Minerals from Mont St. Hilaire
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AH-047 Berthierine
on Catapleiite w/Aegerine & Microcline $90SOLD
(ex. Ron Waddell collection)
Poudrette Quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire, Québec, Canada
11.6 x 9 x 4 cm.
This very interesting specimen consists of many well-formed crystals of Catapleiite that have been coated by the rare mineral Berthierine, a member of the Serpentine-Kaolinite group. Berthierine is almost always found as a partial or complete replacement of Biotite, however, in this case it is primarily replacing the much more desirable mineral Catapleiite, with only one Biotite crystal, making this an unusual specimen. As is common with Berthierine replacements, the replaced crystals exhibit a greasy, sub-iridescent luster. In the vuggy part of this specimen are four well-formed, tabular microcline crystals that fluoresce a pleasing violet-red under SWUV light. This specimen also features a plethora of needle-like Aegerine crystals in the upper-left hand corner as shown in the photo.
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AH-007 Rutile
on Siderite & Calcite $55 SOLD
(ex. Ron
Waddell collection)
Poudrette Quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire, Québec, Canada
6 x 3.9 x 2.2 cm.
This mineral specimen consists of a sawn matrix coated with an abundance of extremely lustrous Calcite and Siderite crystals with a sprinkling of bright, euhedral Rutile crystals. Another unique feature of this mineral specimen is that it exhibits a strong fluorescence of cranberry and magenta when illuminated under shortwave ultraviolet light.
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AH-016 Eudialyte
& Natrolite on Sodalite $40 SOLD
(ex. Ron Waddell collection)
Poudrette Quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire, Québec, Canada
specimen
size = 2.5 x 1.9 x 2 cm.
crystal size = 2.5 mm.
This attractive thumbnail mineral specimen features a triumvirate of minerals that are characteristic of Mont Saint-Hilaire. The blood-red, euhedral Eudialyte is nestled in a vug of Sodalite dusted with Natrolite, the latter two of which are intensely fluorescent. The Sodalite fluoresces orange in LWUV light while the Natrolite fluoresces green under SWUV illumination. Eudialyte rarely forms in good crystals, usually it is found embedded in its host rock, rarely showing good crystal faces and even more rarely as complete crystals
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AH-043 Carletonite (TL) $45 SOLD
Poudrette Quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire, Québec, Canada
5.5 x 5 x 2.8 cm.
Mont Saint-Hilaire is the type and only known locality for the rare mineral Carletonite, which is immediately recognizable by its distinctive bright blue coloration. This specimen of Carletonite features crudely formed crystals which nevertheless exhibit 1 cm. and larger crystal faces. I think that for the money, this is a very modestly-priced example of this rare mineral.
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AH-022 Hilairite
(TL) and Pectolite $90 SOLD
(ex. Ron
Waddell collection)
Poudrette Quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire, Québec, Canada
2.8 x 2 x 2.2 cm.
This specimen features a duo of minerals. The first of which are the brown crystals which is the extremely rare silicate mineral Hilairite and the second being very well-formed tufts of white Pectolite crystals, which exhibit pink fluorescence under shortwave ultraviolet illumination. This specimen was found in 1990.
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AH-037 Hochelagaite
(TL) w/Pectolite & Vesuvianite $125 SOLD
(ex. Ron Waddell collection)
Poudrette Quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire, Québec, Canada
Specimen
size = 8.5 x 6 x 2.9 cm.
Hochelagaite crystal size = 2 x 1.5 mm.
This specimen of many glassy Pectolite crystals hosts a 2 x 1.5 mm. crystal of the extremely rare Niobium-Titanium Oxide mineral Hochelagaite. The Hochelagaite crystal is located beneath the red arrow in the photo. This specimen also features Vesuvianite crystals nestled in some of the vugs.
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AH-023 Epididymite
& Polylithionite on Albite $45 SOLD
(ex. Ron
Waddell collection)
Demix Quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire, Québec, Canada
2.6 x 1.9 x 2 cm.
This matrix specimen features a dozen well-formed, bluish-gray, barrel-shaped Epididymite crystals which are accented with blade--like Polylithionite crystals. Several unique features of this mineral specimen are the rare color and shape of the Epididymite crystals, the strong yellow fluorescence of the Polylithionite crystals, and the strong red fluorescence of the Albite matrix, which is very pleasing to the eye. This specimen was collected in 1975.
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AH-017 Cerussite,
Biotite and Galena $55 SOLD
(ex. Ron
Waddell collection)
Demix Quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire, Québec, Canada
2 x 1.7 x 1.7 cm.
This specimen represents a unusual triumvirate of minerals that I have not encountered before. This unusual mineral specimen features many black Biotite crystals and several Galena crystals encased in a matrix of coarsely crystalized Cerussite. This specimen was collected in 1980.
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AH-024 Rhodochrosite and Leifite on Albite $100 SOLD
Poudrette Quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire, Québec, Canada
3.4 x 2.1 x 2.4 cm.
This lustrous specimen features sprays to 1 cm. of the rare mineral Leifite, with a coating of Rhodochrosite crystals on a matrix of vuggy, pale pink Albite. A classic mineral association from this classic mineral locality. This specimen was collected on August 19, 1989.
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AH-018 Strontianite
& Pyrite with Siderite $50 SOLD
(ex. Ron Waddell collection)
Poudrette Quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire, Québec, Canada
2.4 x 2.2 x 2.4 cm.
This
superb thumbnail specimen features one of Mont Saint-Hilaire's rarer carbonate
minerals, Strontianite, appearing as a pale pinkish sphere indicated by
the red arrow in the photo. This well-formed, 2.5-mm. Strontianite
crystal is surrounded by minute crystals of the mineral Pyrite and is
flanked on both sides by crystals of the mineral Siderite. The Strontianite
fluoresces bright yellowish-green when illuminated by LWUV light.
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