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Identity HelpLeucophoenicite from the Wessels Mine - identity crisis

2nd Oct 2013 05:11 UTCChristopher O'Neill

Hello,

I am looking for some help in identifying this leucophoenicite specimen from the Wessels Mine in South Africa (Mindat Photo ID: 512410).

It was purchased from Larry Conklin in 1999 and I have never seen a similar specimen before or since.

I recently had a Qualitative EDS analysis done and the results indicate that it could be leucophoenicite or possibly another Humite group member.

Has anyone seen a specimen similar to this from the Wessels Mine?

Does anyone have any info as to who can do Quantitative EDS analysis?

Thanks,

Chris

4th Oct 2013 19:00 UTCChristopher O'Neill

Added to MINERAL "Talk Page" under LEUCOPHOENICITE as well. Hopefully someone will chime in....

4th Oct 2013 20:26 UTCRob Woodside 🌟 Manager

It resembles leucophoenicite but the Al in the EDS would suggest http://www.mindat.org/chemsearch.php?inc=Al%2CMn%2CSi%2C&exc=Fe%2CAs%2CCa%2CK%2CCe%2CV%2CBa%2CPb%2CNa%2CLa%2CP%2CMg%2C&sub=Search+for+Minerals

Perhaps the Al subs for Si? But others will know better.

5th Oct 2013 05:37 UTCChristopher O'Neill

Thanks Rob,

I quickly ran through that list you provided (because of the small Al spike) but the pysical characteristics of these don't come close to this "leuco". When you say it resembles leuco, have you seen similar crystal structure in another specimen? I just can't seem to find a photo of a Wessels specimen anywhere.

Regards,

Chris

5th Oct 2013 17:02 UTCReiner Mielke Expert

It would be far cheaper to get powder XRD gone on it rather than quantitative EDS ( $40 vs. $500-$1000).

5th Oct 2013 20:29 UTCLefteris Rantos Expert

Chris,

"The Manganese Adventure" by B. Cairncross et al. shows a SEM photo of a star-shaped trilling of Leucophoenicite (actually looks rather like a slightly rough tabular Chrysoberyl sixling with only shortly developed "stems" - 300 microns in diameter) on bladed Caryopilite, from Wessels (p.206). No further info.

I have seen for sale (and purchased one!) several specimens with clove-brown to pinkish-brown small translucent characteristically lenticular (not unlike the xls on your specimens, but somewhat thinner) isolated micro-xls and clusters of Leucophoenicite, typically sticking out of nut-brown botryoidal Caryopilite, associated with pink crystalline Rhodochrosite.

While the xl shape and color of the xls on your specimen are similar (although yours are somewhat thicker and darker brown), the ones I've seen are certainly smaller, much sparser and in a different paragenesis - the richness of the xls on your specimen, grown in a peculiar parallel alignment, are unique to my experience.

Lefteris.

6th Oct 2013 07:37 UTCChristopher O'Neill

Thanks for the heads up Reiner,

A big difference in price and one that I could not afford.

Regards,

Chris

6th Oct 2013 07:39 UTCChristopher O'Neill

Thanks for the input Lefteris,

If you get a chance and can post a picture, that would be helpful as well.

Regards,

Chris

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