Dypingite



A nearly continuous coating of tiny, globular groups of microscopic dypingite crystals encrusting a fracture surface in an altered brown matrix apparently rich in sussexite and pyrochroite with minor orange “stains” of secondary hydrothermal zincite.  This specimen is unusual in that dypingite from the North Orebody usually forms meandering chains of closely spaced hemispherules rather than continuous coatings as seen here.  This was an uncatalogued specimen in the collection of Mark Leger and formerly was specimen Or1408 of Joseph Orosz.

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Microscopic dypingite crystals, sussexite, pyrochroite, hydrothermal zincite, Sterling mine, Ogdensburg

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Identifier: DYP3a
Locality: North Orebody, Sterling mine, Ogdensburg
Specimen size: 9.5 x 8 x 5.5 cm
Photo credit: Earl R. Verbeek