Cordierite gallery

CORDIERITE Gallery Return to Cordierite page. Click on image for larger view
The Richmond. NH Soapstone Quarry cordierite crystals are among the best to be found worldwide. Cordierite weathers rather easily to a greenish white mica, "pinnite." Many of the Richmond cordierite crystals are somewhat altered to this mica state. Occasional blue-gray glassy blebs of un-altered cordierite have been found.
CORDIERITE altering to "pinite" mica Soapstone Quarry, Richmond, NH 5 mm field of view. Bright reflective geometric patterns of pinite mica surrounding islands of un-altered cordierite.	Species: CORDIERITE altering to "pinite" mica Locality: Soapstone Quarry, Richmond, NH Specimen Size: 5 mm field of view. Bright reflective geometric patterns of pinite mica surrounding islands of un-altered cordierite. Field Collected: Tom Mortimer Sept. 2013 Catalog No.: u1382 ? Notes: Cordierite exposed to surface weathering alters relatively quickly to "pinite" mica. Per mindat: "Mineralogically, 'pinite' is primarily composed of mica (usually muscovite) and clay group minerals."
CORDIERITE altering to "pinite" mica Soapstone Quarry, Richmond, NH 5 mm field of view. Bright reflective geometric patterns of pinite mica surrounding islands of un-altered cordierite.	Species: CORDIERITE altering to "pinite" mica Locality: Soapstone Quarry, Richmond, NH Specimen Size: 5 mm field of view. Bright reflective geometric patterns of pinite mica surrounding islands of un-altered cordierite. Field Collected: Tom Mortimer Sept. 2013 Catalog No.: u1388 Notes:
CORDIERITE Soapstone Quarry, Richmond, NH 1.3 cm brown, terminated, cordierite crystal in quartz matrix.	Species: CORDIERITE Locality: Soapstone Quarry, Richmond, NH Specimen Size: 1.3 cm brown, terminated, cordierite crystal in quartz matrix. Field Collected: Tom Mortimer - Sept. 2013 Catalog No.: 1883 Notes: The diligent collector may still find cordierite crystals at the Richmond Soapstone Quarry locality. Hexagonal prism terminations are showing for a pair of smaller crystals below the main crystal.
CORDIERITE Soapstone Quarry, Richmond, NH 6 mm hexagonal terminations on a pair of cordierite crystal prisms.	Species: CORDIERITE Locality: Soapstone Quarry, Richmond, NH Specimen Size: 6 mm hexagonal terminations on a pair of cordierite crystal prisms. Field Collected: Tom Mortimer - Sept. 2013 Catalog No.: 1883 Notes:
CORDIERITE Soapstone Quarry, Richmond, NH 2 cm cordierite crystal partially altered.	Species: CORDIERITE Locality: Soapstone Quarry, Richmond, NH Specimen Size: 2 cm cordierite crystal partially altered. Field Collected: Kevin Mortimer - 1993 Catalog No.: KTM Notes:
CORDIERITE Soapstone Quarry (Harris Quarry), Richmond, NH About a 3 inch specimen.	Species: CORDIERITE Locality: Soapstone Quarry (Harris Quarry), Richmond, NH Specimen Size: About a 3 inch specimen. Field Collected: Unknown Catalog No.: A Maine Mineral and Gem Museum display specimen. Notes: A supurb NH small cabinet cordierite specimen. An iPhone snapshot through glass case, 4/2023.
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