147 grams corundum and 39 grams grossular. I found both in the alluvial environment of the former largest primary corundum deposit in the Umba Valley. Locals call the paperweight "Ruby Nut".
Attachments:
PhotoCollage_1591123959364_copy_1494x1494.jpg [ 411.17 KiB | Viewed 2473 times ]
As far as I know, these crystals usually have visible inclusions. So does this one. Wouldn't stand in the way of further processing, though.
I've had my hands on about a dozen of these rough stones. What they all had in common were white, needle-pointed inclusions, visible with a 10x magnifying glass, which are running through the whole stone in a nice regularity. I think this is also the reason for this slightly oily appearance in cut specimens.
@1bwana1 Yes exactly from the area are both stones
Karl Mpanga, former geologist of the mine from the beginning of the 60's until 2000, had shown us the original of this map, which he had drawn. The rough stone for the cut grossular I got from him. We had the opportunity to visit one of the pits. About 100 meters in diameter and 60 meters deep, funnel-shaped following the pegmatites in the serpentenite body.
Attachments:
IMG_20200606_172948_copy_2116x2821.jpg [ 796.05 KiB | Viewed 2410 times ]
I was there the first time in the late 1970s, and a few time in the 1980s with some of the Greeks. It is likely that I met Mr. Mpanga there at some point.
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 6 guests
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot post attachments in this forum