Learning Center What is a mineral?The most common minerals on earth Information for Educators Mindat Articles The Elements The Rock H. Currier Digital Library Geologic Time

Minerals by Properties Minerals by Chemistry Advanced Locality Search Random Mineral Random Locality Search by minID Localities Near Me Search Articles Search Glossary More Search Options

The Mindat Manual Add a New Photo Rate Photos Locality Edit Report Coordinate Completion Report Add Glossary Item

Mining Companies Statistics Users Mineral Museums Clubs & Organizations Mineral Shows & Events The Mindat Directory Device Settings The Mineral Quiz

Photo Search Photo Galleries Search by Color New Photos Today New Photos Yesterday Members' Photo Galleries Past Photo of the Day Gallery Photography

Discussions

💬 Home 🔎 Search 📅 Latest

╳Discussions

💬 Home 🔎 Search 📅 Latest

Groups

Recent Images in Discussions

Identity HelpMiargyrite?

13th Jan 2017 23:17 UTCKyle Beucke 🌟

This tiny (0.5 mm) crystal was found in a quartz vein that contains (sparse) grains of pyrite and silver sulfosalts (pyrargyrite, etc.); no base metal sulfides are apparent.

I broke a tiny splinter off the crustal and could see a deep, cherry-red color similar to that of miargyrite. This mineral has been reported from the locality.

Does the crystal shape look like it could be miargyrite? I might sacrifice the whole thing for an analysis (at least I will have the photo).

Thanks,

Kyle

17th Jan 2017 21:34 UTCRob Woodside 🌟 Manager

It could be. What's the locality/

17th Jan 2017 21:39 UTCKyle Beucke 🌟

Silver Mountain City district (Alpine County, California).

Thanks,

Kyle

14th Mar 2017 20:15 UTCKyle Beucke 🌟

I broke off the crystal and had it analyzed (EDS). The identification based on this was pyrargyrite.

I know this is only one shot of the crystal, but does this look like a pyrargyrite? I am not casting doubt on the analysis, but I would like opinions on this in case I decide to upload the image.

Thank you,

Kyle

14th Mar 2017 22:24 UTCReiner Mielke Expert

I don't have a problem with pyrargyrite.

14th Mar 2017 23:04 UTCRob Woodside 🌟 Manager

Pyrargyrite!

15th Mar 2017 00:47 UTCKeith Compton 🌟 Manager

Just as an aside:

I wonder about the size of the original xl. Was (is) it 0.5mm or 0.5cm. To break off a "tiny splinter" from a 0.5mm xl takes a bit of doing. Try doing that to a grain of fine sand!

A little easier to do if the xl was 0.5cm (i.e.: 5mms in size).

Cheers

Keith

15th Mar 2017 01:06 UTCKyle Beucke 🌟

No, the size is correct. Not difficult when under high magnification and using a very sharp needle! Most of the stuff I find is micro-sized, so I am used to manipulating, testing powder color, breaking off tiny grains for analysis, etc. of really tiny stuff. I am really into silver minerals, gold, etc. so consider myself fortunate to find even micros.

Kyle

15th Mar 2017 01:45 UTCKeith Compton 🌟 Manager

Hi

Fair enough Kyle

I know I couldn't do that. I have enough trouble just removing fine lint and dust specs off crystals let alone removing a sliver sample !

Cheers

Keith

15th Mar 2017 16:22 UTCDonald B Peck Expert

Like Keith, I would have a lot of trouble sacrificing that crystal. I also think it is pyrargyrite. The crystal appears more like ly to be trigonal than monocliniic.

15th Mar 2017 17:12 UTCKyle Beucke 🌟

This is great; thanks for all of your help!

Regarding breaking off tiny grains/crystals for analysis, I wet the tip of the pin so that a grain will adhere to the point of the pin after it is broken. Then, the grain is transferred to tape, which is placed on paper for sending off.

Kyle

16th Mar 2017 00:43 UTCKeith Compton 🌟 Manager

Hi Kyle,

Your needles must be very fine - the point on my finest needle wouldn't be much less than .5mm so my needles would be of no use.

I think if I did that anyway I wouldn't even see a speck that small (half a grain of salt) !!

Cheers

Keith

16th Mar 2017 01:07 UTCKyle Beucke 🌟

Keith,

I use insect pins (pretty sharp), and work under a microscope.

Kyle

16th Mar 2017 16:40 UTCUwe Kolitsch Manager

I use acupuncture needles (with different diameters) for breaking off and handling tiny crystals and crystal aggregates.

Mindat.org is an outreach project of the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.
Copyright © mindat.org and the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy 1993-2024, except where stated. Most political location boundaries are © OpenStreetMap contributors. Mindat.org relies on the contributions of thousands of members and supporters. Founded in 2000 by Jolyon Ralph.
Privacy Policy - Terms & Conditions - Contact Us / DMCA issues - Report a bug/vulnerability Current server date and time: April 16, 2024 08:24:13

Go to top of page