Set 3: Jahnsite - Paravauxite +++ *** *****
Go to Palermo species: A - Falsterite Ferrisicklerite - Hydroxylherderite Phosphoferrite - Sphalerite Sillimanite - Zircon
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 1.5 mm field of view. Jahnsite: honey colored prismatic crystals.
Field Collected: Bob Janules
Catalog No.: u040
Notes: * Jansite-(CaMnFe), Jahnsite-(MnFeMg), and Jahnsite-(CaMnMn) are reported from Palermo. These species are visually identical in appearance. From Journal of Pegmatology, Vol. 1 No. 1, Nizamoff et. all. "Jahnsite-(MnFeMg) is present as light brown striated bladed crystals to 1 mm associated with messelite-fairfieldite, paravauxite-gordonite and scorzalite-lazulite. Jahnsite-(CaMnMn) also forms patchy to zoned overgrowths on whiteite-(MnFeMg). Jahnsite-(CaMnFe) occurs as brown to orange prisms to 1 mm associated with laueite, paravauxite and whiteite-(MnFeMg). In addition, jahnsite-(CaMnFe) appears as zoned overgrowth on whiteite-(CaMnMg)."
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 1.8 mm crystal group, mounted on toothpick
Field Collected: Bob Whitmore - 1981
Catalog No.: A Bob Whitmore specimen
Notes: This specimenn is the one illustrated in Bob Whitmore's book The Pegmatite Mines Known as Palermo (pg. 137).
Locality: Palermo #1 Mine, Pod 3, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 1.2 mm field of view, top photo. 0.08 mm blocky, lemon-yellow, jahnsite-CaMnMn crystals on rockbridgeite.
Field Collected: Forrest Fogg ex. Gordon Jackson
Catalog No.: u1460
Notes: Jahnsite-CaMnMn indicated by EDS analysis . Bob Whitmore's book, The Pegmatite Mines Known as Palermo notes two species of the Jahnsite group as occurring at Palermo: Jahnsite-(CaMnFe): CaMn2+Fe2+2Fe3+2(PO4)4(OH)2 · 8H2O and
Jahnsite-(CaMnMn): CaMn2+Mn2+2Fe3+2(PO4)4(OH)2 · 8H2O .
For Jahnsite-(CaMnFe), the Ca:Mn:Fe:P ratios are 1:1:4:4
For Jahnsite-(CaMnMn), the Ca:Mn:Fe:P ratios are 1:3:2:4 , a much higher percentage of Mn, consistant with the EDS plot.
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 0.4 mm jahnsite crystal
Field Collected: From a tub of Palermo phosphate rocks gifted by Bob Whitmore
Catalog No.: u1929
Notes: A stack of 7 images processed with Helicon Focus.
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 1.7 mm field of view.
Field Collected: Bob Whitmore - from a tub of Palermo phosphate rocks gifted by Bob.
Catalog No.: u2454
Notes: On the same micro-boxed specimen with whitlockite was this corroded sulfide bleb (sphalerite?) sprinkled with these blocky yellow crystals. These yellow crystals had a preference for forming on the sulfide, or very near by (on some micro-crystalline messelite). I did not see them elsewhere on the piece. The dark background helps them to stand out. Jahnsite is a visual ID.
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 0.3 mm field of view, top photo
Field Collected: Bob Whitmore - from a tub of Palermo phosphate rocks gifted by Bob.
Catalog No.: u2454
Notes: A visual identification.
Locality: Palermo Mine, Groton, NH
Specimen Size: Top photo 5 mm field of view. Other views as noted.
Field Collected: From a tub gifted by Bob Whitmore
Catalog No.: u2522
Notes: Jahnsite crystals on mitridatite coated siderite crystals.
The jahnsite sub-group has 13 members. Jahnsite at the Palermo Mine is usually seen in crystal clumps. Distinct, isolated, crystals are uncommon.
Locality: Palermo Mine Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 0.9 mm field of view
Field Collected: Unknown
Catalog No.:
Notes: Label says collected in 1973.
Locality: Palermo Mine Groton, NH
Specimen Size: Two views. 0.6 mm field of view, top photo
Field Collected: Unknown
Catalog No.: u2589
Notes:
Locality: Palermo Mine, Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 3.2 mm field of view
Field Collected: Clayton Ford
Catalog No.: u2650
Notes: This lumpy ball form of jahnsite is common in Groton, NH pegmatites.
Two high count, polished grain, EDS analyses indicated a chemistry of (4 P normalization):
BC453A: Ca0.73(Fe1.96,Mn0.36)Σ2.57Mg0.56Al0.07P4O26
BC453: Ca1.13(Fe1.81,Mn0.57)Σ2.53Mg0.38K0.02P4O30.3
With Fe > Mn and Mg present, jahnsite group members jahnsite-(CaFeMg) or jahnsite-(CaMnMg) are suggested. I suspect intermediate compositions between these two defined species are allowed, which would best fit the BC453 chemistry.
Locality: Palermo Mine, Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 1.2 mm field of view
Field Collected: Bob Wilken
Catalog No.: A Bob Wilken specimen and photo
Notes:
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 0.4 mm dark brown crystal
Field Collected: Specimen purchased from a reputable, knowledgable, dealer.
Catalog No.: u040
Notes: *
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 1.7 mm field of view. Red-brown octahedral kryzhanovskite crystals.
Field Collected: ex. Bill Henderson
Catalog No.: A Joe Mulvey specimen, ex. Bill Henderson
Notes:
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 0.25 mm kryzhanovskite octahedron
Field Collected: Bob Whitmore - from a tub of Palermo phosphate rocks gifted by Bob.
Catalog No.: u2425
Notes: This phosphate chunk had a zone of mostly granular kryzhanovskite, but the granular area had some voids with tiny crystals like this one. Most crystals were almost invisible, unless they had reflecting light off a crystal face.
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 0.20 mm kryzhanovskite crystals
Field Collected: Bob Whitmore - from a tub of Palermo phosphate rocks gifted by Bob.
Catalog No.: u2425
Notes: This phosphate chunk had a zone of mostly granular kryzhanovskite, but the granular area had some voids with tiny crystals like this one. Most crystals were almost invisible, unless they had reflecting light off a crystal face.
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 0.20 mm kryzhanovskite crystal with cacoxenite? ball.
Field Collected: Bob Whitmore - from a tub of Palermo phosphate rocks gifted by Bob.
Catalog No.: u2425
Notes:
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 0.25 mm kryzhanovskite crystal.
Field Collected: Bob Whitmore - from a tub of Palermo phosphate rocks gifted by Bob.
Catalog No.: u2425
Notes:
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 3 cm (vertical) specimen with granular mass of kryzhanovskite in upper half.
Field Collected: Bob Whitmore - from a tub of Palermo phosphate rocks gifted by Bob.
Catalog No.: u2425
Notes: Sub mm kryzhanovskite crystals are present within this granular mass.
Locality: Palermo Mine, Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 1.3 mm field of view.
Field Collected: From a tub of Palermo rocks gifted by Bob Whitmore, 2009
Catalog No.: u2526
Notes:
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 2.5 cm specimen with surface of crystaline green kulanite.
Field Collected: From crate of Palermo rocks given by Bob Whitmore.
Catalog No.: u1093
Notes: + This kulanite specimen verified by EDS analysis. As stated by Fleischer & Mandarino, American Mineralogist 1977, Vol. 62, pg. 174: "Kulanite is the triclinic, ferrous iron-dominant analog of bjarebyite." The EDS plot for this specimen clearly shows the iron (Fe) component exceeding the manganese (Mn) component.
Kulanite: Ba(Fe2+,Mn2+,Mg)2(Al,Fe3+)2[OH|PO4]3
Bjarebyite: (Ba,Sr)(Mn2+,Fe2+,Mg)2Al2[OH|PO4]3
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 4.3 mm field of view
Field Collected: Bob Wilken
Catalog No.: A Bob Wilken specimen and photo
Notes: An EDS analysis of this specimen identified kulanite as the species.
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 2 mm field of view
Field Collected: Bob Wilken
Catalog No.: A Bob Wilken specimen and photo
Notes:
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 2.2 cm specimen, 3 mm zoom view shows some crystal faces. Dark forrest-green embedded blades of kulanite.
Field Collected: Walter Lane - MMNE give-away
Catalog No.: u2025
Notes: An EDS analysis (BC175 - 3/2/17) indicated a chemistry of: (normalized for 2 Al):
Ba0.33(Fe1.1,Mn0.6)Al2(PO4)3(OH)3 + 20 extra O. Light on the barium.
Kulanite chemistry is: BaFe2Al2(PO4)3(OH)3 Kulanite is the only species chemistry that comes close to the iron dominant phosphate indicated by the BC175 analysis. The color and luster are consistent with kulanite.
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 4.5 mm field of view. Dark-green kulanite crystal, partially obscured in vug.
Field Collected: Bob Whitmore - from a tub of Palermo phosphate rocks gifted by Bob.
Catalog No.: u2413
Notes: This is relatively large for a Palermo kulanite crystal.
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 2.0 mm field of view. Dark-green kulanite crystal.
Field Collected: Bob Whitmore - from a tub of Palermo phosphate rocks gifted by Bob.
Catalog No.: u2414
Notes: This kulanite crystal compares favorably that illustrated in The Pegmatite Mines Known as Palermo.
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 0.8 mm pale yellow, zoned, laueite crystal
Field Collected: Walter Lane
Catalog No.: u1266
Notes: *
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 0.5 mm orange Laueite crystal
Field Collected: From crate of Palermo rocks given by Bob Whitmore
Catalog No.: u906
Notes:
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 1.6 mm laueite crystal with siderate.
Field Collected: Walter Lane - From unsorted MMNE Give-away
Catalog No.: TBC
Notes: .
Locality: Palermo #1 Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 1 mm laueite spray
Field Collected: Walter Lane 1995-96, Cat. #1083
Catalog No.: A Gene Bearss collection specimen
Notes: Stack of 10 images processed with Helicon Focus.
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 1 mm spray of laueite crystals with clear apatite crystals at top.
Field Collected: From tub of Palermo rocks gifted by Bob Whitmore
Catalog No.: u1945
Notes: Center of cluster is clear. I asked Jim Nizamoff about this zoning, particularly with laueite and paravauxite. He replied: "Yes, you can absolutely have that. I saw this particular zoning at Palermo No. 2 on several specimens and expect that it occurs at Palermo No. 1 as well. I believe that many of the secondary phosphates that exhibit a compositional series (especially Fe vs Mn as in laueite-paravauxite, childrenite-eosphorite or Fe3+ vs Al as in jahnsite-whiteite) can be zoned in this way. Usually they show a concentric type zoning (core is mineral A and rim is mineral B). I haven't seen zoning that is non-symmetrical."
Photo with Canon T3i, with Nikon Plan 10 microscope objective. 21 image stack.
Locality: Palermo #1 Mine, Pod 3, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 1.5 mm field of view
Field Collected: Forrest Fogg
Catalog No.: u1583
Notes:
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 0.5 mm group of leucophosphite crystals
Field Collected: Forrest Fogg, ex. Mike Swanson
Catalog No.: u805
Notes: + Identification by Forrest Fogg. Forrest Fogg micro mineral identifications are well regarded.
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 0.4 mm crystal group.
Field Collected: Walter Lane
Catalog No.: u1205
Notes: A visual identification, EDS analysis pending. An alternate identification is phosphosiderite. If leucophosphite, this photo of leucophosphite is as good as any presently on the web (2011) that illustrate individual crystals. The best photograph of a leucophosphite crystal known to this web author is the one that appeared in the Sept.-Oct. 1981 issue of Rocks & Minerals. It is a color photo of a 3.3 mm Palermo Mine crystal.
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: Another 0.4 mm cluster on specimen u1205
Field Collected: Walter Lane
Catalog No.: u1205
Notes:
Locality: Palermo #1 Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 4 mm field of view. Pale lavender plates of leucophosphite
Field Collected: Gene Bearss - 1982
Catalog No.: A Gene Bearss specimen
Notes:
Locality: Palermo Mine, Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 1.2 mm field of view
Field Collected: Bob Wilken
Catalog No.: A Bob Wilken specimen and photo
Notes: [bw] Photo taken w. a Nikon Plan 10X; a stack of 99 w. 6 um increments.
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 4 mm apple green Ludlamite crystal group
Field Collected: From crate of Palermo rocks given by Bob Whitmore
Catalog No.: u905
Notes:
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 3.7 cm specimen. Altering crude hexagonal tabular ludlamite crystals
Field Collected: A purchased specimen
Catalog No.: u1445
Notes: Glassy, pale-green, ludlamite is frequently seen altering to a dull gray. I have not seen this hexagonal tabular form previously
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 1.8 mm tablet of ludlamite
Field Collected: From a box of small rock chunks gifted by Bob Whitmore
Catalog No.: u1523
Notes:
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 1.5 cm specimen
Field Collected: Unknown. Purchased as anapaite. Ex. Mike Swanson collection
Catalog No.: A Ray Meyers specimen.
Notes: My first impression was that this is likely ludlamite. A polished grain EDS analysis confirmed ludlamite. (Anapaite has calcium, ludlamite does not). The specimen is of a pale-green embedded/protruding mineral. Both anapaite and ludlamite have perfect cleavage (as that specimen shows... and the color/luster is about the same for both). Re-reading the anapaite description in the 1981 R&M article on Palermo, it says it is "Generally only found intergrown with messelite in white radiating bladed masses .... these masses are locally abundant as cavity fillings in siderite and ludlamite." There is messelite in/on this specimen.... and the pale green mineral does have a bladed structure. I am glad to have studied this specimen (and rechecked the references). I presently do not have a NH anapaite in my collection.
Locality: Palermo #1 Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 4 mm field of view
Field Collected: Forrest Fogg
Catalog No.: u1976
Notes: Messelite-fairfieldite is the catalog ID - for this species on specimen.
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 3.0 mm field of view
Field Collected: Bob Whitmore - from a tub of Palermo phosphate rocks gifted by Bob.
Catalog No.: u2427
Notes: This ludlamite has a film coating obscuring its normal apple-green color and high luster. It is a nice sharp, isolated, crystal.
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 2.5 mm field of view
Field Collected: Bob Whitmore - from a tub of Palermo phosphate rocks gifted by Bob.
Catalog No.: u2427
Notes: This ludlamite has a film coating obscuring its normal apple-green color and high luster.
Locality: Palermo #1 Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 4 mm field of view. Malachite balls on chalcopyrite
Field Collected: Bob Whitmore - 1971
Catalog No.: A Bob Whitmore specimen
Notes:
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 12 mm field of view
Field Collected: ex. Forrest Fogg ?
Catalog No.: u2223
Notes: Malachite confirmed by EDS analysis, (BC305). The analysis showed about a 5% zinc content, suggesting some Zn replacement of Cu. Fizz in muriatic acid indicated a carbonate.
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 1.3 mm field of view.
Field Collected: Bob Whitmore - from a tub of Palermo phosphate rocks gifted by Bob.
Catalog No.: u2421
Notes: No idea what the yellow spiky balls are.
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 1.0 mm field of view.
Field Collected: Bob Whitmore - from a tub of Palermo phosphate rocks gifted by Bob.
Catalog No.: u2421
Notes: Dark matrix in rear top is some weathered copper sulfide mineral.
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 1.2 mm field of view. Clam shell-like marcasite crystals on siderite
Field Collected: From a small box of small rock chunks gifted by Bob Whitmore
Catalog No.: u1525
Notes: These bright golden marcasite crystals are within a siderite vug. The author [tm] has not seen a Palermo marcasite specimen previously (10/14). Marcasite is listed in the The Pegmatite Mines Known as Palermo book by Whitmore & Lawrence.
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 2.0 mm field of view
Field Collected: Bob Whitmore - from a tub of Palermo phosphate rocks gifted by Bob.
Catalog No.: u2460
Notes: A photo with diffused LED light to avoid bright flares. The metallic-bronze color of the marcasite is altered to brown-yellow by the lighting.
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 1.2 mm crystal
Field Collected: Bob Whitmore - from a tub of Palermo phosphate rocks gifted by Bob.
Catalog No.: u2467
Notes: Visual identification. Small rockbridgeite balls are on the specimen.
Locality: Palermo #1 Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 3 mm field of view.
Field Collected: A Bob Wilken specimen and identification.
Catalog No.: A Bob Wilken specimen & photo
Notes:
Locality: Palermo #1 Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 0.4 mm, paper thin, clear, Messelite crystal with yellow Laueite?
Field Collected: Bob Janules
Catalog No.: u665
Notes: Lack of contrast made this a difficult specimen to photograph.
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: Clear messelite crystal spear in center is 0.3 mm. With orange scalenohedrons of siderite.
Field Collected: Walter Lane - From unsorted MMNE Give-away
Catalog No.: TBC
Notes: Image shows messilite crystals in both head-on spear view and stacked fan view.
12 image stack over 0.55 mm with Helicon Focus.
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 5 mm field of view. Bright white balls of thin rounded blades of messelite? with tiny scalenohedrons of siderite.
Field Collected: Walter Lane - From unsorted MMNE Give-away
Catalog No.: TBC
Notes:
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 1.5 mm field of view. Messelite crystal on siderite crystal.
Field Collected: Bob Whitmore - from a tub of Palermo phosphate rocks gifted by Bob.
Catalog No.: u2431
Notes: Distinct messelite crystals are quite uncommon in my experience.
Locality: Palermo Mine, Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 1.5 mm field of view
Field Collected: From a tub gifted by Bob Whitmore
Catalog u2521
Notes: A visual ID
Locality: Palermo Mine, Groton, NH
Specimen Size: White ball group is 0.4 mm across
Field Collected: From a tub gifted by Bob Whitmore
Catalog No.: u2521
Notes: A visual ID.
Locality: Palermo Mine, Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 11 mm field of view and 8 mm close-up.
Field Collected: A Janet and Steve Cares - 1977
Catalog No.: A Don Dallaire specimen and photo
Notes: Acquired by Don at a 2022 MMNE auction.
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 1.8 cm specimen with powdery green mitridatite coating
Field Collected: Tom Mortimer
Catalog No.:
Notes:
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 8 mm field of view. Powdery green mitridatite coating rhombic siderite crystals.
Field Collected: Tom Mortimer
Catalog No.: TBC
Notes: *
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 3 cm specimen. Olive green coating of Mitridatite over Triphylite.
Field Collected: Tom Mortimer
Catalog No.: 1435
Notes:
Locality: Palermo #1 Mine, Pod 3, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 4 cm specimen with zones of massive, olive-green, mitridatite
Field Collected: Forrest Fogg - from flat of unlabeled Fogg specimens from Gordon Jackson
Catalog No.: 1893
Notes: Mitridatite is much more common at Palermo as a dusty, olive-green, coating on other phosphate and carbonate minerals. A qualitative EDS analysis of this specimen implied a Ca predominant Fe phosphate that (chemically) suggested the massive form of xanthoxenite, Ca4Fe3+2(PO4)4(OH)2 · 3H2O, although this specimen would be visually excessively green for this species. However, when the substantially lower EDS detector response at 6.5 KeV vs. 4 KeV was factored in, Fe was likely greater than Ca in my sample. A follow-up XRD analysis gave an excellent match for mitridatite, Ca2Fe3+3(PO4)3O2 · 3H2O .
I am uncertain as to how common this massive form of mitridatite is at Palermo. I had not noticed it previously. Perhaps it is just over-looked.
The hardness measured about 3 with a commercial hardness point set.
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 4.5 mm field of view.
Field Collected: From a tub of Palermo phosphate rocks gifted by Bob Whitmore.
Catalog No.: u2444
Notes: The black balls are rockbridgeite. From a stack of 115 images with EPO lens.
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 3.5 mm field of view
Field Collected: Bob Whitmore - from a tub of Palermo phosphate rocks gifted by Bob.
Catalog No.: u2446
Notes:
Locality: Palermo Mine, Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 6.8 mm field of view
Field Collected: Bob Wilken
Catalog No.: Bob Wilken specimen and photo
Notes: An EDS analysis, normalized for 4 Fe, gave Ca1.51Fe4.0P2.14O16.5. The material tested was the concentrically-ringed greenish-brown mineral. Bob gave consideration to a dufrenite ID.
Dufrenite chemistry is: Ca0.5Fe2+Fe3+5(PO4)4(OH)6 · 2H2O . The analysis of this specimen is a poor fit for dufrenite. The best IMA match is mitridatite.
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 0.7 mm montebrasite crystal impaling a quartz crystal
Field Collected: Bob Janules
Catalog No.: u163
Notes: * Montebrasite crystal has red oxide coating.
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 1 mm montebrasite crystal
Field Collected: From crate of Palermo rocks given by Bob Whitmore
Catalog No.:
Notes: Montebrasite crystal has red oxide coating. Specimen has been cleaned for 10 minutes in ultrasonic with Iron-Out.
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 3 mm field of view. 0.5 mm red oxide coated, rhombic-tabular, montebrasite crystals on quartz crystal.
Field Collected: Dana Jewell
Catalog No.: TBC
Notes: From a flat of Palermo rocks donated by Dana Jewel at the November, 2014 Micromounters of New England meeting.
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 8 cm specimen of quartz-apatite with micro montebtasite crystals indicated by green arrows.
Field Collected: From crate of Palermo rocks given by Bob Whitmore
Catalog No.:
Notes: The above micro montebrasite crystal was trimmed from this specimen. This photo is included to illustrate the host matrix for these small, rare-at-Palermo, crystals. Micro montrabrasite crystals are just visible beyond the tip of the green arrow with the red dot.
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 6 cm massive chunk of montebrasite
Field Collected: Marge Holland between 1940 and 1950
Catalog No.:
Notes: Purchased as "ambligonite" at 2009 Gilsum Rock Swap. EDS analyzed and determined to be montebrasite. Many old Palermo species lists include ambligonite, but a confirmed ambligonite specimen from Palermo is unknown to the author (Tom Mortimer). Massive montebrasite can be easily missed on mine dumps by field collectors.
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 5 cm specimen with pearly white montebrasite cleavages
Field Collected: From a crate of Palermo phosphate rocks gifted by Bob Whitmore
Catalog No.: 2007
Notes: This brittle mineral is fusible (third photo), a distinguishing characteristic of lepidolite, which was my initial guess as to what the species was.
Lepidolite is not listed for the Palermo Mine in Whitmore & Lawrence's book, The Pegmatite Mines Known as Palermo.
Other typical Palermo species are present on this specimen including triphylite, ferrisicklerite, siderite, strunzite and quartz.
Palermo is a lithium pegmatite, so lepidolite did not seem unreasonable.... and this piece is somewhat un-remarkable.... so perhaps this species had been overlooked. Speaking with Bob Whitmore, June 2016, he stated lepidolite had never been reported from Palermo, and doubted my ID. A polished grain EDS analysis, BC80, indicates a aluminum phosphate, (the small silicon peak is believed to be a contaminant). Montebrasite is an aluminum phosphate with good cleavage. Members of the lepidolite series require both potassium and fluorine, neither of which were detected in this analysis.
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 10 mm field of view. Triclinic, truncated, pyramids of grayish montebrasite.
Field Collected: Clayton Ford, A gift from Gordon Jackson
Catalog No.: u2011
Notes: A polished grain EDS analysis (BC139) indicated an aluminum phosphate, (EDS carbon response is due to carbon coat). Chemistry and crystalography are a better fit for montebrasite LiAlPO4(OH,F) than for augelite, the other Al-P candidate. The white spiky clusters are believed to be type 3 goyazite.
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 3.5 cm specimen. Soft pink Montmorillonite bleb at top.
Field Collected: Tom Mortimer
Catalog No.: 265
Notes: *
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 3 cm specimen with brilliant white, silky, Moraesite cluster at top left. (Note: Beryl below)
Field Collected: Bob Janules
Catalog No.: u189
Notes: The moraesite in this photo appears somewhat gray due to the need to reduce the luminance of the brilliant bright white moraesite to show the mineral structure.
Locality: Palermo #1 Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 3 cm specimen with 2 cm zone of chalk-white moraesite.
Field Collected: Bob Janules
Catalog No.: 1729
Notes:
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: Zoom view of specimen 1729, 3 mm field of view. Feathery radial moraesite clusters
Field Collected: Bob Janules
Catalog No.: 1729
Notes: The moraesite in this photo appears somewhat gray due to the need to reduce the luminance of the brilliant bright white moraesite to show the mineral structure.
Locality: Palermo #1 Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 10 mm, 5 mm and 1 mm field of views.
Field Collected: Acquired by Gene Bearss - 1992
Catalog No.: A Gene Bearss specimen
Notes: Moraesite has a very silky texture.
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 4 mm crystal group
Field Collected: Clayton Ford. Gift from Gordon Jackson
Catalog No.: u2007
Notes:
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 14 x 7 cm "book" of iron-stained muscovite mica
Field Collected: From crate of Palermo Mine rocks given by Bob Whitmore.
Catalog No.:
Notes:
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 2 cm muscovite crystal cluster
Field Collected: Bob Whitmore - 1973.
Catalog No.: A Ray Meyers specimen
Notes: Muscovite cluster perched on edge of partial smoky quartz crystal.
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 0.6 mm spiky ball (largest)
Field Collected: Unknown. Ex Pat Barker, gifted to Anna Wilken.
Catalog No.: u2309
Notes: I expected a phosphate, perhaps the spiky ball habit goyazite. An Oct. 2019 EDS (BC354A) gave K0.33Mg0.11Fe0.16Al2.34Si3O20 normalized for three Si. A second analysis from the same sample gave: K0..57Mg0.07Ca0.05Fe0.05Al2.68Si3O20.2
Following a review of the EDS data and photo, Jim Nizamoff suggested muscovite. The chemistry is reasonable. Jim said he had seen this muscovite habit in Maine pegmatites, but not from Palermo.
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 3 mm and 2 mm fields of view
Field Collected: From a phosphate rock saved by Forrest Fogg, acquired by Gordon Jackson and passed along to Bob Wilken.
Catalog No.: A Bob Wilken specimen
Notes: Bob originally had visually ID'ed this as parascholzite, but a carbon tape mounted grain EDS analysis indicated a reasonably good fit for the new mineral, natropalermoite, with an APFU calculated from this analysis as:
Na1.87Sr0.23Fe0.29Al4(PO4)3.67(OH)15.6 normalized for four Al.
Natropalermoite chemistry is: Na2SrAl4(PO4)4(OH)4 .
Palermoite chemistry is: SrLi2Al4(PO4)4(OH)4 .
The strontium content indicated by the analysis for this Bob Wilken specimen is quite low and some Fe was present, perhaps due to surface contamination. The Na, Al and P values are quite close to those for natropalermoite. Note: EDS cannot detect lithium.
Following the analysis of some additional candidate specimens, I will add a separate species page for natropalermoite. For the present, I will keep natropalermoite on the palermoite gallery.
Locality: Palermo #1 Mine, site 4, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 4.3 cm specimen. Green crust on quartz crystals.
Field Collected: Bob Whitmore
Catalog No.: A Bob Whitmore specimen
Notes: Bob has this specimen labeled as nontronite, however a June 2013 EDS analysis of a grain of this crust was not a match for nontronite. (Si,Al) should be about twice Fe for nontronite.
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 4 mm field of view
Field Collected: Forrest Fogg
Catalog No.: u1475
Notes: From material collected by Forrest Fogg in the 1970's, forwarded to me by Gordon Jackson. Qualitative EDS analysis suggests this is likely a member of the overite mineral group, perhaps manganosegelerite with a chemistry of:
(Mn2+,Ca)(Mn2+,Fe2+,Mg)Fe3+(PO4)2(OH) · 4H2O
The color is about right based on the mindat photo for this species. No overite group minerals have been reported from Palermo.
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH (Type Locality)
Specimen Size: 2.5 mm field of view. Multiple iron-stained, prismatic, Palermoite crystals.
Field Collected: From crate of Palermo Mine rocks given by Bob Whitmore
Catalog No.: u914
Notes: These striated prisms with right-angle attached Goedkenite crystals are well known to Palermo Mine mineral collectors.
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 3 mm clear, prismatic, palermoite crystal with goyazite and apatite.
Field Collected: From crate of Palermo Mine rocks given by Bob Whitmore
Catalog No.: u1000
Notes: Confirmed by EDS analysis Note prominent strontium (Sr) peak between Al and P peaks.
Goyazite, apatite, siderite and quartz crystals are also present on this specimen.
Locality: Palermo #1 Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 2 mm fov
Field Collected: Walter Lane - from material purchased by the Micromounters of New England
Catalog No.: u1250
Notes: * Shows orthorhombic termination nicely.
Locality: Palermo #1 Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: Group of 2 mm prismatic palermoite crystals
Field Collected: ex Mike Swanson collection
Catalog No.: u927
Notes: Lateral crystal in lower left is also palermoite.
Locality: Palermo #1 Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 4 mm Palermoite crystal on quartz, two views
Field Collected: Bob Whitmore - 1974
Catalog No.: A Bob Whitmore specimen
Notes: Bob Whitmore had this specimen labeled as samuelsonite. An EDS analysis (2013) showed a large strontium content (@ ~ 1.8 KeV) indicating the species is palermoite, not samuelsonite. Samuelsonite and palermoite are frequently confused.
Locality: Palermo #1 Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: Vertical crystal with stippled termination is 1.7 mm
Field Collected: Walter Lane material
Catalog No.: A Bob Janules specimen
Notes: Palermoite confirmed by EDS analysis
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 0.75 mm high crystal, two angles
Field Collected: Bob Whitmore - from a tub of Palermo phosphate rocks gifted by Bob.
Catalog No.: u2466
Notes: Whitlockite crystals and type 3 goyazite were also present on the small rock chunk that hosted this crystal.
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 0.4 mm wide crystal
Field Collected: Bob Whitmore - from a tub of Palermo phosphate rocks gifted by Bob.
Catalog No.: u2465
Notes: Whitlockite crystals and type 3 goyazite were also present on the small rock that hosted this crystal. The palermoite crystals that came from this host rock are as good as any for the species by comparison with mindat.org photos, 2021.
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 0.7 mm high crystal
Field Collected: Bob Whitmore - from a tub of Palermo phosphate rocks gifted by Bob.
Catalog No.: u2465
Notes: A stippled face, as seen here, is frequently seen on some palermoite crystals.
Locality: Palermo Mine, Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 0.9 mm field of view
Field Collected: From a tub gifted by Bob Whitmore
Catalog No.: u2520
Notes:
Locality: Palermo #1 Mine, Pod 13, Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 0.6 mm field of view. Tiny, acicular parascholzite crystals.
Field Collected: Bob Whitmore #273-25
Catalog No.: A Bob Whitmore specimen
Notes: Parascholzite is very rare at Palermo.
Locality: Palermo #1 Mine, Pod 13, site J, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 1.5 mm field of view. White tiny, indistinct, paracholzite crystals with blue-green falsterite.
Field Collected: Bob Whitmore 2004
Catalog No.: A Bob Whitmore specimen
Notes: Parascholzite is a noted associate of falsterite.
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 1.7 mm Paravauxite crystal
Field Collected: Bob Janules
Catalog No.: u492
Notes: Prismatic, rhombic, milky-clear, crystals are characteristic of the Paravauxite-Gordonite mineral series.
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 4 mm field of view
Field Collected: Walter Lane - from material purchased by the Micromounters of New England
Catalog No.: u1316
Notes: Jim Nizamoff thought paravoxite was the most likely species for this specimen. Jim explained that these very pale laueite-like crystals are most likely paravauxite. They sometimes exhibit color zoning, the darker terminations being laueite and the clear centers being paravauxite.
Locality: Palermo Mine, Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 0.5 mm field of view
Field Collected: Tom Mortimer
Catalog No.: TBC
Notes: Paravauxite is uncommon at the Palermo Mine. I made four attempts to photo this. Very small. None were particularly good. Motivated by rarity of species at Palermo.