Kannonyama pegmatite, Wagu, Ishikawa town, Ishikawa District, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan

The brown crystal on the right has been analysed via XRF at Hori Mineralogy LTD., and identified as almandine, based on the abundance of Fe, Al, and Si (and very little Ca and Mn, making it very close to pure Fe-Al endmember). Moreover, there seem to be other unknown accessory minerals on this specimen — analysis on another part of the specimen ...

[personally collected on 2 JUL 2017] Two small crystals of almandine joined together. While this particular specimen is not analysed, garnets from the Kannonyama Mine are known only to be almandine.

[personally collected on the 2 JUL 2017] A small fragment of schorl commonly seen at the locality

[personally collected on 2 JUL 2017] Metallic-black crystals of almandine with sharp edges. While this particular specimen is not analysed, garnets from the Kannonyama Mine are known only to be almandine.

A single isolated crystal of monazite-(Ce). Shows its characteristic, somewhat greasy resinous lustre. One of my prized micromount specimens from this locality. [personally collected on 2 Dec 2024]

[personally collected on 2 Dec 2024] A classical intergrowth between xenotime-(Y) and zircon, typical of pegmatites of Ishikawa. Darker brown zircon penetrates the lighter brown, pyramidal to semi-octahedral crystals of xenotime. One of my prized micromount specimens from this locality.

Inside of the mine tunnel. The entire wall of the tunnel is composed of pegmatite ores, including quartz (grey), feldspar (white), biotite (black) and garnets (tiny reddish grain inside the biotite). Photo and entry with permission in June 2024.

A wall of pegmatite outcrop on the left and an open area below filled with smaller pegmatite fragments. This orebody #2 is open to the public and minerals can be collected from this "dump" of fragments.