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Identity HelpSmallcleugh Belive Valid

17th Nov 2010 10:31 UTCSteve Rust Manager

A number of species recorded from the Smallcleugh mine are in the mineral list as Belive Valid. Any one have confirmation of these species from here.

Beaverite-(Cu)

Epsomite

Hydrozincite

Melanterite

Serpierite

Smithsonite.

Thanks

Steve Rust

17th Nov 2010 11:07 UTCJolyon Ralph Founder

I always assumed the white fluorescent coating on some of the sphalerite crystals from the Hydraulic Shaft was hydrozincite. Is it something else?

Jolyon

17th Nov 2010 11:57 UTCSteve Rust Manager

Some of the so called hydrozincite from this mine is brianyoungite visually very simular. I would not take it for granted that the white coating on or near sphalerite is hydrozincite. One way to differentiate the two species is that brianyoungite from many of the north Pennine mines has a pointed bladed crystal habite, were hydrozincite is useually flat terminated.

As a postscript me and a couple of collector mates are going to see if we can find any more of the Ni mineralisation.

17th Nov 2010 11:59 UTCJolyon Ralph Founder

Ok - that makes sense

17th Nov 2010 14:23 UTCRoger Curry

Hi Steve,

Of the list, I've seen down the mine only melanterite, and of course the phenomenal epsomite crystal grotto, the crystals of which are still growing - largest I measured was 15cm but exceedingly fragile.

Regards,

Rog

17th Nov 2010 15:03 UTCSteve Rust Manager

Thanks Roger

Yes I have seen all these crystal growths, but were are the articals or papers or personal analysis to confirm that's what thay are. People were calling these long wispy crystal growths epsomite back in the 1970s-early80s, to my knowledge without any analysis.

As for the melanterite it was being call such becase it was pale green water soluble and associated with rotted pyrite/Fe oxides. Both these species may well occure at Smallcleugh but I would like to see some evidance.

If there is no definative evidance then I will collect some likely candedates and have them tested.

17th Nov 2010 17:04 UTCSteve Rust Manager

OK I have a paper on the serpierite, and have add one species.

17th Nov 2010 17:34 UTCReiner Mielke Expert

Take some of the epsomite and dissolve it in water and recrystallize it. If epsomite it will produce very distinctive crystals. See Dana for drawing of an epsomite xl, or look at some from the drug store under the scope.

26th Nov 2011 16:54 UTCVik Vanrusselt Expert

Could this be considered 'proof' ?:

http://www.english-nature.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1005631.pdf

Vik

26th Nov 2011 17:07 UTCJolyon Ralph Founder

No :)

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