Iron Hill (Powderhorn) is an important perovskite deposit in Colorado: https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2009/1005/downloads/OF09-1005.pdf. Similar to Magnet Cove, it is a carbonatite complex. Perovskite is a potential source of titanium. When the property was owned by Buttes Gas and Oil Co. I was hired to work on developing processes to recover and convert the Perovskite to TiO2 pigment. Recovery of the rare earths was also investigated. I think that some crystals of perovskite have been found there, but all I ever saw was drill core which had no cavities where crystals could grow. The perovskite was mixed with carbonates, magnetite, and pyroxene and sort of resembled a marble cake. Like Magnet Cove, a significant quantity of the perovskite was altered to TiO2 (confirmed as anatase by XRD) but it is also mixed with other altered minerals and the mixture was referred to as leucoxene. It was higher in titanium than perovskite, but earthy and hard to recover. It was a very interesting project!
An interesting mineral, though my specimens come from the Oka Complex, Oka, Quebec, Canada. Children like the apparently perfect little black cubes. Right up there with little perfect pyritohedrons of pyrite and "Herkimer" diamonds.
These are niobium rich perovskites, but I have never seen any from the area labeled "Dysanalyte".
To my disappointment, upon analysis, none of the very sharp, black crystals collected have met the criteria to be labeled Latrappite instead.
Thx Richard. I stopped at rock shops not far from Magnet Cove when I passed through, but it was not a pleasure trip, so I didn't do a deep dive into what's there. Thx for the perovskite discussion. I have a 'skeletal' one, a gift, so it's nice to appreciate more about it. It is " close to cubic" but not cubic, (kind of like vesuvianite is close to garnet structure, but the unit cell is longer, so not exactly garnet?). So if I get the right idea from your description.... And the weathering to anatase is very interesting...
Iron Hill (Powderhorn) is an important perovskite deposit in Colorado: https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2009/1005/downloads/OF09-1005.pdf. Similar to Magnet Cove, it is a carbonatite complex. Perovskite is a potential source of titanium. When the property was owned by Buttes Gas and Oil Co. I was hired to work on developing processes to recover and convert the Perovskite to TiO2 pigment. Recovery of the rare earths was also investigated. I think that some crystals of perovskite have been found there, but all I ever saw was drill core which had no cavities where crystals could grow. The perovskite was mixed with carbonates, magnetite, and pyroxene and sort of resembled a marble cake. Like Magnet Cove, a significant quantity of the perovskite was altered to TiO2 (confirmed as anatase by XRD) but it is also mixed with other altered minerals and the mixture was referred to as leucoxene. It was higher in titanium than perovskite, but earthy and hard to recover. It was a very interesting project!
Cool - thanks for sharing that!
An interesting mineral, though my specimens come from the Oka Complex, Oka, Quebec, Canada. Children like the apparently perfect little black cubes. Right up there with little perfect pyritohedrons of pyrite and "Herkimer" diamonds.
These are niobium rich perovskites, but I have never seen any from the area labeled "Dysanalyte".
To my disappointment, upon analysis, none of the very sharp, black crystals collected have met the criteria to be labeled Latrappite instead.
Jeepers! Such complexity!
I LOVE perovskite now! noce, sharp, simple xls
Thx Richard. I stopped at rock shops not far from Magnet Cove when I passed through, but it was not a pleasure trip, so I didn't do a deep dive into what's there. Thx for the perovskite discussion. I have a 'skeletal' one, a gift, so it's nice to appreciate more about it. It is " close to cubic" but not cubic, (kind of like vesuvianite is close to garnet structure, but the unit cell is longer, so not exactly garnet?). So if I get the right idea from your description.... And the weathering to anatase is very interesting...