The Palermo Mines Mineral Gallery Return to mindatnh front page. Click on image for larger view | |
An alphabetical photo gallery of minerals from the Palermo Mines, N. Groton, NH. (A locality specific photo set from mindatnh.) Set 3: Jahnsite - Paravauxite +++ *** ***** Go to Palermo species: A - Falsterite Ferrisicklerite - Hydroxylherderite Phosphoferrite - Sphalerite Sillimanite - Zircon | |
Species: JAHNSITE CaMn2+Fe2+2Fe3+2(PO4)4(OH)2 · 8H2O 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)." |
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Species: JAHNSITE 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). |
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Species: JAHNSITE-(CaMnMn) 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. |
Species: JAHNSITE 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. |
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Species: JAHNSITE Group 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. |
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Species: JAHNSITE Group 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. |
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Species: JAHNSITE Group 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. |
Species: JAHNSITE Group Locality: Palermo Mine Groton, NH Specimen Size: 0.9 mm field of view Field Collected: Unknown Catalog No.: Notes: Label says collected in 1973. |
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Species: JAHNSITE Group Locality: Palermo Mine Groton, NH Specimen Size: Two views. 0.6 mm field of view, top photo Field Collected: Unknown Catalog No.: u2589 Notes: |
Species: JAHNSITE Group 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. |
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Species: JAHNSITE 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: |
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Species: KRYZHANOVSKITE (Fe3+Mn)Fe3+2(PO4)2(OH)3 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: * |
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Species: KRYZHANOVSKITE 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: |
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Species: KRYZHANOVSKITE 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. |
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Species: KRYZHANOVSKITE 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. |
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Species: KRYZHANOVSKITE 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: |
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Species: KRYZHANOVSKITE 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: |
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Species: KRYZHANOVSKITE 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. |
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Species: KRYZHANOVSKITE 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: |
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Species: KULANITE Ba(Fe2+,Mn2+,Mg)2(Al,Fe3+)2[OH|PO4]3 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 |
Species: KULANITE 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. |
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Species: KULANITE 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: |
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Species: KULANITE 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. |
Species: 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. |
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Species: KULANITE 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. |
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| Species: LAUEITE Mn2+Fe3+2(PO4)2(OH) · 8H2O Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH Specimen Size: 0.8 mm pale yellow, zoned, laueite crystal Field Collected: Walter Lane Catalog No.: u1266 Notes: * |
| Species: LAUEITE 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: |
Species: LAUEITE 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: . |
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Species: LAUEITE 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. |
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Species: LAUEITE (with paravauxite zoning?) 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. |
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Species: LAUEITE 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: |
| Species: LEUCOPHOSPHITE KFe3+2(PO4)2(OH) · 2H2O 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. |
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Species: LEUCOPHOSPHITE 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. |
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Species: LEUCOPHOSPHITE Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH Specimen Size: Another 0.4 mm cluster on specimen u1205 Field Collected: Walter Lane Catalog No.: u1205 Notes: |
Species: LEUCOPHOSPHITE 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: |
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Species: LEUCOPHOSPHITE 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. |
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| Species: LUDLAMITE (Fe,Mn,Mg)3(PO4)2·4H2O 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: |
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Species: LUDLAMITE 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 |
Species: LUDLAMITE 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: |
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Species: LUDLAMITE 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. |
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Species: LUDLAMITE with thin mitridatite coating 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. |
Species: LUDLAMITE 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. |
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Species: LUDLAMITE 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. |
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Species: MALACHITE Cu2+2(CO3)(OH)2 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: |
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Species: MALACHITE 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. |
Species: MALACHITE 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. |
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Species: MALACHITE 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. |
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Species: MARCASITE FeS2 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. |
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Species: MARCASITE 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. |
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Species: MARCASITE 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. |
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Species: MESSELITE Ca2(Fe2+,Mn2+)[PO4]2 · 2H2O 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: |
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Species: MESSELITE 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. |
Species: MESSELITE 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. |
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Species: MESSELITE ? 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: |
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Species: MESSELITE 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. |
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Species: MESSELITE 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 |
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Species: MESSELITE 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. |
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Species: MESSELITE 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. |
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Species: MITRIDATITE Ca2Fe3+3(PO4)3O2 · 3H2O Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH Specimen Size: 1.8 cm specimen with powdery green mitridatite coating Field Collected: Tom Mortimer Catalog No.: Notes: |
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Species: MITRIDATITE 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: * |
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Species: MITRIDATITE 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: |
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Species: MITRIDATITE 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. |
Species: MITRIDATITE coating Childrenite 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. |
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Species: MITRIDATITE 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: |
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Species: MITRIDATITE 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. |
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Species: MONTEBRASITE (Li,Na)AlPO4(OH,F) 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. |
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Species: MONTEBRASITE 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. |
Species: MONTEBASITE 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. |
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Species: MONTEBRASITE - micro crystals on quartz/apatite 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. |
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Species: MONTEBRASITE 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. |
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Species: MONTEBRASITE ? 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. |
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Species: MONTEBRASITE 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. |
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Species: MONTMORILLONITE (Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2Si4O10(OH)2·nH2O 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: * |
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Species: MORAESITE Be2(PO4)(OH) · 4H2O 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. |
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Species: MORAESITE 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: |
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Species: MORAESITE 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. |
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Species: MORAESITE 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. |
Species: MUSCOVITE with tabular apatite Locality: Palermo Mine, N. Groton, NH Specimen Size: 4 mm crystal group Field Collected: Clayton Ford. Gift from Gordon Jackson Catalog No.: u2007 Notes: |
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Species: MUSCOVITE KAl2AlSi3O10(OH)2 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: |
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Species: MUSCOVITE 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. |
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Species: MUSCOVITE 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. |
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Species: NATROPALERMOITE (Type Locality)
Na2SrAl4(PO4)4(OH)4 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. |
Species: 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. |
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Species: OVERITE group 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. |
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Species: PALERMOITE SrLi2Al4(PO4)4(OH)4 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. |
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Species: PALERMOITE 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. |
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Species: PALERMOITE 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. |
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Species: PALERMOITE 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. |
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Species: 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. |
Species: PALERMOITE 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 |
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Species: PALERMOITE 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. |
Species: PALERMOITE 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. |
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Species: PALERMOITE 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. |
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Species: PALERMOITE with Goedkenite 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: |
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Species: PARASCHOLZITE CaZn2(PO4)2 · 2H2O 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. |
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Species: PARASCHOLZITE 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. |
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Species: PARAVAUXITE Fe2+Al2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2O 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. |
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Species: PARAVAUXITE 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. |
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Species: 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. |
Go to Palermo species: A - Falsterite Ferrisicklerite - Hydroxylherderite Jahnsite - Paravauxite (this page) Phosphoferrite - Sphalerite Sillimanite - Zircon |