THE
MINERAL LUDLAMITE
- Chemistry: (Fe, Mg, Mn)3(PO4)2 - 4H2O, Hydrated Iron Magnesium Manganese Phosphate.
- Class: Phosphates
- Uses: Only as mineral specimens.
Specimens
Ludlamite is a classic phosphate mineral. Known from only a few localities, it is most famous from the classic Wheal Jane Mine in Cornwall, England. It was first discovered there (1876 - 1877) after the old mine had been reopened. The mine was closed for a long time until recently reopened in the past three decades and was again producing some ludlamite specimens. Ludlamite is named for Henry Ludlam, a British collector of fine rare minerals.
Specimens of ludlamite are extremely beautiful. They are characterized by a bright green, usually apple-green color, a vitreous luster, and an interesting crystal habit. The aggregates typically form into sprays of jaggedly pointed sheaves that are pinched in the middle like sheaves of wheat. To own a specimen is truly a blessing for a mineral collector.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
- Colors include a few shades of green, often bright apple green or colorless.
- Luster is vitreous.
- Transparency: Specimens are transparent to translucent.
- Crystal System is monoclinic; 2/m
- Crystal Habits include tabular almost pseudo-octahedral crystals also as jagged, crystalline masses and aggregate sprays or sheaves.
- Cleavage is perfect in one direction (basal).
- Fracture is uneven.
- Hardness is 3 - 4.
- Specific Gravity is approximately 3.1 - 3.2 (very slightly above average).
- Streak is white.
- Associated Minerals include pyrite, limonite, siderite, triphylite, vivianite and other primary and secondary phosphates.
- Notable Occurrences include Wheal Jane Mine, Truro, Cornwall, England; la Union, Spain; Rapid Creek, Yukon, Territory, Canada; Chihuahua, Mexico; Hagendorf, Germany; Cobalt, Idaho; North Groton, New Hampshire and Custer County, South Dakota, USA.
- Best Field Indicators are crystal habit, color, locality and cleavage.
 Amethyst Galleries' Mineral Gallery MINERALS |
LUDLAMITE specimen lud-1$ 120.00
Dims: 2.2 x 1.4 x 0.5" (5.7 x 3.5 x 1.3 cm)
Wt: 0.8 oz. (23 g)
Huanuni, Oruro Department, Bolivia
This small hand specimen consists of 2 Ludlamite "clusters" that rest on opposite sides of a brown base rock. These clusters are so heavily intergrown that isolating individual crystals is nearly impossible. The clusters do not exceed 0.4" along any axis, have a moderately pale green coloration and a greasy luster and are translucent. Actually they closely resemble the mineral anapaite, which is closely related, chemically. The brown base rock is also host to a crust and several botryoidal formations of a sulfide mineral that I cannot identify- it likely has iron in it, however, due to its association to the Ludlamite and the general red-brown color of the base rock.
lud-1 ($120.00)Huanuni, Oruro Department, Bolivia
LUDLAMITE specimen lud-2
$ 100.00
$ 100.00
Dims: 1.3 x 0.9 x 0.8" (3.2 x 2.3 x 2.0 cm)
Wt: 9 g
Huanuni, Oruro Department, Bolivia
A few small, intersecting "sheaves" of Ludlamite blades rest on the rust-stained base of this thumbnail specimen. Each of these sheaves is made up of several heavily-intergrown, diamond-shaped, monoclinic blades. Only a few of these can be defined individually. The sheaves have a dull, pale green color with a hint of blue and a pearly luster, and are translucent. The base on which they rest appears to be calcareous and is host to many tiny, metallic botryoidal orbs that are likely made of pyrite.
lud-2 ($100.00)
Huanuni, Oruro Department, Bolivia
LUDLAMITE specimen lud-3
$ 90.00
$ 90.00
Dims: 1.2 x 1.0 x 0.5" (3.2 x 2.4 x 1.2 cm)
Wt: 5 g
Huanuni Mine, Oruro Department, Bolivia
Two "sheaves" of heavily-intergrown Ludlamite blades rest on the rust-stained base of this thumbnail specimen. These clusters are in excellent condition, and the blade therein are so compact that the clusters look like crystals in their own right. The larger of the two measures 0.4" (1 cm) in length, and the smaller is just under half that. Their form appears quite good, and looks nearly trigonal. Both have a pale green color and a pearly luster and are dimly transparent at best. Many tiny, metallic orbs are scattered on one side of the thin, rusty base- these are likely made up of pyrite.
lud-3 ($ 90.00)
Huanuni Mine, Oruro Department, Bolivia
LUDLAMITE specimen lud-4
$ 60.00
$ 60.00
Dims: 1.1 x 0.7 x 0.5" (2.7 x 1.8 x 1.2 cm)
Wt: 8 g
Huanuni Mine, Oruro Department, Bolivia
A cluster of tiny Ludlamite aggregates rests on one end of the pyrite base of this small specimen. These aggregates are generally in very good condition- one of them is lightly damaged- and do not exceed 0.2" (5 mm) in length or diameter. Each is made up of several heavily-intergrown blades that show reasonably good monoclinic form. All have a moderately dark apple-green color and a pearly or greasy luster, and are transparent but only dimly clear.
lud-4 ($ 60.00)
Huanuni Mine, Oruro Department, Bolivia
LUDLAMITE specimen lud-5
$ 50.00
$ 50.00
Dims: 1.3 x 1.3 x 0.8" (3.4 x 3.2 x 2.0 cm)
Wt: 19 g
Huanuni Mine, Oruro Department, Bolivia
This thumbnail specimen consists of a single aggregate of intergrown, radiating Ludlamite blades. These blades do not exceed 0.2" (5 mm) in length and are in excellent condition- the aggregate is undamaged. Their monoclinic, bladed form is rather heavily intergrown, but still relatively easy to see. All have the standard pale, almost olive-green color and dull pearly luster, and are transparent and dimly clear. The base on which the aggregate rests appears to be made up mostly of pyrite or chalcopyrite, though most of it is covered with a druse of tiny, tightly-arranged siderite "dogtooth" crystals.
lud-5 ($ 50.00)
Huanuni Mine, Oruro Department, Bolivia
LUDLAMITE specimen lud-6
$ 45.00
$ 45.00
Dims: 0.7 x 0.6 x 0.5" (1.8 x 1.5 x 1.2 cm)
Wt: 3 g
Huanuni Mine, Oruro Department, Bolivia
This small thumbnail specimen consists of dozens of tiny Ludlamite blades that rest on a metallic sulfide base. These crystals reach up to 0.3" (8 mm) in length and are generally in very good condition, though some are visibly damaged. Their monoclinic form is quite good, and all have the dull, pale green color and pearly luster that are common for the specie. The blades are transparent and clear, though their intergrowth tends to spoil the clarity. The base is likely made of pyrite, though it is strangely pale and silvery instead of golden.
lud-6 ($ 45.00)
Huanuni Mine, Oruro Department, Bolivia
LUDLAMITE specimen lud-9
$ 30.00
$ 30.00
Dims: 0.6 x 0.5 x 0.4" (1.6 x 1.2 x 0.9 cm)
Wt: 2 g
Huanuni Mine, Oruro Department, Bolivia
This small thumbnail piece consists of several Ludlamite crystal aggregates that rest on a pyrite-coated base. The crystals are in fair to good condition, as two of them are noticeably damaged, and they reach 0.3" (8 mm) in length. Their disseminated monoclinic prismatic form is standard for the specie, as are the pale green color and pearly luster, and all are nearly transparent.
lud-9 ($ 30.00)
Huanuni Mine, Oruro Department, Bolivia
LUDLAMITE specimen lud-8
$ 30.00
$ 30.00
Dims: 0.6 x 0.6 x 0.3" (1.6 x 1.5 x 0.8 cm)
Wt: 2 g
Huanuni Mine, Oruro Department, Bolivia
This small thumbnail specimen consists of a flat, pyritic base on which rest at least 10 Ludlamites. These crystals are quite small, not exceeding 0.1" (3 mm) in length, and are generally in very good condition. All have excellent monoclinic prismatic form that is relatively easy to study with a loupe, and their dull, grass-green color and pearly luster are standard for the specie. They are also transparent and moderately clear. I think that these are some of the best-formed Ludlamites that we have had yet.
lud-8 ($ 30.00)
Huanuni Mine, Oruro Department, Bolivia
LUDLAMITE specimen lud-7
$ 40.00
$ 40.00
Dims: 1.1 x 0.6 x 0.5" (2.8 x 1.6 x 1.3 cm)
Wt: 4 g
unknown (likely Oruro Department, Bolivia)
This thumbnail specimen consists of a dull, brown base on which rests a single Ludlamite aggregate. The aggregate is in excellent condition, showing no damage, and does not exceed 0.3" (8 mm) in length. It is made up of 3 or 4 intergrown crystals that show excellent monoclinic bladed form. All have the standard grass-green color and pearly luster of their species, and are translucent. A few nearly microscopic pyrite orbs also rest on the base.
lud-7 ($ 40.00)
unknown (likely Oruro Department, Bolivia)