[Rockhounds] ID help

[Axel Emmermann]

Larry,

Topaz would have a distinct cleavage.
It breaks very easily in a plane that is perpendicular to the C-axis.
If you'd drop one of those hey would easily shatter and break at the basal
plane.
I don't see that in you photos.
If I were to bet... some feldspar? Orthoclase? Microcline?
But zoisite and amblygonite are also possible...

Any fluorescence?
Come on, Larry... make it shine ;-)))

Cheers

Axel


Axel Emmermann
European Regional Vice President of the
Fluorescent Mineral Society
<http://www.uvminerals.org/>
=========================
Mineralogische Kring Antwerpen/Antwerp Mineralogical Society
<http://www.minerant.org/index.html>
Werkgroepleider/Workgroup leader: Fluorescerende mineralen/Fluorescent
minerals
Technische Realisaties/Engineering
My website: http://users.telenet.be/axel.emmerman/FiatLux/Index.php
 
 
> -----Oorspronkelijk bericht-----
> Van: rockhounds-bounces at lists.drizzle.com
[mailto:rockhounds-bounces at lists.drizzle.com]
> Namens Lawrence Rush
> Verzonden: dinsdag 23 juni 2009 18:51
> Aan: rockhounds at lists.drizzle.com
> Onderwerp: [Rockhounds] ID help
> 
> I just got a box of minerals from Pakistan which contained 2 pieces of an
unidentified
> material. These are unfamiliar to me, and I need some help.
> 
> The color is a sea green, translucent. The crystals are well formed,
appear to be perhaps
> Tetragonal or Orthorhombic. They have 4 distinct sides, diamond-shaped in
cross section,
> with  sharp low angle edges on 2 sides. The hardness is greater than 6.
The matrix is quartz,
> evidently a pegmatite mineral. No locality, but all of the others from
this supplier were from
> Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Waziristan.
> 
> I suspect they are Topaz, but the shape and color have me questioning
this.
> 
> I posted photos on http://www.connroxminerals.com/temp.html
> 
> Any thoughts?
> 
> Thanks...Larry
> 
> 
> 
> 
> "Noel Coward thought work was more fun than play,  but he never, ever
worked in the mines"
> 
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