Sussexite, zincite var. calcozincite - Sterling Hill, Ogdensburg, NJ

Description

An unusual example of cherty sussexite. Sussexite is a manganese borate hydroxide and was named in 1868 by George Jarvis Brush after the type localities in Sussex County, New Jersey, and the location of the Franklin and Sterling Hill orebodies. The name was not explicitly stated to be for "Sussex County" in print, but the understanding was probably known informally and for obvious reasons. Sussexite was first described from the Franklin mine as a fibrous material but subsequently found also at the Sterling mine in many textures. Sussexite is somewhat looked upon as an odd duck in the two deposits as it is a borate and the role of borates regarding the overall chemistry of the zinc deposits is a mystery.
This specimen is an unusual vein example, and the sussexite has a pronounced pink-purple color plus a pronounced cherty texture. There are "swirls" and sections of dull lustered, orange zincite embedded with the sussexite. One side of the sussexite vein has a slickenside of the zincite variety, "calcozincite." This is a classic texture of zincite from the Sterling mine. Locally known as "calcozincite," this is NOT a valid species name but merely a variety of zincite that has been caught up in a fault, smeared along the fault, and is seen as a slickenside. A slickenside is a smooth polished surface caused by frictional movement between rocks along the two sides of a fault. Closely examining the slickenside reveals striations that show the direction of movement or shearing along the fault. Calcozincite is a material comprised of admixed yellow and red zincite and compact calcite in various proportions. Still, the resulting color is more or less orange with a resinous to dull luster. In some specimens, numerous embedded fibers of tremolite or sussexite give the whole mass a columnar fibrous appearance. It is frequently found as a material lining slickenside fractures. The other side of the sussexite vein is a matrix composed of black, metallic franklinite, and brown willemite. This specimen originated from a place called the North Ore Body. The North Ore Body was a mysterious place in the Sterling mine, Ogdensburg, NJ. It was a local administrative name applied by the NJ Zinc Company for a faulted-off section of the main zinc orebody underground. Located here were many geologic and mineralogical oddities. This is a good cabinet-sized specimen that sits flat and is one of the few borates known for the Franklin and Sterling Hill zinc deposits.
Dimensions are
13.7x4.8x6.9cm - 5½x2x2¾in.
Please note the centimeter cube and inch bar for scale.
Weight in grams and ounces:
571.6g - 20.16oz.
From the
Sterling mine, Ogdensburg, NJ.
The previous collection this specimen was in is #179, John Zidek.
#179 is the museum's Collection Sale number previously offered in the museum shop.
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All potential buyers need to be aware that being able to view fluorescent minerals requires an ultraviolet lamp. Most of the minerals from the Franklin and Sterling Hill zinc mining district fluoresce under
shortwave ultraviolet light
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The shortwave wavelength is
254nm
or otherwise known as
UV C
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DISCLAIMER: Every reasonable effort was made to identify the mineral species noted in each specimen accurately. The occasional label from previous collection(s) may misidentify some species, and the current title and description here reflect the latest mineral species identification.
There may or may not be any fluorescent mineral species present in this specimen. A fluorescent photograph may not have been included for several reasons. Chief among these are; there may not be any fluorescence in this particular specimen. If there are fluorescent species, it is considered minor and not the specific species of note in this particular specimen. Another reason not including a fluorescent photograph is that some mineral species may be too weak to record even with modern photographic technology and photo-enhancement. If such fluorescent species were present in this specimen, it would be noted in the descriptive text.
A modest effort was made to depict a fluorescent specimen accurately as possible.
In some cases, overexposure should be expected in select photographs to compensate for a fluorescent specimen's weak response.
All buyers should exercise safe viewing practices regarding the use of ultraviolet light. Visual dark adaption is highly recommended in the optimal viewing of fluorescent minerals. Buyers should also be aware of what type of lighting to view the specimens under. This can result in perceived differences of color and contrast due to color and contrast shifting under various kinds of lights available.
All photographs were taken with a Nikon D5300 digital camera with a Nikon DX AF-S 18-55mm lens attached with a UV filter. Lighting was done with a pair of OSRAM 8.5 watt LED A19 5000K 800 lumens bulbs in brushed aluminum reflectors. The photographs were processed on a color-calibrated flat panel monitor. Do note the Imperial measurement conversion is the nearest equivalent to the listed metric measurement.
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