[Rockhounds] galena&rhodochrosite

[Bob Loeffler]

There is rhodochrosite and galena from the Eagle mine in Colorado, so maybe
that is what Bob has.  Although, I don't know if these minerals actually
occur together on the same specimen from this location.  Also, the rhodo
doesn't have the usual gemmy cherry red crystals that most people are
familiar with from Colorado (e.g. the Sweet Home mine rhodos). They often
(mostly?) occur similar to the siderite crystals from that location, with
just a little bit of pink in them.

Regards,

Bob

-----Original Message-----
From: rockhounds-bounces at lists.drizzle.com
[mailto:rockhounds-bounces at lists.drizzle.com] On Behalf Of Pmodreski at aol.com
Sent: Sunday, November 23, 2008 10:24 AM
To: rockhounds at lists.drizzle.com
Subject: Re: [Rockhounds] galena&rhodochrosite

Ah, how true, I almost mentioned that myself, but then figured that no
doubt 
you clearly knew the difference between the appearance of rhodochrosite  
(quite soft, and often in crystals & rhombohedral cleavages) and rhodonite
(a 
silicate, much harder).  But indeed, the rhodonite-galena ore combo from
Broken 
Hill is a classic association, and perhaps that is what you have, there  are

lots of specimens of it kicking around the mineral world..  Let us  know!
You 
can readily Google up lots of pictures of rhodonite-galena from  Broken
Hill.
 
P.S., if the galena is in crystals, and often perched on & among small  
quartz crystals, and the "rhodo" is pale pink colored, it is likely to be  
rhodochrosite and galena from Colorado or elsewhere in the world; but if
both  the 
"rhodo" and galena are more massive, just in cleavages, and no white quartz

crystals with them, and the "rhodo" is a deeper and more transparent dark
red,  it 
is likely to be rhodoNITE with galena from Broken Hill.
 
Pete
 
 
 
 
In a message dated 11/23/2008 10:09:54 A.M. Mountain Standard Time,  
turnea55 at hotmail.com writes:

That  combo, as you describe it, is not too common.  However, are you sure  
the "rhodochrosite" aren't actually rhodonite crystals?  Nice gemmy  red 
rhodonite crystals (look very similar to rhodochrosite) with  well-formed 
galena crystals do occur at Broken Hill, NSW, Australia.   Both the minerals

are found together.  It is a classic combo and  nearly unmistakable.  Do a 
quick search online for this combo from  Broken Hill and see if it resembles

your piece.  Hope this  helps.

Andrew Turner
Victorville, CA USA


>From:  Pmodreski at aol.com
>Reply-To: "Rockhounds at drizzle.com: A mailing list for  rock and gem  
>collectors"<rockhounds at lists.drizzle.com>
>To:  rockhounds at lists.drizzle.com
>Subject: Re: [Rockhounds]  galena&rhodochrosite
>Date: Sun, 23 Nov 2008 10:21:49  EST
>
>If you can post a picture of the specimen somewhere that we  can look at,
>perhaps one of us can offer a good guess.  Colorado  rhodochrosite from  
>different
>mines differs in the depth  of color and the lustrousness vs.  chalkiness
of
>the crystals, and  it might be possible to make an educated guess  where  
>yours
>is from.  Some galena is often present with it, but  it would be  unusual
to 
>see
>rhodo encrusting a galena  crystal as you describe.
>
>Pete
>
>
>
>In  a message dated 11/23/2008 7:01:32 A.M. Mountain Standard  Time,
>timeman123 at optonline.net writes:
>
>Hi   everybody I need some help can anybody give me a answer on this  
>location
>of  this combo that I picked up in a trade a long  time ago and lost the 
>card
>on  it.The piece is large piece  of galena cube crystal with rhodochrosite 
>all
>on  it I no  it sounds strange but that's what it is any help would be
great
>bob.
>
>
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