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Very Hot Topic (More than 25 Replies) Garnets in Mica? (Read 20479 times)
JoeM
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Garnets in Mica?
Mar 27th, 2011 at 7:35pm
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A few years ago there was a spot here in Wake Forest that
was penned the Mica-Garnet site. Someone pointed out to me
that some of the Mica had little spots of Garnet in them, so
I pulled out a few clumps of the mica to check later.
Here's a few pics of the first pieces I've looked at. I don't
know if the spots are Garnet yet or not, but have more
material to go thru.

The last pic is a "scenic landscape" for your enjoyment. Smiley

  

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GarnetMica9.jpg ( 87 KB | 135 Downloads )
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Dennis
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Re: Garnets in Mica?
Reply #1 - Mar 28th, 2011 at 8:19am
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Very nice pictures, Joe.

I believe that most of the staining in your mica is from hematite and manganese based on the feathering around the edges.  Also, you can see some of the dendritic growth along fracture lines in the mica caused from manganese minerals,

All of the garnets included in mica I have seen, or have, are well defined, flattened crystals with distorted crystal faces.  I will try to post a photo of one of my specimens to show an example of what I am referring to.

Keep looking and keep peeling mica sheets.  If the site is known for mica and garnets, you will find a crystal or two included in the mica sheets.

Dennis
  
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Dennis
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Re: Garnets in Mica?
Reply #2 - Mar 28th, 2011 at 8:45am
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Okay, I found some photos of garnets included in muscovite that I have in my collection.  Most of the mica mines in the Spruce Pine area produced these, and old literature is full of reports of large gem quality garnets imbedded in mica.  In fact, they were very much sought after for gemstones because of their clarity.




Autrey Hollow mines, Estatoe, Mitchell Co., NC.  These are small specimens I found in the mid 1960s in one of the old mica mines near my house.  The garnets average about 2.0 mm in size.  It's a bad photograph and I am in the process of retaking pictures of many of my specimens.



Spruce Pine, Mitchell Co., NC.  These garnets are around 5.0 mm in size and are included in "A type" muscovite.  This type of mica was inferior quality due to the twinned crystal structure and was generally ground for shaping into insulators or additives in paint or make-up.



Closeup of the same specimen above.


I won't talk about the number of garnets I destroyed trying to get that last piece of mica off of the crystals!

Dennis
  
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JoeM
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Re: Garnets in Mica?
Reply #3 - Mar 28th, 2011 at 9:09am
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Yes, Thanks Dennis, That's what we're talking about!
I assumed there would be better shape to the garnets than
what I was seeing. It really helps to see some pics of what
I'm looking for!
If you want me, I'll be peeling mica. Wink

Joe
  
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Scott LaBorde
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Re: Garnets in Mica?
Reply #4 - Mar 28th, 2011 at 9:10am
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Very nice pictures Joes.  We had a ball picking up all those mica books and garnets at that site -- now covered in asphalt.  That site will always be one of my favorite memories as it catapulted me into the rockhounding world.

Dennis, the clarity is very nice for those garnets.  The contrast against the mica really makes them pop.
  

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Rebecca
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Re: Garnets in Mica?
Reply #5 - Mar 29th, 2011 at 9:17am
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beautifu specimens. mica and garnets are wonderful.
  
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JoeM
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Re: Garnets in Mica?
Reply #6 - Apr 2nd, 2011 at 9:38pm
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Well, no garnets yet, but I've still got a lot more peeeling to do.
Just wanted to post a few more pics of the "black spots"
and then I'll wait till I find a garnet for more. Wink



  

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NoGarnetMica1.jpg ( 85 KB | 134 Downloads )
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JoeM
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Re: Garnets in Mica?
Reply #7 - Apr 8th, 2011 at 10:30pm
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Well, maybe just a few more. Roll Eyes

  

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Dennis
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Re: Garnets in Mica?
Reply #8 - Apr 9th, 2011 at 12:26pm
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Joe,

Incredible closeups of the manganese and iron staining.  Welcome to Timothy Leary's world!!!!!

Dennis
  
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JoeM
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Re: Garnets in Mica?
Reply #9 - Apr 10th, 2011 at 12:13am
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HA! Funny, Dennis. But kinda true. Smiley
  
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Dennis
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Re: Garnets in Mica?
Reply #10 - Apr 10th, 2011 at 8:49am
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Sorry about that, Joe.  I had a flashback to the '70s when I looked at your pictures!
  
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JoeM
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Re: Garnets in Mica?
Reply #11 - Apr 10th, 2011 at 9:39am
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Oh yeah, Dennis, I'm right there with you.
You know what they say,"Old hippies never die, they just grab
their digital microscope and find a rock to crawl under". Grin
  
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Re: Garnets in Mica?
Reply #12 - Apr 10th, 2011 at 6:51pm
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Wow..those are crazy pics, joe!!  Very cool.  I had to look at them twice
  
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JoeM
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Re: Garnets in Mica?
Reply #13 - Apr 10th, 2011 at 8:29pm
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Thanks, AG, glad you enjoyed them.
Even tho I haven't spotted any garnets yet, I've been
enjoying the hunt. I had no idea all that was going on in a
piece of mica. I may be hooked.

Joe
  
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Re: Garnets in Mica?
Reply #14 - Apr 11th, 2011 at 9:19am
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those pics are fantastical! beautiful little art pieces. mica is so cool! i want one of those dino lites now. i wonder what the inside of mica gems look like.
  
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