David K. Joyce

Boulangerite Rings, Rogers Mine, Madoc, Ontario

Here is a mineralogical curiosity!! Boulangerite is not a particularly rare sulphosalt. It occurs in "hairy", acicular crystals and mats of crystals in many deposits. However, on occasion, the hairlike crystals somehow form as tiny, marvelous "rings" or "cylinders" that are wonderful to behold. I do not know why they do this! You need a microscope to enjoy them. In the write-up for each specimen, In each photo of the specimen itself, you will see red arrows affixed to the specimen pointing in the direction of the ring(s) to assist you in locating them. All of the matrices are chunks of calcite/fluorite/barite vein material from this old long-closed fluorite mine, that contain one or more vugs containing the boulangerite rings. Soemtimes there are small sphalerite or pyrite crystals associated. If you would like to know more about these rings, check out this reference: Bideaux, R.A. (1970) Mineral rings and cylinders. Mineralogical Record, V1, #3. In the meantime, I hope that you enjoy these mineralogical enigmas!

All prices in Canadian dollars. For payment in US$, deduct 18% or multiply by 0.82.

Click on any of the following thumbnails to view a larger image of the specimen.

Item #25771 Boulangerite 4.8x4.8x3.7 cm Largest Crystal Size: micro $85.00 Rogers Mine Madoc Quebec, Canada There are three rings on this piece. One is embedded in fluorite and the other two are on fluorite. Sharp, excellent rings!	Item #25773 Bindheimite, ps Boulangerite 5.2x3.5x4.0 cm Largest Crystal Size: micro $65.00 Rogers Mine Madoc Ontario, Canada A vug in this calcite-fluorite matrix has a very sharp, small, short cylinder. The boulangerite has been altered to bindheimite, though! As well, there is a bindheimite ring! Unusual pseudomorphs! Very cool!	Item #25775 Boulangerite 4.7x3.7x3.5 cm Largest Crystal Size: micro $65.00 Rogers Mine Madoc Ontario, Canada A very sharp boulangerite cylinder is perched on the side of a calcite crystal. The cylinder is partially encrusted with a white mineral, perhaps calcite. Nice!	Item #25778 Boulangerite 7.0x4.4x3.0 cm Largest Crystal Size: micro $75.00 Rogers Mine Madoc Ontario, Canada There are actually a couple of rings caught up in a web of regular, curved acicular crystals of boulangerite in this cavity. In the adjacent cavity, there is a prefect, tiny ring. Nice example!
Item #25779 Boulangerite 4.5x4.2x2.6 cm Largest Crystal Size: micro $75.00 Rogers Mine Madoc Ontario, Canada A delicate, perfect, ring of boulangerite is suspended in a web of other regular boulancerite crystals in this specimen . Beautiful example!	Item #25780 Boulangerite 3.4x1.9x0.9 cm Largest Crystal Size: micro $65.00 Rogers Mine Madoc Ontario, Canada One, really nice, perfect ring of boulangerite in a vug in this calcite-fluorite matrix. looks like it was machined!	Item #25781 Boulangerite 2.1x2.0x1.6 cm Largest Crystal Size: micro $75.00 Rogers Mine Madoc Ontario, Canada There are two rings stuck together in this calcite vug, associated with lots of very long un, ringed boulangerite crystals. These two rings are great examples!	Item #25782 Boulangerite 5.5x4.3x1.3 cm Largest Crystal Size: 3mm $35.00 Rogers Mine Madoc Ontario, Canada This specimen has a calcite vug that has regular elongated, graceful boulangerite crystals around in the vug. No rings, just nice acicular boulangerite!
Item #25783 Boulangerite 5.0x4.3x3.0 cm Largest Crystal Size: micro $75.00 Rogers Mine Madoc Ontario, Canada This specimen has at least three nice, sharply outlined boulangerite rings on it, in a calcite vug. Excellent!