New Gallery 72

New Photos Gallery Return to front page. Click on image for larger view
Photos recently added to NH species galleries, set #72.
DIOPSIDE - HEDENBERGITE Merrimack Skate 3 parking lot ledge, Merrimack, NH Dark green diopside - hedenbergite with pale green epidote in quartz matrix	Species: DIOPSIDE - HEDENBERGITE Locality: Merrimack Skate 3 parking lot ledge, Merrimack, NH Specimen Size: 4 cm specimen. Dark green diopside - hedenbergite with pale green epidote in quartz matrix Field Collected: Tom Mortimer, Sept. 2010 Catalog No.: 1963 Notes: EDS analyzed A complete series of compositions exits between diopside and hedenbergite. Hedenbergite: CaFe²⁺Si₂O₆ Diopside: CaMgSi₂O₆ The EDS spectrum suggests an excess of Mg over Fe, (favoring a diopside ID) however the computed element atomic percents indicate an excess of Fe over Mg. A Raman analysis reported: "The Merrimack samples gave epidote for the light green and a good match (97%) for diopside for the single grain [of the dark green].... Raman probably can be calibrated for diopside-hedenbergite, but we'd want to have spectra at all the same laser wavelength (and [the] laser [used here] at 633 nm isn't one that the rruff database uses." An October, 2015 XRD analysis confirmed the dominant species to be diopside.
FAYALITE Pulpit Rd. Bedford, NH 10 mm double terminated fayalite crystal FAYALITE Pulpit Rd. Bedford, NH 10 mm double terminated fayalite crystal	Species: FAYALITE Locality: Pulpit Rd. Bedford, NH Specimen Size: 10 mm double terminated fayalite crystal Field Collected: Tom Mortimer Catalog No.: TBC Notes: Crystal surface undergoing alteration. Top photo, a stack of 11 images using scope trinocular port. Lower photo, stack of 14 images with 5X Bausch eye-loop stuck onto Canon G9 camera lens.
DRAVITE Bradsher Quarry, Rt 11, Farmington, NH 1.5 mm field of view	Species: DRAVITE Locality: Bradsher Quarry, Rt 11, Farmington, NH Specimen Size: 1.5 mm field of view Field Collected: Peter Cristofono Catalog No.: A Peter Cristofono specimen and photograph. Notes:
MUSCOVITE Parking lot east of Rt. 101 - Rt.101A interchange, Amherst, NH 5 mm field of view. Sharp hexagonal books of muscovite to 1 mm	Species: MUSCOVITE Locality: Parking lot east of Rt. 101 - Rt.101A interchange, Amherst, NH Specimen Size: 5 mm field of view. Sharp hexagonal books of muscovite to 1 mm Field Collected: Tom Mortimer - 5/22/97 Catalog No.: u322 Notes:"Free-growing" non-pegmatite muscovite is uncommon in NH.
LUDLAMITE Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH 3.3 mm ludlamite crystal	Species: LUDLAMITE Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH Specimen Size: 3.3 mm ludlamite crystal Field Collected: Inga Bergraff Catalog No.: u1834 Notes: Isolated ludlamite crystals such as this one are uncommon. Beraunite needles are on surface.
ANATASE Pike-Wilton Quarry, Wilton, NH 0.8 mm field of view	Species: ANATASE Locality: Pike-Wilton Quarry, Wilton, NH Specimen Size: 0.8 mm field of view Field Collected: Peter Cristofono - Oct., 2015 Catalog No.: A Peter Cristofono specimen Notes: From a narrow quartz vein of rusty quartz crystals. Cleaned with Iron Out.
TRIPLOIDITE Turner Mine, Marlow, NH 6 x 6 x 3 cm specimen with pink-red zones of glassy triploidite.	Species: TRIPLOIDITE Locality: Turner Mine, Marlow, NH Specimen Size: 6 x 6 x 3 cm specimen with pink-red zones of glassy triploidite. Field Collected: Unknown Catalog No.: 1961 Notes: Ray Meyers purchased this specimen as "Hureaulite." A XRD analysis confirmed this mineral is triploidite with excellent correlation. A XRF analysis confirmed a Mn > Fe phosphate species. Triploidite has not previously been reported from the Turner Mine.
GORMANITE Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH 4 cm specimen with central band of dark green, embedded, gormanite.	Species: GORMANITE Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH Specimen Size: 4 cm specimen with central band of dark green, embedded, gormanite. Field Collected: Gene Bearss - 1981 Catalog No.: 1958 Notes: Gene had this specimen labeled as "Scorzalite with arrojadite?" Specimen acquired at MMNE silent auction, Oct. 2015, for $4. Blue mineral is scorzalite.
GRAFTONITE Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH 6 cm specimen with pinkish zones of graftonite with bluish triphylite	Species: GRAFTONITE Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH Specimen Size: 6 cm specimen with pinkish zones of graftonite with bluish triphylite Field Collected: Gene Bearss Catalog No.: 1960 Notes: When Jim Nizamoff examined this specimen in April, 2015, he thought the pink mineral might be graftonite. He was right; an Oct 2015 XRD analysis confirmed graftonite. This graftonite presentation is different from the more frequently encountered laminar structure. I had also considered wolfeite and triploidite for this pink mineral. An EDS analysis on a polished grain was also consistent with graftonite, with a modest calcium content.
RIEBECKITE Hurricane Mtn., Conway, NH 1.6 cm terminated crystal. RIEBECKITE Hurricane Mtn., Conway, NH 1.6 cm terminated crystal	Species: RIEBECKITE Locality: Hurricane Mtn., Conway, NH Specimen Size: 1.6 cm terminated crystal, front and back views Field Collected: Unknown - A purchased specimen - 8/15 Catalog No.: 1964 Notes: When purchased, this TN specimen was labeled as arfvedsonite. However the scratched surface is pale blue (visible, second photo), suggesting riebeckite.
MILARITE Government Pit Albany, NH 1.6 cm milarite crystal in kaolinite	Species: MILARITE Locality: Government Pit Albany, NH Specimen Size: 1.6 cm milarite crystal in kaolinite. Field Collected: Unknown - A purchased specimen - 8/15 Catalog No.: 1965 Notes: