Provenite

Mont Saint-Hilaire

AreaDraft data

45.5522° N, 73.1508° W · ± 10 km

Albite, Rhodochrosite and Siderite from Quebec, Canada, with photos of specimens from this locality.

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Minerals found here

AlbiteRhodochrositeSiderite

Albite at Mont Saint-Hilaire

Pale green genthelvite crystals on albite, Mont Saint-Hilaire.
Pale green genthelvite crystals on albite, Mont Saint-Hilaire.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Second view of genthelvite on albite, Mont Saint-Hilaire.
Second view of genthelvite on albite, Mont Saint-Hilaire.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Formula
NaAlSi₃O₈
Morphology
Albite matrix
Typical size
Specimen about 2 cm
Associated minerals
Genthelvite
Availability
Unknown

Sources: SRC-556

About Albite →

Rhodochrosite at Mont Saint-Hilaire

A sharp rust-red rhodochrosite blade on matrix from the Poudrette quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire.
A sharp rust-red rhodochrosite blade on matrix from the Poudrette quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
A complete semi-translucent rhodochrosite crystal of triangular habit from the Poudrette quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire.
A complete semi-translucent rhodochrosite crystal of triangular habit from the Poudrette quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
A reddish-brown twinned rhodochrosite crystal with triangular outline from the Poudrette quarry.
A reddish-brown twinned rhodochrosite crystal with triangular outline from the Poudrette quarry.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
A complete rhodochrosite floater with a triangular form from Mont Saint-Hilaire.
A complete rhodochrosite floater with a triangular form from Mont Saint-Hilaire.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
A single twinned rhodochrosite crystal 4.5 cm across from the Poudrette quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire.
A single twinned rhodochrosite crystal 4.5 cm across from the Poudrette quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Formula
MnCO₃
Morphology
Bladed and flattened crystals, often with a triangular ('trigonal') twinned outline; floaters
Typical size
Crystals 2-4.5 cm
Color / luster
Rust-red to reddish brown; semi-translucent, moderate luster
Twins
Twinned crystals with triangular outline reported on dealer labels
Availability
Scarce
History
A pocket of the triangular habit was collected in the late 1970s at the Poudrette quarry

Sources: SRC-874 SRC-875 SRC-876

About Rhodochrosite →

Siderite at Mont Saint-Hilaire

Large, razor-sharp olive to brown siderite rhombs; the Handbook singles out the very large crystals from this locality.

Sharp deep-olive siderite rhomb with a smaller rhomb on its corner, Mont Saint-Hilaire.
Sharp deep-olive siderite rhomb with a smaller rhomb on its corner, Mont Saint-Hilaire.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Siderite rhombs forming two pairs of penetration twins, Mont Saint-Hilaire.
Siderite rhombs forming two pairs of penetration twins, Mont Saint-Hilaire.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Second view of the twinned siderite rhombs from Mont Saint-Hilaire.
Second view of the twinned siderite rhombs from Mont Saint-Hilaire.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Large yellowish-brown siderite crystal upright on matrix from the Poudrette quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire.
Large yellowish-brown siderite crystal upright on matrix from the Poudrette quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Two sharp brown siderite rhombohedra grown against each other, Poudrette quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire.
Two sharp brown siderite rhombohedra grown against each other, Poudrette quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Formula
FeCO₃
Morphology
Sharp rhombohedra, singly or as penetration twins
Typical size
Single crystals up to 7.5 cm
Color / luster
Deep olive to yellowish-brown or brown; silky to good luster
Associated minerals
Albite
Twins
Penetration twins
Availability
Scarce

Sources: SRC-586 SRC-536 SRC-606

About Siderite →

Geology of the locality

Setting
Cretaceous Monteregian alkaline intrusive complex with nepheline syenites and agpaitic pegmatites; very rich mineral locality (Poudrette quarry).
Host rock
Nepheline syenite
Region
Quebec
Country
Canada

Coordinates of the mountain from Wikipedia; specimen label gives only Mt. St. Hilaire.

Sources: SRC-536

Sources

  1. SRC-536 · Website
    Mont Saint-HilaireWikipedia contributors · Wikipedia
  2. SRC-556 · Website
    File:Albite-Genthelvite-sf32b.jpgRobert M. Lavinsky · Wikimedia Commons
  3. SRC-874 · Website
    File:Rhodochrosite-20268.jpgRobert M. Lavinsky · Wikimedia Commons (dealer label)
  4. SRC-875 · Website
    File:Rhodochrosite-219083.jpgRobert M. Lavinsky · Wikimedia Commons (dealer label)
  5. SRC-876 · Website
    File:Rhodochrosite-22781.jpgRobert M. Lavinsky · Wikimedia Commons (dealer label)
  6. SRC-586 · Book
    Handbook of Mineralogy - SideriteAnthony, J.W.; Bideaux, R.A.; Bladh, K.W.; Nichols, M.C. · 2005 · Mineral Data Publishing / Mineralogical Society of America
  7. SRC-606 · Website
    File:Siderite-201726.jpgRobert M. Lavinsky · Wikimedia Commons

Draft data from the Provenite workbook. Check entries against the cited sources before relying on them. Photos are open-licence images from Wikimedia Commons; the author and licence are given with each photo.