Western Mineral Resources

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Western Mineral Resources Garnet—An Essential Industrial Mineral and January’s Birthstone Photograph of a mineral arnet is one of the most specimen containing large G common minerals in the crystals of the garnet world. Occurring in almost any mineral spessartine (red), showing the distinctive color, it is most widely known “euhedral isometric” for its beauty as a gem stone. crystal form of garnet. Used Because of its hardness and since ancient times for other properties, garnet is also an jewelry, the first industrial use of garnet was prob- essential industrial mineral used ably in coated sandpaper in abrasive products, non-slip manufactured in the United surfaces, and filtration. To help States by Henry Hudson Barton in 1878. The United manage our Nation’s resources of States currently consumes such essential minerals, the U.S. about 16 percent of the Geological Survey (USGS) pro- global production of indus- vides crucial data and scientific trial garnet. (Copyrighted photo by Stan Celestian/ information to industry, policy- courtesy of Glendale Com- makers, and the public. munity College). Garnet as a Gem Stone in 1878. Garnet is an important industrial ing aluminum and other soft metals for mineral because it is relatively hard, rating 6 use in aircraft and ships; deburring welds Garnet is familiar to many people as to about 8 on the “Mohs scale of hardness,” and grinding and polishing optical lenses; January’s birthstone and as the New York where diamond is the hardest at 10. Conse- producing high-quality, scratch-free semi- State gem stone. It has been used as a gem quently, garnet is an excellent abrasive for conductor materials; finishing hard rubber, stone since prehistoric times. Most recogniz- applications such as sand- or air-blasting, plastic, and wood products; and making non- able in a deep shade of red, garnet occurs in water-jet cutting, and sandpaper. Garnet is skid paints and coatings. The U.S. petroleum the greatest variety of color of any mineral, now used for some blast-cleaning applications industry is one of the leading garnet-con- except for blue. Some types of garnet even that previously used common sand. Common suming industries, using garnet for cleaning change color when exposed to artificial light. sand contains crystalline silica (SiO2) that in drill pipes and well casings. Garnet is also Unlike many other gem stones, garnet is the form of dust produced during blasting can chemically inert and recyclable, making it an almost never treated using heat, chemicals, cause lung damage if inhaled. ideal filtration medium. or other methods to enhance appearance There are many additional industrial Garnet can also be used in mining and value. The value of gem-stone garnets applications of garnet, including condition- exploration as an indicator to help locate dia- involves a complex combination of factors, mond deposits. Diamonds only form at great including color, clarity, scarcity, durability, pressure and temperature and are associated type of cut, and fashion. Larger garnets are with kimberlite, an intrusive igneous rock popular both as gems and as collectable min- that comes from deep within the Earth. As eral specimens. Star garnets, found in Idaho, the molten rock (magma) that cools to form India, and Madagascar, contain inclusions of a kimberlite rises toward the Earth’s surface, the fibrous mineral rutile that reflect light in it incorporates fragments of rocks and miner- two, four, or six rays when the stones are cut als, including garnets with distinct color and and polished. Star garnets with six rays are composition that form under the same con- the rarest, and for about every 500 four-ray ditions as diamonds. If these distinct types garnets only 1 six-ray garnet is found. of garnet are found in sediments, they may indicate the presence of nearby diamond- bearing kimberlites. Garnet as an Industrial Mineral These cut and polished gem stones are a rare, green variety of andradite garnet, also known as How do Garnets Form? The first industrial use of garnet appears to “demantoid” garnet. Cut garnets are prized for their have been in coated sandpaper manufactured beauty and are also commercially valuable for use Garnet crystals form in rocks of appro- in the United States by Henry Hudson Barton in jewelry. (Image courtesy of Peter Grumitt.) priate chemical composition that have been U.S. Department of the Interior USGS Fact Sheet 2006–3149 U.S. Geological Survey 2006 U.S. Industrial Consumption of The Industrial Uses of Garnet Garnet The United States presently consumes about 16 percent of the global production of industrial garnet. In 2005, domestic produc- tion of crude industrial garnet was 40,100 metric tons (t), valued at $3.84 million. In the 10% other same year, the Nation imported 41,800 t of 10% industrial garnet, valued at $5.91 million, pri- Abrasive 35% Powders marily coming from Australia, Canada, India, Abrasive Blasting and China. 15% Water Filtration Meeting the challenge of supplying America’s needs for essential minerals such 30% as garnet requires accurate and unbiased sci- Waterjet Cutting entific data. The ongoing work of scientists with the USGS Mineral Resources Program provides the information crucial to the cre- ation of sound policies that will ensure future supplies of mineral resources. This photo shows garnets of various grain sizes. Garnets are hard, chemically inert, and recyclable, making them ideal for industrial uses (see pie diagram). Garnets similar to James G. Evans, Phillip R. Moyle, David G. those shown here are used in water-jet cutting, air-blasting, and filtration applications. Frank, and Donald W. Olson Edited by James W. Hendley II Graphic design by Stephen L. Scott modified by heat and pressure deep within Almandine is the hardest and, together References the Earth’s crust. These are “metamorphic” with andradite, is the garnet mineral most rocks, such as gneiss, amphibolite, and commonly used in industrial applications. Evans, J.G., 2006, U.S. industrial garnet, in Bliss, schist. Less frequently, garnets form in Tsavorite, a rare green grossularite garnet J.D., Moyle, P.R., Long K.R., eds., 2002, Con- “calcareous” rocks that have been heated of exceptional beauty is among the most tributions to industrial-minerals research: by nearby intrusions of magma. expensive garnets by weight. At the other U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 2209-L Garnets can be recovered using either extreme are reddish pyrope and abundant [http://pubs.usgs.gov/bul/b2209-l]. surface or underground mining methods. almandine garnets that are both common Olson, D.W., 2005, Garnet, industrial: U.S. Most garnets are found in and recovered and relatively inexpensive. Geological Survey Minerals Yearbook 2005, from alluvium (unconsolidated or poorly p. 29.1-29.3 [http://minerals.usgs.gov/ consolidated combinations of clay, silt, Where are Garnet Deposits Found minerals/pubs/commodity/garnet/index. sand, and gravel) derived from metamor- html#myb]. phic rocks that have undergone weathering in the United States? Hearn, B.C., and McGee, E.S., 1983, Garnets in and erosion. Subsequent stream action Garnet deposits have been located in Montana diatremes; a key to prospecting moves and deposits the garnets, resulting 21 different states, including Alaska, Ari- for kimberlites: U.S. Geological Survey Bul- in local concentrations of garnet due to zona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, letin 1604, 42 p. its high specific gravity (its mass relative Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, U.S. Bureau of Mines, 1995, An overview of pro- to an equal volume of water). During the New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, duction of specific U.S. gemstones [garnet]: recovery process the specific gravity and Utah, and Virginia. However, the only U.S. U.S. Bureau of Mines Special Publication magnetic properties of garnet are used to garnet mines currently active are in north- 14-95 [http://minerals.er.usgs.gov/miner- separate it from other material. ern Idaho, southeastern Montana, and east- als/pubs/commodity/gemstones/sp14-95/ ern New York. In Idaho, garnet deposits are garnet.html]. found adjacent to metamorphic rocks that Are all Garnets the Same? make up the western Clearwater Range. In Although all garnets possess similar Montana, garnet deposits are found in the physical properties, including crystal struc- Ruby Range and southern Tobacco Root ture, hardness, and specific gravity, there Mountains. In both Idaho and Montana, For more information contact: are actually several different types of the garnets are mined from alluvial deposits James G. Evans U.S. Geological Survey mineral. The six most common members that formed from weathering of amphibo- 904 W. Riverside Ave., Room 202 of the garnet family are almandine (rich lite, mica schist, gneiss, or granite. In Spokane, WA 99201 northeastern New York, garnet is mostly Tel: (509) 368–3115 in iron and aluminum), grossular (rich in http://minerals.usgs.gov calcium), pyrope and spessartine (rich in extracted from unweathered gneiss bedrock magnesium or manganese), uvarovite (rich of the Adirondack Mountains using surface This Fact Sheet and any updates to it are available online at http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2006/3149/ in chromium), and andradite (rich in iron). mining methods. Printed on recycled paper.
Recommended publications
  • The Hydrous Component in Andradite Garnet
    American Mineralogist, Volume 83, pages 835±840, 1998 The hydrous component in andradite garnet GEORG AMTHAUER* AND GEORGE R. ROSSMAN² Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, U.S.A. ABSTRACT Twenty-two andradite samples from a variety of geological environments and two syn- thetic hydroandradite samples were studied by Fourier transform IR spectroscopy. Their 2 spectra show that H enters andradite in the form of OH . Amounts up to 6 wt% H2O occur in these samples; those from low-temperature formations contain the most OH2. Some 42 ↔ 42 features in the absorption spectra indicate the hydrogarnet substitution (SiO4) (O4H4) whereas others indicate additional types of OH2 incorporation. The complexity of the spectra due to multi-site distribution of OH2 increases with increasing complexity of the garnet composition. 42 ↔ 42 INTRODUCTION tution (O4H4) (SiO4) . This observation has been Systematic studies have shown that hydroxide is a con®rmed by XRD of a hydrous andradite with a Si de- common minor component of grossular and pyrope-al- ®ciency of about 50%, and a high OH content (Arm- mandine-spessartite garnets (Aines and Rossman 1985; bruster 1995). The structure of this particular sample with Rossman and Aines 1991). Comparable surveys of an- space group Ia3d is composed of disordered microdo- dradite garnet have not been previously presented. Sev- mains containing (SiO4) and (O4H4) tetrahedral units. eral reports indicate that appreciable amounts of OH2 can The aim of the present investigation was to perform a be incorporated in both natural and synthetic andradite- Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) study on different sam- rich garnet (Flint et al.
    [Show full text]
  • Washington State Minerals Checklist
    Division of Geology and Earth Resources MS 47007; Olympia, WA 98504-7007 Washington State 360-902-1450; 360-902-1785 fax E-mail: [email protected] Website: http://www.dnr.wa.gov/geology Minerals Checklist Note: Mineral names in parentheses are the preferred species names. Compiled by Raymond Lasmanis o Acanthite o Arsenopalladinite o Bustamite o Clinohumite o Enstatite o Harmotome o Actinolite o Arsenopyrite o Bytownite o Clinoptilolite o Epidesmine (Stilbite) o Hastingsite o Adularia o Arsenosulvanite (Plagioclase) o Clinozoisite o Epidote o Hausmannite (Orthoclase) o Arsenpolybasite o Cairngorm (Quartz) o Cobaltite o Epistilbite o Hedenbergite o Aegirine o Astrophyllite o Calamine o Cochromite o Epsomite o Hedleyite o Aenigmatite o Atacamite (Hemimorphite) o Coffinite o Erionite o Hematite o Aeschynite o Atokite o Calaverite o Columbite o Erythrite o Hemimorphite o Agardite-Y o Augite o Calciohilairite (Ferrocolumbite) o Euchroite o Hercynite o Agate (Quartz) o Aurostibite o Calcite, see also o Conichalcite o Euxenite o Hessite o Aguilarite o Austinite Manganocalcite o Connellite o Euxenite-Y o Heulandite o Aktashite o Onyx o Copiapite o o Autunite o Fairchildite Hexahydrite o Alabandite o Caledonite o Copper o o Awaruite o Famatinite Hibschite o Albite o Cancrinite o Copper-zinc o o Axinite group o Fayalite Hillebrandite o Algodonite o Carnelian (Quartz) o Coquandite o o Azurite o Feldspar group Hisingerite o Allanite o Cassiterite o Cordierite o o Barite o Ferberite Hongshiite o Allanite-Ce o Catapleiite o Corrensite o o Bastnäsite
    [Show full text]
  • Geology Club Mineral: Collecting Trip
    Geology Club: Mineral Collecting Trip (10 October 2009) Trip Notes by Charles Merguerian STOP 1 – Grossular Garnet Locality, West Redding, Connecticut. [UTM Coordinates: 630.71E / 4575.38N, Bethel quadrangle]. Covering roughly 60 acres of land, this enigmatic massive fine-grained grossularite garnet + diopside rock in West Redding has made many mineral collectors and geologists take notice. Walk up the steep slope east of Simpaug Turnpike to see highly fractured, massive cinnamon-colored grossular garnet rock, part of a 0.6-km wide heart-shaped mass found at the faulted contact between the Stockbridge Marble (OCs) and injected muscovitic schist of the Rowe Schist member (OCr) of the Hartland Formation (Figure 1). According to Rodgers et al. (1985), we are very near Cameron’s Line (red and black line in Figure 1). Figure 1 – Geologic map of the area surrounding Stop 1 showing the Proterozoic gneissic rocks (Yg) and Cambrian Dalton Schist (Cd) to the west, the Stockbridge Marble (OCs), Cameron’s Line (CL in red), the injected schistose rocks of the Rowe Formation (OCr), and an Ordovician granitoid (Og) that may be responsible for this unusual Ca++-enriched skarn deposit. Note the NW-trending high-angle brittle faults that cut the region. (Adapted from Rodgers et al. 1985.) Two knolls at this locality are almost entirely composed of grossularite garnet (var. essonite) and lesser clinopyroxene. Mostly the garnet occurs alone with minor quartz and localized quartz veining has been observed. Chemical analysis of the garnet (SiO2 = 39.10%, CaO = 34.85%, Al2O3 = 19.61%, and total FeO+Fe2O3 = 5.44%), are quite similar to published analyses of grossular garnet, including the phenomenal grossular garnet crystals from Morelos, Mexico.
    [Show full text]
  • Mineral Processing
    Mineral Processing Foundations of theory and practice of minerallurgy 1st English edition JAN DRZYMALA, C. Eng., Ph.D., D.Sc. Member of the Polish Mineral Processing Society Wroclaw University of Technology 2007 Translation: J. Drzymala, A. Swatek Reviewer: A. Luszczkiewicz Published as supplied by the author ©Copyright by Jan Drzymala, Wroclaw 2007 Computer typesetting: Danuta Szyszka Cover design: Danuta Szyszka Cover photo: Sebastian Bożek Oficyna Wydawnicza Politechniki Wrocławskiej Wybrzeze Wyspianskiego 27 50-370 Wroclaw Any part of this publication can be used in any form by any means provided that the usage is acknowledged by the citation: Drzymala, J., Mineral Processing, Foundations of theory and practice of minerallurgy, Oficyna Wydawnicza PWr., 2007, www.ig.pwr.wroc.pl/minproc ISBN 978-83-7493-362-9 Contents Introduction ....................................................................................................................9 Part I Introduction to mineral processing .....................................................................13 1. From the Big Bang to mineral processing................................................................14 1.1. The formation of matter ...................................................................................14 1.2. Elementary particles.........................................................................................16 1.3. Molecules .........................................................................................................18 1.4. Solids................................................................................................................19
    [Show full text]
  • Compilation of Reported Sapphire Occurrences in Montana
    Report of Investigation 23 Compilation of Reported Sapphire Occurrences in Montana Richard B. Berg 2015 Cover photo by Richard Berg. Sapphires (very pale green and colorless) concentrated by panning. The small red grains are garnets, commonly found with sapphires in western Montana, and the black sand is mainly magnetite. Compilation of Reported Sapphire Occurrences, RI 23 Compilation of Reported Sapphire Occurrences in Montana Richard B. Berg Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology MBMG Report of Investigation 23 2015 i Compilation of Reported Sapphire Occurrences, RI 23 TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction ............................................................................................................................1 Descriptions of Occurrences ..................................................................................................7 Selected Bibliography of Articles on Montana Sapphires ................................................... 75 General Montana ............................................................................................................75 Yogo ................................................................................................................................ 75 Southwestern Montana Alluvial Deposits........................................................................ 76 Specifi cally Rock Creek sapphire district ........................................................................ 76 Specifi cally Dry Cottonwood Creek deposit and the Butte area ....................................
    [Show full text]
  • Not for Publication United States Court of Appeals
    NOT FOR PUBLICATION FILED DEC 20 2018 UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT U.S. COURT OF APPEALS CYNTHIA CARDARELLI PAINTER, No. 17-55901 individually and on behalf of other members of the general public similarly situated, D.C. No. 2:17-cv-02235-SVW-AJW Plaintiff-Appellant, v. MEMORANDUM* BLUE DIAMOND GROWERS, a California corporation and DOES, 1-100, inclusive, Defendants-Appellees. Appeal from the United States District Court for the Central District of California Stephen V. Wilson, District Judge, Presiding Argued and Submitted December 3, 2018 Pasadena, California Before: D.W. NELSON and WARDLAW, Circuit Judges, and PRATT,** District Judge. * This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3. ** The Honorable Robert W. Pratt, United States District Judge for the Southern District of Iowa, sitting by designation. Cynthia Painter appeals the district court’s order dismissing her complaint with prejudice on grounds of preemption and failure to state a claim pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6). On behalf of a putative class, Painter claims that Blue Diamond Growers (“Blue Diamond”) mislabeled its almond beverages as “almond milk” when they should be labeled “imitation milk” because they substitute for and resemble dairy milk but are nutritionally inferior to it. See 21 C.F.R. § 101.3(e)(1). We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291 and review the district court’s dismissal de novo. Durnford v. MusclePharm Corp., 907 F.3d 595, 601 (9th Cir.
    [Show full text]
  • Exceptional Works of Art 2017 PUSHKIN ANTIQUES – MAYFAIR –
    Exceptional works of art 2017 PUSHKIN ANTIQUES – MAYFAIR – At Pushkin Antiques we specialise in unique statement Each item is professionally selected and inspected pieces of antique silver as well as branded luxury items, to ensure we can give our customers a guarantee of stylish interior articles and objects d’art. authenticity and the required peace of mind when buying from us. Since the inception of our company, we’ve been at the forefront of online sales for high end, quality antiques. Our retail gallery is located on the lower floor of the world Our presence on most major platforms has allowed us famous Grays Antiques Centre in the heart of Mayfair. to consistently connect exquisite pieces with the most discerning collectors and interior decorators from all over the world with particular focus on the demands of the markets from the Far East, the Americas, Europe & Russia. www.pushkinantiques.com [email protected] We aim to provide the highest quality in every department: rare hand crafted articles, accurate item descriptions (+44) 02085 544 300 to include the history and provenance of each item, an (+44) 07595 595 079 extensive photography report, as well as a smooth buying process thus facilitating an efficient and pleasant online Shop 111, Lower Ground Floor, Grays Antiques Market. experience. 58 Davies St, London. W1K 5AB, UK. ALEX PUSHKIN OLGA PUSHKINA DUMITRU TIRA Founder & Director Managing Director Photographer Contents 6 ENGLISH SILVER 42 CHINESE SILVER 56 JAPANESE SILVER 66 INDIAN SILVER 78 BURMESE SILVER 86 CONTINENTAL SILVER 100 FRENCH SILVER 108 GERMAN SILVER 118 RUSSIAN SILVER 132 OBJECTS OF VERTU English Silver The style and technique in manufacturing silver during Hester Bateman (1708-1794) was one of the greatest this era (over 100 years) changed radically, reflecting silversmiths operating in this style, she is the most the variations in taste, society, costumes, economic and renowned and appreciated female silversmith of all time.
    [Show full text]
  • Thomas, R., Rericha, A., Pohl, WL, Davidson, P
    Originally published as: Thomas, R., Rericha, A., Pohl, W. L., Davidson, P. (2018): Genetic significance of the 867 cm−1 out-of- plane Raman mode in graphite associated with V-bearing green grossular. - Mineralogy and Petrology, 112, 5, pp. 633—645. DOI: http://doi.org/10.1007/s00710-018-0563-1 1 Genetic significance of the 867 cm-1 out-of-plane Raman mode in graphite associated with V-bearing green grossular Rainer Thomasa Adolf Rerichab Walter L. Pohlc Paul Davidsond Paul Davidson [email protected] 0000-0002-6129-0748 a Helmholtz-Centre Potsdam, German Research Centre for Geoscience – GFZ, Section 4.3. Chemistry and Physics of Earth Materials, Telegrafenberg, D-14473 Potsdam, Germany b Alemannenstr. 4a, D-14612 Falkensee, Germany c Austrian Academy of Sciences, Dr. Ignaz Seipel-Platz 2, 1010 Vienna, Austria d ARC Centre of Excellence in Ore Deposits, University of Tasmania, Hobart 7001, Australia Keywords: Tsavorite Green V-grossular Graphite Raman scattering Fluid and melt inclusions Sulfur 2 Abstract SE Kenya is the world’s largest producer of green vanadium grossular gemstones (tsavorite). Samples from one of the mines near Mwatate, and of occurrences in Tanzania yielded remarkable new insights into the genesis of tsavorite. Graphite is intimately associated with V-grossular and is one of the keys to understanding its origin. In the course of this study we found five different types of graphite. Surprisingly, in one graphite type the “Raman- forbidden” and IR-active 867 cm-1 band was observed. In this communication, we attempt to find an explanation for this unusual phenomenon.
    [Show full text]
  • Black Diamond Pegmatite Custer County, South Dakota
    Diamond-drilling Exploration of the Beecher No. 3- Black Diamond Pegmatite Custer County, South Dakota GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 1162-E Diamond-drilling Exploration of the Beecher No. 3- Black Diamond Pegmatite Custer County, South Dakota By J. A. REDDEN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ECONOMIC GEOLOGY GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 1162-E UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON : 1963 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR STEWART L. UDALL, Secretary GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Thomas B. Nolan, Director For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Washington 25, D.C. CONTENTS Page Abstract___________._______________________.__ El Introduction.___________________________________ ________ 1 Description of pegmatite units_____________________ _____.-__ 2 Structural geology_________________________________________________ 9 Economic appraisal of the exploration____________________________ 10 References. ___ __________________________ 11 ILLUSTRATION Page PLATE 1. Outline map and sections, Beecher No. 3-Black Diamond peg- matite______________________________________ In pocket TABLE Page TABLE 1. Diamond-drill logs, Black Diamond pegmatite.____________ E3 m CONTRIBUTIONS TO ECONOMIC GEOLOGY DIAMOND-DRILLING EXPLORATION OF THE BEECHER NO. 3-BLACK DIAMOND PEGMATITE, CUSTER COUNTY, SOUTH DAKOTA By J. A. REDDEN ABSTRACT Diamond-drilling at the Beecher No. 3-Black Diamond pegmatite, Ouster County, S. Dak., has provided information that modifies and supplements findings reported previously (Redden, 1959). Two zones not exposed at the surface were found during the drilling: a quartz-albite-perthite-muscovite-pegmatite zone and a quartz-albite-perthite-spodumene pegmatite zone. Previous concepts of the structure near the surface require no significant change, but the new data make possible a greatly improved interpretation of the structure at depth. The most notable change is the recognition of a narrow constriction in the pegmatite at a depth of 60 to 100 feet.
    [Show full text]
  • F I N E C R a F T J E W E L R Y C O L L E C T I O N 2014
    F i n e C r a f t J e w e l r y C o l l e c t i o n 2014 www.MarthaSeelyDesign.com y jewelry is always a reflection of the art forms that have inspired me over the years: Fiber, fashion, and the grace of natural forms; The boldness of architectural concepts; The simplicity of cold connections, and the kinetic energy of objects in M motion. It expresses in precious metal and gemstones, the strongest influences in my life as a designer: clothing/costume design, art history (with a special fondness for the Art Nouveau /Art Deco movements) and the uniqueness and strength of individual style. Floral Nouveau was inspired by my love of the Art Nouveau (and Deco) movement of the late Curved lines nineteenth century. It is contemporary and feminine. The woven wire combines my love of fiber with the asymmetrical, sinuous vines used widely within Art Nouveau art and design. and vines, woven Floral Architecture is layered contemporary jewelry with simple construction techniques where together. stones seem to float in their floral frames. The floral shapes are simple, layered and riveted together, sometimes flat and sometimes hammered and sculptural. Hammered and Echo Structures are multi-layers of simple, architectural shapes. Rivets. Textures. Con- sometimes sculptural trasts. Brilliant colored stones. Modern and clean. flowers. Formed and Winged Secrets are edgy, formed, textured and riveted flying insects. Sometimes the wings riveted flying insects. move, sometimes not. They are made in silver and gold with large faceted gemstone heads. Everything is handmade, hand formed and one of a kind.
    [Show full text]
  • The World of Pink Diamonds and Identifying Them
    GEMOLOGY GEMOLOGY as to what dealers can do to spot them using standard, geologists from Ashton Joint Venture found certain indicator The World of Pink Diamonds inexpensive instruments. The commercial signifcance of minerals (such as ilmenite, chromite, chrome diopside, the various types will also be touched on. and pyrope garnet) in stream-gravel concentrates which indicated the presence of diamond-bearing host rocks. and Identifying Them Impact of Auction Sales Lamproites are special ultrapotassic magnesium-rich In the late 1980s, the public perception surrounding fancy- mantle-derived volcanic rocks with low CaO, Al2O3, Na2O colored diamonds began to change when the 0.95-carat and high K2O. Leucite, glass, K-richterite, K-feldspar and Cr- By Branko Deljanin, Dr Adolf Peretti, ‘Hancock Red’ from Brazil was sold for almost $1 million per spinel are unique to lamproites and are not associated with and Matthias Alessandri carat at a Christie’s auction. This stone was studied by one kimberlites. The diamonds in lamproites are considered to be of the authors (Dr. Adolf Peretti) at that time. Since then, xenocrysts and derived from parts of the lithospheric mantle Dr. Peretti has documented the extreme impact this one that lies above the regions of lamproite genesis. Kimberlites sale has had on subsequent prices and the corresponding are also magmatic rocks but have a different composition recognition of fancy diamonds as a desirable asset class. The and could contain non-Argyle origin pink diamonds. demand for rare colors increased and the media began to play a more active role in showcasing new and previously Impact of Mining Activities unknown such stones.
    [Show full text]
  • Mineral Collecting Sites in North Carolina by W
    .'.' .., Mineral Collecting Sites in North Carolina By W. F. Wilson and B. J. McKenzie RUTILE GUMMITE IN GARNET RUBY CORUNDUM GOLD TORBERNITE GARNET IN MICA ANATASE RUTILE AJTUNITE AND TORBERNITE THULITE AND PYRITE MONAZITE EMERALD CUPRITE SMOKY QUARTZ ZIRCON TORBERNITE ~/ UBRAR'l USE ONLV ,~O NOT REMOVE. fROM LIBRARY N. C. GEOLOGICAL SUHVEY Information Circular 24 Mineral Collecting Sites in North Carolina By W. F. Wilson and B. J. McKenzie Raleigh 1978 Second Printing 1980. Additional copies of this publication may be obtained from: North CarOlina Department of Natural Resources and Community Development Geological Survey Section P. O. Box 27687 ~ Raleigh. N. C. 27611 1823 --~- GEOLOGICAL SURVEY SECTION The Geological Survey Section shall, by law"...make such exami­ nation, survey, and mapping of the geology, mineralogy, and topo­ graphy of the state, including their industrial and economic utilization as it may consider necessary." In carrying out its duties under this law, the section promotes the wise conservation and use of mineral resources by industry, commerce, agriculture, and other governmental agencies for the general welfare of the citizens of North Carolina. The Section conducts a number of basic and applied research projects in environmental resource planning, mineral resource explora­ tion, mineral statistics, and systematic geologic mapping. Services constitute a major portion ofthe Sections's activities and include identi­ fying rock and mineral samples submitted by the citizens of the state and providing consulting services and specially prepared reports to other agencies that require geological information. The Geological Survey Section publishes results of research in a series of Bulletins, Economic Papers, Information Circulars, Educa­ tional Series, Geologic Maps, and Special Publications.
    [Show full text]