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Barysilite, ganomalite, kentrolite
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Typical specimen
containing fine crystals of barysilite, ganomalite and nasonite. Sample Y235, of which
many of the SEM images below were taken. Franklin, NJ. Width 6 cm. |
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Detail of area near
center of photo on left. Barysilite (pinkish), mixed nasonite and
ganomalite (white),
andradite (yellow). Width 1 cm. |
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Description
Barysilite and ganomalite
are rare lead silicates which were found in small amounts in the north end of the Franklin
mine. Barysilite, the more abundant of the two, was found in platy masses up to several
several centimeters across; ganomalite was found as microscopic crystals generally under
0.5 mm in size.
Most specimens of barysilite examined
contain only coarse platy masses of the mineral, but a few also contain a fine late-stage
growth of minute euhedral crystals of a range of exotic minerals. These include
barysilite, nasonite, ganomalite, clinohedrite, kentrolite and others. The
photomicrographs below were taken from such samples; an example is pictured above. |
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Barysilite crystals.
Sample Y235. Width 0.5 mm.
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Barysilite
and ganomalite crystals. Sample Y235. Width 0.2 mm. |
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Ganomalite
crystal showing one face of a trigonal pyramid. Detail of photo on left (center). Width
0.01 mm. |
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Ganomalite with
epitactic barysilite crystals. Field width 0.3 mm. |
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Ganomalite crystals.
Field width 0.2 mm. |
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Water-clear hexagonal prisms of
ganomalite, on platy crystals of barysilite, together with spikes of deep-red kentrolite. Width 0.2 mm.
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Ganomalite crystals
(hexagonal prisms) on platy crystals of barysilite, together with spikes of deep-red
kentrolite. Width 0.4 mm.
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Ganomalite crystals
suspended by spikes of kentrolite, above platy crystals of barysilite. Width 0.1 mm.
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