The Franklin Mine is the TL for hodgkinsonite. The Sterling Mine is the only other known locality (apart from dumps). It is a rare mineral at both localities.

Acording to Ewald Gerstmann, this specimen has the largest hodgkinsonite crystals ever found in the Sterling Mine. Subsequently, I have been told that that isn’t quite true. But the largest crystals actually found here are not much bigger – perhaps 2 mm or so. (I have not seen them.) The crystal (or crystals) in the center of the first pair of photos (FOV 3.7 x 2.4 mm) span(s) 1.2 mm. Of course, hodgkinsonite from the Franklin mine is bigger and better in almost every way – except free-standing crystals are rare. At the Sterling Mine, crystals are typical – but they are tiny and generally inter-grown. These crystals are exceptional for the locality.

In these photos, the white fibers are sussexite, the black pseudo-octahedra are hetaerolite – not franklinite, and the yellow-orange crystals are zincite. Some of the latter are actually well-formed, but they are tiny. The largest one (to the left of and above the hodkinsonite in the center) is 0.7 tall, but it is partly obscured by small zincite grains near the tip. You will need about 30X to see things as in the photos.

The second pair (FOV 2.3 x 3.1 mm) of photos shows paler crystal(s) spanning about 1.0 mm (side-to side).

The third pair of photos (FOV 3.4 x 2.4 mm) shows crystals that look “flat” on the left. These could be confused with alleghanyite. On the right is a relatively large, reasonably thick,  crystal, 1.25 mm in length. But it has poor color – one end of the crystal is more black than lilac.

The fourth pair of photos (FOV3.1 x 4.6 mm) is a broader view of the area shown in the previous pair.

The matrix is a seam in granular willemite/frankinite "red ore".

Single item (small box, no case) shipping weight 6.2 oz. For shipments outside the USA, up to a total weight of 8 oz (225 g), this could be combined with other small items from this or future auctions for the same postage.  For shipments within the USA, there is a nominal increase of about $0.20 for each additional ounce. Above 13 oz I will use “own box” Priority Mail ($8.75).