BAC23-01
Sphalerite
Sterling Mine, Ogdensburg, Franklin Mining Dist., Sussex Co., New Jersey, USA
Small Cabinet, 9.3 x 6.1 x 6.0 cm
Ex. Bill & Anne Cook
$500.00
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After all, Sterling Hill and Franklin are zinc deposits, but we rarely see Sphalerite specimens from them, as crystallized zinc ore is for some reason rare in this deposit (just like galena is rare at Tsumeb, despite it ostensibly being a major mine for lead). So, this specimen of Franklin minerals with crude sphalerite veins is really just a fun locality reference piece: Coarse, subhedral (not well crystallized), Sphalerite dominates atop of this piece. Shortwave UV shows that the Sphalerite is rimmed by green Willemite that isn't evident otherwise until UV unveils its bright green color amidst red-orange calcite of typical Franklin fluorescence! This is just a nice reference piece of actual zinc ore from the Sterling Mine, and it has an old Jim's Gems label in addition to the one from Bill and Anne Cook.