Bustamite, apatite - Franklin, NJ

Description

Here we have a rich and interesting combination of diverse minerals. First comes the pale pink flat lathes of vitreous bustamite, making up a goodly portion of the matrix. Bustamite (pronounced BUST-a-mite or BOOS-a-mite) is one of the more common non-zinc-bearing silicates in the Franklin mine. The Franklin mine is the type locality for bustamite, and it has been found in the Sterling mine. The naming of bustamite is a bit tangled, and you can glean more information here, mindat.org/min-809.html. Bustamite is often confused with rhodonite but can be distinguished from bustamite's "feathery" cleavage and paler color. Rhodonite has 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. Numerous grains and small sections of a semi-vitreous, blue-green apatite, presumably fluorapatite, a calcium fluorophosphate, are scattered throughout the matrix. Next come abundant sections and small masses of orange-yellow, sub-vitreous andradite. Lastly, are dull gray sections of willemite here and there embedded in the matrix. There are stubborn portions of weathered-in fluorescent willemite on one portion of the specimen. Do note one other mineral species: a small portion of the specimen has transparent colorless clinohedrite. The apatite fluoresces a moderate orange, the willemite a bright green, and the clinohedrite a bright orange. This is a neat specimen with a diverse assemblage of mineral species. The specimen sits on one end for an optimal display.
Dimensions are
9.6x14.1x6.7cm - 3¾x5½x2¾in.
Please note the centimeter cube and inch bar for scale.
Weight in grams and ounces:
1451.2g - 511.19oz.
From the
Franklin mine, Franklin, NJ.
The previous collection this specimen was in is #205, James Kirk.
#205 is the museum's Collection Sale number previously offered in the museum shop.
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All potential buyers need to be aware that being able to view fluorescent minerals requires an ultraviolet lamp. 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 known as
UV C
. Always read the description carefully to determine if the main mineral of interest for a particular specimen will fluoresce.
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DISCLAIMER: Every reasonable effort was made to identify the mineral species noted in each specimen accurately. The occasional label from previous collection(s) may misidentify some species, and the current title and description here reflect the latest mineral species identification.
A modest effort was made to depict a fluorescent specimen accurately as possible.
In some cases, overexposure should be expected in select photographs to compensate for a fluorescent specimen's weak response.
All buyers should exercise safe viewing practices regarding the use of ultraviolet light. Visual dark adaption is highly recommended in the optimal viewing of fluorescent minerals. Buyers should also be aware of what type of lighting to view the specimens under. This can result in perceived differences of color and contrast due to color and contrast shifting under various kinds of lights available.
All photographs were taken with a Nikon D5300 digital camera with a Nikon DX AF-S 18-55mm lens attached with a UV filter. Lighting was done with a pair of OSRAM 8.5 watt LED A19 5000K 800 lumens bulbs in brushed aluminum reflectors. The photographs were processed on a color-calibrated flat panel monitor. Do note the Imperial measurement conversion is the nearest equivalent to the listed metric measurement.
--- All photographs appearing on this listing or any other Franklin Mineral Museum listing are the property of the Franklin Mineral Museum. Photographs
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