See also: Mindat.org locality link
Set 1: Albite - Falsterite
The Palermo Mine group is the most species prolific locality in New Hampshire. There are many numbered Palermo Mines, with Palermo #1 having the largest species list. I have not generated separate web pages for different numbered Palermo Mines, but when the specific mine is known, I have so noted.
The species chemistry is included with the first example of each species. Links to qualitative EDS analysis plots are included when available.
Go to Palermo species: Ferrisicklerite - Hydroxylherderite ; Jahnsite - Paravauxite Phosphoferrite - Sphalerite Sillimanite - Zircon
Locality: Palermo Mine Road, N. Groton, NH
Notes: Scott Whittemore and Tom Mortimer returning to beaver pond parking area after a day of collecting, 1990's
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 6 mm field of view
Field Collected: Walter Lane
Catalog No.:
Notes: Albite is the sodium feldspar. It is very common at the Palermo Mine. Albite vugs in pegmatites frequently contain small crystals of other minerals.
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 1 cm field of view. Two views, lower with polarizers to reduce reflections
Field Collected: Clayton Ford, gift from Gordon Jackson
Catalog No.: u2010
Notes: [tm] This one took multiple tests to arrive at an identification.
I initially thought might be triploidite or triplite. I showed it to Jim Nizamoff .... and he opined "garnet." APFU from a polished grain EDS analysis (BC190 - set 14) gave: Fe2Mn0.70Mg0.17Na0.16O8 Carbon was not quantified. Definitely not a garnet or a phosphate.
I put a grain in a drop of muriatic under my scope. A few bubbles appeared slowly! Since Fe > Mn, I hought perhaps this is Mn rich siderite with a bit of Na and Mg. Just does not look like a carbonate.
In another muriatic grain test 4/3/18 I could not see any bubbles from the pink mineral. A few came from the glassy pale yellow mineral. When the muriatic droplet evaporated overnight, the pink mineral remained, but the pale yellow and dark matrix mineral left behind a clear crystaline residue adjacent to the pink mineral and a white thin crust in the droplet area. - as shown in the third photo.
A second polished grain EDS analysis (BC280) clearly indicated an almandine-spessartine garnet with a chemistry of: (Fe1.61, Mn0.98)Al2.54(SiO4)3. A trace of phosphorous was noted in the analysis.
Jim was right, garnet !
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 1.0 mm (vertical) crystal
Field Collected: From a tub of Palermo rocks gifted by Bob Whitmore
Catalog No.: u2539
Notes: My first guess on this was strengite. But following an email exchange with Jim Nizamoff, a garnet is the most likely identification.
A polished grain EDS analysis, BC351, set 31, confirmed an iron-rich garnet, almandine, with Fe about 2 x Mn. A George Adleman Raman analysis also agreed with the almandine identification.
Locality: Palermo #1 Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 0.4 mm larger crystal
Field Collected: Anna Wilken
Reference No.: PALAnatase01BS
Notes: A Bob Wilken photo.
[tm] Mindat.org lists anatase at Palermo #1, but this is first one I have seen.
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 3 cm specimen of massive white apatite.
Field Collected: From crate of Palermo rocks given by Bob Whitmore.
Catalog No.:
Notes: EDS analysis identified the species as apatite, but did not differentiate apatite-CaF vs. apatite-CaOH. Massive apatite such as this is easily overlooked on the mine dumps. Prior to analysis, I thought this might be massive augelite. Pale rose-colored fluorescence observed with short-wave UV.
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 7 mm powder-blue apatite crystal on albite matrix.
Field Collected: Tom Mortimer
Catalog No.: 891
Notes: This apatite fluoresces orange-yellow in SW UV.
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 2.0 mm field of view. Apatite balls on siderite crystal
Field Collected: Bob Whitmore - from a tub of Palermo phosphate rocks gifted by Bob.
Catalog No.: u1915
Notes: Similar white apatite balls have been found at the Chickering Mine in Walpole, NH. These were analyzed to be apatite-CaF, fluorapatite.
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 3.3 mm field of view. Apatite balls in quartz vug
Field Collected: Bob Whitmore - from a tub of Palermo phosphate rocks gifted by Bob.
Catalog No.: u2435
Notes: Similar white apatite balls have been found at the Chickering Mine in Walpole, NH.
Locality: Palermo #1 Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 1.4 mm green apatite crystal with clear apatite extension
Field Collected: Anna Wilken
Catalog No.: An Anna Wilken specimen, Bob Wilken photo. (PALFluorapatite01)
Notes: [bw] " It's an odd specimen. Not sure if fluorapatite can have scepters or reverse scepters."
Locality: Palermo #1 Mine core zone, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 6 mm field of view.
Field Collected: A purchased specimen
Catalog No.: u1123
Notes: The web author (Tom Mortimer) prefers the "Apatite-(CaF)" and "Apatite-(CaOH)" names over the Fluorapatite, Hydroxylapatite, names for alphabetical listing because most collectors think of "apatite" first, before considering exact species.
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 2.5 cm specimen of tabular, stacked, hydroxylapatite crystals
Field Collected: A purchased specimen.
Catalog No.: 684
Notes: These stacked apatite crystal groups were available from several New England mineral dealers around 1990. Many, including this one, were labeled "Carbo-apatite." A polished grain EDS analysis from this specimen showed no fluorine present.
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 1.8 mm tall columnar cluster of milky apatite crystals.
Field Collected: From a tub of Palermo rocks gifted by Bob Whitmore
Catalog No.: u2391
Notes: My [tm] EDS experience has been that most Palermo white to milky apatite crystals are hydroxylapatite. However visually distinguishing different apatite species is risky.
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 3.5 mm chalk-white apatite crystal.
Field Collected: From a tub of Palermo phosphate rocks gifted by Bob Whitmore
Catalog No.: TBC
Notes: Many whitlockite crystals are present on the matrix hosting this apatite crystal. The grayish, oxide-coated, mass to the left of the apatite is whitlockite. These chalk-white apatite crystals are frequently Apatite-(CaOH), however no testing has been done on this specimen.
Locality: Palermo #1 Mine, Pod 3, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: Top photo, 4 mm field of view. Lower photo 1.4 mm field of view
Field Collected: Forrrest Fogg 1972-1976
Catalog No.: u1579
Notes: Gifted to Tom Mortimer by Gordon Jackson. EDS analysis BC18.
These "cauliflower habit" apatites are most unusual.
Jim Nizamoff commented on these photos: "These can be somewhat common in childrenite-rich matrix types and especially with siderite. Sometimes they have rather fibrous terminations (I have called these hairy apatites). SEM imagery of these is really neat."
Locality: Palermo #1 Mine, Pod #3, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 4 mm field of view
Field Collected: Forrest Fogg
Catalog No.: u1572
Notes: This is the only Palermo example I have seen like these.
Locality: Palermo #1 Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: Clear, fat-tabular, crystals. 1.4 mm field of view
Field Collected: Tom Mortimer - Aug., 1994
Catalog No.: NC - secondary collection
Notes:
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 2.2 cm specimen with 8 mm zone of olive green arrojadite, left-middle.
Field Collected: Jim Nizamoff
Catalog No.: 1807
Notes: Arrojadite indicated by EDS analysis .
Raman spectroscopy analysis of two sample points (on the same polished mineral grain used for the EDS analysis) gave a good match for Arrojadite-(KNa). Arrojadite-(BaFe) is not in the Raman data base as of 12/12.
Dark blue mineral is vivianite, cream-colored mineral is siderite.
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 2.2 cm specimen, 1.5 cm field of view. Pale gray-green granular arrojadite group mineral in tan-yellow siderite.
Field Collected: Walter Lane - MMNE give-away
Catalog No.: u2026
Notes: A non-stacked photo... not a lot to see here. An EDS analysis strongly suggests an arrojadite group mineral. This group has 14 members.
Arrojadite-(KFeNa) seems to be about the best fit.
The color and luster are consistent with typical arrojadite group minerals at Palermo. Some collectors might simply dismiss this as poor apatite, which it clearly is not.
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 7 mm field of view
Field Collected: Jim Nizamoff
Catalog No.: u1234
Notes:
Locality: Palermo #1 Mine, Pod 1, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 8 mm field of view
Field Collected: Bob Whitmore, 1975 per label, "***"
Catalog No.: A Ray Meyers collection specimen (purchased)
Notes: Identification per Bob Whitmore original label. [tm] These crystals are very dark for arrojadite.
Whitmore & Lawrence's book The Pegmatite Mines Known as Palermo states that "... arrojadite...was found exclusively at Pod 1 in hydrothermally reworked triphylite mixed with hagendorfite ..."
Locality: Palermo #1 Mine, Pod 1, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 2.5 mm crystal
Field Collected: Bob Whitmore
Catalog No.: From a Ray Meyers collection specimen (purchased)
Notes: Identification per Bob Whitmore original label. This crystal broke from miniature specimen when shipped to me.
Locality: Palermo Mine, Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 5 mm green mass of arrojadite
Field Collected: From a tub gifted by Bob Whitmore
Catalog No.: u2541
Notes: A polished grain EDS analyses, BC356 Set 31, indicated an arrojadite group member as a best fit. Jim Nizamoff opined: "I think it would be wise to label these buggers as 'arrojadite group' for now."
The Arrojadite group presently (2021) has 16 members.
Locality: Palermo Mine, Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 2 cm field of view
Field Collected: From a tub gifted by Bob Whitmore
Catalog No.: u2542
Notes: A polished grain EDS analyses, BC352 Set 31, indicated an arrojadite group member as a best fit. This analysis had a bit of strontium, an element frequently found as aminor constituent in Palermo phosphates.
Triphylite, strunzite, laueite, pyrite, and wolfeite (or graftonite) are also present on this TN specimen. I could have trimmed this to micro-box size, but Jim Nizamoff stressed the importance of preserving the associated minerals.
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 2 mm arsenopyrite crystal in siderite. Two views, different lighting angles. A partial second crystal projects from the lower portion of the one lying flat.
Field Collected: Walter Lane material
Catalog No.: u1449
Notes: Arsenopyrite is listed for the Palermo Mine. The diamond crystal shape with horizontal striations is diagnostic for arsenopyrite. This is the first Palermo arsenopyrite crystal I have seen.
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 1 mm arsenopyrite crystal
Field Collected: Bob Whitmore ?
Catalog No.: A Don Dallaire specimen
Notes: Classic diamond arsenopyrite shape. Matrix is mica.
This specimen was part of a 39 specimen boxed set Don acquired from Bob Whitmore.
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 1.5 mm field of view. Aurichalcite "fur" on top of malachite.
Field Collected: ex. Forrest Fogg ?
Catalog No.: u2223
Notes: The EDS analysis of the malachite showed about a 5% zinc content, suggesting some Zn replacement of Cu. Therefore, aurichalcite, a zinc-coppper mineral, is a reasonable identification.
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 1.3 cm Autunite zone on 3.5 cm smoky quartz specimen
Field Collected: Tom Mortimer
Catalog No.: 214
Notes:
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 0.5 mm rectangular autunite crystal plate
Field Collected: Tom Mortimer
Catalog No.: u368
Notes:
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 0.8 mm autunite crystal cluster
Field Collected:
Catalog No.: A Joe Mulvey specimen. ex. Bill Henderson
Notes: Fluoresces bright green
Locality: Palermo #1 Mine, Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 2.5 cm tall specimen
Field Collected: Bob Whitmore
Catalog No.: A Don Dallaire specimen #3994, and photo
Notes: [dd] The autunite crystals completely cover a small smoky quartz crystal. I acquired this from Bill Metropolis in May 2016 from specimens he got from Bob Whitmore.
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 2.5 cm specimen with vug lined with blue-green barbosalite crust.
Field Collected: From crate of Palermo rocks given by Bob Whitmore
Catalog No.: 1774
Notes: Per "Phosphate Minerals of the Palermo No. 1 Pegmatite" Segeler, et. al. Rocks and Minerals Sept/Oct 1981, pg 202, "BARBOSALITE, An uncommon mineral at Palermo, usually as dark bluish-green to almost black, fine-grained compact masses."
The EDS analysis indicates an iron-manganese phosphate with some calcium. The barbosalite identifiation is primarily visual, supported by plausable EDS chemistry.
Locality: Palermo Mine, Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 3.5 mm field of view.
Field Collected: From a tub of Palermo rocks gifted by Bob Whitmore, 2009
Catalog No.: u2523
Notes: The un-oxidized version of this mineral is now called ferroberaunite.
Locality: Palermo Mine, Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 4.0 mm field of view.
Field Collected: From a tub of Palermo rocks gifted by Bob Whitmore, 2009
Catalog No.: u2523
Notes:
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 2.5 cm intersecting, terminated, crystal pair
Field Collected: Mike Undercofler
Catalog No.: 1144
Notes: Beryl is relatively common at the Palermo Mines, but it is quickly "vacuumed up" by collectors.
Locality: Palermo #1 Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 2.5 mm field of view with second photo annotated to indicate orientation of beryllonite "cordwood logs".
Field Collected: Walter Lane material from MMNE
Catalog No.: u1263
Notes: A specimen re-photo. These "cordwood log" disk habit beryllonite crystals are difficult to photo.
Uncertain as to the identification of the red-orange prisms. I had tentatively labeled these as schoonerite due to color simalarity to a classic appearing schoonerite spray a few mm away. But this is just a guess.
These beryllonite crystals are on a rather remarkable thumbnail size specimen. Also on this specimen are hydroxylherderite crystals, etched acquamarine beryl, and schoonerite crystals. One of the schoonerite crystal groups can be seen in this image on the left side of the beryllonite. The specimen is an interesting study in associations. The etched beryl is likely contributing the berylium for the beryllonite and hydroxylherderite.
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: The beryllonite cluster is about 2 mm across, (vertical).
Field Collected: Walter Lane
Catalog No.: u1426 ?
Notes: Classic, "cordwood stacked" beryllonite.
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 10 mm field of view. Nut brown scales of beusite? on black siderite.
Field Collected: Walter Lane
Catalog No.: u1463
Notes: A gift from Gene Bearss. Beusite has not previously been reported from the Palermo Mine, or the state of New Hampshire. This specimen was labeled by Gene as lepidocrocite, which is a reasonable visual idenitifcation. Lepidocrocite is a simple iron oxide, dimorphous with goethite. However, a qualitative EDS analysis suggested beusite was the best fit, (no Fe, but lots of Ca, P, and Mn).
Robertsite would seem to be another possibility, Ca3Mn3+4(PO4)3O2·3H2O
It is impossible to photograph these tiny, lustrous, randomly-oriented, scales without getting at least a few bright reflections.
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH (Type Locality)
Specimen Size: 1.5 mm crystal fragment on micromount post
Field Collected: Bob Whitmore
Catalog No.: u1433
Notes: A photo of this Palermo rhombic bjarebyite form was included in the Sept-Oct. 1982 Rocks & Minerals article on the Palermo Mine.
Identification supported by EDS analysis . This analysis is of a single 0.2 mm crystal from this specimen (u1433) mounted on carbon tape. The large carbon peak in the spectrum (@277 eV) is likely due to a response from the surrounding carbon tape. Strontium, sometimes present in bjarebyite, (but not an "essential element"), is absent in this sample. The bjarebyite chemistry is: (Ba,Sr)(Mn2+,Fe2+,Mg)2Al2(PO4)3(OH)3 . All the essential elements for bjarebyite show up in this plot.
Locality: Palermo #16 Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 0.3 mm bjarebyite crystals
Field Collected: Bob Whitmore 1972
Catalog No.: A Bob Whitmore specimen
Notes:
Locality: Palermo #16 Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 0.2 mm bjarebyite crystals
Field Collected: Bob Whitmore 1972
Catalog No.: A Bob Whitmore specimen
Notes: Another view of a bjarbyite specimen.
Locality: Palermo #1 Mine, Pod 3, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 1.7 mm field of view
Field Collected: Bob Whitmore 1977
Catalog No.: A Bob Whitmore specimen
Notes: The 5.5 cm host specimen for these tiny bjarebyites has zones of scorzalite (altering from white montebrasite?), broken vivianite crystals to 6 mm, and small quartz crystals.
Locality: Palermo #1 Mine, Pod 8, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 0.3 mm bjarebyite crystal impaled on strunzite spear, two views.
Field Collected: Bob Whitmore - 1973
Catalog No.: A Bob Whitmore specimen
Notes: A similar specimen was illustrated in The Pegmatite Mines Known as Palermo
Locality: Palermo #1 Mine, Pod 8, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 5 mm vug with dozens of green bjarebyite crystals. Individual crystals to 0.3 mm in zoom view.
Field Collected: Bob Whitmore - 1973
Catalog No.: A Bob Whitmore specimen
Notes:
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 2.5 cm specimen with 7 mm iridescent, "peacock ore" zone of bornite
Field Collected: Bob Janules
Catalog No.: 1731
Notes:
Locality: Palermo #1 Mine - core zone, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 2.8 cm specimen. Quartz with bornite fracture filling
Field Collected: Bob Whitmore
Catalog No.: Bob Whitmore specimen # 55-5TN
Notes:
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 1.6 mm brazilianite crystal with "schmutz" coating - a Bob Wilken term.
Field Collected: Bob Janules
Catalog No.: u191
Notes: Brazilianite identification by Bob Janules.
Schmutz. US slang. : a filthy or soiling substance (such as mud, dust, or grime) : dirt …
Locality: Palermo #1 Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 2 mm pale-yellow brazilianite with quartz crystals
Field Collected: Gene Bearss - acquired via trade, 1980
Catalog No.: A Gene Bearss specimen
Notes:
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: The crystal on the left is 1.6 mm
Field Collected: Bob Wilken
Catalog No.: A Bob Wilken specimen
Notes:
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 3 mm brazilianite crystal mass
Field Collected: Bob Wilken
Catalog No.: A Bob Wilken specimen
Notes: Without the termination reflections, it would be difficult to visualize this group.
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 2 mm wide brazilianite group
Field Collected: Bob Wilken
Catalog No.: A Bob Wilken specimen
Notes:
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: A 1 mm pair of brazilianite crystals
Field Collected: From a crate of phosphate rocks gifted by Bob Whitmore
Catalog No.: u1590
Notes: An alternate opinion is that this may be palermoite.
Locality: Palermo #1 Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 4 mm field of view
Field Collected: Dana Jewell
Catalog No.: u1963
Notes: Yellow color is due to a coating. Crystal interior is clear.
Locality: Palermo #1 Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 0.6 mm field of view
Field Collected: From a tub of Palermo phosphate rocks gifted by Bob Whitmore
Catalog No.: u2399
Notes:
Locality: Palermo #1 Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 1.1 mm field of view and 0.6 mm zom view.
Field Collected: From a tub of Palermo phosphate rocks gifted by Bob Whitmore
Catalog No.: u2395
Notes: This Palermo cacoxenite compares very favorably with many cacoxenite photos on mindat.org.
Locality: Palermo #1 Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 2.6 mm field of view
Field Collected: From a tub of Palermo phosphate rocks gifted by Bob Whitmore
Catalog No.: u2407
Notes:
Locality: Palermo #1 Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 0.5 mm field of view
Field Collected: From a tub of Palermo phosphate rocks gifted by Bob Whitmore
Catalog No.: u2407
Notes:
Locality: Palermo #1 Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 0.7 mm field of view
Field Collected: From a tub of Palermo phosphate rocks gifted by Bob Whitmore
Catalog No.: u2402
Notes: The pre-breakdown specimen that hosted these cacoxenites had a moderate amount of chalcopyrite. Some of the chalcopyrite was altered to this blue-black mineral here, (perhaps bornite). Cacoxenite is rare at Palermo. I wonder if the chalcopyrite enables the favorability of cacoxenite formation.
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 2.5 mm fov
Field Collected: John Reiner. Acquired by exchange with John Jaszczak.
Catalog No.: u1023
Notes: Cacoxenite identified by EDS analysis .
Note aluminum is an essential element for cacoxenite. It is not required for beraunite. Yellow-brown beraunite may be miss-identified as cacoxenite.
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 3 mm field of view
Field Collected: Bob Whitmore 1975
Catalog No.: A Bob Whitmore specimen
Notes: Identification by Bob Whitmore. Cacoxenite is rare at Palermo. Oxidized beraunite may be confused with cacoxenite. Aluminum is an essential element for cacoxenite. Aluminum is not present in beraunite.
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 0.2 mm cacoxenite ? balls
Field Collected: From a tub of Palermo phosphate rocks gifted by Bob Whitmore
Catalog No.: u1887
Notes: From a rock chunk with an intimate combination of beryl and graftonite. In some zones of the specimen, the graftonite has pretty much dissolved out, leaving behind beryl stringers and cavities for some secondary phosphates, including rockbridgeite, strunzite, minor laueite, and what may be cacoxenite. Cacoxenite is really rare stuff at Palermo... the 16 page Palermo article in the 1981 R&M issue states "only verified in one specimen" ... and (at the time) "only second occurrence in a pegmatite". Also interesting... the formula for cacoxenite in the R&M article does not include aluminum, but the mindat formula now does... as one part Al to 24 parts Fe .... VERY miniscule! Anyway, one small vug in the subject specimen has several yellow tufty balls that could pass for cacoxenite, (shown here). What tilts the ID in favor of cacoxenite is the association with beryl, an aluminum containing silicate ... that may have contributed to the secondary chemistry.
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 1.5 mm field of view.
Field Collected: Bob Whitmore - from a tub of Palermo phosphate rocks gifted by Bob.
Catalog No.: u2440
Notes:
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 0.7 mm crystal group
Field Collected: ex. Forrest Fogg ?
Catalog No.: u2223
Notes: The nicest Palermo cerussite I have seen. Some small lumps of green malachite are present on this specimen with cavities of typical Palermo pale tan siderite crystals.
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 3 mm field of view - indistinct cerussite crystals
Field Collected: Bob Whitmore (found in tub of Palermo "rocks" gifted by Bob)
Catalog No.: 2004 - cataloged as a galena specimen - as this is the principal mineral present.
Notes: Not tested - intimate association with galena makes cerussite the most likely species. Cerussite is reported from Palermo.
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 4.3 cm specimen with close-up view sizes indicated in photos
Field Collected: Dana Jewell
Catalog No.: u1788
Notes: A gift from Dana Jewel, 2015. Carbon tape mounted grain EDS analyses of both the blue and blue-green minerals (4th and 5th photos) suggested a copper sulfate species on a mica substrate, (the source of the Si, Al, and K in the EDS plots). (The pulse counts for these analyses are quite low, but the best data I curently have.) Chalcanthite is likely the most common of the copper sulfates, but there about ten others. Phosphorous not detected, so not pseudomalachite. Bob Whitmore's book, The Pegmatite Mines Known as Palermo does not include any copper sulfate species, so this could be a new one for Palermo.
As the red-brown staining is sometimes indicative of the presence of uranium minerals, the specimen was checked with a scintillometer. No radiation was detected. No fluorescence was observed with SW or LW UV.
Locality: Palermo Mine, Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 4 mm field of view
Field Collected: Forrest Fogg material - from unsorted box of small chunks
Catalog No.: u2672
Notes: Grain pushed into drop of muriatic acid disolved slowly with a few bubbles. Smithsonite and aurichalcite might also be considered here. The black, granular, mineral adjacent to the blue-green mineral is unidentified. Aurichalcite is not reported from Palermo. Milky hexagonal apatite crystals, fluorescent orange in LW UV, are most of the matrix.
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 1 mm field of view
Field Collected: From a tub of Palermo phosphate rocks gifted by Bob Whitmore
Catalog No.: u1889
Notes: The iridescent blue coating on this chalcopyrite appears darker in real life. A small chip on the side reveals the yellow color underneath.
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 1.5 mm fov
Field Collected: From crate of Walter Lane collected material.
Catalog No.: TBC
Notes: Childrenite is the iron-rich member of the childrenite-eosphorite series. To the author's knowledge, all Palermo childrenite-eosphorite crystals analyzed have been predominantly childrenite. Some crystals have been found with eosphorite rich zones. A confirmed complete Palermo eosphorite remains elusive.
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 4 mm fov
Field Collected: From crate of Walter Lane collected material.
Catalog No.: u1314
Notes:
Locality: Palermo #1 Mine, Pod 3, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 8 mm field of view - cluster of pale yellow childrenite crystals
Field Collected: From small box of unsorted micros, gift of Bob Whitmore
Catalog No.: u1343
Notes: Not much matrix contrast for this cluster of childrenite crystals.
Locality: Palermo #1 Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 1 cm childrenite crystal cluster
Field Collected: Walter Lane 1995-96, Cat. #2485
Catalog No.: A Gene Bearss collection specimen
Notes:
Locality: Palermo #1 Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 2.5 mm childrenite crystal cluster
Field Collected: Walter Lane 1995-96, Cat. #2315
Catalog No.: A Gene Bearss collection specimen
Notes:
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 5 mm field of view
Field Collected: From a small box of small rock chunks gifted by Bob Whitmore
Catalog No.: u1520
Notes: Cluster of brown terminated prisms of childrenite. Small pale-yellow rectangular crystals may be paravauxite. Photo is from a "stack" of 12 images processed with Helicon Focus.
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 4 mm barrel-shaped, pinecone crystal cluster
Field Collected: Forrest Fogg -1973
Catalog No.: u1561
Notes: A polished grain EDS analysis from an adjacent broken crystal group suggested childrenite. Calcium is not present in the childrenite formula, so the modest Ca peak in the spectrum is somewhat bothersome. (The large spectral peak at the lowest end of the spectrum is due to the carbon coating.) I have not previously seen the pinecone shape and pale-blue coloration in childrenite.
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 2 mm childrenite crystal in siderite vug
Field Collected: From a tub of Palermo phosphate rocks gifted by Bob Whitmore
Catalog No.: u1888
Notes:
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 0.8 mm field of view. Matrix is honey-colored siderite crystals.
Field Collected: Bob Whitmore - from a tub of Palermo phosphate rocks gifted by Bob.
Catalog No.: TBC
Notes: My initial ID for these feathery crystal sprays was whiteite group, by similarite to Palermo 2 examples. Jim Nizamoff opined childrenite-eosphorite. He is usually correct!
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 0.8 mm field of view. Matrix is honey-colored siderite crystals.
Field Collected: Bob Whitmore - from a tub of Palermo phosphate rocks gifted by Bob.
Catalog No.: u2434
Notes: Another feathery childrenite spray.
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 0.8 mm field of view. Matrix is honey-colored siderite crystals.
Field Collected: Bob Whitmore - from a tub of Palermo phosphate rocks gifted by Bob.
Catalog No.: u2423
Notes: Another feathery childrenite spray.
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 3.2 mm field of view.
Field Collected: Bob Whitmore - from a tub of Palermo phosphate rocks gifted by Bob.
Catalog No.: u2453
Notes: Many crystals in this spray are quite acicular. The consensus of opinions is that this is childrenite. Matrix is black siderite rhombs. From a stack of 117 images, B&L 4 x objective.
Locality: Palermo #2 Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 3 mm field of view. White pearlescent blades of collinsite on siderite crystals.
Field Collected: Jim Nizamoff
Catalog No.: u2080
Notes: Original identification by Jim Nizamoff.
A polished grain EDS analysis , BC236, suggested a chemistry of Ca1.1Mg(PO4)2.5 · 22H2O , normalized for one atom of Mg. This is light on the calcium and heavy in the oxygen, however we frequently see excess oxygen with the BC EDS instrument.
Collinsite is not listed in Whitmore and Lawrence’s book The Pegmatite Mines Known as Palermo, nor in earlier New Hampshire species lists (e.g. Janet Cares, R&M, vol. 65, No. 4, 1990). The first publications of NH collinsite occurred in 2006 with Jim Nizamoff’s UNO thesis on the Palermo 2 pegmatite and in a GSA abstract (vol. 36, pg. 115) by Nizamoff et. al.
Second photo shows the complete specimen.
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 0.9 mm (larger) field of view
Field Collected: Bob Whitmore - from a tub of Palermo phosphate rocks gifted by Bob.
Catalog No.: u2436
Notes: Covellite has not been previously reported from the Palermo Mine.
An EDS analysis , BC438, Set 31, confirmed covellite. I think these are likely post mining, perhaps even post collecting, as they have sat in a tub of Palermo rocks collected by Bob over 20 years ago (or more?). The tiny flakes are on the surface of obviously broken up chunks. The APFU from the analysis shows nearly equal parts Cu and S (1.0 to 0.9 ratio). A bit of oxygen in the analysis, but this was a carbon tape mounted grain, so am discounting the oxygen presence.
The third photo is of a micro specimen that was included in the 1995 Nashua Mineral Society comprehensive display of New Hampshire mineral species. Micro-sized specimens were exhibited with a photograph, this one by Scott Whittemore. This is a copy of that photo. The "sjc" indicates that the specimen source was Steve and Janet Cares. Covellite chemistry is CuS, Djurlite chemistry is very close to Cu2S. Janet Cares was a degreed chemist and was known for her wet chemistry analysis of minerals. The question is: was her analysis good enough to determine the Cu:S ratio?
Djurlite is not listed in Whitmore and Lawrence's Palermo book. Djurlite is listed for Palermo by mindat.org with validity stated as "believed valid".
Without supporting analysis, I have not included djurlite on my NH species list.
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 0.5 mm crandallite ball. Second photo shows two on specimen.
Field Collected: Forrest Fogg
Catalog No.: An Bob Wilken specimen and photos
Notes: A semi-quantative polished grain EDS analysis of sample from this specimen indicated a chemistry: CaBa0.1Al4.1P2.9O10 (normalized for one Ca and rounded to nearest 0.1 APFU.)
Crandallite chemistry is: CaAl3(PO4)(PO3OH)(OH)6 Note, EDS cannot detect H. Crandallite is the closest fit available for the EDS indicated chemistry, but still not a particularly good match.
Dana's System of Mineralogy indicates "Ba, Sr and rare earths may substitute for Ca" in crandallite.
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 7 mm fov. Globules of "red-jelly" "diadochite" on rockbridgeite
Field Collected: From small box of POD 3 samples given by Bob Whitmore
Catalog No.: u1353
Notes: Five specimens of Palermo "diadochite" have been tested with EDS. NONE contain the essential element sulfur, so cannot be diadochite.
"Diadochite" is often the bane of micro-mineral collectors, as it frequently "gunks up" otherwise nice specimens.
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 8 mm dickinsonite prism
Field Collected: Bob Whitmore
Catalog No.: A Bob Whitmore specimen - since sold.
Notes: Identification by Bob Whitmore. If proven, this is an extrodinary dickinsonite specimen. The morphology of this crystal is similar to one of the dickinsonite illustrations in Whitmore & Lawrence's The Pegmatite Mines Known as Palermo.
[tm] I have searched for a New Hampshire dickinsonite for over a decade. I have EDS tested many candidate specimens. None have been found to be dickinsinsonite. They are all other members of the arrojadeite group. Without validating test data on this specimen, I am very skeptical that this is dickinsonite.
Locality: Palermo #1 Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 1.6 mm ball
Field Collected: Clayton Ford, Gift from Gordon Jackson
Catalog No.: 2289
Notes: An Oct. 2019 EDS analysis indicated this is a tight ball of eosphorite crystals. All previous analyses of Palermo childrenite-eosphorite group specimens that I have done indicated Fe > Mn, so childrenite. Eosphorite is rare at Palermo, contrary to many specimens and several photos labeled as such.
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 5 mm crystal group
Field Collected: Tom Mortimer
Catalog No.: u147
Notes: A qualitative EDS analysis supports the ernstite identification: EDS analysis
Encyclopedia of Minerals, Robert, Rapp and Weber, 1974, states, in part, Ernstite "occurs as an oxidation product of eosphorite (of which relicts remain)..." Specimen in photo is clearly altered pseudomorph of Childrenite-Eosphorite.
Bob Whitmore's book, The Pegmatite Mines Known as Palermo, lists ernstite for Palermo. However, given that eosphorite is practically unknown at Palermo (Childrenite being common) it would seem that there would be an iron analog to Mn dominant ernstite present. On the ernstite page mindat states: "No name has been proposed for oxidized childrenite, but any such new name would have to have ferric iron > 50 mole percent of the M site."
Locality: Palermo #1 Mine, Core Zone, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: Yellow-orange ernstite crystals to 0.2 mm on oxide coated childrenite crystals.
Field Collected: Bob Whitmore
Catalog No.: A Bob Whitmore specimen
Notes: This ernstite crystal habit is the one illustrated in The Pegmatite Mines Known as Palermo.
Locality: Palermo #1 Mine, Core Zone, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 0.5 mm cluster of yellow-orange ernstite crystals.
Field Collected: Bob Whitmore
Catalog No.: A Bob Whitmore specimen
Notes:
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 3 mm field of view
Field Collected: Ex. Marcele Webber
Catalog No.: A Bob Wilken specimen
Notes: EDS BC PL_O. Chemistry from analysis gives (normalized for 2 Ca):
Ca2(Mn0.46,Fe0.26)P2O6.8
Fairfieldite is rare at Palermo. Messelite is quite common.
Locality: Palermo #2 Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 0.4 mm crystal cluster
Field Collected: Jim Nizamoff
Catalog No.: u1034
Notes: This is a on the same specimen as my New Hampshire mineral display whiteite whiteite.
Collected by and gift from Jim Nizamoff. Palermo #2. Fairfieldite from Palermo #2 was analyzed as part of Jim's Palermo #2 UNO thesis.
Jim has stated that fairfieldite is a frequent associate of whiteite at the Palermo #2 Mine.
Locality: Palermo #2 Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 2 mm field of view
Field Collected: Jim Nizamoff
Catalog No.: u2127 - cataloged for whiteite
Notes: There is a nice whiteite cluster on this specimen. Photo is a stack of 87 images with T3i & B&L objective lens.
Locality: Palermo #2 Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 1 mm field of view
Field Collected: Jim Nizamoff
Catalog No.: u2127 - cataloged for whiteite
Notes: There is a nice whiteite cluster on this specimen. Photo is a stack of 20 images with T3i & Nikon Plan 10 objective lens.
This has replaced the fairfieldite front page photo.
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 3.5 mm field of view. Other views from same specimen included.
Field Collected: From the Mike Swanson collection.
Catalog No.: u2299
Notes: The habit and association are very similar to that shown for fairfieldite in Whitmore & Lawrence's book The Pegmatite Mines Known as Palermo.
The host matrix is rockbridgeite. The rockbridgeite has a lot of inter-mixed pyrite, causing slow disintegration of the specimen.
The small tan crystals a jahnsite.
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 1.4 mm field of view.
Field Collected: From the Mike Swanson collection. Acquired at the MMNE February 2020 Silent Auction.
Catalog No.: u2299
Notes:
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 8 mm tall specimen
Field Collected: Uncertain, perhaps Bob Whitmore.
Catalog No.: Don Dallaire specimen #4004 and photo.
Notes: [dd] The specimen was from Bob Whitmore's collection (No. 167-16TN). His label says "Fairfieldite, Zone No. 4. It is a spherical fairfieldite as described in his book and is quite asthetic.
Locality: Palermo Mine, Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 2.0 mm field of view
Field Collected: Clayton Ford
Catalog No.: u2650
Notes: I am labeling this as fairfieldite. A single isolated crystal in a vug on lumpy jahnsite. With just a single crystal, I will never be certain, fairfieldite or messelite. Fletcher does have a lot of bermanite, a Mn phosphate. The decoration with small jahnsite and rockbridgeite balls adds interest.
Locality: Palermo #1 Mine, N. Groton, NH (Type Locality)
Specimen Size: 3 mm field of view
Field Collected: Walter Lane (1975)
Catalog No.: u1244
Notes: Image is with Solux (sunlight equivalent) incandescent lighting.
Locality: Palermo #1 Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 1 mm field of view
Field Collected: Walter Lane (1975)
Catalog No.: u1244
Notes: Image is with Solux (sunlight equivalent) incandescent lighting.
Locality: Palermo #1 Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 1 mm cavity filled with acicular falsterite.
Field Collected: Bob Whitmore, (2003). A gift from Bob.
Catalog No.: u1274
Notes:
Locality: Palermo #1 Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 1.8 mm field of view
Field Collected: A gift from Bob Whitmore
Catalog No.: u1406
Notes: There are a few small blebs of sphalerite (another zinc mineral) on this specimen. The matrix is siderite.
Locality: Palermo #1 Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 0.8 mm field of view
Field Collected: Walter Lane - ex. Gene Bearss
Catalog No.: u1244
Notes: This is the specimen in my New Hampshire mineral species display. My original photo taken in 2011 was a bit blurry, but the best I could do at the time. The specimen has several small sprays of falsterite. The specimen is firmly glued to the bottom of a 3/4 inch micro box, limiting the lighting and photo angles available. The randomly otiented, lustrous, blades make it impossible to avoid some reflections.
These February 2019 photos were taken with a Canon T3i camera, EFS 55 -250 mm lens with a Nikon Plan 10 objective on the end. Image stacks of 15 to 20 were processed with Helicon Focus, Method B. Walter Lane had these green-blue sprays identified as beraunite, a good guess at the time (1975). Falsterite was not defined until 2011.
Locality: Palermo #1 Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 0.5 mm field of view
Field Collected: Walter Lane - ex. Gene Bearss
Catalog No.: u1244
Notes:
Locality: Palermo #1 Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 0.8 mm field of view
Field Collected: Walter Lane - ex. Gene Bearss
Catalog No.: u1244
Notes:
Locality: Palermo #1 Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 0.7 mm field of view
Field Collected: Walter Lane - ex. Gene Bearss
Catalog No.: u1244
Notes: The tiny milky diamond shaped crystals are likely messelite-fairfieldite.
Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH
Specimen Size: 1.1 mm field of view
Field Collected: A Bob Wilken specimen (acquired at CMC Yankee swap ~ 2103) & photo
Catalog No.: PALFalsterite01AS
Notes: