HARDYSTONITE
Specimen hrd-4

Dims: 5.4 x 3.7 x 3.3" (13.5 x 9.4 x 8.3 cm)

Wt: 3 lbs., 7.3 oz. (1.568 kg)

Franklin, New Jersey, U.S.A.

Upon first glance, this cabinet piece looks like a large chunk of granite. However, when viewed under a shortwave UV light, one can see that it is made up of several unusual minerals, such as Hardystonite, willemite, clinohedrite, and franklinite. These minerals are easy to define by their fluorescent colors: Hardystonite makes up most of the material, and shows a dim but pervasive deep violet glow. The willemite occurs in small spots and in thin, straight veins that glow with the standard bright green color, and the clinohedrite is concentrated on only one face, showing a pale orange. The franklinite is distinct through its lack of fluorescence.

Dims: 4.5 x 3.1 x 1.8" (11.4 x 7.8 x 4.5 cm)

Wt: 1 lb., 1.3 oz. (490 g)

Franklin, New Jersey, U.S.A.

This dull brown hand specimen is made up mostly of Hardystonite. The Hardystonite is massive and has a dull, gray-brown color under white light and a dull luster, but glows with a dim, deep violet color under shortwave UV light. A small amount of willemite and calcite are also present, showing their classic bright-green and orange colors, respectively. There is also a large amount of a darker brown material present- it looks like willemite to me, but does not fluoresce.

Dims: 3.0 x 2.9 x 2.2" (7.5 x 7.3 x 5.5 cm)

Wt: 15.1 oz. (429 g)

Franklin, New Jersey, U.S.A.

Under normal light, it is not easy to discern the Hardystonite from the calcite and very difficult to discern it from the willemite on this cabinet specimen. However, when bathed in shortwave ultraviolet light, one can easily discern the dull violet fluorescent color of the Hardystonite as compared to the respective bright red and green colors of the calcite and willemite. This material is massive, showing no crystal form, and has a dull white color under white light and a dull, waxy luster at best. Accompanying it and the two other fluorescent minerals are scores of black franklinite crystals, many of which are broken. The franklinites are distinctive in that they do not fluoresce.

Dims: 3.8 x 2.6 x 1.9" (9.0 x 6.5 x 4.7 cm)

Wt: 11.9 oz. (336 g)

Franklin, New Jersey, U.S.A.

This cabinet specimen consists mostly of Hardystonite, willemite, franklinite and clinohedrite. The Hardystonite is the most prevalent, and has a pinkish color that is easy to see in normal light. It is massive, showing no crystal form at all, and has a dull, waxy luster. Under shortwave ultraviolet light, its dull violet color is subtle but easy to see. The other minerals are more difficult to isolate, and the ultraviolet light is needed to clearly isolate them- the willemite will show a bright green coloration and the clinohedrite will show a pale orange color. The franklinite will not fluoresce at all.

Dims: 4.7 x 3.3 x 2.9" (11.9 x 8.4 x 7.4 cm)

Wt: 3 lbs., 1.7 oz. (1.410 kg)

Franklin, New Jersey, U.S.A.

This large display piece consists almost entirely of massive Hardystonite. The material shows no definable tetragonal form, and has a dull gray color and a dull waxy luster. It is opaque, and appears thoroughly unremarkable under normal light. However, when bathed in shortwave ultraviolet light, it glows a faint violet color. Bright green veins of willemite and a few small orange patches of clinohedrite will also be visible under UV irradiation.

Dims: 4.0 x 3.2 x 3.1" (10.2 x 8.1 x 7.8 cm)

Wt: 1 lb., 10.0 oz. (737 g)

Franklin, New Jersey, U.S.A.

The massive Hardystonite in this cabinet specimen looks like a dull, pale-brown rock mixed in with a darker brown, mottled rock. Its classic dull violet fluorescence is easily visible, however, under shortwave ultraviolet light. Accompanying willemite also shows fluorescence, in the form of a bright green glow. There is also one tiny spot of clinohedrite, which fluoresces orange-yellow. Materials that do not glow are likely either made up of franklinite, with its black color and submetallic luster, or perhaps zincite, which ranges from yellow to brown.