Canadian Rockhound: Saskatchewan Type Locality Minerals

The type locality for a mineral is the locality where the mineral was first discovered. Saskatchewan has 4 type locality minerals. They are athabascaite, jolliffeite, nolanite and tyrrellite. These minerals are not likely to be found in very many mineral collections due to their rarity and difficulty to acquire.

Athabascite

Athabascite, Cu₅Se₄ was named in 1970 for its discovery locality as it was first found in the Martin Lake Mine, Athabasca Lake. It has only been found as microscopic laths and anhedral grains.

Jolliffeite

Jolliffeite, NiAsSe was found at Fish Hook Bay, Shirley Peninsula, Athabasca Lake and was named in 1991 for the Canadian geologist, Alfred W. Jolliffe (1907-1988). This mineral has only been found as microscopic anhedral grains.

Nolanite

Nolanite, (V, Fe, Ti)₁₀O₁₄(OH)₂ was originally discovered at the Eldorado Uranium Mine, Beaverlodge region, Athabasca Lake and was named after Thomas B. Nolan (1901-1992), director of the U.S. Geological Survey in 1957. It occurs as thick tabular crystals and is found in dolomite with pitchblende, calcite and sulfides.

Tyrrellite

Tyrrellite, (Cu, Co, Ni)₃Se₄ is a member of the linnaeite group of sulfide minerals. This rare mineral was first discovered in 1952 at the Eagle shaft, Beaverlodge Lake. Tyrrellite is named after the famous explorer Joseph B. Tyrrell (1864-1946). It has been found only as microscopic subhedral to anhedral grains.

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The preceding article was first published in the April 1998 issue of the Saskatoon Lapidary & Mineral Club newsletter. Reprinted in the Canadian Rockhound with permission from the author.