Discussions

💬 Home 🔎 Search 📅 Latest

╳Discussions

💬 Home 🔎 Search 📅 Latest

Groups

Recent Images in Discussions

Identity HelpPtescheckite?

14th Sep 2009 23:51 UTCScott Maier

Anybody want to speculate the odds of my having found Petscheckite in Wrentham Massachusetts? It is a very rare mineral only having been found in three locations previously. One of those locations is Connecticut. I found a yellow/brown colored mineral with concentrations of darker black materiel on a quartz crystal plate at Simeone Quarry in Wrentham. The picture of Petschackite from CT highly resembles the specimen that I have, and can be used as reference. The resemblence is spot on. That isnt to say that it is Petschackite for sure, but is there another mineral that could be found in Wrentham MA that resembles this image? I have attached the photo of the specimen from CT and would like to know if anybody can think of another mineral that my specimen could be, based on its' very close resemblance to this photo. Thanks!!

15th Sep 2009 00:20 UTCAlfredo Petrov Manager

Interesting find, Scott! But two comments: 1) You need a chemical analysis before any further speculation. Without an analysis, anyone who responds to your message with an opinion re this being petschekite or not is full of something we won't mention in polite company. And 2), it is my personal suspicion that petschekite will eventually be discredited as a mineral species, turning out to be baked ishikawaite or something else. So don't attach too much importance to the actual "name" yet - the composition is much more important.

15th Sep 2009 00:24 UTCRonald John Gyllenhammer Expert

Hi Scott,

It would seem unlikely to occur at that quarry. I don't want to be premature but Petscheckite is known primarily from zoned pegmatites. Is your specimen radioactive? This is a key question that should be answered before any speculation. If it is radioactive, you should talk with Fred Davis about it. He will probably chime in on this one. Good luck Scott.

Ron

15th Sep 2009 12:11 UTCFred E. Davis

Alfredo is correct - analysis is required. You can't tell by comparison with photographs. I also agree with Ronald, check it with a Geiger counter or scintillation detector. Petscheckite is reasonably hot and not difficult to pick up. If it's not radioactive, it isn't petscheckite. If it is radioactive, then there are many other possible minerals.

15th Sep 2009 14:37 UTCPavel Kartashov Manager

Nobody able to discern petschekite from euxenite, for example, by eye. ;) Note that euxenite is VERY widespread mineral in granitic pegmatites.

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: May 8, 2024 10:18:49

Go to top of page