Jason B. Smith's Photo Gallery
56U-EJJFanfaniite Ca4MnAl4(PO4)6(OH)4·12H2O
Field of View: 2.3 mm
Radial blades of fanfaniite on matrix. Fanfaniite is by far the rarest of the three montgomeryite group species at the Foote Mine. Numerous EDS tests were performed on ‘kingsmountite’ samples and only one showed marked manganese dominance, and monoclinic symmetry. The sample was split into two pieces, and this is the other portion of the type sample, now in my permanent collection. The majority of the ‘kingsmountite’ samples that I personally collected came from one particular boulder, and all samples tested from that find proved to be the triclinic member, aniyunwiyaite. If you have received ‘kingsmountite’ in trade from me it is most likely aniyunwiyaite. This sample was collected by the late Walter Ollis in the 1980s. All of these species look remarkably the same, and testing is required to differentiate.
DCE-66WAniyunwiyaite Ca3Mn2+Fe2+Al4(PO4)6(OH)4·12H2O , Whiteite-(CaMnMn) {Ca}{Mn2+}{Mn2}{Al2}(PO4)4(OH)2·8H2O
Field of View: 5.2 mm
The type specimen of aniyunwiyaite with tan prisms of whiteite-CaMnMn. Collected in 2003. Aniyunwiyaite is the triclinic analogue of kingsmountite, with ordered Mn:Fe on the Ca site. If you’ve received ‘kingsmountite’ from me through trading or sales you most likely already have a sample of this species. Kingsmountite is now comparatively rare from the Foote Mine, with the Mn analogue, fanfaniite being extremely rare.
XTH-WNALinarite PbCu(SO4)(OH)2
Field of View: 4.1 mm
Beautiful cluster of linarite crystals in a quartz vug in altered lead-copper ore. Collected 9-2-2018.
HNF-TU9Caledonite Pb5Cu2(SO4)3(CO3)(OH)6
Field of View: 4.4 mm
Small radial clusters of caledonite needles in a vug in altered galena/quartz/chalcopyrite ore. Associated with bechererite, steverustite and susannite. Collected 9-2-2018.
RE2-T7GSteverustite Pb2+5(OH)5[Cu+(S6+O3S2-)3](H2O)2 , Susannite Pb4(CO3)2(SO4)(OH)2
Field of View: 3.3 mm
Nice needles of steverustite on a fracture in altered galena with susannite. Collected 9-2-2018. A. Kampf PXRD. First locality outside the UK for the species.
66U-QHCPosnjakite Cu4(SO4)(OH)6·H2O , Pyrite FeS2
Field of View: 3.6 mm
Nice twinned posnjakite crystals on a hedgehog of pyrite crystals and minor leadhillite. Associated with caledonite and redgillite. Collected 9-2-2018.
6RV-Y86Caledonite Pb5Cu2(SO4)3(CO3)(OH)6 , Linarite PbCu(SO4)(OH)2
Field of View: 2.4 mm
Tiny needles of caledonite with linarite. Collected 9-2-2918.
U56-FF0Susannite Pb4(CO3)2(SO4)(OH)2 , Linarite PbCu(SO4)(OH)2
Field of View: 2.2 mm
Tiny hexagonal susannite crystals on linarite. Collected 9-2-2018.
5VJ-KXLBechererite Zn7Cu(OH)13[(SiO(OH)3(SO4)] , Susannite Pb4(CO3)2(SO4)(OH)2
Field of View: 1.4 mm
Minute pale blue hexagonal barrels of bechererite on a ball of susannite. Associated with steverustite, caledonite and redgillite. Collected 9-2-2018.
K39-AG2Steverustite Pb2+5(OH)5[Cu+(S6+O3S2-)3](H2O)2
Field of View: 2.3 mm
Small bundles of steverustite crystals on altered galena with minor susannite. Collected 9-2-2018. PXRD by A. Kampf. First locality outside Great Britain.