Calcian Arsendescloizite From the Illinois Mine, Nye County, Nevada

摘要

The thrill of discovering a new mineral is an unmatched accomplishment among systematic collectors. Having been involved in a number of such discoveries, I can attest to the months (or years) of delightful anticipation, uncertainty, anguish, frustration and eventually, pride or disappointment, that colors the pursuit of a potential new species. The emotional roller coaster is usually dependant on the final outcome of the investigation itself, and the experience can be both rewarding as well as daunting. The description of a calcian arsendescloizite (see figure 1) from the Illinois Mine is atypical story of one such investigation, pointing out how modern analytical techniques have hastened the final declaration of "new" or "not new".