Home > Type Localities I – June 9 > MS1082 Gordonite

Gordonite - Sold


Gordonite is a hydrated magnesium aluminum phosphate species, isostructural with paravauxite. The mineral name honors Samuel G. Gordon (1897-1953), mineralogist and museum specialist at the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia (Larsen & Shannon, 1930). This specimen formed by alteration of primary variscite concretion. The bulk of the matrix is a rounded relict mass of gemmy green variscite, dull on its surface, with attached banded yellow crandallite and bands of gray-blue granular wardite bands. The gordonite has formed pale blue flat-lying bladed crystals to 3 mm long. The identification has been confirmed using Raman spectroscopy. This is very good example of this mineral!

This specimen was part of the personal collection of Ralph Merrill, proprietor of the prolific mail order business Minerals Unlimited. Merrill obtained this specimen in 1954. Merrill's collection card and label accompany this specimen.