valley District, Mineral Point
 | |
| Smithsonite after Calcite, close up of right | © Rob Lavinsky |
 | |
| Smithsonite after Calcite 17cm wide | © Rob Lavinsky |
 | |
| Smithsonite @ Calcite 12.3cm wide | © Rob Lavinsky |
 | |
| Smithsonite after Calcite 7.6cm wide | © Weinrich |
Smithsonite after Cerussite?
Namibia
Otjikoto (Oshikoto) Region, Tsumeb, Tsumeb Mine (Tsumcorp Mine)
Smithsonite after Dolomite
USA
Arkansas, Marion Co., Rush Creek District
 | |
| Smithsonite after Dolomite 4.8cm wide | © Weinrich |
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| Smithsonite @ Dolomite 6.7cm tall | © Lavinsky |
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| Smithsonite after Dolomite 2.7cm tall | © |
 | |
| Smithsonite @ Dolomite 4.5cm | © Rob Lavinsky |
 | |
| Smithsonite @ Dolomite3.2cm | © Rob Lavinsky |
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| Smithsonite @ Dolomite 5.5cm wide | © Weinrich |
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| Smithsonite @ Dolomite 7cm | © Kristalle and Crys |
 | |
| Smithsonite @ Dolomite 8.4cm wide | © Rob Lavinsky |
Smithsonite after Dolomite
USA
Arkansas, Marion Co., Rush Creek District, Rush, Philadelphia mine
 | |
| Smithsonite after Dolomite 9cm wide | © Weinrich |
Smithsonite after Sphalerite
USA
Arkansas, Marion Co., Rush Creek District
 | |
| Smithsonite @ Sphalerite 10.8cm | © Dan Weinrich |
 | |
| Smithsonite after Sphalerite ~7.5cm wide | © |
Smithsonite after ?
Namibia
Otjikoto (Oshikoto) Region, Tsumeb, Tsumeb Mine (Tsumcorp Mine)
 | |
| Smithsonite after ? ~9m tall | © |
 | |
| Smithsonite after ? ~18cm tall | © |
To the best of my knowledge, there was only one not very large pocket found of the brown ones, Hardly enough for collectors to know about.
[Rock Currier 2011]
Smithsonite after?
UK
England, Cumbria, South Eastern Region (Westmorland), North Pennines, Escarpment District, Hilton, Scordale, Hilton Mine
 | |
| Smithsonite after ? 9.1cm tall | © www.e-rocks.com |
 | |
| Smithsonite after ? 9.1cm wide | © www.e-rocks.com |
Smithsonite after ?
USA
New Mexico, Socorro Co., Magdalena District, Kelly Mine
Smolianinovite after Erythrite with Heterogenite & Mansfieldite
Australia
Queensland, Mt Isa - Cloncurry area, Selwyn District, Mount Cobalt Mine
Stevensite after Pectolite
USA
New Jersey, Passaic Co., Paterson, Interstate 80 roadcut
 | |
| Stevensite after Pectolite 5.3cm wide | © John Sobolewski |
Stevensite after Pectolite
USA
New Jersey, Passaic Co., Prospect Park, Prospect Park Quarry (Sowerbutt Quarry; Vandermade Quarry; Warren Brothers Quarry)
stibiconite after Stibnite & Sulfur
China
Guizhou Province, Liupanshui Prefecture
 | |
| stibiconite after Stibnite & Sulfur close up | © Alex Qu |
China has produced some amazing examples of this kind of pseudomorph and the present examples above can not be compared to the best China has produced. Some sharp pseudomorphs of 60 cm or more have been produced and we will post picture of some of these specimens when we can arrange for images of them to be uploaded to Mindat.
[Rock Currier 2011]
stibiconite after Stibnite on Barite
China
Hunan Province, Loudi Prefecture, Lengshuijiang Co., Xikuangshan Sb deposit
 | |
| stibiconite after Stibnite on Barite 28cm tall | © Rob Lavinsky |
 | |
| stibiconite after Stibnite 4.5cm tall | © Pedro González |
stibiconite after Stibnite
Mexico
San Luis Potosí, Mun. de Catorce, Catorce (Real de Catorce)
 | |
| stibiconite after Stibnite 8cm | © 2000 John H. Betts |
 | |
| stibiconite after Stibnite 7cm tall | © 2002 John H. Betts |
 | |
| stibiconite after Stibnite 31.5cm | © Rob Lavinsky |
 | |
| stibiconite after Stibnite ~12.5cm wide | © |
 | |
| stibiconite after Stibnite ~18cm tall | © 2001 John H. Betts |
 | |
| stibiconite after Stibnite ~18cm wide | © |
Until the advent of the discovery of similar pseudomorphs from China, these from Mexico were by far the finest yet found. Now they will have to move over and share the lime light with their cousins from China.
stibiconite after Stibnite
Mexico
San Luis Potosí, Mun. de Catorce, Wadley, San José Mine
 | |
| stibiconite @ Stibnite 6.cm wide | © Weinrich Minerals, Inc. |
Stilbite after Analcime
UK
England, Cornwall, Lizard Peninsula, St Keverne, Dean Quarry
 | |
| Stilbite after Analcime, big xl ~2.5cm | © Ian Jones |
Stilbite after Anhydrite
USA
New Jersey, Essex Co., Montclair
 | |
| Stilbite after Anhydrite 2.5cm wide | © 2001 John H. Betts |
Stilbite after Natrolite
UK
England, Cornwall, Lizard Peninsula, St Keverne, Dean Quarry
 | |
| 1cm Stilbite casts after Natrolite | © Ian Jones |
Stolzite after Hubnerite
USA
Montana, Granite Co., Philipsburg District (Flint Creek District), John Long Mts, Flint Creek Valley, Black Pine Mine (Combination Mine; Black Pine Tailings; Black Pine Dump)
 | |
| Stolzite @ Hubnerite & Quartz 2.9cm | © Wm. C. van Laer |
Stolzite after Scheelite
USA
California, Inyo Co., Darwin District
 | |
| Stolzite after Scheelite 3.5cm tall | © Jasun McAvoy |
For some yeas it was possible to collect these from the Thompson mine at Darwin. According to the old timers you had to climb way up on top of a big stand of square set timbers and there work the rock/earth in the ceiling of the stope. One old timer, Jack Streeter said that the best ones he ever got was when a big lump/rock fell out of the ceiling on him and nearly knocked him senseless. The material that fell on him was the source of his best specimens. There were never a lot of these specimens, and in later years, a lot of younger collectors looked for these specimens in the mine, but were never able to find them. The largest crystals were about two inched in diameter, but most of the better specimens had crystals smaller than this. You rarely see them for sale now.
[Rock Currier 2011]
Strontiopyrochlore after (Loparite?
Russia
Northern Region, Murmanskaja Oblast', Kola Peninsula, Lovozero Massif, Vavnbed Mt
 | |
| Strontiopyrochlore @ Loparite? 8mm | © Kartashov |
 | |
| Strontiopyrochlore @ Loparite? same as left | © Kartashov |
Sylvite after Langbeinite
USA
New Mexico, Eddy Co., Carlsbad Potash District, Mosaic mine (Union Potash & Chemical Co. mine; International Minerals & Chemical Corp. mine)
 | |
| Sylvite after Langbeinite ~1.5cm wide? | © Cristofono |
Synchysite-(Ce) after Petersenite-(Ce) & Aegirine
Canada
Québec, Montérégie, Rouville RCM, Mont Saint-Hilaire, Poudrette quarry (Demix quarry; Uni-Mix quarry; Desourdy quarry)
 | |
| Synchysite-(Ce) @ Petersenite-(Ce) 4 cm | © Weinrich |
Talc after Anthophyllite
USA
Washington, King Co., Taylor River & Snoqualmie Districts, Quartz Creek, Quartz Creek Mine (Rainy Mine; Western States Copper Mine)
talc after Chondrodite
USA
New York, Putnam Co., Southeast Township, Tilly Foster, Tilly Foster Iron Mine
 | |
| talc after Chondrodite 3cm wide | © Rob Lavinsky |
The Tilly foster Iron Mine produced a number of interesting pseudomorphs and this is but one example. Mot of them are fairly nondescript.
Talc after Dolomite
Spain
Castile and Leon, León, Puebla de Lillo, Respina Mine
 | |
| Talc after Dolomite 6cm tall | © JRGL |
 | |
| Talc after Dolomite 7.3cm wide | © J.A.CENDON |
 | |
| Talc after Dolomite 6cm tall | © JRGL |
Talc after Fluorapatite
Norway
Telemark, Bramble (Bamle)
 | |
| Talc @ Fluorapatite same as left | © AÖ |
Talc after Orthoclase
Australia
Victoria, Heathcote, Red Hill
Talc after Quartz
Germany
Bavaria, Franconia, Fichtelgebirge, Wunsiedel, Göpfersgrün, Johannes Mine
 | |
| Talc after Quartz 7cm wide | © Rob Lavinsky |
 | |
| Talc after Quartz 6cm wide | © K.Gerl |
 | |
| Talc after Quartz 10cm wide | © Stefan Meier |
 | |
| Talc after Quartz ~8cm wide | © |
 | |
| Talc after Quartz 3.5cm wide | © Rob Lavinsky |
 | |
| Talc after Quartz 4.5cm wide | © Rob Lavinsky |
The Pseudomorphs of talc after Quartz from this locality are in the range of 100 years old and are sought after by knowledgeable collectors. A collector can count himself lucky if he has a good example of this material. The locality also produced a few examples of talc after Dolomite?
Talc after Cordierite
Norway
Telemark, Bamble (Bamle)
 | |
| 2cm Talc after Cordierite | © Knut Eldjarn |
Tarbuttite after Hemimorphite
Zambia
Central Province, Kabwe (Broken Hill)
Tennantite after Azurite
Namibia
Otjikoto (Oshikoto) Region, Tsumeb, Tsumeb Mine (Tsumcorp Mine)
 | |
| Tennantite @ Azurite 3.4cm | © Lavinsky |
 | |
| Tennantite after Azurite 4.8cm wide | © Lavinsky |
 | |
| Tennantite after Azurite 4.6cm wide | © Rob Lavinsky |
 | |
| Tennantite after Azurite 6c, wide | © Rob Lavinsky |
 | |
| Tennantite @ Azurite & Smithsonite 6cm | © Rob Lavinsky |
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| Tennantite after Azurite 8.9cm wide | © |
Tennantite after Enargite
Peru
Huancavelica Department, Angaraes Province, Julcani District
 | |
| Tennantite after Enargite 3.8cm tall | © Weinrich Minerals, Inc. |
Tennantite after Enargite
Peru
Huancavelica Department, Angaraes Province, Julcani District, Herminia Mine
 | |
| Tennantite @ Enargite & Pyrite 3.3cm | © Rob Lavinsky |
Tennantite after Enargite
Peru
La Libertad Department, Santiago de Chuco Province, Quiruvilca District, Quiruvilca Mine (La Libertad Mine; ASARCO Mine)
 | |
| Tennantite @ Enargite 14.2cm | © Lavinsky |
 | |
| Tennantite after Enargite 8.4cm wide | © Rob Lavinsky |
Tennantite after Galena
Namibia
Otjikoto (Oshikoto) Region, Tsumeb, Tsumeb Mine (Tsumcorp Mine)
 | |
| Tennantite after Galena 7cm tall | © Rob Lavinsky |
Tennantite after Pyrite with Hinsdalite
USA
Montana, Silver Bow Co., Butte District, Butte, Leonard Mine
 | |
| Tennantite @ Pyrite with Hinsdalite 4.3cm | © Jasun McAvoy |
Tennantite after Tetrahedrite
Romania
Maramures Co., Cavnic (Kapnic; Kapnik), Cavnic Mine (Kapnikbánya)
Tennantite after Wulfenite
Namibia
Otjikoto (Oshikoto) Region, Tsumeb, Tsumeb Mine (Tsumcorp Mine)
 | |
| Tennantite after Wulfenite 2.4cm tall | © Kristalle and CC |
Tenorite after ?? & Malachite
Austria
Salzburg, Saalfelden, Leogang, Hütten, Schwarzleograben, Schwarzleo District, Daniel adit
Thenardite after Mirabilite
USA
California, Kern Co., Kramer District, Boron
 | |
| Thenardite @ Mirabilite 3.8cm | © Rob Lavinsky |
 | |
| Thenardite after Mirabilite 7.8cm wide | © Rob Lavinsky |
These attractive specimens did not form in the borate deposit at Boron, but rather in the settling ponds west of the refinery which is also situated west of the open pit mine that has produced almost all the specimens that have made this deposit well known to collectors. At one time it was the largest underground operation in California with more than 200 miles of workings but the advent of large earth moving equipment made it more economical to mine the deposit as an open pit operation, though some day when the pit gets deep enough, mining may again shift to an underground operation if that will make it more profitable. When the ore is mined, and almost all the ore that is currently being exploited is crystalline Borax, it is crushed and run into big million gallon plus dissolving tanks. In these tanks it is mixed with hot water and large rotating mixing blades stir the borax till it is dissolved and the mud and impurities in the ore drops to the bottom of the tanks. Eventually this mud slurry is pumped out into big shallow settling ponds where the mud settles out. Sometimes when the conditions are right in these ponds, especially in the early morning when the temperature is low, beautiful big crystals of mirabilite grow in the water where they can be harvested by interested parties. This does not mean the general public, because this is a big industrial operation and access to the mine and refinery areas is strictly controlled. These specimens were collected by Jim Minette who for years worked for US Borax as a mining engineer and eventually became manager of the mining operation there. He would sometimes go out early in the morning to settling ponds and collect these specimens and lay them out on the bank to dry which didn't take very long. They Mirabilite would loose its water and convert to Thenardite. They had to be handled with great care because they were very delicate. He would take them home and spray them with Krylon plastic to preserve them.
[Rock Currier 2009]
Thermonatrite after Natron
USA
California, Kern Co., Koehn Deposit (Koehn Lake; White Rose Claim; Red Rose Claim)
Tenorite-hematite after Mosin's rifle shells
Russia
Northern Region, St Petersburg
 | |
| Tenorite-hematite @ Mosin's rifle shells 5cm | © Kartashov |
Tenorite after Paramelaconite, Malachite & Claringbullite
Mexico
Durango, Mun. de Mapimí, Mapimí, Ojuela Mine
Thomsonite after Calcite & Mesolite
Spain
Canary Islands, Las Palmas Province, Lanzarote, Playa Blanca, Punta del Aguila
 | |
| Thomsonite @ Calcite & Mesolite FOV 4cm | © Volker Betz |
Tincalconite after Borax
China
Tibet Autonomous Region
Tincalconite after Borax
USA
California, Kern Co., Kramer District, Boron, Kramer Borate Deposit, U.S. Borax Mine (Pacific West Coast Borax; Pacific Coast Borax Co.; Boron Mine; U.S. Borax and Chemical Corp.; Kramer Mine; Baker Mine)
 | |
| Tincalconite after Borax 9.4cm wide | © Rob Lavinsky |
 | |
| Tincalconite after Borax ~7.5cm wide | © |
 | |
| Tincalconite after Borax ~8cm wide | © |
Most of the Tincalconite specimens from Boron have their origin as clusters of Borax crystals that have been collected from sumps and partially flooded stopes from the old underground mine. Most of them have been collected from the West Baker mine because for years it was possible to drive a vehicle through the big tunnels right to the partially flooded stopes where the collecting was done. This I think is still possible. At one time it used to be possible to drive from the West Baker mine over to the Baker mine which accessed the eastern part of the borate deposit, but I think that some breakdown from caving and the expansion of the open pit has closed access. When the specimens are fresh, they are glassy white or tan color very sharp and can make spectacular specimens. Upon exposure to the normal atmosphere, the specimens will dehydrate and turn chalk white, though still have very sharp faces. If you keep them in a cool dry place without fluctuating humidity and temperature they can last a long time, but hardly anyone has access to these conditions and the typical fate of these spciemsn is to end up as a piles of white powder in specimen boxes. Being water soluble you of course can not clean them with water.
[Rock Currier 2009]
Titanite after Beryl
Norway
Aust-Agder, Akland, Risør
Todorokite after Manjiroite
South Africa
Northern Cape Province, Kalahari manganese fields, Smartt Mine
 | |
| Todorokite after Manjiroite 10.7cm wide | © Rob Lavinsky |
Todorokite after Manjiroite
South Africa
Northern Cape Province, Kalahari manganese fields, Hotazel, Wessels Mine (Wessel's Mine)
 | |
| Todorokite @ Manjiroite 9.2cm wide | © Rob Lavinsky |
Topaz after Orthoclase
Germany
Saxony, Vogtland, Klingenthal, Kielberg Mt., Schneckenstein cliff (Königskrone Topaz Mine)
 | |
| Topaz @Orthoclase 8.4cm | © Edwards Minerals |
 | |
| 3.5cm Topaz after Orthoclase | © J.Ralph |
 | |
| Topaz after Orthoclase 2.53cm wide | © Jasun McAvoy |
These are old drop dead classics. If for no other reason, imagine the fun you can have showing how a "feldspar" crystal can scratch glass.
Topaz after Feldspar
Germany
Saxony, Vogtland, Klingenthal, Muldenberg, Saubach Fault
 | |
| Topaz after Feldspar 7cm wide | © Weinrich Minerals, Inc. |
Tremolite after Diopside
Norway
Nordland, Rana, Storakersvatn
 | |
| Tremolite after Diopside ~9cm wide | © Martins da Pedra |
 | |
| Tremolite @ Diopside ~9cm | © Martins da Pedra |
 | |
| Tremolite after Diopside 11cm wide | © Nunes |
Turquoise after Apatite?
China
Hubei Province
 | |
| Turquoise after Apatite? | © Rob Lavinsky |
Turquoise after Apatite
Mexico
Sonora, Mun. de Baviacora
 | |
| Turquoise after Apatite 4.2cm wide | © Russell G. Rizzo |
Turquoise after Apatite
Mexico
Sonora, Mun. de Cananea, Cananea
 | |
| Turquoise @ Apatite5.4cm | © Rob Lavinsky |
 | |
| Turquoise after Apatite 6.1cm tall | © Rob Lavinsky |
Turquoise after Apatite
USA
Nevada, Mineral Co., Pilot Mountains District, Mina deposit
 | |
| Turquoise after Apatite ~2.2cm tall | © Jeff Scovil |
Turquoise after Beryl?
USA
California, San Bernardino Co., Turquoise Mountain District, Turquoise Mountain, Apache Canyon Mines
 | |
| Turquoise after Beryl? ~1cm wide | © 2001 John H. Betts |
 | |
| Turquoise after Beryl? ~2cm wide | © 2001 John H. Betts |
 | |
| Turquoise after Beryl? 1.3cm wide | © John H. Betts |
 | |
| Turquoise after Beryl? 1.2cm wide | © 2002 John H. Betts |
 | |
| Turquoise after Beryl? ~2cm wide | © 2002 John H. Betts |
 | |
| Turquoise after Beryl? ~2.5cm tall | © 2002 John H. Betts |
Turquoise after fossil mammal bones
South Africa
Northern Cape Province, Namaqualand
 | |
| Turquoise @ fossil mammal bones 10.5cm | © Rob Lavinsky |
Tyuyamunite after fossil wood
Arizona
Apache Co., Navajo Indian Reservation, Monument Valley, Monument No. 2 channel, Monument No. 2 Mine
Ulexite after Borax
USA
California, Kern Co., Kramer District, Boron, Kramer Borate Deposit, U.S. Borax Mine (Pacific West Coast Borax; Pacific Coast Borax Co.; Boron Mine; U.S. Borax and Chemical Corp.; Kramer Mine; Baker Mine), U.S. Borax open pit (Boron pit)
 | |
| Ulexite after Borax ~5cm wide | © |
There are places in the mine where these are very abundant, but they are so ugly that although good numbers of them have been collected and can still be occasionally collected when the mine lets collectors collect on certain of the vast dumps adjacent to the open pit during the local gem and mineral societies annual shows, most are eventually just thrown away because there is little market for them.
[Rock Currier 2011]
Uralite after Diopside and Andradite
Norway
Oppland, Grua, Lunner, Grua Tunnel
 | |
| Actinolite after Diopside & Andradite 9cm wide | © Knut Eldjarn |
Uralite after Diopside
Spain
Asturias, Salas, Carlés, Carlés Mine
Uralite after Diopside
USA
Colorado, Chaffee Co., Turret District
 | |
| Actinolite after Diopside 11cm wide | © 2002 John H. Betts |
Uralite after Hornblend
USA
Colorado, Chaffee Co., Turret District, Calumet Mine (Calumet; Calumet No. 2; Hecla; Hecla No. 2; Calumet Iron Mine; Calumet-Hecla-Smithville Magnetite Deposit; Patented Placer Claims: Calumet; Hecla-Williamson; Smithville No. 2; CF&I Company Mine)
 | |
| Uralite after Pyroxene | © Rob Lavinsky |
Uralite after Pyroxine
USA
Alaska, Prince of Wales-Outer Ketchikan Borough, Prince of Wales Island
 | |
| Uralite after Pyroxene 7.5cm wide | © |
Valentinite? after Stibnite
China
Hunan Province, Loudi Prefecture, Lengshuijiang Co., Xikuangshan Sb deposit
 | |
| Valentinite? @ Stibnite 16cm | © da Pedra |
 | |
| Valentinite & Cervantite @ Stibnite 16.1cm | © Lavinsky |
Vanadinite after Wulfenite
USA
Arizona, Maricopa Co., Painted Rock Mts, Painted Rock District, Theba, Rowley Mine (Rawley Mine; Reliance Mine; Reliance Copper Mine; Rainbow Mine; Theba Mine; San Carlos patented claim #4524)
 | |
| Vanadinite after Wulfenite 10.1cm tall | © Rob Lavinsky |
Vauxite after Wavellite
Bolivia
Potosí Department, Rafael Bustillo Province (Bustillos Province), Llallagua, Siglo Veinte Mine (Siglo XX Mine; Llallagua Mine; Catavi)
 | |
| Vauxite @ Wavellite w Quartz 3.2cm tall | © Rob Lavinsky |
Veatchite after Probertite?
USA
California, Los Angeles Co., Lang, Tick Canyon, Tick Canyon Borate deposit, Lang Mine (Sterling Mine; Sterling Borax Mine; Tick Canyon Borax Mine)
Vésigniéite after ?
Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre)
Katanga (Shaba), Katanga Copper Crescent, Western area, Kolwezi, Mashamba West Mine
 | |
| Vésigniéite after ? 2.7cm wide | © Rob Lavinsky |
 | |
| Vésigniéite after ? back side | © Rob Lavinsky |
Vesuvianite after Augite
Italy
Trentino-Alto Adige, Trento Province, Fassa Valley, Monzoni Mts, Toal del Mason
 | |
| Vesuvianite after Augite FOV 14cm | © Manuele Moro |
Vivianite after fossil shell
Ukraine
Crimea Oblast', Crimea peninsula, Kerch peninsula (Kertch peninsula)
 | |
| Vivianite @ shell 5.6cm | © Lavinsky |
 | |
| Close up of left | © Rob Lavinsky |
Vivianite after Triphylite
USA
Maine, Cumberland Co., Baldwin, Estes Quarry
 | |
| Vivianite Triphylite FOV 1.8cm | © 2006 Peter Cristofono |
Weberite after Cryolite
Ukraine
Zhytomyr Oblast' (Zhitomir Oblast'), Perzhanskoe ore field (Perga Be deposit)
 | |
| Weberite after Cryolite 6cm wide | © Pavel M. Kartashov |
Whitlockite after Gypsum
Curaçao
Curaçao
Willemite after Azurite
Namibia
Otjikoto (Oshikoto) Region, Tsumeb, Tsumeb Mine (Tsumcorp Mine)
 | |
| Willemite @ Azurite 4.2cm tall | © Rob Lavinsky |
 | |
| Willemite after Azurite 4.3cm tall | © Rob Lavinsky |
Willemite after Cerussite
Portugal
Beja District, Moura, Sobral da Adiça, Preguiça Mine
 | |
| Willemite @ Cerussite? 3.8cm | © Fabre |
 | |
| Willemite after Cerussite FOV 2cm | © Rui Nunes 2007 |
Willemite after Cerussite
USA
Arizona, Pinal Co., Mammoth District, Tiger, St. Anthony deposit, Mammoth-Saint Anthony Mine (Mammoth-St Anthony Mine; Mammoth Mine; St. Anthony Mine)
Wolframite after Scheelite
USA
Connecticut, Fairfield Co., Trumbull
 | |
| Wolframite after Scheelite ~2.2cm wide | © Jasun McAvoy |
 | |
| Wolframite after Scheelite close up | © Jasun McAvoy |
 | |
| Wolframite after Scheelite 2.35cm tall | © Jasun McAvoy |
 | |
| Wolframite after Scheelite 4.5cm tall | © Christopher O'Neill |
Yecoraite after Tetradymite
Mexico
Sonora, Mun. de Yécora, Yécora, San Martín de Porres Mine
 | |
| Yecoraite after Tetradymite FOV .75mm | © Brent Thorne |
? replacing Lithiophilite
USA
California, San Diego Co., Pala District, Pala, Tourmaline Queen Mountain (Pala Mtn; Queen Mtn), Stewart Mine (MS 6162; Stewart Lithia mine)
 | |
| ? replacing Lithiophilite 6.5cm tall | © 2004 SLR |
? after Kamchatkite
Russia
Far-Eastern Region, Kamchatka Oblast', Tolbachik volcano
 | |
| ? after Kamchatkite to 1mm | © 2008, JGW |
? after Childrenite/Eosphorite
Brazil
Minas Gerais, Doce valley, Galiléia
Click here to view Pseudomorphs & Replacements A & B. Click here to view Pseudomorphs & Replacements C. Click here to view Pseudomorphs & Replacements D to I. Click here to view Pseudomorphs & Replacements J to M. Click here to view Pseudomorphs & Replacements N to P. Click here to view Pseudomorphs & Replacements Quartz. Click here to view Best Minerals P, Click here to view and here for Best Minerals A to Z and here for Fast Navigation of completed Best Minerals articles.
Images last selected December 2010 sorting on "after".
Rock Currier
Crystals not pistols.
Edited 62 time(s). Last edit at 06/03/2013 01:36AM by Rock Currier.
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Re: Pseudomorphs R to Z January 16, 2011 09:15PM |
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Re: Pseudomorphs R to Z January 20, 2011 10:09PM |
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Locality Updated: Aragón, SpainFrom Gascon Cuello Fernando, 20th Jun 2013 06:37:45