Roedderite

specimen number:
2354118

location:
Satsuma-Ioujima, Mishima, Kagoshima, Kagoshima, Japan

description:
Tiny blue grains in an open pocket and throughout matrix. This is really quite rich for this rare mineral. The specimen comes with a previous label from the collection of Eric Laskowski.

Located off the southern coast of Kyushu, Satsuma-Ioujima (also known as Iojima or Sulphur Island) is an active volcanic island formed by the post-caldera activity of the submerged Kikai Caldera. The geology is dominated by rhyolitic lava domes, basaltic cone activity, and high-temperature volcanic gas fumaroles that constantly alter the surrounding silicate rocks. During the twentieth century, the island experienced periods of sulfur mining, while geologists and specimen collectors drawn to its extreme volcanic environment discovered rare secondary sublimation minerals around fumarolic vents. Among these thermal deposits is roedderite, a complex sodium magnesium silicate mineral belonging to the osumilite group, which forms delicate hexagonal crystals inside high-temperature volcanic cavities where silica-rich lavas interact with hot volcanic gases.

Questions about this specimen?
Send an email or call us: 314-341-1811.