New Gallery #112

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Photos recently added to NH species galleries, set #112.
ARFVEDSONITE - altered? Hurricane Mtn, Conway, NH 5 mm field of view	Species: ARFVEDSONITE - altered? Locality: Hurricane Mtn, Conway, NH Specimen Size: 5 mm field of view Field Collected: Found in large box of uncleaned, untrimmed, Hurricane Mtn. specimens collected by Leroy Grant of Albany, NH (deceased). Collected in the 1970's. Catalog No.: 2107 Notes: Matrix is small crystals of microcline-albite. Some tiny clear quartz crystals are also present. I considered aegirine, however it has not been reported from Hurricane Mtn. I have not previously seen a similar green, bladed, species from Hurricane. Philip Morrill (1960) reports "Acmite" = aegirine from Red Hill in Moultonboro. Janet Cares includes aegirine in her Vol. 65, no. 4, Rocks & Minerals NH species list (pg.298), likely using Morrill's reference. Finally, Morrill's source is likely T. R. Meyers New Hampshire Minerals and Mines 1941, pg. 30. I have never seen a NH aegerine. It is remarkable how these references propagate without a demonstrable specimen! A January 2019 polished grain EDS analysis (BC313) indicated a chemistry of NaFe_1.78Si_4.45O_0.65 , normalized for 1 Na, (or Na₃Fe_5.34Si_13.35O_1.95 normalized for 3 Na). The oxygen value is very low for any pyroxene or amphibole. Aegirine chemistry is NaFeSi₂O₆ . Candidate species that are visually and chemically close include: Arfvedsonite NaNa₂(Fe²⁺₄Fe³⁺)Si₈O₂₂(OH)₂ -> Na:Fe:Si = 3:5:8 -> 1:1.7:2.7 Wilkinsonite Na₄(Fe²⁺₈Fe³⁺₄)O₄[Si₁₂O₃₆] -> Na:Fe:Si = 1:3:3 Howieite Na(Fe²⁺,Fe³⁺,Al,Mg)₁₂(Si₆O₁₇)₂(O,OH)₁₀ -> Na:Fe:Si = 1:12:12 A side-by-side EDS of Hurricane Arfvedsonite and this specimen would be helpful. The BC313 indicates Arfvedsonite is the "best fit". I [tm] have not seen the greenish color on arfvedsonite before.
GLAUCONITE ? Government Pit, Albany, NH 5.5 cm specimen with soft, pale-green, glauconite on microcline and smoky quartz.	Species: GLAUCONITE ? Locality: Government Pit, Albany, NH Specimen Size: 5.5 cm specimen with soft, pale-green, glauconite on microcline and smoky quartz. Field Collected: Leroy Grant - early 1970's Catalog No.: 2108 Notes: A PXRD analysis of a sample from this specimen gave a mixed result. A moderately high PXRD score went to corrensite, a dark green, dull, waxy, earthy, magnesium dominant, sheet silicate. A quantitative EDS analysis, with light element detection for this government pit mineral is needed. A Kerry Day qualitative EDS analysis of a similar Government Pit specimen (# 1289) indicated a K, Si, Fe, Al mineral. Glauconite chemistry is: (K,Na)(Fe⁺³,Al,Mg)₂((Si,Al)₄O₁₀)(OH)₂ .
TITANITE Government Pit, Albany, NH 1 mm field of view.	Species: TITANITE Locality: Government Pit, Albany, NH Specimen Size: 1 mm field of view. Field Collected: Leroy Grant - early 1970's Catalog No.: Locate ?? Notes: EDS verified, set 23 - but no file saved. [tm] I did not suspect these small, tan, waxy, crystals were titanite.
BERYL Ledge Pond Mica Mine, Sunapee, NH. 3.4 cm double terminated crystal	Species: BERYL Locality: Ledge Pond Mica Mine, Sunapee, NH. Specimen Size: 3.4 cm double terminated crystal Field Collected: Harold Post - NH collector Catalog No.: 2109 Notes: Found these double terminated 3.4 cm (1 -3/4 inch) beryl crystals in a cigar box at Gilsum Show - 2109. Locality labeled in box: Ledge Pond Mica Mine, Sunapee, NH. From a deceased collector - Harold Post (western NH home). Price - one dollar each! Terminated beryl crystals are quite uncommon in NH, so was happy to get these. I have never visited this locality.... or seen specimens from it previously.... but it is listed in Morrill's book.
BERYL Ledge Pond Mica Mine, Sunapee, NH. 3.6 cm double terminated crystal	Species: BERYL Locality: Ledge Pond Mica Mine, Sunapee, NH. Specimen Size: 3.6 cm double terminated crystal Field Collected: Harold Post - NH collector Catalog No.: 2110 Notes:
ANATASE with unknown Audley Quarry, Merrimack, NH 2.5 mm Field of View	Species: ANATASE with unknown Locality: Audley Quarry, Merrimack, NH Specimen Size: 2.5 mm Field of View Field Collected: Tom Mortimer 2019 Catalog No.: u2242 Notes: There are a few smaller synchysite-like crystals on the specimen. Only one like this I found. I initially identified this as synchysite-Ce, by similarity to the analyzed Mine Falls Park synchysite-Ce. The host rock at MFP is same as at Audley, and only three miles distant. An october 2019 EDS analysis (BC360) showed no REE's were present. Ca, Si, Al, Mg, Na were present. Nothing matches this very well.
BROOKITE Audley Quarry, Merrimack, NH About a 0.1 mm brookite crystal	Species: BROOKITE Locality: Audley Quarry, Merrimack, NH Specimen Size: About a 0.1 mm brookite crystal Field Collected: Tom Mortimer 2019 Catalog No.: u2243 Notes: There are several tiny brookite crystals on this specimen. Some are a bit larger, but this one has terminated edges all around. This photo is at the highest magnification of my equipment. The photo shows details I cannot see with my Meiji stereo scope.
BROOKITE Audley Quarry, Merrimack, NH About a 0.3 mm brookite crystal	Species: BROOKITE Locality: Audley Quarry, Merrimack, NH Specimen Size: About a 0.3 mm brookite crystal Field Collected: Tom Mortimer 2003 Catalog No.: u578 Notes:
BERTRANDITE Turner Mine, Marlow, NH 0.3 mm crystal	Species: BERTRANDITE Locality: Turner Mine, Marlow, NH Specimen Size: 0.3 mm crystal Field Collected: Tom Mortimer - Sept. 2013 Catalog No.: u2244 Notes: This is a much improved re-photo of this specimen.