Kings Mountain Mining District, USA (original) (raw)

Description: Very rare occurence as the slices of "bread" on autunite "sandwiches" and as single, tiny tabular xls that do not fluoresce associated with rockbridgeite, strengite, and other iron-rich phosphates.

ⓘ Bavenite

Formula: Ca4Be2Al2Si9O26(OH)2

Habit: Prismatic, striated prisms and curved accicular needles.

Colour: Colorless, white.

Description: Occurs in almost every paragenesis as bladed, sharp crystals or bowtie groups and accicular bundles of curved crystals.

ⓘ Beraunite

Formula: Fe3+6(PO4)4O(OH)4 · 6H2O

Habit: Accicular, in bundles with radial arrangement or occasionaly as sharp singles.

Colour: bright red, orange, yellow, dark green, light brown

ⓘ Bermanite

Formula: Mn2+Mn3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 4H2O

Habit: Tabular

Colour: bright, transparent brownish red

ⓘ Bertrandite

Formula: Be4(Si2O7)(OH)2

Colour: Colorless

Description: Usually slender prismatic blades. Less common are thin tabular plates, typically in bundles like a file drawer in dis-array. The lack of fluorescence would distinguish such crystals from brannockite.

ⓘ Beryl

Formula: Be3Al2(Si6O18)

Localities:

Dixon Creek, Cleveland County, North Carolina, USA
Bessemer City operations (Hallman Mine; Hallman-Beam Mine; Bessemer operations; Lithium Mine), Gaston County, North Carolina, USA
Unnamed Beryl occurrence, Cleveland County, North Carolina, USA
LCA Mine, Gaston County, North Carolina, USA
Foote Lithium Co. Mine, Kings Mountain, Cleveland County, North Carolina, USA

ⓘ Beryl var. Emerald

Formula: Be3Al2(Si6O18)

✪ Bikitaite

Formula: LiAlSi2O6 · H2O

Habit: Long tabular prismatic blades.

Colour: Colorless

Description: Generally conceded to be the world's finest locality for the species.

ⓘ 'Biotite'

Formula: K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2

Localities: Reported from at least 6 localities in this region.

ⓘ Birnessite

Formula: (Na,Ca)0.5(Mn4+,Mn3+)2O4 · 1.5H2O

Habit: Botryoidal. Dendritic.

Colour: black, dark brown

Description: Botryoidal clots or dendritic groups in the oxidized zone with phosphates. Pulverant.

ⓘ Bismite

Formula: Bi2O3

ⓘ Bismutite

Formula: (BiO)2CO3

✪ Bityite

Formula: CaLiAl2(AlBeSi2O10)(OH)2

Habit: Tiny rosettes of hexagons.

Colour: Beige to tannish-yellow.

Description: A very rare mineral only found in the lithiomarsturite association with braonnockite, tetrawickmanite, Sn bearing titanite and others. Very few specimens known.

ⓘ Bornite

Formula: Cu5FeS4

Habit: no distinct crystals observed.

Colour: bronze with tarnish.

Fluorescence: none

Description: Usually as small embedded grains.

ⓘ Boulangerite

Formula: Pb5Sb4S11

ⓘ Brannockite (TL)

Formula: K◻2Sn2Li3[Si12O30]

Habit: Platy.

Colour: Colorless. Also white or off-white.

Fluorescence: blue or blue-white SW. Important diagnostic tool.

ⓘ Braunite

Formula: Mn2+Mn3+6(SiO4)O8

ⓘ Cacoxenite

Formula: Fe3+24AlO6(PO4)17(OH)12 · 75H2O

Habit: Tufts or smooth spheres of radially arranged acicular crystals.

Colour: Orange, yellow-orange.

Description: Tiny smooth spheres to clusters with more distinct crystals.

ⓘ Calcioancylite-(Ce)

Formula: (Ce,Ca,Sr)CO3(OH,H2O)

Habit: blocky xls with polycrystalline coating of monazite-Ce

Colour: grey to pale brown, zoned

Description: Blocky xls to .7mm with coatings of monazite-Ce on holmquistite with pyrite.

ⓘ Calcioferrite

Formula: Ca2Fe3+2(PO4)3(OH) · 7H2O

Habit: prismatic to accicular

Colour: white to very pale yellow, iron-stained

Description: Verified by EDS in 2004.

ⓘ Calcite

Formula: CaCO3

Localities: Reported from at least 9 localities in this region.

ⓘ Cassiterite

Formula: SnO2

Localities: Reported from at least 58 localities in this region.

ⓘ Celadonite

Formula: K(MgFe3+◻)(Si4O10)(OH)2

Description: As a component in Muscovite.

ⓘ Chalcanthite

Formula: CuSO4 · 5H2O

References:

Palache, Charles, Berman, Harry, Frondel, Clifford (1951) The System of Mineralogy (7th ed.) Vol. 2 - Halides, Nitrates, Borates, Carbonates, Sulfates, Phosphates, Arsenates, Tungstates, Molybdates, Ect. John Wiley and Sons, New York.

ⓘ Chalcopyrite

Formula: CuFeS2

Localities: Reported from at least 17 localities in this region.

ⓘ Childrenite

Formula: Fe2+Al(PO4)(OH)2 · H2O

Description: While the eosphorite end-member of the series is definite at Foote, Jason Smith and other Foote authorities remain unconvinced of the presence of this end-member. Smith would know what evidence, if any, exists for its presence - I suggest inquiring of him. was confirmed with EDS 5-2011

ⓘ 'Chlorite Group'

Localities: Reported from at least 28 localities in this region.

ⓘ Chloritoid

Formula: Fe2+Al2O(SiO4)(OH)2

ⓘ Chrysocolla

Formula: Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1

ⓘ 'Clay minerals'

ⓘ Clinochlore

Formula: Mg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8

ⓘ Clinozoisite

Formula: (CaCa)(AlAlAl)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)

ⓘ Collinsite

Formula: Ca2Mg(PO4)2 · 2H2O

ⓘ Columbite-(Fe)

Formula: Fe2+Nb2O6

Habit: Platy prisms, platy to irregular masses.

Colour: Black, lustrous or submetallic.

Fluorescence: none

Description: See further under fersmite.

ⓘ 'Columbite-(Fe)-Columbite-(Mn) Series'

ⓘ Columbite-(Mn)

Formula: Mn2+Nb2O6

ⓘ Cookeite

Formula: (LiAl4◻)[AlSi3O10](OH)8

ⓘ Cosalite

Formula: Pb2Bi2S5

ⓘ Cryptomelane

Formula: K(Mn4+7Mn3+)O16

ⓘ Cyrilovite

Formula: NaFe3+3(PO4)2(OH)4 · 2H2O

ⓘ Diadochite

Formula: Fe3+2(PO4)(SO4)(OH) · 6H2O

ⓘ Diaspore

Formula: AlO(OH)

ⓘ Dickinsonite-(KMnNa)

Formula: (KNa)(Mn2+◻)Ca(Na2Na)Mn2+13Al(PO4)11(PO4)(OH)2

ⓘ Diopside

Formula: CaMgSi2O6

ⓘ Dolomite

Formula: CaMg(CO3)2

Localities:

Kings Mountain Mine (Catawba Mine), Cleveland County, North Carolina, USA
LCA Mine, Gaston County, North Carolina, USA
Kings Mountain Mining District, USA

~~Foote Lithium Co. Mine, Kings Mountain, Cleveland County, North Carolina, USA~~

(more information)

ⓘ Dravite

Formula: NaMg3Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)

ⓘ Dufrénite

Formula: Ca0.5Fe2+Fe3+5(PO4)4(OH)6 · 2H2O

ⓘ Dumortierite

Formula: Al(Al2O)(Al2O)2(SiO4)3(BO3)

✪ Eakerite (TL)

Formula: Ca2SnAl2Si6O18(OH)2 · 2H2O

Type Locality:

Description: Only locality for crystals. Topaz-like prismatic crystals up to 5/8ths inch.

ⓘ Earlshannonite (TL)

Formula: Mn2+Fe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 4H2O

Habit: prismatic, radiating, "sea-mines"

Colour: brown to brownish red to orange-yellow

ⓘ Elbaite

Formula: Na(Li1.5Al1.5)Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)

ⓘ Eosphorite

Formula: Mn2+Al(PO4)(OH)2 · H2O

ⓘ Epidote

Formula: (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)

Localities:

Lawton Barite Property Southern workings, Lawson Barite property, Gaston County, North Carolina, USA
Lawton Barite Property Northern workings, Lawson Barite property, Gaston County, North Carolina, USA
Lawton Barite property Mid-Southern workings, Lawson Barite property, Gaston County, North Carolina, USA
Foote Lithium Co. Mine, Kings Mountain, Cleveland County, North Carolina, USA

✪ Eucryptite

Formula: LiAlSiO4

Habit: Crystals very rare, usually subhedral colorless.

Colour: White or off-white.

Fluorescence: Brilliant red SW - diagnostic.

Description: One of very few localities with known crystals up to 5mm, some with many faces. Found in thin fractures in altered spodumene.

ⓘ Fairfieldite

Formula: Ca2Mn2+(PO4)2 · 2H2O

Localities:

Foote Lithium Co. Mine, Kings Mountain, Cleveland County, North Carolina, USA
Bessemer City operations (Hallman Mine; Hallman-Beam Mine; Bessemer operations; Lithium Mine), Gaston County, North Carolina, USA
LCA Mine, Gaston County, North Carolina, USA

Habit: Diverse - tabular, prismatic, spheroids, equant, flowers (bladed hemispheres)

Colour: Cream, beige, white, pinkish, golden, tan, colorless.

Fluorescence: Unobserved.

Description: The known diversity, quality and quantity of this species soared after its recognition at the Foote Mine, which remains - although not the type locality - the word's premier locality for fairfieldite.

ⓘ Fanfaniite (TL)

Formula: Ca4MnAl4(PO4)6(OH)4 · 12H2O

Type Locality:

Description: Found on "east dump".

References:

Grey, Ian E., Kampf, Anthony R., Smith, Jason B., MacRae, Colin M., Keck, Erich (2019) Fanfaniite, Ca4Mn2+Al4(PO4)6(OH,F)4·12H2O, a new mineral with a montgomeryite-type structure. European Journal of Mineralogy, 31 (3) 647-652 doi:10.1127/ejm/2019/0031-2857

ⓘ 'Feldspar Group'

ⓘ Ferraioloite (TL)

Formula: MgMn2+4(Fe2+0.5Al3+0.5)4Zn4(PO4)8(OH)4(H2O)20

Type Locality:

References:

Mills, Stuart J., Grey, Ian E., Kampf, Anthony R., MaCrae, Colin M., Smith, Jason B., Davidson, Cameron J., Glenn, A. Matt (2016) Ferraioloite, MgMn2+4(Fe2+0.5Al3+0.5)4Zn4(PO4)8(OH)4(H2O)20, a new secondary phosphate mineral from the Foote mine, USA. European Journal of Mineralogy, 28 (3) 655-661 doi:10.1127/ejm/2016/0028-2525

ⓘ Ferroberaunite

Formula: Fe2+Fe3+5(PO4)4(OH)5 · 6H2O

Description: Beraunite was originally defined as a fully oxidised mineral, but was redefined by Fanfani and Zanazzi (1967), on the basis of a crystal structural analysis, as a mixed-valence iron phosphate and they left the original fully oxidized end-member unnamed. In essence, Fanfani and Zanazzi (1967) had discovered a new mineral species (ferroberaunite) but re-used a previous name. In the 19th century, both beraunite and eleonorite had been applied to the fully oxidized mineral. Eleonorite had been re-applied by the IMA to the oxidized end-member of the beraunite-eleonorite series. In the IMA 21-D redefinition the name beraunite was reapplied to the oxidised phase and the name ferroberaunite was created for the mixed-valence phase (Tvrdy et al., 2021).

References:

Williams, P. A., Hatert, F., Pasero, M., Mills, S. J. (2014) IMA Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification (CNMNC), CNMNC Newsletter No. 22. Mineralogical Magazine, 78 (5) 1241-1248 doi:10.1180/minmag.2014.078.5.10

ⓘ Fersmite

Formula: (Ca,Ce,Na)(Nb,Ta,Ti)2(O,OH,F)6

Habit: see comments

Colour: dark brown

Fluorescence: none

Description: "Foote fersmite is clearly epitaxial on columbite. The two species form a mineral "sandwich"...this fersmite is brown and quite resinous while the columbite is typically black and lustrous." - John Sampson White

ⓘ Fluorapatite

Formula: Ca5(PO4)3F

Localities:

Foote Lithium Co. Mine, Kings Mountain, Cleveland County, North Carolina, USA
Carolina Lithium Project, Gaston County, North Carolina, USA
Martin Marietta Lithium Quarry (Martin Marietta Quarry), Kings Mountain, Cleveland County, North Carolina, USA
Bessemer City operations (Hallman Mine; Hallman-Beam Mine; Bessemer operations; Lithium Mine), Gaston County, North Carolina, USA
LCA Mine, Gaston County, North Carolina, USA

Habit: Diverse. Euhedral to anhedral, equant, tabular, prismatic, etc.

Colour: Purple, lavender, sky blue, yellow, brown, mauve, pink, aqua, etc.

ⓘ Fluorapatite var. Carbonate-rich Fluorapatite

Formula: Ca5(PO4,CO3)3(F,O)

ⓘ Fluorite

Formula: CaF2

✪ Footemineite (TL)

Formula: Ca2Mn2+Mn2+2Mn2+2Be4(PO4)6(OH)4 · 6H2O

Type Locality:

Habit: Prismatic, tapering barrells to 1.7mm in groups to 3mm.

Colour: Pale to bright yellow and yellowish-orange.

Fluorescence: none

Description: Found on dumps. Associated with milarite, rhodochrosite, analcime, fairfieldite, apatite, and eosphorite. This same phase was found in the mid 70s in a similar assemblage with much smaller crystals.

References:

Atencio, D., Matioli, P. A., Smith, J. B., Chukanov, N. V., Coutinho, J. M.V., Rastsvetaeva, R. K., Mockel, S. (2008) Footemineite, the Mn-analog of atencioite, from the Foote mine, Kings Mountain, Cleveland County, North Carolina, U.S.A., and its relationship with other roscherite-group minerals. American Mineralogist, 93 (1) 1-6 doi:10.2138/am.2008.2469

ⓘ Frondelite

Formula: Mn2+Fe3+4(PO4)3(OH)5

ⓘ Galena

Formula: PbS

Localities: Reported from at least 13 localities in this region.

ⓘ 'Garnet Group'

Formula: X3Z2(SiO4)3

ⓘ Goethite

Formula: α-Fe3+O(OH)

ⓘ Gold

Formula: Au

Localities: Reported from at least 48 localities in this region.

ⓘ Graphite

Formula: C

Localities: Reported from at least 10 localities in this region.

ⓘ Grossular

Formula: Ca3Al2(SiO4)3

ⓘ Gypsum

Formula: CaSO4 · 2H2O

ⓘ Halloysite

Formula: Al2(Si2O5)(OH)4

✪ Helvine

Formula: Be3Mn2+4(SiO4)3S

Habit: tetrahedrons

Colour: yellow to orange

ⓘ Hematite

Formula: Fe2O3

Localities: Reported from at least 36 localities in this region.

ⓘ Herderite

Formula: CaBe(PO4)F

ⓘ Heterosite

Formula: (Fe3+,Mn3+)PO4

ⓘ Holmquistite

Formula: ◻{Li2}{Mg3Al2}(Si8O22)(OH)2

Localities:

Dixon Creek, Cleveland County, North Carolina, USA
Martin Marietta Lithium Quarry (Martin Marietta Quarry), Kings Mountain, Cleveland County, North Carolina, USA
Foote Lithium Co. Mine, Kings Mountain, Cleveland County, North Carolina, USA
LCA Mine, Gaston County, North Carolina, USA

ⓘ 'Hornblende Root Name Group'

Formula: ◻Ca2(Z2+4Z3+)(AlSi7O22)(OH,F,Cl)2

Localities:

Unnamed Granite Quarry Fl-039, York County, South Carolina, USA
Granite Quarry, York County, South Carolina, USA
Ferguson Mine, York County, South Carolina, USA
Carroll and Ross Mine, York County, South Carolina, USA
Faires Mine, North Carolina, USA

✪ Hureaulite

Formula: Mn2+5(PO3OH)2(PO4)2 · 4H2O

Habit: tabular, rosettes

Colour: pale pink to rose and dark red to earthy yellow when oxidized

ⓘ Hydromagnesite

Formula: Mg5(CO3)4(OH)2 · 4H2O

Habit: radial aggregates

Colour: white

Description: Found a whole flat full of the material in august of 2003 in Louis Shrums garage. Verified optically as hydromagnesite. No longer dubious. Jason S.

ⓘ Hydroxyapophyllite-(K)

Formula: KCa4(Si8O20)(OH,F) · 8H2O

ⓘ Hydroxylapatite

Formula: Ca5(PO4)3(OH)

Habit: Opaque, white hexagons in the oxidized zone.

Colour: white, color-zoned colorless and white

Description: Stubby, opaque white xls with beraunite, eosphorite, and etched fluorapatite in the oxidized zone.

ⓘ Hydroxylapatite var. Carbonate-rich Hydroxylapatite

Formula: Ca5(PO4,CO3)3(OH,O)

Habit: Opaque, white hexagons in the oxidized zone.

Colour: white, color-zoned colorless and white

Description: Stubby, opaque white xls with beraunite, eosphorite, and etched fluorapatite in the oxidized zone.

ⓘ Hydroxylherderite

Formula: CaBe(PO4)(OH)

Description: Occurs in lithia pegmatite.

ⓘ Ilmenite

Formula: Fe2+TiO3

ⓘ Jahnsite-(CaMnFe)

Formula: {Ca}{Mn2+}{Fe2+2}{Fe3+2}(PO4)4(OH)2 · 8H2O

ⓘ Jahnsite-(CaMnMg)

Formula: {Ca}{Mn2+}{(Mg,Fe2+)2}{Fe3+2}(PO4)4(OH)2 · 8H2O

ⓘ Jahnsite-(CaMnMn)

Formula: {Ca}{Mn2+}{Mn2+2}{Fe3+2}(PO4)4(OH)2 · 8H2O

ⓘ Jasonsmithite (TL)

Formula: Mn2+4ZnAl(PO4)4(OH)(H2O)7 · 3.5H2O

Type Locality:

References:

Kampf, Anthony R., Celestian, Aaron J., Nash, Barbara P. (2021) Jasonsmithite, a new phosphate mineral with a complex microporous framework, from the Foote mine, North Carolina, U.S.A. American Mineralogist, 106 (2). 174-179 doi:10.2138/am-2020-7582

ⓘ Kaolinite

Formula: Al2(Si2O5)(OH)4

ⓘ Kastningite

Formula: (Mn2+,Fe2+,Mg)Al2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2O

Habit: prismatic to tabular

Colour: colorless to very pale yellow

Description: I have found this species on specimens dating back to 1967. Commonly was found then in the oxidized zone and mislabled as faifieldite. More commmon than previouly thought. I have seen over 40 specimens now in other collections and have collected at least twice that many. Jason S.

ⓘ Kayrobertsonite (TL)

Formula: [MnAl2(PO4)2(OH)2(H2O)4] · 2H2O

Type Locality:

Description: Found on the east dump

References:

Mills, Stuart J., Grey, Ian E., Kampf, Anthony R., Birch, William D., MaCrae, Colin M., Smith, Jason B., Keck, Erich (2016) Kayrobertsonite, MnAl2(PO4)2(OH)2·6H2O, a new phosphate mineral related to nordgauite. European Journal of Mineralogy, 28 (3) 649-654 doi:10.1127/ejm/2016/0028-2524

ⓘ 'K Feldspar'

Localities: Reported from at least 58 localities in this region.

✪ Kingsmountite (TL)

Formula: Ca3MnFeAl4(PO4)6(OH)4 · 12H2O

Type Locality:

Habit: prismatic to accicular, wedge-shaped

Colour: white to pale yellow

References:

ⓘ Kobellite

Formula: Pb22Cu4(Bi,Sb)30S69

ⓘ Kyanite

Formula: Al2(SiO4)O

Localities:

The Pinnacle Kyanite Prospects, Gaston County, North Carolina, USA
Shelton Kyanite Property, Gaston County, North Carolina, USA
Crowders Mountain Kyanite prospects, Gaston County, North Carolina, USA
Henry Knob Mine, York County, South Carolina, USA

ⓘ Laueite

Formula: Mn2+Fe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2O

ⓘ Laumontite

Formula: CaAl2Si4O12 · 4H2O

ⓘ Lazulite

Formula: MgAl2(PO4)2(OH)2

ⓘ Lepidocrocite

Formula: γ-Fe3+O(OH)

ⓘ Leucophosphite

Formula: KFe3+2(PO4)2(OH) · 2H2O

ⓘ 'Limonite'

Localities: Reported from at least 11 localities in this region.

✪ Lithiomarsturite (TL)

Formula: LiCaMn3Si5O14(OH)

Type Locality:

Habit: rhombic; also as "slightly divergent crystal bundles with irregular terminations"

Colour: "sherry," with very light color in terminations and edges.

Fluorescence: none

Description: "Each vug examined is lined with euhedral white albite crystals, upon which have grown transparent prismatic fluorapatite crystals, usually pale violet in color, and pyrite in simple cubes. Sprays of bavenite occur commonly, either in clusters of delicate. Also associated with brannockite, tetrawickmanite, and stannian titanite.

References:

Peacor, Donald R., Dunn, Pete J., White, John S., Jr.,, Grice, Joel D., Chi, Peter H. (1990) Lithiomarsturite, a new member of the pyroxenoid group, from North Carolina. American Mineralogist, 75 (3-4) 409-414

ⓘ Lithiophilite

Formula: LiMn2+PO4

Habit: Prismatic single or stellate, also equant, semi-rhombic, others.

Colour: Transparent orange, peach, pink, pale to dark.

Fluorescence: None

Description: World's finest lithiophilite locality. Single xls to 2.4cm have been collected. Beautiful micro xls to 4mm were common right before the end of quarrying.

ⓘ Lithiophorite

Formula: (Al,Li)MnO2(OH)2

✪ Lithiophosphate

Formula: Li3PO4

Habit: Blocky, very similar to topaz.

Colour: Colorless to white.

Description: Extremely rare. One find in 1964-65 of excellent crystals to 1.5cm made by Jack Eaker.

ⓘ Magnesio-hornblende

Formula: ◻Ca2(Mg4Al)(Si7Al)O22(OH)2

ⓘ Magnesite ?

Formula: MgCO3

Description: "It makes no sense for there to be dolomite, magnesite or montgomeryite given the complete absence of secondary magnesium at Foote" quoting geologist and Foote Mine collector Kenny Gay.

ⓘ Magnetite

Formula: Fe2+Fe3+2O4

Localities: Reported from at least 72 localities in this region.

ⓘ Malachite

Formula: Cu2(CO3)(OH)2

Description: Altered product of Chalcopyrite on Albite

✪ Mangangordonite (TL)

Formula: Mn2+Al2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2O

Type Locality:

Habit: Tabular, by analogy to laueite.

Colour: White to colorless.

Description: Fine crystals to around 2mm. Associated with hureaulite, rittmannite, eosphorite, etc.

References:

Leavens, P. B., White, J. S., Robinson, G. W., Nelen, J. A. (1991) Mangangordonite, a new phosphate mineral from Kings Mountain, North Carolina and Newry, Maine, USA. Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie - Monatshefte, 1991. 169-176

ⓘ Marcasite

Formula: FeS2

Habit: Usually acicular

Colour: bronze

Fluorescence: none

Description: Usually embedded as tiny acicular inclusions in transparent fluorapatite crystals; less commonly free on albite crystals in vugs, often with fluorapatite, fairfieldite, bavenite or others. The mineral produces some good quality micromounts, but never anyt

ⓘ Matulaite

Formula: (Fe3+,Al)Al7(PO4)4(PO3OH)2(OH)8(H2O)8 · 8H2O

Habit: Pulverant white balls to very rare sharp, platy crystals in tiny groups.

Colour: white

ⓘ Messelite

Formula: Ca2Fe2+(PO4)2 · 2H2O

ⓘ Meta-autunite

Formula: Ca(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 6H2O

✪ Metaswitzerite (TL)

Formula: Mn2+3(PO4)2 · 4H2O

Type Locality:

Description: Pink to brown bundles of tabular xls. Looses moisture rapidly and over the years the crystals delaminate. Crystals up to 6mm.

References:

ⓘ 'Mica Group'

Localities: Reported from at least 11 localities in this region.

ⓘ Microcline

Formula: K(AlSi3O8)

Localities: Reported from at least 6 localities in this region.

ⓘ Milarite

Formula: K(◻H2O)Ca2(Be2Al)[Si12O30]

ⓘ Mitridatite

Formula: Ca2Fe3+3(PO4)3O2 · 3H2O

Habit: Drusy at 40x or higher.

Colour: Olive green to cinnamon-tan. Greener >Fe, tan >Mn.

Description: Not uncommon as unimpressive secondary stains of early paragenesis, often with more desirable phosphates crystallizing over it.

ⓘ 'Monazite'

Formula: REE(PO4)

ⓘ Monazite-(Ce)

Formula: Ce(PO4)

Habit: polycrystalline coating

Colour: grey

Description: As coatings on calcioancylite-Ce xls on holmquistite with pyrite.

ⓘ Montebrasite

Formula: LiAl(PO4)(OH)

ⓘ Montmorillonite

Formula: (Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O

ⓘ Moraesite

Formula: Be2(PO4)(OH) · 4H2O

Habit: radial accicular

Colour: white

Description: radially arrange accicular xls on quartz. One-time find.

ⓘ Muscovite

Formula: KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2

Localities: Reported from at least 62 localities in this region.

ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite

Formula: KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2

Localities: Reported from at least 33 localities in this region.

ⓘ Nagyágite

Formula: [Pb3(Pb,Sb)3S6](Au,Te)3

ⓘ Natrolite

Formula: Na2Al2Si3O10 · 2H2O

ⓘ Neotocite

Formula: (Mn,Fe,Mg)SiO3 · H2O

Habit: None. "waxy or pitchy with a conchoidal fracture"

Colour: Dark brown

Fluorescence: none

ⓘ Nizamoffite

Formula: Mn2+Zn2(PO4)2(H2O)4

ⓘ Nordgauite

Formula: MnAl2(PO4)2(F,OH)2 · 5H2O

Description: Among the kastningite photos accessed on the Foote Mine roster is one labeled "kastningite, nordgauite" which states that the nordgauite was confirmed by PXRD. The photo is copyright 2007 by Foote Mine authority Jason Smith. Further, under MinDat's listing for the species nordgauite is a photo of the species with the Foote Mine given as the locality. This is stated to be in the collection of luigi Chiappino, photo by Germano Fretti.

ⓘ Opal

Formula: SiO2 · nH2O

Fluorescence: Mildly fluorescent yellow SW UV. Unlike the vividly yellow fluorescence of richer hyalite well known from the Spruce Pine pegmatites, Mitchell County, NC. The difference is in the extent of uranium salts - present but diminutive at Foote but much richer in the Spruce Pine pegmatites.

Description: Opal in the variety of "hyalite" occurs as colorless thin bubbly patches on seam surfaces, formed on the underside of horizontal seams in the rock. It frequently coats stains and coatings of green to black secondary phosphates (mitridatite, rockbridgeite) which show through the colorless opal.

ⓘ Orthoclase

Formula: K(AlSi3O8)

ⓘ Ottrélite

Formula: Mn2+Al2O(SiO4)(OH)2

Localities: Reported from at least 19 localities in this region.

ⓘ Parascholzite

Formula: CaZn2(PO4)2 · 2H2O

References:

ⓘ Paravauxite

Formula: Fe2+Al2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2O

Habit: tabular

Colour: pale yellow, semi-transparent

Description: Confirmed in early 2004 in several specimens from one boulder on the dumps.

ⓘ Parsettensite

Formula: (K,Na,Ca)7.5(Mn,Mg)49Si72O168(OH)50 · nH2O

Habit: Platy, rosettes, spheroids

Colour: Pearly brown, golden-tan or non-metallic bronze, alters to black.

Fluorescence: None

Description: Formerly "unknown #2." Sometimes confused for meta-switzerite (and vice-versa). Certainly the worlds best locality for the species.

ⓘ Petalite ?

Formula: LiAl(Si4O10)

ⓘ Phenakite

Formula: Be2SiO4

ⓘ Phlogopite

Formula: KMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2

Localities: Reported from at least 13 localities in this region.

✪ Phosphophyllite

Formula: Zn2Fe(PO4)2 · 4H2O

Habit: twinned to single tabular

Colour: colorless to pale green

Description: Nice crystals to 7mm. One occurence with scholzite, schoonerite, etc.

References:

ⓘ Phosphosiderite

Formula: FePO4 · 2H2O

ⓘ 'Polylithionite-Trilithionite Series'

ⓘ Prehnite

Formula: Ca2Al2Si3O10(OH)2

✪ Pseudolaueite

Formula: Mn2+Fe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2O

Habit: tabular

Colour: orange

Description: Nice tabular xls associated with other phosphates. Has been collected 4 times by myself (jason smith) and I assume it is in someone else collection out there somewhere.

ⓘ 'Psilomelane'

ⓘ Purpurite (TL)

Formula: Mn3+(PO4)

ⓘ Pyrargyrite

Formula: Ag3SbS3

ⓘ Pyrite

Formula: FeS2

Localities: Reported from at least 56 localities in this region.

ⓘ Pyrolusite

Formula: Mn4+O2

Localities: Reported from at least 13 localities in this region.

ⓘ Pyrophyllite

Formula: Al2Si4O10(OH)2

ⓘ Pyrrhotite

Formula: Fe1-xS

ⓘ Quartz

Formula: SiO2

Localities: Reported from at least 115 localities in this region.

ⓘ Reddingite

Formula: (Mn2+,Fe2+)3(PO4)2 · 3H2O

ⓘ Rhodochrosite

Formula: MnCO3

ⓘ Rittmannite

Formula: {(Mn2+,Ca)}{Mn2+}{(Fe2+,Mn2+,Mg)2}{(Al,Fe3+)2}(PO4)4(OH)2 · 8H2O

References:

ⓘ Robertsite

Formula: Ca2Mn3+3(PO4)3O2 · 3H2O

ⓘ Rockbridgeite

Formula: Fe2+Fe3+4(PO4)3(OH)5

ⓘ Roscherite

Formula: Ca2Mn2+5Be4(PO4)6(OH)4 · 6H2O

Habit: bunches of leaf like crystals

Colour: pale green

Description: True, monoclinic roscherite is found here. Most of the older specimens labelled roshcerite are most likely footemineite.

ⓘ Roscoelite

Formula: K(V3+,Al)2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2

ⓘ Rutile

Formula: TiO2

Localities: Reported from at least 9 localities in this region.

ⓘ Santabarbaraite

Formula: Fe3+3(PO4)2(OH)3 · 5H2O

✪ Scholzite

Formula: CaZn2(PO4)2 · 2H2O

Habit: blocky to tabular

Colour: white to near colorless

Description: Blocky to tabular xls with phosphophyllite. Parascholzite is probably present but material has not been X-rayed.

References:

✪ Schoonerite

Formula: ZnMn2+Fe2+2Fe3+(PO4)3(OH)2 · 9H2O

Habit: accicular, clearly orthorhombic

Colour: brown with golden sheen

Description: Associated intimately with phosphophyllite and scholzite on only six specimens.

ⓘ Schorl

Formula: NaFe2+3Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)

Description: Abundant in the schist country rock, occassional in contact zone and essentially absent deeper in the pegmatite. Terminations rarely observed.

ⓘ 'Serpentine Subgroup'

Formula: D3[Si2O5](OH)4

ⓘ Siderite

Formula: FeCO3

ⓘ Sigloite ?

Formula: Fe3+Al2(PO4)2(OH)3 · 7H2O

ⓘ Sillimanite

Formula: Al2(SiO4)O

ⓘ Silver

Formula: Ag

ⓘ Spessartine

Formula: Mn2+3Al2(SiO4)3

Localities: Reported from at least 24 localities in this region.

ⓘ Sphalerite

Formula: ZnS

Localities: Reported from at least 9 localities in this region.

ⓘ Spodumene

Formula: LiAlSi2O6

Localities: Reported from at least 57 localities in this region.

Colour: Usually pale celery-green and opaque.

Description: Ubiquitous in the pegmatite, being the ore mineral sought here. Among the world's richest deposits of the mineral (20% of pegmatite). Hard to collect uncleaved crystals. Size reaches about twenty inches long by four inches wide, but most are less than six inches long.

ⓘ Staurolite

Formula: Fe2+2Al9Si4O23(OH)

Description: In the metamorphic country rock.

ⓘ Steinmetzite

Formula: Zn2Fe3+(PO4)2(OH) · 3H2O

✪ Stewartite

Formula: Mn2+Fe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2O

Habit: prismatic to accicular, wedge-shaped

Colour: orange

ⓘ Strengite

Formula: FePO4 · 2H2O

Colour: Usually colorless or white. Mn-rich examples pink or lavender.

Description: At Foote the mineral is aluminum-rich and iron-poor. Green colors unobserved. May be hard to distinguish from phosphosiderite.

ⓘ Strunzite

Formula: Mn2+Fe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 6H2O

ⓘ Sulphur

Formula: S8

Habit: complex xls

Colour: light to bright yellow

Description: Tiny xls in casts left behind by pyrite xls in the oxidized zone with strengite.

ⓘ Swinefordite (TL)

Formula: Li(Al,Li,Mg)3((Si,Al)4O10)2(OH,F)4 · nH2O

Type Locality:

Habit: A clay. Hydrated: "resemble petroleum jelly." Stable: "resembles mountain leather."

Colour: "light greenish-grey to greyish olive." Old dump material turns dark.

Description: Formed by weathering of lithium-rich silicates. Often appears on and replacing spodumene, lining fracture seams, and coating small crystals of albite, quartz and fluorapatite. Scarce after closing of mine, but still being found. Also found associated with

ⓘ Switzerite (TL)

Formula: Mn2+3(PO4)2 · 7H2O

Type Locality:

ⓘ Talc

Formula: Mg3Si4O10(OH)2

Habit: balls of plates

Colour: white

Description: With parsettensite or tremolite. Also found in wall-rock (country rock) in seams with prehnite and calcite.

ⓘ Tantalite-(Fe)

Formula: Fe2+Ta2O6

ⓘ Tetradymite

Formula: Bi2Te2S

ⓘ 'Tetrahedrite Subgroup'

Formula: Cu6(Cu4C2+2)Sb4S12S

✪ Tetrawickmanite (TL)

Formula: Mn2+[Sn4+(OH)6]

Type Locality:

Habit: Pseudooctahedral, basal pinacoid; also subhedral. Forms (112), (001), also (100) faintly.

Colour: Honey yellow, yellow-brown, "turbid brownish orange"

Fluorescence: none

Description: Crystals up to 1.5mm.

ⓘ Tinticite ?

Formula: Fe3+3(PO4)2(OH)3 · 3H2O

References:

**Anthony, John Williams, Bideaux, Richard A., Bladh, Kenneth W., Nichols, Monte C. (2000) Handbook of Mineralogy Vol. 4 - Arsenates, phosphates, vanadates. Mineral Data Publishing, Tucson, Arizona.**p.591

ⓘ Titanite

Formula: CaTi(SiO4)O

ⓘ Titanite var. Tin-bearing Titanite

Formula: Ca(Ti,Sn)SiO5

ⓘ Todorokite

Formula: (Na,Ca,K,Ba,Sr)1-x(Mn,Mg,Al)6O12 · 3-4H2O

ⓘ Topaz

Formula: Al2(SiO4)(F,OH)2

ⓘ Torbernite

Formula: Cu(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 12H2O

ⓘ 'Tourmaline'

Formula: A D3G6 (T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z

Localities: Reported from at least 9 localities in this region.

ⓘ Tremolite

Formula: ◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2

ⓘ Triphylite

Formula: LiFe2+PO4

ⓘ Triphylite var. Ferrisicklerite

Formula: Li1-x(Fe3+xFe2+1-x)PO4

✪ Triploidite

Formula: Mn2+2(PO4)(OH)

Description: Verified by A. Kampf 10/2022 from specimens collected by Jack Eaker in 1970.

ⓘ Uralolite

Formula: Ca2Be4(PO4)3(OH)3 · 5H2O

Fluorescence: Fluorescence - white S. W

ⓘ Uraninite

Formula: UO2

ⓘ Uranophane

Formula: Ca(UO2)2(SiO3OH)2 · 5H2O

ⓘ Variscite

Formula: AlPO4 · 2H2O

Habit: smooth spheres of tiny accicular xls

Colour: white

Description: Confirmed on a small number of specimens associated with mangangordonite xls.

ⓘ Vermiculite

Formula: Mg0.7(Mg,Fe,Al)6(Si,Al)8O20(OH)4 · 8H2O

ⓘ Vivianite

Formula: Fe2+Fe2+2(PO4)2 · 8H2O

Localities:

Carolina Lithium Project, Gaston County, North Carolina, USA
Dixon Creek, Cleveland County, North Carolina, USA
Foote Lithium Co. Mine, Kings Mountain, Cleveland County, North Carolina, USA
LCA Mine, Gaston County, North Carolina, USA

ⓘ 'Wad'

Localities: Reported from at least 12 localities in this region.

ⓘ Whiteite-(CaMnMg)

Formula: {Ca}{Mn2+}{Mg2}{Al2}(PO4)4(OH)2 · 8H2O

ⓘ Whiteite-(CaMnMn)

Formula: {Ca}{Mn2+}{Mn2}{Al2}(PO4)4(OH)2 · 8H2O

ⓘ Whiteite-(MnFeMg)

Formula: {(Mn2+,Ca)}{(Fe2+,Mn2+)}{Mg2}{Al2}(PO4)4(OH)2 · 8H2O

Description: Occurs in lithia pegmatite.

ⓘ Whiteite-(MnMnMn) (TL)

Formula: Mn2+Mn2+Mn2+2Al2(PO4)4(OH)2 · 8H2O

Type Locality:

ⓘ Whitmoreite

Formula: Fe2+Fe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 4H2O

Habit: Red Brown single thick bladed crystals with strengite and rittmanite.

Colour: Red brown

Description: Anthony Kampf PXRD confirmed 2014.

ⓘ Wickmanite

Formula: Mn2+[Sn(OH)6]

ⓘ Xanthoxenite

Formula: Ca4Fe3+2(PO4)4(OH)2 · 3H2O

ⓘ Zabuyelite

Formula: Li2CO3

Description: Found as subatomic crystals in fluid inclusions in spodumene in the pegmatite.

ⓘ 'Zinnwaldite'

Description: This mineral does not occur within the body of the pegmatite, but it is present in the country rock along the contact zone associated with holmquistite. The mineral appears as brown flakes of easily-visible size resembling phlogopite.

ⓘ Zircon

Formula: Zr(SiO4)

Localities:

Will Knox Sillimanite Property, Gaston County, North Carolina, USA
The Pinnacle Kyanite Prospects, Gaston County, North Carolina, USA
Foote Lithium Co. Mine, Kings Mountain, Cleveland County, North Carolina, USA
Henry Knob Mine, York County, South Carolina, USA
LCA Mine, Gaston County, North Carolina, USA