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Post by rockjunquie on Apr 27, 2019 17:39:45 GMT -5
I was talking to this guy who said his uncle worked at the Leonard Mine in the 40s and collected some covellite. Against my better judgement, I bought a piece. I cabbed one this morning. This cabbed a bit different. It is soft, but not pitting and crumbly. I don't think there is any pyrite in it, but SOMETHING is in it. (I hope to God it isn't lead, cause dumb ass me wasn't wearing a mask.) It is heavy for it's size- about like covellite. I hit some calcite, too. The water got filthy, but more black than blue with very fine particles in it. It seemed a bit different than the covellite I have worked and I have worked covellite for many sources. The water didn't seem "oily". Anyway, I was leaning on it NOT being covellite, when I took pictures of the cab and discovered the magenta fire! It is that deep indigo blue and it is metallic, but the lack of pyrite throws me. And, I don't know what the other stuff is. At first, I thought it might be silver. But, no. So, here's some pictures. a piece of my other covellite I have cabbed  The following pics are from the piece I bought and then some cab pics. Notice the really time worn edges on this piece? In a fresh cut you can see that it should be more crystally. (I don't know the right word.) Sorry about my working hands.   fresh cuts and and a break at the end of the cut.   Here is a pic of the slab, which pretty old, worn and oxidized to me.  And here a bunch of cab pics- inside pics- you can see the pattern of the inclusions. (the green is my tree)   outside you can see the fire       So, what say you? I know it is, indeed, old. Everything tells me that. Is it more pure or is it just more included? Was the earlier available covellite more like this? I might be able to get some more, but I'm wondering if it is worth the trouble. Any comments and help appreciated. |
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Post by rockjunquie on Apr 27, 2019 19:53:06 GMT -5
@rocks2dust ?
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Apr 27, 2019 21:18:04 GMT -5
I have a cab of Covellite that has absolutely no pyrite in it. I've seen others at shows that also have no pyrite. I don't know if that makes them higher quality or not, but I like them better without pyrite.
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Post by rockjunquie on Apr 27, 2019 21:20:25 GMT -5
I have a cab of Covellite that has absolutely no pyrite in it. I've seen others at shows that also have no pyrite. I don't know if that makes them higher quality or not, but I like them better without pyrite. Thanks! I haven't worked or seen any without pyrite. Does yours have that weird pattern of some kind of inclusion? |
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Apr 27, 2019 21:20:59 GMT -5
Doesn't remind me of Leonard Mine, but I cannot claim to have seen it all. Plus there is covellite from other mines in Montana and other localities. My first thought on looking at the slab was that the texture looked like some other sulfide and oxide metallic mixtures (silver+nickeline+breithauptite mix, pulsite, but that purple sheen brings me right back to covellite.
Nice photos of your tree and hands - dontcha just hate trying to snap pics of highly reflective stuff? Might as well be taking a picture of a mirror!
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Apr 27, 2019 21:24:25 GMT -5
I have a cab of Covellite that has absolutely no pyrite in it. I've seen others at shows that also have no pyrite. I don't know if that makes them higher quality or not, but I like them better without pyrite. Thanks! I haven't worked or seen any without pyrite. Does yours have that weird pattern of some kind of inclusion? I don't know. I'll have to take it out tomorrow and look at it in daylight. It's been a while since I've even looked at it. I have it tucked away for when I get a brilliant idea on what to do with it. |
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Post by rockjunquie on Apr 27, 2019 21:25:10 GMT -5
Thanks! I haven't worked or seen any without pyrite. Does yours have that weird pattern of some kind of inclusion? I don't know. I'll have to take it out tomorrow and look at it in daylight. It's been a while since I've even looked at it. I have it tucked away for when I get a brilliant idea on what to do with it. LOL! I have a lot of those, too. |
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Post by catmandewe on Apr 27, 2019 22:39:36 GMT -5
I think I have some of that, I showed it to Doc down in Q and he said it was gem grade calcopyrite that comes from the same mine as Covellite. It came with the batch of Covellite I picked up so it makes sense.
Tony
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Post by rockjunquie on Apr 28, 2019 1:23:37 GMT -5
I think I have some of that, I showed it to Doc down in Q and he said it was gem grade calcopyrite that comes from the same mine as Covellite. It came with the batch of Covellite I picked up so it makes sense. Tony Wouldn't it be gold looking? Would it have the magenta fire? I have never seen gem chalcopyrite. |
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Post by rockjunquie on Apr 28, 2019 9:35:10 GMT -5
I'm leaning on covellite with chalcocite.
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Post by catmandewe on Apr 28, 2019 10:15:09 GMT -5
I will see if I still have some left and put up some pictures
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minerken
Cave Dweller 
Member since August 2013
Posts: 466 
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Post by minerken on Apr 28, 2019 10:50:35 GMT -5
I actually worked the Leonard back in the 70's. Chalcocite is a gray mineral your's is positively Covellite. Covellite and chalcocite are both in a solid solution series ie one grades to another and the rule is Chalcocite will replace Covellite. They are very commonly associated. The Leonard was not particularly noted for Covellite but it was very common. The hardness of the two should not be too significant but Chacolcite is the softer of the two. As to calling a pure chunk of Covellite gem Covellite I don't know it was not all that uncommon. I have a fond spot in my heart for Butte once called the richest hill on earth. I had better revise a little in your pic all I see is the luster of Covellite but if their are gray areas yes it may be Chalcocite not likely galena You're safe.
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Post by rockjunquie on Apr 28, 2019 10:57:54 GMT -5
I actually worked the Leonard back in the 70's. Chalcocite is a gray mineral your's is positively Covellite. Covellite and chalcocite are both in a solid solution series ie one grades to another and the rule is Chalcocite will replace Covellite. They are very commonly associated. The Leonard was not particularly noted for Covellite but it was very common. The hardness of the two should not be too significant but Chacolcite is the softer of the two. As to calling a pure chunk of Covellite gem Covellite I don't know it was not all that uncommon. I have a fond spot in my heart for Butte once called the richest hill on earth. Crap, just made a long post and lost it.... try this again. I was thinking chalcocite because the mineral with the covellite (pictured) is metallic, gunmetal gray looking and the hardness must be about the same with no undercutting. I was reading last night that Leonard was once called the richest hill in the world They sure got a lot out of there. Thank you for your comments. I am aware of your credentials, Ken. I did end up making a deal with the guy for some more. About .50 a gram. Between that and what I go from Tony catmandewe , I have enough for awhile. I hate it when a client asks for it and I have to go scampering for it. |
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Post by rockjunquie on Apr 28, 2019 10:58:50 GMT -5
I will see if I still have some left and put up some pictures That would be cool- thanks. I was looking online and I am having a hard time picturing this as chalcopyrite. |
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Apr 28, 2019 11:22:41 GMT -5
Tela, I looked at the cab I have and it doesn't have any pattern in it.
Wanna go halfsies? 
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Post by MsAli on Apr 28, 2019 11:55:21 GMT -5
Tela, I looked at the cab I have and it doesn't have any pattern in it.
Wanna go halfsies? 
Thats in my neck of the woods and I think I know who it is. if I'm not mistaken this was on display at the fairgrounds gem and mineral show. It's pretty awesome but I dont know if it's that awesome |
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Apr 28, 2019 11:58:51 GMT -5
Tela, I looked at the cab I have and it doesn't have any pattern in it.
Wanna go halfsies?
Thats in my neck of the woods and I think I know who it is. if I'm not mistaken this was on display at the fairgrounds gem and mineral show. It's pretty awesome but I dont know if it's that awesome There's always the "Make an Offer" button! |
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Post by rockjunquie on Apr 28, 2019 12:21:51 GMT -5
I saw that, too. Gee, if only I had that big saw, I'd be sure to snap it up. LOL!
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Post by rmf on Apr 28, 2019 12:34:14 GMT -5
rockjunquie I am assuming that you are using a genie or something similar which has a water spout that spritzes water up to the wheel. When I use this type of grinder I usually put a drop or two of liquid dish soap in the water. If I have some oil on the surface of the stone from the trim saw it disperses the oil and it just lowers the surface tension on the water. My point here is this. If you are grinding any sulfide ores (covellite, pyrite. chalcopyrite, bornite) they are all associated with galena (or vice versa) because they all for about the same temperature in the same hydrothermal soup. I would always assume the presence of galena. However, the lead is bound to sulphur and I would not worry about any ill health effect if you are running under water especially if it has a wetting agent. If the water doesn't fix the galena dust then it won't fix the silica problem and we will all have bigger problems.
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Post by rockjunquie on Apr 28, 2019 12:37:12 GMT -5
rockjunquie I am assuming that you are using a genie or something similar which has a water spout that spritzes water up to the wheel. When I use this type of grinder I usually put a drop or two of liquid dish soap in the water. If I have some oil on the surface of the stone from the trim saw it disperses the oil and it just lowers the surface tension on the water. My point here is this. If you are grinding any sulfide ores (covellite, pyrite. chalcopyrite, bornite) they are all associated with galena (or vice versa) because they all for about the same temperature in the same hydrothermal soup. I would always assume the presence of galena. However, the lead is bound to sulphur and I would not worry about any ill health effect if you are running under water especially if it has a wetting agent. If the water doesn't fix the galena dust then it won't fix the silica problem and we will all have bigger problems. Thank you. I normally wear a full mask if I am doing more than one copper based stone. I use a genie with both geysers under the wheel and for this one, I sat back a little more with the grinding wheels. You are right and a warning is always a good thing. |
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