A vein 1.5 cm thick of brown schallerite, tannish-white willemite in subhedral to euhedral crystals (left side of vein), and white calcite in irregular white grains (right side of vein) cutting granular franklinite-willemite-calcite ore. Note the hexagonal cross-sections of willemite crystals in the lower left portion of the vein. The calcite of the matrix is discolored brown in places, probably by weathering, but this is reversible by careful chemical treatment. At one time in the collection of Steve Chuka, a Franklin resident, this specimen was acquired by Ray Latawiec from Mr. Chuka’s son and was analyzed as schallerite by Joe Orosz, former curator of the Franklin Mineral Museum. Mr. Latawiec later wrote that he had pursuaded Chuka's son to part with the specimen "with the help of our mutual friend, Bud Weiser." The specimen eventually was acquired by the Sterling Hill Mining Museum upon its purchase of Mr. Latawiec’s vein specimens and was given the catalog number SHMM-1820.
Identifier: SCH5a Locality: Franklin mine, Franklin Specimen size: 8 x 6.5 x 5 cm Photo credit: Earl R. Verbeek