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'Western Diggings' Iolite Deposit, Spriggs Creek Bore (Spriggs Bore), Ambalindum Station, Harts Range, Central Desert Region, Northern Territory, Australiai
Regional Level Types
'Western Diggings' Iolite DepositDeposit
Spriggs Creek Bore (Spriggs Bore)- not defined -
Ambalindum Station- not defined -
Harts RangeMountain Range
Central Desert RegionRegion
Northern TerritoryTerritory
AustraliaCountry

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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
23° 2' 29'' South , 135° 12' 33'' East
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
-23.04148,135.20937
GRN:
S16E88
Type:
Deposit
Köppen climate type:
BWh : Hot deserts climate
Mindat Locality ID:
295000
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:295000:9
GUID (UUID V4):
0


To reach follow the same directions as the 'Shaw's Iolite Deposit' Mindat locality. At the sheds, take the track south about one kilometre until a creek crossing is reached. The iolite is on the western bank of the creek, 300 metres upstream (south), containing only a few pits. There are several faint tracks, and more substantial creek channels in the area, and some exploration on foot could be required to locate the site.

Iolite is the gem variety of cordierite. Iolite is found in feldspar rich zones in a quartz-feldspar-mica rock. Look for white feldspar layering in any digging, with lilac coloured iolite, and follow in the hope of uncovering gem material. Dry sieving may be useful.

Also found is blue-green kyanite crystals up to 15 cms long in very coarse grained biotite lenses. Also pink sugary ruby corundum in brown to black biotite, and long needle like amphibolite crystals in a light coloured gneiss, in places containing garnets. Material on the surface is unlikely these days and digging will be required.

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Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Mineral List


3 valid minerals.

Rock Types Recorded


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Alphabetical List Tree Diagram

Detailed Mineral List:

ⓘ 'Biotite'
Formula: K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
ⓘ Cordierite
Formula: Mg2Al4Si5O18
ⓘ Cordierite var. Iolite
Formula: (Mg,Fe)2Al3(AlSi5O18)
ⓘ Corundum
Formula: Al2O3
ⓘ 'Feldspar Group'
ⓘ 'Garnet Group'
Formula: X3Z2(SiO4)3
ⓘ Kyanite
Formula: Al2(SiO4)O
ⓘ 'Mica Group'

Gallery:

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
ⓘCorundum4.CB.05Al2O3
Group 9 - Silicates
ⓘKyanite9.AF.15Al2(SiO4)O
ⓘCordierite9.CJ.10Mg2Al4Si5O18
ⓘvar. Iolite9.CJ.10(Mg,Fe)2Al3(AlSi5O18)
Unclassified
ⓘ'Biotite'-K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
ⓘ'Feldspar Group'-
ⓘ'Mica Group'-
ⓘ'Garnet Group'-X3Z2(SiO4)3

List of minerals for each chemical element

HHydrogen
Hⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
OOxygen
Oⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Oⓘ CordieriteMg2Al4Si5O18
Oⓘ CorundumAl2O3
Oⓘ KyaniteAl2(SiO4)O
Oⓘ Cordierite var. Iolite(Mg,Fe)2Al3(AlSi5O18)
Oⓘ Garnet GroupX3Z2(SiO4)3
FFluorine
Fⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
MgMagnesium
Mgⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Mgⓘ CordieriteMg2Al4Si5O18
Mgⓘ Cordierite var. Iolite(Mg,Fe)2Al3(AlSi5O18)
AlAluminium
Alⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Alⓘ CordieriteMg2Al4Si5O18
Alⓘ CorundumAl2O3
Alⓘ KyaniteAl2(SiO4)O
Alⓘ Cordierite var. Iolite(Mg,Fe)2Al3(AlSi5O18)
SiSilicon
Siⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Siⓘ CordieriteMg2Al4Si5O18
Siⓘ KyaniteAl2(SiO4)O
Siⓘ Cordierite var. Iolite(Mg,Fe)2Al3(AlSi5O18)
Siⓘ Garnet GroupX3Z2(SiO4)3
KPotassium
Kⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
TiTitanium
Tiⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
FeIron
Feⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Feⓘ Cordierite var. Iolite(Mg,Fe)2Al3(AlSi5O18)

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

Australia
Australian PlateTectonic Plate

This page contains all mineral locality references listed on mindat.org. This does not claim to be a complete list. If you know of more minerals from this site, please register so you can add to our database. This locality information is for reference purposes only. You should never attempt to visit any sites listed in mindat.org without first ensuring that you have the permission of the land and/or mineral rights holders for access and that you are aware of all safety precautions necessary.

References

Thompson, D. (ed.) (1986), A Fossicking Guide to the Northern Territory, Northern Territory Geological Survey, Northern Territory Department of Mines and Energy, 2nd ed., 73p, 1986
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