[Rockhounds] Beryl Pit Beryl

[Carolyn Reynard]

Tim,
The beryl I have collected at the Beryl Pit in Quadeville, Ontario has been
an opaque unattractive greenish brown in deep red-brown feldspar. Since
there are some radioactive minerals in that quarry namely euxenite and
allanite I thought the condition of the beryl was due to radiation.

Some of the beryl crystals I collected there are as long as 1.5 to 2 Inches
long and they tended to be tapered, a bit like teasan quartz crystals.  I
came home with an interesting crystal of a amphibole crystal .5" x 2" which
may be hornblende. But that crystal too appeared to be altered as it is
opaque limonite ocher and hematite brown with intergrown small lustrous
schorl crystals. The crystal was imbedded a large specimen of fragile thin
platy iridescent clevelandite and quartz.

My question is:  What are the observed effects of radiation of beryl?  Would
they cause it to be dull and opaque? Is it correct to say the deep brick
red-brown of feldspar is due to radiation?

Carolyn Reynard
Poughkeepsie, NY



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tim Jokela Jr." <tjokela at execulink.com>
To: "Rockhounds at drizzle.com: A mailing list for rock and gem collectors"
<rockhounds at lists.drizzle.com>
Sent: Sunday, January 13, 2008 1:07 PM
Subject: Re: [Rockhounds] Beryl Pit Beryl


> At the Beryl Pit, near Quadeville, north of Bancroft, Ontario, a lot of
the
> beryl is indeed replaced by a number of minerals, including clay, mica,
> chlorite, and very minute bertrandite xls, so that what was once a very
hard
> mineral is now soft, crumbly, or even waxy. A white acicular mineral has
> also been found, very rare and tiny, and still requires analysis. Relict
> beryl, masses or interesting very fine needles, is also present. 45x is
> required to appreciate all the replacement minerals.
>
> Micromounters should seek out the rotted beryl, for the vugs around it are
> home to the finest bertrandite crystals, and are where we expect to find
Be
> minerals new to the locality. Collecting remains excellent at the Beryl
Pit,
> for those interested in unusual or micro things at least. Hard work and
> close examination are key.
>
> Tim Jokela Jr., tjokela at execulink.com
> Business: http://www.element51.com
> Pleasure: http://www.ontariominerals.com
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: <SMKELL45 at aol.com>
> To: <rockhounds at lists.drizzle.com>
> Sent: Sunday, January 13, 2008 12:16 PM
> Subject: [Rockhounds] Beryl Pit Beryl
>
>
> > I've been visiting the Beryl Pit for the last couple of summers. The
beryl
> > that I find is not green but  dark brownish, obviously altered. There
> > doesn't
> > appear to be any crystal structure ,at least not with a 10 power lens.
> > Has
> > anyone come across this material and if so what have you determined it
to
> > be?
> >                 smkell
> >
> >
> >
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