Sussexite

Part of a North Orebody rare mineral pod, showing a clear sequence of hydrothermal alteration from lean ore to the center of the pod, and highlighting the two major forms of sussexite. The ore, to the bottom and right of the photo, is mostly serpentinized and dolomitized calcite with rounded grains of black franklinite and traces of willemite best seen under shortwave UV. The rare mineral pod has a thin, discontinuous rim of brownish serpentine, then calcite, then a layer of cherty pinkish-lavender sussexite passing upward to laths of tan fibrous sussexite. Touches of orange zincite and black oxidized pyrochroite complete the picture. This NOB masterpiece, once no. 818 in the Richard Hauck collection, is now in the collection of Steven Phillips. Compare to specimens SSX44 and SSX15; the sequence is similar.

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