Mont St-Hilaire Gallery 1
Mont Saint-Hilaire is the largest of 10 plutons located in the St. Lawrence lowlands that are collectively known as the Monteregian Hills. Currently, there are 383 valid minerals and 58 type localities that have been found at Mont Saint-Hilaire.
Quarrying at Mont Saint-Hilaire began in 1959. In 1961, Uni-Mix Inc. opened the Desourdy Quarry. Both of these were incorporated into the Demix Quarry in 1974. All of the workings currently fall under the name Poudrette Quarry; the former Demix Quarry is now the western part of the Poudrette Quarry, so it is useful to retain the Demix locality, as it indicates a portion of the current Poudrette Quarry.
These specimens represent a portion of the suite of Mont Saint-Hilaire minerals assembled by long-time mineral collector Thomas Fitzpatrick, many having come to him from the Ron Waddell collection. Mr. Waddell was renowned for his knowledge of the mineralogy of Mont Saint-Hilaire.
click on images for larger views FOV
~ 1.6 x 2 mm
FOV ~ 1
x 1.2 mm
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~ 1 x 1.2 mm
EPID11-1 Epididymite
on Aegerine $95
collected by Ron Waddell, ex Tom Fitzpatrick
Poudrette Quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire, Rouville RCM, Montérégie, Québec, Canada
2.2 cm x 1.9 cm x 1.2 cm
This is the most amazing sight under a microscope or a loupe. Ron Waddell called it "Snowflake Epididymite" because the flat, colorless crystals impaled on Aegerine needles look like a wild snowstorm (see upper right photo). And if that isn't enough, there is a bizarre 0.5-mm-long tube, possibly also made of Epididymite (Na2Be2Si6O15·H2O), that is shown in the two lower photos. The tube can also be seen midway along the lower edge of the upper left photo. A truly one-of-a-kind piece.
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on images for larger views
FOV ~ 2.5
x 3 mm
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~ 0.5 x 0.6 mm
BAST11-1 Bastnäsite-(Ce),
Nenadkevichite and Aegerine $20 SOLD
collected by Ron Waddell, ex Tom Fitzpatrick
Poudrette Quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire, Rouville RCM, Montérégie, Québec, Canada
2.0 cm x 1.8 cm x 1.4 cm
This specimen features green balls of Bastnäsite-Ce: (Ce,La)(CO3)F impaled on Aegerine needles (lower left photo) and accompanied by a couple small crystal pairs of pinkish, chisel-tipped Nenadkevichite (Na,[ ])8Nb4(Si4O12)2(O,OH)4·8H2O) crystals (lower right photo).
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on images for larger views FOV
~ 3 x 3 mm
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for larger views FOV
~ 7 x 5 mm
ALB11-3
Synchysite-(Y), Pink Albite, Elpidite
and Rhodochrosite $35
collected by Ron Waddell in 1988, ex Tom Fitzpatrick
Poudrette Quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire, Rouville RCM, Montérégie, Québec, Canada
5.7 cm 5.0 x cm x 4.0 cm
Pink Albite (NaAlSi3O8) was found near the entrance to the Poudrette Quarry in 1988. This specimen also has gray sprays of Synchysite-Y: Ca(Y,Ce)(CO3)2F, needles of greenish Elpidite (Na2ZrSi6O15·3H2O) and red-brown rhombs of Rhodochrosite (MnCO3) in abundance, and a handwritten label from the collector, Ron Waddell.
click on images for larger views FOV
~ 3 x 2 mm
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~ 2 x 3 mm
FOV ~ 3
x 3 mm
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~ 1 x 1 mm
RUT11-1 Anatase,
Rutile, Quartz and Fluorite $38
collected by Ron Waddell, ex Tom Fitzpatrick
Poudrette Quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire, Rouville RCM, Montérégie, Québec, Canada
8.5 cm x 5.2 cm x 2.1 cm
There are a couple of really fine crystals on this piece. The first one is a pair of Anatase (TiO2), shown in the upper right and center right photos. The second is probably a Rutile since it appears to be a sixling; see lower left and lower right photos. Rutile is also TiO2 but with different molecular structure than Anatase; they are called polymorphs.
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images for larger views
GON11-1 Tetranatrolite
(now called Gonnardite) on Natrolite and Albite, on Syenite matrix $35
SOLD
collected by Ron Waddell, ex Tom Fitzpatrick
Poudrette Quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire, Rouville RCM, Montérégie, Québec, Canada
10.5 cm x 5.8 cm x 4.5 cm
Tetranatrolite
(described as Na2Al2Si3O10·2H2O
in the Mineralogical Record MSH issue, Vol 21, No. 4) was originally
reported in 1980 from Mont Saint-Hilaire. In 1999, it was discredited
in favor of Gonnardite without actually working on the type specimen
or on any identified Tetranatrolite itself. Thus, the compositions and
structural relationship between Gonnardite (which is currently recorded
as (Na,Ca)2(Si,Al)5O10·3H2O)
and Tetranatrolite remains somewhat controversial, according to MinDat.org.
click on
images for larger views
CARL11-6 Carletonite (TL) $35 SOLD
Poudrette Quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire, Rouville RCM, Montérégie, Québec, Canada
4.5 cm x 3.0 cm x 2.4 cm
A
rich blue Carletonite : KNa4Ca4Si8O18(CO3)4(OH,F)·H2O
from the Type Locality and actually, the only locality in the
world.
click on images for larger views FOV
~ 5 x 5 mm
FOV
~ 10 x 8 mm
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~ 8 x 8 mm
LORENZ11-1 Lorenzenite
with Narsarsukite and Unknown $25
collected by Ron Waddell, ex Tom Fitzpatrick SOLD
Poudrette Quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire, Rouville RCM, Montérégie, Québec, Canada
5.6 cm x 4.5 cm x 4.0 cm
This specimen has a very fine spray of white Lorenzenite (Na2Ti2(Si2O6)O3, upper right photo) with a couple of unknowns, a situation that is not unusual for Mont Saint-Hilaire. Ron Waddell has written on his note that there is striated Narsarsukite present on this piece (see bottom two photos). The dark mineral in the upper right photo is the unknown (UK) referred to on Ron Waddell's label.
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images for larger views FOV
~ 2 x 2.5 mm
LORENZ11-2 Lorenzenite
$32
collected by Ron Waddell in 1990, ex Tom Fitzpatrick
Poudrette Quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire, Rouville RCM, Montérégie, Québec, Canada
8.4 cm x 4.0 cm x 1.4 cm
An extremely rich specimen of pinkish-white Lorenzenite sprays (Na2Ti2(Si2O6)O3) covering a large portion of the specimen surface, with a hand-written label from Ron Waddell.
click on
images for larger views FOV
~ 10 x 9 mm
LORENZ9-1 Lorenzenite
$42 SOLD
collected by Ron Waddell in 1990, ex Tom Fitzpatrick
Poudrette Quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire, Rouville RCM, Montérégie, Québec, Canada
6.7 cm x 3.8 cm x 1.5 cm
This is my best specimen of Lorenzenite (Na2Ti2(Si2O6)O3) sprays for naked-eye viewing. The main pair of sprays is over 1 cm wide and there are a lot of pretty little Quartz crystals on the piece, too. Ron Waddell notes on his label that some nice Brookite also came from this find, though I don't see any on this piece.
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on images for larger views
FOV ~ 3
x 2 mm
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~ 2 x 2 mm
GOTZ11-3 Götzenite,
Calcioancylite-(Ce), Calcite, Fluorite, Mica and Pectolite $45
collected by Ron Waddell, ex Tom Fitzpatrick
Poudrette Quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire, Rouville RCM, Montérégie, Québec, Canada
4.4 cm x 4.0 cm x 3.6 cm
According to Ron Waddell's label, there are at least 6 sprays of Calcioancylite-(Ce) : (Ca,Sr)Ce(CO3)2(OH)·H2O on this piece, but because they are now colorless (the pink tends to fade and makes them harder to find), I stopped after locating a good spray that also contains an opaque, white-yellow Götzenite: Na2Ca5Ti(Si2O7)2F4 (see bottom two photos, which give two angles on the same spray). This is a nice Mont Saint-Hilaire combination piece.
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for larger views FOV
~ 10 x 13 mm
NEPH11-1 Nepheline
and Eudialyte crystals on Hackmanite $25
collected by Ron Waddell, ex Tom Fitzpatrick
Poudrette Quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire, Rouville RCM, Montérégie, Québec, Canada
3.3 cm x 2.3 cm x 1.0 cm
A nice gray Nepheline ((Na,K)AlSiO4) crystal stands prominently in the center of the right-hand photo, and is visible midway across the top of the specimen in the left-hand photo. Surrounding it are many red Eudialyte: Na15Ca6(Fe2+,Mn2+)3Zr3[Si25O73](O,OH,H2O)3(OH,Cl)2 crystals. The Hackmanite (Na8Al6Si6O24(Cl2,S)) of the matrix fluoresces orange in LWUV, but is only very slightly tenebrescent under SWUV.
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on images for larger views
FOV ~ 0.5 x 0.5 mm
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~ 11 x 8 mm
NENAD11-1
Nenadkevichite and Analcime $40 RESERVED
collected by Ron Waddell; ID by Dr. Chao 6/19/80; ex Tom Fitzpatrick
Poudrette Quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire, Rouville RCM, Montérégie, Québec, Canada
5.2 cm x 2.5 cm x 2.2 cm
This Nenadkevichite (Na,[ ])8Nb4(Si4O12)2(O,OH)4·8H2O) has crystals with very unusual dark tips (see bottom left photo); they were analyzed by Dr. Chao. It also has a pseudomorph composed of Analcime: Na2(Al2Si4O12)·2H2O after an unknown mineral (see bottom right photo).
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on images for larger views
FOV ~ 3 x 2.5 mm
click on images for larger views ~
3 x 2.5 mm
NENAD11-2
Nenadkevichite, Zircon, Albite and Chamosite $20
collected 7/87 by Ron Waddell; ID by Dr. Chao; ex Tom Fitzpatrick
Poudrette Quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire, Rouville RCM, Montérégie, Québec, Canada
4.0 cm x 3.5 cm x 3.1 cm
The Nenadkevichite (Na,[ ])8Nb4(Si4O12)2(O,OH)4·8H2O) crystals on this specimen are described by Ron Waddell on his handwritten tag, and they were confirmed by the preeminent Mont Saint-Hilaire expert, Dr. George Chao, but I have to admit that I can't see them - hence the low price. The fluorescent Zircons ZrSiO4 are quite beautiful (bottom left photo) with color zoning, and the dark Chamosite : (Fe2+,Mg)5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8 around clear Albite is in the bottom right photo.
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for larger views FOV
~ 1 x 1.4 mm
LABUN11-1 Labuntsovite
$22
collected by Ron Waddell in 1981; ex Tom Fitzpatrick
Poudrette Quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire, Rouville RCM, Montérégie, Québec, Canada
1.7 cm x 1.7 cm x 1.5 cm
A matrix piece with a relatively large, orange Labuntsovite-Mn: Na4K4(Ba,K)2Mn2+(Ti,Nb)8(Si4O12)4(O,OH)8·10-12H2O.
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on images for larger views
FOV ~ 2.4
x 2 mm
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~ 2 x 2 mm
LABUN11-2 Labuntsovite
on Albite and Natrolite $25 SOLD
collected by Ron Waddell, ex Tom Fitzpatrick
Poudrette Quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire, Rouville RCM, Montérégie, Québec, Canada
1.2 cm x 0.5 cm x 0.3 cm
This is a tiny piece, but it has lots of bright orange Labuntsovite-Mn (Na4K4(Ba,K)2Mn2+(Ti,Nb)8(Si4O12)4(O,OH)8·10-12H2O) crystals that contrast nicely against the white Albite (NaAlSi3O8) and Natrolite : Na2Al2Si3O10·2H2O.
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on images for larger views FOV
~ 2.2 x 2.5 mm
LABUN11-3 Labuntsovite $18
collected by Ron Waddell, ex Tom Fitzpatrick
Poudrette Quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire, Rouville RCM, Montérégie, Québec, Canada
1.6 cm x 1.0 cm x 0.8 cm
A matrix piece with an oddly-shaped, deep orange Labuntsovite-Mn: Na4K4(Ba,K)2Mn2+(Ti,Nb)8(Si4O12)4(O,OH)8·10-12H2O.
click on images
for larger views FOV
~ 2.5 x 2 mm
MAK11-1 Makatite
and Eudialyte $32 SOLD
collected by Ron Waddell, ex Tom Fitzpatrick
Poudrette Quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire, Rouville RCM, Montérégie, Québec, Canada
1.6 cm x 1 cm x 1 cm
Silky white Makatite (Na2Si4O8(OH)2·4H2O) next to red Eudialyte (Na15Ca6(Fe2+,Mn2+)3Zr3[Si25O73](O,OH,H2O)3(OH,Cl)2) is shown in closeup in the right-hand photo, and can be spied midway along the top edge in the left-hand photo. The species was found mainly at the southern end of Poudrette Quarry. It is an extremely rare mineral found in only six localities worldwide, and the best examples appear to come from Mont Saint-Hilaire.
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for larger views FOV
~ 5 x 4.5 mm
STRON11-2 Strontianite
and Siderite $18 SOLD
collected by Ron Waddell in 1986, ex Tom Fitzpatrick
Poudrette Quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire, Rouville RCM, Montérégie, Québec, Canada
2.0 cm x 1.5 cm x 1 cm
Beautiful white sprays of acicular Strontianite (SrCO3) are scattered among sharp rhombs of Siderite (FeCO3).
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on images for larger views FOV
~ 4 x 4 mm
SHORT11-1 Shortite $20
SOLD
collected by Ron Waddell, ex Tom Fitzpatrick
Poudrette Quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire, Rouville RCM, Montérégie, Québec, Canada
2.7 cm x 2.3 cm x 1.4 cm
Shortite : Na2Ca2(CO3)3 is a very rare mineral, being found in only 7 countries, and it is quite rare at Mont Saint-Hilaire, also. This piece has some spots that fluoresce orange in LWUV, so this particular piece may have come from a sodalite xenolith.
click on images
for larger views
FOV
~ 3 x 3 mm
CAYS9-1 Caysichite-(Y)
(TL) $38 SOLD
ex Jerry Van Velthuizen, ex L. St-Cyr
Evans-Lou Mine, Lac Saint-Pierre, Val-des-Monts, Les Collines-de-l'Outaouais RCM, Outaouais, Québec, Canada
4.1 cm x 2.4 cm x 1.9 cm
An extremely rare Caysichite-Y (Ca2Y2Si4O10(CO3)3·4H2O) sphere, quite large for the species, and from the type locality. It comes with a simple handwritten label (it says only "Caysichite") from Jerry Van Velthuizen of the Mineral Sciences Division, National Museum of Natural Sciences, Ottawa, Ontario. Note this is NOT Mont Saint-Hilaire, but I like to keep Québec localities together.
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