Detailed information
Species
Cahnite, Datolite, Axinite-(Mn)
Dimensions
7 x 9 x 5
mm
Weight
2 g
Locality
Parker shaft, Franklin Mine Franklin, Sussex County New Jersey, USA
Condition
No recorded repairs
A small, but fascinating specimen of a really rare Franklin borate assemblage. A small cluster of glassy orange, bladed Axinite-(Mn) crystals is coated, firstly with a layer of glassy Cahnite microcrystals, and then, with a more extensive coating of silky white botryoidal Datolite of the variety known as Botryolite. The previous owner recorded the provenance of this specimen as specifically from Parker Shaft at Franklin, but earlier labels, including one from the famous Franklin-based dealers - Gerstmann Franklin Mineral Museum - in 1983, simply record "Franklin, N.J.". Cahnite was, of course, first described from Franklin mine, so this is even more special as an example of this rare mineral from its Type Locality.