Hardystonite, Clinohedrite, Willemite, Bustamite - Franklin, NJ
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:4397093 | Country/Region of Manufacture: United States |
| Franklin Mineral Museum: Fluorescent mineral species |
A large classic specimen of hardystonite, clinohedrite and willemite with three associated fluorescent colors. Here we have a specimen of hardystonite and clinohedrite with abundant willemite. The hardystonite is as abundant grains and small sections with an off white color with a typical greasy luster. There is clinohedrite covering both the front and rear face of the specimen. There are grains and large secti...ons of vitreous, pale pink-red to green willemite working through matrix along with abundant sections and grains of black, metallic franklinite. Lastly, there are abundant sections of pale pink to medium pink, vitreous bustamite.The Franklin mine is the type locality for hardystonite and was named in 1899 by John E. Wolff after Hardyston Township, Sussex County, locality of the Franklin orebody prior to incorporation of Franklin Borough in 1913. Hardyston Township surrounds the borough of Franklin today. Clinohedrite was named in 1898 by Samuel L. Penfield and Harry W. Foote from the Greek κλινειν "to incline and εδρα hedra, for face, for the characteristic inclined faces of the crystals. Bustamite, (pronounced BUST-a-mite or BOOS-a-mite) a calcium manganese silicate, is one of the more common non-zinc bearing silicates in the Franklin mine. The Franklin mine is the type locality and bustamite has been found in the Sterling mine as well. The naming of bustamite is a bit tangled and you can glean more information here, mindat.org/min-809.html. Generally bustamite is pale pink-red and seldom found as crystals though a number of well formed crystals are known. Bustamite is often confused with rhodonite but can be distinguished by bustamite's "feathery" cleavage and paler color. Rhodonite has a perfect cleavage and uneven fracture and occurs as crystals more often than bustamite. Any collector with access to optical equipment will find bustamite is biaxial negative while rhodonite is biaxial positive. The bustamite here has the typical pale pink color. The hardystonite fluoresces a typical moderate violet-blue, the willemite a bright green and the clinohedrite a bright orange, all best seen under shortwave (254nm) ultraviolet light. This is a good example of three of the beloved fluorescent mineral species from the Franklin mine and ideal for the fluorescent collector needing a good example of these fluorescent species. Lays flat and requires a prop to display optimally.Dimensions are 20.5x11x4.8cm - 8x4¼x1¾in. Please note the centimeter cube and inch bar for scale.From the Franklin Mine, Franklin, NJ.The previous collection(s) this specimen was in is #102, Anonymous.#102 is the museum's Collection Sale number previously offered in the museum shop.>>> We do COMBINED SHIPPING for multiple items. To request an invoice from us that combines shipping ALWAYS click the Add to cart button in eBay to add items until you are done. DO NOT PROCEED to checkout, rather go click the Request Total from Seller button. <<< === There is an instructional video on how to request combined shipping is here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvDe7Fg7R4Q === All potential buyers need to be aware of the fact being able to view fluorescent minerals requires an ultraviolet light. Most of the minerals from the Franklin and Sterling Hill zinc mining district fluoresce under shortwave ultraviolet light. The shortwave wavelength is 254nm or otherwise know as UV C. Always read the description carefully to determine if the main mineral of interest for a particular specimen will fluoresce. There are several available models and brands of ultraviolet lights on eBay and other online sources.DISCLAIMER: Every reasonable effort was made to accurately identify the mineral specie(s) noted in each specimen. The occasional label from previous collection(s) may misidentify some species and the current title and description here reflects the latest mineral specie(s) identification. A modest effort was made to depict a fluorescent specimen accurately as possible, but some overexposure should be expected in some photographs to compensate for a weak response of a fluorescent specimen.--- All photographs appearing on this listing or any other Franklin Mineral Museum listing are the property of the Franklin Mineral Museum. Photographs can be used strictly for personal use only. Otherwise the photographs posted here are protected by U.S. Copyright Laws, and are not to be downloaded or reproduced for public use or distribution in any way without the written permission of the Franklin Mineral Museum. ---
