Quadratite

  
 
  
Specimen consisting largely of jordanite crystals to about 1 mm in size. Nestled in amongst the jordanite is at least one superb quadratic crystal of quadratite perhaps about 0.5mm in size. At one end of the specimen is a thin coating of tan coloured massive greenockite. Right at one edge of the specimen is a tiny pocket containing a single very dark grey – almost black – crystal of lengenbachite (indicated with a white arrow) measuring about 0.5 mm in length.
  
Specimen comprising the usual white microcrystalline dolomite with several small patches of tiny crystals of pyrite. Three faces of the specimen are quite highly mineralized with an aggregate of closely packed lead grey quadratite crystals measuring 3.5 x 3 mm and aggregates of lead grey jordanite. The larger of the two jordanite aggregates measures 7 x 5 mm with individual crystals reaching up to 2 mm. Also associated is sub-microscopic smithite that is only detectable by SEM.
  
Dolomite matrix with very minor amounts of small crystals of pyrite. At one end of the specimen there are two highly mineralized patches the larger of which measures 10 x 9 mm and which is comprised largely of a crystalline mass of lead grey jordanite. The smaller of the two patches measures 15 x 5 mm and consists of a group of lead grey quadratite crystals measuring 3 x 2 mm with quadratite crystals reaching up to 2 mm in size. The remainder of the patch is comprised of jordanite with other crystals of quadratite. Also associated are sub-microscopic crystals of xanthoconite that are only visible by SEM.
Origin: Lengenbach quarry, Binntal, Wallis, Switzerland
Sample size: 3 x 2 x 3 cm with a 20 x 8 mm vein (top), 4.5 x 2 x 2.5 cm (2nd row), 3 x 2 x 2 cm (3rd row), 6.5 x 5.5 x 2 cm (bottom)
 

Photo courtesy of: 

Tom Loomis

Dakota Matrix Minerals

 

Tabular crystals of quadratite with small gray rounded crystals of galena
Origin: Lengenbach quarry, Binntal, Wallis (Valais), Switzerland
Picture size: 0.8 mm
Owner: Thomas Witzke
 

Photo courtesy of: 

Thomas Witzke

Institut für Mineralogie und Lagerstättenlehre
Aachen, Germany

 

Back to Alphabetical list Physical, chemical and crystallographic description Optical properties/Thin sections SEM images TEM images vibrational spectra description IR spectra Raman spectra N-IR spectra F-IR spectra IES spectra