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Identity HelpMt. Ouichane unknown

29th Jul 2011 01:40 UTCNik Nikiforou

I was looking at one of my Hematite specimens from Mt. Ouichane in Nador, Morocco when I noticed several tiny gemmy red crystals:

Hematite with unknown, Morocco

The mindat database lists Hematite as the only species at this locality, but this piece has what looks to me like garnet crystals as well as a few calcites. Can anyone confirm or offer an alternative identification based on my very primitive micro-photographs (my apologies!)?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

Nik

29th Jul 2011 13:00 UTCSergey Sayamov

Check out the list: http://www.mineralienatlas.de/lexikon/index.php/Marokko/Oriental,%20Region/Nador,%20Provinz/Zeghanghane%20(Segangane)/Ouichane?sections=2&lokationid=14922&lang=en&language=english.

This red crystal looks like sphalerite to me, but both garnet and sphalerite are listed...

Hope this helps,

Sergey

10th Aug 2011 20:30 UTCNik Nikiforou

Thanks Sergey. Does anyone else have anything to add?

NIk

10th Aug 2011 21:03 UTCUwe Kolitsch Manager

Determining cleavage/fracture will help.

17th Sep 2011 00:31 UTCNik Nikiforou

Hi Uwe,

Well, the crystals are microscopic, maybe 1/3 of a millimeter, so cleavage is not visible. Anyone else have any suggestions?

Thanks,

Nik

17th Sep 2011 05:05 UTCRonald John Gyllenhammer Expert

Hi Nik,

This is a somewhat difficult id from an image alone. I would suggest the following. If you can sacrifice one of these crystals in a destructive test, find one of these crystals on the matrix that is isolated and away from the others and expendable, try to remove it. Once removed, if it is large enough to handle with something like tweezers, place it on a small test plate where it can be crushed. Next, apply a small drop of dilute HCl. If you detect a "rotten egg" (hydrogen sulfide) odor, you probably have Sphalerite. I happen to think Almandine garnet may be more likely here but I can't be certain from the image alone. Good luck with it Nik.

Ron

17th Sep 2011 11:24 UTCErik Vercammen Expert

Small red rutile crystals are found on hematite on different places: Brazil, Cavradigorge in Switzerland, Zambia: maybe also here?