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Coskrenite-(Ce) & Zugshunstite-(Ce)

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SKY720749

Coskrenite-(Ce) & Zugshunstite-(Ce)

Type Locality

Description Tabs

Description
Locality: 
Alum Cave Bluff, Sevier County, Tennessee, United States of America
Class: 
Crystals on Matrix
Size Range: 
Small miniature (3-4.5 cm)
Size: 
3.5 × 2.5 × 2.5 cm
Description

Outstanding specimen of the two extremely rare lanthanide (Ce,Nd,La) oxalates, coskrenite-(Ce) and zugshunstite-(Ce), from the type and only known locality for coskrenite-(Ce) and one of the only two known localities for zugshunstite-(Ce) worldwide.

The specimen consists of several platy pink coskrenite crystals about 0.8 mm in three groups about 2mm across (photos 3, 4 and 5) associated to a three blocky nearby larger crystals of zugshunstite-(Ce) (about 1-1,5 mm) (photos 1 , 6 and 7) in a matrix of magnesian apjohnite (mostly dehydrated) and epsomite. In addition, a smear of yellow slavikite crystals about 3 mm across (mostly partly oxidized to orange, photo 10), one pocket of an undescribed greenish-white ferric sulfate-phosphate (photo 9)  (UK D in the excellent Mineralogical Record article from March-April 2000, vol 31, num.2, p.163-175)  and druses of minute brown to honey-colored jarosite crystals, are present in the sample. (You will find three additional photos of the specimen in labels section)

Both, coskrenite-(Ce) and zugshunstite-(Ce), are pale pink under incandescent light, but they are pale blue under fluorescent light.

The specimen has a signed original label of the discoverer of both species, T. Dennis Coskren,  that will be sent to the buyer of the specimen (see photo 2).  Ex.T.D. Coskren collection.

All known specimens of coskrenite-(Ce) and zugshunstite-(Ce) were found in a mass of salt less than a meter across (over twenty years ago), so the presence of both species in one sample is not unlikely.  The material in this sample cannot quite qualify as type material, but the sample is from within half a meter of the precise type locality of both species.  According to the discoverer T.D.Coskren, ONLY 5 or 6 specimens of zugshunstite-(Ce) exist worldwide !!, so it is a real extreme rarity !.   In addition, only 3 rare earth oxalates exist, the third one being levinsonite-(Y), also found at the same locality and also discovered by T.D.Coskren. 

The locality is in a national park and is closed to collecting.

The original material was analyzed and X-rayed for the description as new minerals, and this specimen and also the type specimens of both minerals were collected by the discoverer of the minerals , T.D.Coskren.

Don’t miss the opportunity to get these two very sought after minerals, almost never seen in the mineral market !

 

Mineral Data
What's on the rock

Coskrenite-(Ce)

Formula: 
(Ce,Nd,La)2(C2O4)(SO4)2·12H2O
Strunz: 
10.AB.65
Crystal System: 
Triclinic
Hardness: 
0.0
Type Locality: 
Alum Cave Bluff, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Sevier Co., Tennessee, USA

Zugshunstite-(Ce)

Formula: 
(Ce,Nd,La)Al(C2O4)(SO4)2·12H2O
Strunz: 
10.AB.75
Crystal System: 
Monoclinic
Hardness: 
0.0
Streak: 
White
Type Locality: 
Alum Cave Bluff, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Sevier Co., Tennessee, USA
Labels
Label Images - only: Coskrenite-(Ce) & Zugshunstite-(Ce)
Label Images - only: Coskrenite-(Ce) & Zugshunstite-(Ce)
Label Images - only: Coskrenite-(Ce) & Zugshunstite-(Ce)

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