Featured Mineral Specimens
Francon Quarry Minerals
The January-February (vol. 37, # 1) did a fantastic job of showcasing the minerals of the Francon Quarry in Montreal, Canada. An entire issue totally devoted to this important locality and its minerals! They even went as far as to reprinting some images needing color corrections in the next issue. "Nice job Min. Record."
"The Francon Quarry ranks as the second most prolific type locality in Canada after Mont Saint-Hilaire. It has yielded ten new mineral species: weloganite, dresserite, hydrodresserite, strontiodresserite, sabinaite, franconite, doyleite (co-type locality), hochelagaite (co-type locality), montroyalite and voggite. Weloganite, described in 1968, established the quarry as a world-famous mineral collecting site. Weloganite was the first known zirconium carbonate, and remarkably, it occurs as attractive, well-formed crystals up to 6 cm in size. Ninety species have been documented from the quarry, mostly from unique, dawsonite-rich carbonatized phonolite sills which are genetically part of the Monteregion Hills alkaline igneous province." (Tarassoff, et. al., 2006)
Now that the quarry has been filled (with trash!) and is no longer open to collectors, where does one acquire these fine and rare specimens? I have seen a few on the internet...always, SOLD. Thanks to the fine collecting efforts of Dr. Steve Chamberlain we now have a fantastic assemblage of Francon minerals. His 15 years of work are shown here in what amounts to the finest selection of Francon Quarry minerals to be found for sale, anywhere! Add one or more to your collection quickly. There will be no more of these rare specimens available in the future.
***IMPORTANT NOTES*** Many of these specimens contain additional minerals which are not listed in their descriptions. Only the macro- crystals are noted so any other minerals found under closer inspection can be considered nice bonuses. Also, the white coating found on many of the weloganites is most likely Franconite. The weloganite from Francon fluoresces under S.W., M.W. and L.W. ultraviolet light. It is also pyroelectric and triboluminescent (emitting bluish - white flashes when fractured).
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OKF-364 Weloganite Upper Sill, Francon Quarry, Montréal, Québec, Canada. Ex Dr. Steve Chamberlain collection. This is probably the largest weloganite crystal to come from Steve's Francon quarry collection. The primary crystal measures 3.9 cm has been reattached to the nicely trimmed section of matrix. The lower termination has a small area of attachment but the rest of the crystal is very clean. The backside of the crystal is open to the vug is contained within. So even though it looks to be embedded in its opening, it sits up nicely outside of it for viewing. If this crystal was slightly better formed it would be a museum great specimen. Because it is somewhat crude I have a bargain basement price on this extremely rare piece. Weloganite crystals are almost never this large and very seldom on matrix. Very desirable, displayable and rare. $450
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OKF-100 Weloganite Francon Quarry, Montréal, Québec, Canada. Ex. Dr. Steve Chamberlain collection. This large thumbnail plate measures 3.5 x 3.1 cm in this approximately 1.8 cm thick. There approximately 20 small hexagonal weloganites on the surface of the specimen. One is missing and the rest are in great shape and sharply formed. A desirable specimen from a permanently closed location. $150
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OKE-380 Weloganite Francon Quarry, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Ex. Steve Chamberlain Collection, Prev. Canadian Museum of Nature. Great Mineralogical Record issue dedicated to this now permanently closed locality (Ref. Min. Record Jan- Feb. 2006, Vol # 37, No. 1). Beautiful 1.6 cm hourglass shaped crystal of a rare species from its type locality. Specimen has more of a yellow color than the photo indicates. Luster, form, color and lack of damage make this piece a winner. 225$
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OKE-381 Weloganite Francon Quarry, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Ex. Steve Chamberlain Collection. Great Mineralogical Record issue dedicated to this now permanently closed locality (Ref. Min. Record Jan- Feb. 2006, Vol # 37, No. 1). This is a fine 1.4 cm example which can be had for a reasonable price. No damage, good form, color and luster. Specimen has more of a yellow color than the photo indicates. Tint clear crystal unknown accessory. 100$
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OKE-373 Weloganite Francon Quarry, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Ex. Steve Chamberlain Collection. Great Mineralogical Record issue dedicated to this now permanently closed locality (Ref. Min. Record Jan- Feb. 2006, Vol # 37, No. 1). Exceptional specimen in all regards…2.9 cm ranks this as very large for this rare species, which is from its type locality. The luster, translucence and yellow color are all top of the line. This particular crystal is the largest I have ever owned and the only one I would describe as being double terminated. There is a tiny contact on one termination where it may have been loosely connected to matrix. Minor white coating is likely Franconite (also type locality for the species). Amazing single crystal with a couple of very tiny rider crystals. Specimen has more of a yellow color than the photo indicates. One of the finest TN specimens I have ever owned. 600$
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OKE-374 Weloganite Francon Quarry, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Ex. Steve Chamberlain Collection. Great Mineralogical Record issue dedicated to this now permanently closed locality (Ref. Min. Record Jan- Feb. 2006, Vol # 37, No. 1). WOW! These crystals always seem to be a small crystal with a huge chunk of non-trimable matrix or with no matrix at all. This is one of only a couple I have ever seen which has large crystals and minor (just the right amount) of matrix. There are several large crystals here, to 1.6 cm each in crude parallel growth. Rare growth zoning and unknowns here too. Small clear crystals on the weloganites and tiny black spots that are who knows what. Specimen has more of a yellow color than the photo indicates. Piece measures 2.7 x 2.7 x 2.1 cm. Zero damage. Amazing TN specimen! 575$
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OKD-559 Analcime pseudo after Barite Francon Quarry, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Tiny clear to white crystals of analcime coat three barite crystals (and one missing one's base) and the complete inside of this 6 cm partial vug. The crystals are well formed and of a high luster for such an unusual encrustation pseudomorph. 9 x 5.5 x 4 cm overall. 65$
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OKD-560 Strontianite, Calcite and Marcasite RESERVED Francon Quarry, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Two balls of transparent yellow strontianite crystals rest within a vug filled by druze marcasite. On the other side of this opening is a red calcite crystal which really stands out considering it is only about 2 millimeters in size. The entire front viewing face is vug and it measures 9 cm long. Damage free. An exceptional strontianite grouping for this location. 200$
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OKD-561 Dresserite, Quartz and Weloganite Francon Quarry, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. A fantastic grouping of tiny white balls of the rare mineral dresserite. A couple of balls missing when viewed in close up (magnification). Small quartz crystals and weloganites here as well but the dresserites steal the show. The cluster measures a whopping 2 cm and is up high on the specimen. It views well from the front and even the back. Trimmed to a compact 4 x 4.5 x 3 cm. The piece stands up nicely and is certainly exceptional for the species. 350$
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OKD-562 Weloganite, Dresserite and Quartz Francon Quarry, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Well formed, double terminated crystals of weloganite up to 2 cm each are found within a vug measuring 5 x 4 cm. Scattered around the weloganites are tiny white balls of dresserite. Clear/ gray quartz are also present here and there among the other minerals. A very fine specimen which measures in at 10 x 8 x 5 cm. On the back of the specimen there is a second vug containing quartz and dresserite. Damage free. Great specimen! 275$
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OKD-564 Weloganite, Calcite, Dawsonite and Albite Francon Quarry, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Yellow and white weloganites lay on edge and stand up within a vug measuring 2 x 2.5 cm. The weloganites are up to 1.5 cm. Two are broken but the "hour glass" weloganite stands up nicely. Minor calcite crystals and dawsonite as accessory minerals. Another great specimen at...180$
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OKD-565 Strontianite, Fluorite and Quartz Francon Quarry, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Wow...a colorful specimen from Francon!. Translucent white balls of strontianite to several millimeters look larger than they really are when viewed on this purple matrix of micro fluorite. Attractive and unusual specimen for Francon. Damage free. 6 x 3.4 cm plate which displays very well. 95$
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OKD-566 Weloganite, Calcite, Dawsonite and Albite Francon Quarry, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Numerous well formed weloganites (mostly on perimeter of vug) and two compound balls of dresserite on quartz. Damage free. 3.5 x 4 cm opening with dresserite measuring up to 4 millimeters. A good specimen which measures 7 x 5 x 4.5 overall. 125$
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OKD-568 Weloganite and Cryolite Francon Quarry, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Two rare minerals tucked down in a pair if interconnected vugs to 3 cm each. The weloganites are in a spray of crystals which lies flat on the matrix of the opening while the clear cryolites (to .5 cm each) are protruding from the vugs sides. These crystals are not as clearly visible as some of the other pieces. Damage free. 95$
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OKD-569 Weloganite, Calcite and Quartz Francon Quarry, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Big, stocky weloganites to 1.3 cm long. The primary crystal is a pair with the one on the backside being hour glass shaped. They are well terminated while several others on the periphery are broken. Several quartz crystals grow out of the base of the main weloganite. A big piece at 10 x 6 x 5 cm. A very fine specimen. 225$
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OKD-570 Weloganite on Quartz Francon Quarry, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. An exceptional grouping of weloganites to over a cm each are scattered within this vug. The opening measures 3.5 x 3.5 cm. Most of the crystals are well terminated and somewhat hour-glass shaped. A couple weloganites on the edges are broken. A fine, attractive piece from a site that gave up so few. 230$
