dolomite (w. cerussite, smithsonite and conichalcite-duftite(?))

TSNB786
Specimen
Palache, C.
Exhibit 1. Dolomite (w. cerussite, smithsonite and conichalcite-duftite(?)); 123 mm.
Exhibit 1. Dolomite (w. cerussite, smithsonite and conichalcite-duftite(?)); 123 mm.
Image Credit: Malcolm Southwood
Exhibit 2. 25 mm field of view.
Exhibit 2. 25 mm field of view.
Image Credit: Malcolm Southwood
Exhibit 3. 27 mm field of view.
Exhibit 3. 27 mm field of view.
Image Credit: Malcolm Southwood
Exhibit 4. Specimen label (Shaler memorial Expedition).
Exhibit 4. Specimen label (Shaler memorial Expedition).
Image Credit: MGMH Archive
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Specimen Title

dolomite (w. cerussite, smithsonite and conichalcite-duftite(?))

Associated Minerals

calcite; cerussite; conichalcite-duftite (?); smithsonite

Principal Mineral

Dolomite

Size

Cabinet; 123mm

Location in the Mine

First oxidation zone; 7 Level; Station

Provenance

Palache, C.

Collection

MGMH; 146410

Collected by

Charles Palache; 7 April 1922

Entry Number

Specimen; TSNB786

Description

Massive white dolomite with orange-pink zones of perhaps a more Fe-rich variety (?) and minor glassy-white quartz, representing a section of a vein with clasts of dark grey mineralised country rock. Cavities in the dolomite are lined with white, microcrystalline botryoidal smithsonite, gemmy colourless cerussite, concichalcite-duftite (?) and colourless-shite calcite rhombs (exhibits 2 and 3). Some of the contacts between the white and pink dolomite are rimmed with massive conichcalcite-duftite (exhibit 2).


The specimen is significant for its paragenesis and provenance. It was collected by Charles Palache of Harvard University, on 7 April, 1922 during an underground visit at Tsumeb at the time of the Shaler Memorial Expedition to South Africa. It carries a Shaler Expedition label (Exhibit 3) with a field number – 13949 – in addition to its MGMH catalogue number.