Sphalerite, Falcacci stope, Elba Island.
Last Updated: 20th Nov 2013By Giuliano Bettini
In 1991, I collected many of these specimens at Falcacci stope, Rio Marina, Elba island.
They were mostly (and perhaps still are ....) dispersed in a green chloritic clay (Ref: Orlandi, P., & Pezzotta, F. (1997). Minerali dell'Isola d'Elba. Edizioni Novecento Grafico, Bergamo).
That’s probably the variety Marmatite. The bigger crystals are often imperfect, while the smaller ones (size: a few mm) are perfect and shiny. The faces are those of the cube and the tetrahedron.
Washing with water, the crystals are freed easily from the clay.
They were mostly (and perhaps still are ....) dispersed in a green chloritic clay (Ref: Orlandi, P., & Pezzotta, F. (1997). Minerali dell'Isola d'Elba. Edizioni Novecento Grafico, Bergamo).
That’s probably the variety Marmatite. The bigger crystals are often imperfect, while the smaller ones (size: a few mm) are perfect and shiny. The faces are those of the cube and the tetrahedron.
Washing with water, the crystals are freed easily from the clay.
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Comments
Thanks Chris.
No, however,they explicitly speak of "Sfalerite ferrifera" (p. 67, Iron-rich Sphalerite).
Giuliano Bettini
21st Nov 2013 3:35am
No, however,they explicitly speak of "Sfalerite ferrifera" (p. 67, Iron-rich Sphalerite).
Giuliano Bettini
21st Nov 2013 3:35am
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Chris Mavris
20th Nov 2013 8:03pm