PARGASITE



Pargasite, a sodium calcium magnesium aluminum silicate hydroxide mineral of the amphibole group, was initially reported from Franklin (presumably from the Franklin Marble) by Parsons (1930); the analysis, given by Palache (1935), is that of an edenitic hornblende using the conventions of Leake (1978). Pargasite is apparently very common in the
local marble quarries; a large number of 1-3 cm crystals of light green color, including many from private collections, were analyzed by [Dunn] and found to be pargasite. It is very likely that these are the "edenite" of Palache (1935), who illustrated numerous crystals. (Dunn, 1995)

 Location Found: Franklin
     
 
 Year Discovered: 1814
     
 Formula: {Na}{Ca2}{Mg4Al}(Al2Si6O22)(OH)2
 Essential Elements: Aluminum, Calcium, Hydrogen, Magnesium, Oxygen, Silicon, Sodium
 All Elements in Formula: Aluminum, Calcium, Hydrogen, Magnesium, Oxygen, Silicon, Sodium
     
 IMA Status: Approved
     
Fluorescent Mineral Properties
 Shortwave UV light: Moderately bright greenish-blue
     
 To find out more about this mineral at minDat's website, follow this link   Pargasite

     
 References:
Dunn, Pete J. (1995). Franklin and Sterling Hill New Jersey: the world's most magnificent mineral deposits. Franklin, NJ.: The Franklin-Ogdensburg Mineralogical Society. p.457

Frondel, Clifford (1972). The minerals of Franklin and Sterling Hill, a checklist. NY.: John Willey & Sons. p.70
The Picking Table References
 PT Issue and PageDescription / Comment
V. 65, No. 1 – Spring 2024, pg. 23Analysis of Amphiboles From Sterling Hill, Ogdensburg, New Jersey, U.S.A., Frank M. Craig and Harold Moritz
View IssueV. 58, No. 1 - Spring 2017, pg. 14Fluorescent Minerals of Franklin and Sterling Hill, N.J., Part 2, Richard C. Bostwick - Pargasite
View IssueV. 33, No. 2 - Fall 1992, pg. 11The Check List of Franklin-Sterling Hill Fluorescent Minerals - Pargasite (Fluorescent Info)
     
Images
     
Pargasite (FL blue-green), diopside, supposedly from Sterling Hill MinePargasite (FL blue-green), diopside, supposedly from Sterling Hill Mine under shortwave UV Light
Pargasite (green) with diopside, from the Sterling Hill Mine. Photo by JVF.
Pargasite with diopside, from the Sterling Hill Mine, under shortwave UV light. The pargasite fluoresces blue-green and diopside blue. Photo by JVF.

Pargasite, phlogopite and minor graphite from Franklin quarry, Franklin NJPargasite, phlogopite and minor graphite from Franklin quarry, Franklin NJ under shortwave UV Light
Pargasite (green), phlogopite (tan) and minor graphite (silver gray) from Franklin quarry, Franklin NJ. Photo by WP.
Pargasite, phlogopite and minor graphite from Franklin quarry, Franklin NJ under shortwave UV light. The pargasite fluoresces greenish blue, phlogopite yellow tan and the graphite is non-fluorescent.






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