[Rockhounds] Fordite

[Axel Emmermann]

Hi Don,

this raises the inevitable question: A coalmine is manmade. If a fire starts
in a coalmine, say caused by lightning, that may burn for decades. The
salammoniac, carpathite, kratochvilite and  other volatile stuff that
condenses on the cooler surfaces... would that be considered to be minerals?


Axel

-----Oorspronkelijk bericht-----
Van: Rockhounds <rockhounds-bounces at rockhounds.drizzle.com> Namens DON
HALTERMAN
Verzonden: woensdag 16 december 2020 3:58
Aan: Rockhounds at drizzle.com: A mailing list for rock and gem collectors
<rockhounds at rockhounds.drizzle.com>; gary brown
<gbrown at catspaw-minerals.com>
Onderwerp: Re: [Rockhounds] Fordite

In the strictest sense, compounds formed through human action (mine fires,
slags, industrial processes) will no longer be considered for mineral names,
even if they are inorganic compounds. That would exclude jeromeite and a
number of the Lavrion minerals.

Don

> On 12/15/2020 10:46 AM gary brown <gbrown at catspaw-minerals.com> wrote:
> 
>  
> Heh... we have a LOT of Fordite around here, what with the (now
demolished) Ford plant in Saint Paul.  It is pretty stuff...great for
jewelry...and everyone around here knows it's a man-made hunk of pretty.
Now, interesting question...  if the old Ford plant site were to be buried
under sediments (like when the next glacier comes down) and comes to the
surface again in 20,000 years has it moved into the "mineral" category?
Think the zincite from Poland and the copper minerals in mines and the Weird
Things that come out of burning mine dumps.
> 
> GcB
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Rockhounds <rockhounds-bounces at rockhounds.drizzle.com> On Behalf 
> Of Larry Rush
> Sent: Monday, December 14, 2020 8:29 PM
> To: rockhounds at rockhounds.drizzle.com
> Subject: [Rockhounds] Fordite
> 
> Recently, as a birthday gift, I received a "specimen" in a mineral box,
labeled "Fordite- Detroit Agate".
> Thinking I had now in my sweaty, little palm, a NEW mineral species,  I
took a closer look.If you have not heard of this kind of "specimen", I'll
save you the time...it is broken polished fragments of solidified paint and
enamel from the obsolete car-painting booths in the Ford motor plants.
> It does come in finely banded layers and swirls of color, similar to agate
in looks.
> But, there the similarity to minerals ends!!
> There is no science involved, no mining from ores deep in Mother Earth, no
crystallization, no eye-catching Geometry.......You won't find this one in
Dana!In short, it is just a cheap way to merchandize and take name advantage
of our esteemed love of mineralogy.
> If you haven't heard of this scam, look it up on the Web, and be
disappointed for yourself.
> For me, I have too much respect, not to mention a lifetime fascination for
mineralogy, to allow a cheap "look-alike" substitute to occupy my attention
for very long.I wonder how the mineral-naming committee, the IMA, feels
about this?
> And, lastly, my gift-giver meant it only as a joke, one which did not make
me smile!
> Let the buyer beware!
> Larry
> 
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