Aldridgeite with 3 varieties (former “schulenbergesque” = wafers, former “serpierite” = prisms, and former “lazy serpierite” = spheres), with smithsonite and ktenasite (field of view = 6 mm).
×Aldridgeite with 3 varieties (former “schulenbergesque” = wafers, former “serpierite” = prisms, and former “lazy serpierite” = spheres), with smithsonite and ktenasite (field of view = 6 mm).
Quartzinoid (8 mm long) with Baryte, Juanita Mine, Kelly, Socorro Co., NM.
×Quartzinoid (8 mm long) with Baryte, Juanita Mine, Kelly, Socorro Co., NM.
Aldridgeite A mineral assemblage was found in the Kelly Mine that had various secondary sulfate minerals. Most of the species were verified via XRD at the NMBG&MR. The identified minerals were aikinite (via eds, Travis Olds), chalcanthite, chlorite, covellite, galena, gypsum, ktenasite, neidermayrite, pyrite, acicular “serpierite”, and sphalerite. There were two unknowns, which were checked by Tony Kampf with pxrd and eds. Some yellow transparent acicular crystals turned out to be gypsum. The other, blue hexagonal-shape pearly-lustered wafers, turned out to be aldridgeite.
The Kelly Mine aldrigeite, (Cd,Ca)(Cu,Zn)4(S04)2(OH)6.3H2O, is the second reported occurrence in the world. It is the cadmium analog of serpierite, Ca(Cu2+,Zn)4(SO4)2(OH)6.3H2O. Both minerals are monoclinic.
However, Kelly Mine aldrigeite has two habits and might be forming in two different crystal systems (consider that analcime can crystallize in any system!). Tony Kampf’s tests showed that the “serpierite” was also aldridgeite!
Aldridgeite was first published in 2015 and its XRD pattern was not in the NMBG&MR’s database, so it was missed on the initial tests. Both habits of crystals can exist on the same specimen.
Kellynoids The Kelly Mine is famous for its minerals, especially smithsonite. However, most of the ore in the mine lies within replaced Mississippian Kelly Limestone (323–354 myo), which can be fossiliferous, so it is not uncommon for Kelly Mine mineral specimens to have associated marine fossils. The most common being crinoid stem sections. Various brachiopods and horn corals have also been found associated with the minerals.
Additionally, the overlying Pennsylvanian Sandia Formation can be fossiliferous, with an even greater abundance and variety of fossils. However, if the sample originated in the mine, then it is more likely to be from the Kelly Limestone.
Whimsical names have been developed for some of the specimens. For instance, instead of labeling a specimen “smithsonite pseudomorph of a crinoid stem section”, the term “smithsonoid” is shorter and its intent seems obvious. This “abreviating” can lead to many terms, such as smithsonoid, quartzinoid, calcinoid, hemimonoid, and crinophane. One also has to consider associated minerals attached to the fossils. Associations found so far include azursmithsonoid, hemimocalcinoid, brochantsmithsonoid, smithsoncrinocalyx, wulfensmithsonoid, and malachrosasmithsonoid. Other discoveries with different fossils are azursmithsonhorncoral, hemimocalcinhorncoral, smithsonquartzinbrachyspirifer, smithsonbrachyderbyia, smithsonquartzinbrach, and hemimocalcinbrach, etc.
Certainly, other combinations are out there.
Malachcerusgoethsmithsonhorncoral (6mm wide), Kelly Mine, Kelly, Socorro Co., NM.
