DeinonychusDec 19, 2022

Since there has been a sudden uptick in people following my nonsense, here is my favorite #mineral specimen.

#Pyromorphite from the Wheatley Mines in #Pennsylvania circa ~1870s. Before being shut down, the Phoenixville District sourced much of the lead used in bullets for the American Civil War. I like the thought of Pennsylvania rocks breaking Confederate skulls.

Specimen mine. Photo Mark Mauthner. Ex. Wheatley Collection

#mineralogy #minerals #crystals #geology #earthsciences

Show threadShield MaidenDec 19, 2022
@deinonychus Instant deep envy....and a need to have earrings made from it...
Show threadDeinonychusDec 19, 2022
@Judeet88 Literally never. Cutting this would be a crime and pyromorphite is too soft for jewelry as it is.
Show threadShield MaidenDec 19, 2022
@deinonychus Yes...damn...oh well never mind...will look through my collection of rocks and see if there's any I can get some earrings made out of a small piece!
Show threadDeinonychusDec 19, 2022
@Judeet88 If you want a nice piece of PA to wear, I highly recommend Delaware County garnets. Beautiful reds and durable enough they won't get scratched up. Natalisgems on IG has a bunch of gem rough for sale
Show threadShield MaidenDec 19, 2022
@deinonychus I'm in the UK...I do have a rock I think I bought some time ago that has garnets in it...I do go to gemstone fairs here and know someone who's a regular exhibitor but whom I haven't contacted for a few years.
Show threadDeinonychus
@Judeet88 Awesome! The local shows are the best for find strange rocks. The UK has a bunch of gem and mineral clubs that usually put on shows. Mindat.org tracks a lot of them since their admin team is largely UK-based
Dec 19, 2022 at 10:20pmWeb
Show threadShield MaidenDec 19, 2022
@deinonychus I first started getting interested in exhibitors when I was studying geology with the Open University and attended their annual 3 day symposiums up and down the country. I find some pretty strange stuff during walks out and about too all over the country. My house is like a rock museum...