Minerals from the Linwood Mine, Scott County, Iowa

The Linwood Mine is located right along the Mississippi River between Davenport and Buffalo just west of I-280 in Scott County, located in the extreme east central part of Iowa.  The Linwood Mine is currently mining solely for limestone.  Throughout the course of mining, open pockets lined with a variety of minerals are encountered, including calcite, marcasite, sphalerite, barite, pyrite, and quartz.  While the mineralization is pretty consistent from pocket to pocket (Linwood material is fairly recognizable), pockets do tend to have their own distinctive crystallization and/or mineral combinations so new finds add a little variety and anticipation to a suite of minerals from this location and Midwest USA collections.

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Linwood 01:  6 x 4 x 3 cm (2.4 x 1.6 x 1.2 inches) -  $15.00

 

Linwood 02:  7 x 4 x 3.5 cm (2.8 x 1.6 x 1.4 inches) - $15.00

 

Calcite on matrix:  Several calcite crystals to 1.5 cm (0.6 inches) are heavily coating a limestone matrix base.  A few crystals have rubs along edges that are most exposed and some contacting along the edges but overall a fine miniature from this mine.

 

 

 

Calcite on matrix:  Calcite crystals up to 1 - 1.5 cm (0.4 to 0.6 inches) across an edge are nearly coating a limestone base.  Very minor contacting along a couple edges but in excellent shape as a whole.

 

Linwood 03:  7.5 x 7 x 4.5 cm (3 x 2.8 x 1.8 inches) - $15.00

 

Linwood 04:  11 x 9 x 3 cm (4.3 x 3.5 x 1.2 inches) - $15.00

 

Calcite on matrix:  Calcite crystals ranging in size from 0.8 to 2 cm (quarter inch to 0.8 inches) are located on a limestone base.  A few crystals have some rubs or nicks, including the back edge of the largest crystal (this is visible in the photographs but looks a little more severe in the photos than it really appears in person) and typical contact along edges.  The damage to the main crystal does, in my opinion, detract from the specimen enough to make it more of a reference specimen for this locality.

 

 

Calcite on matrix:  A two-sided specimen featuring a drusy coated limestone front with a single 2 cm (0.8 inch) calcite crystal positioned in a small crevice in the limestone.  The calcite is undamaged.  The back side has several smaller calcite crystals on the limestone base.  Some contacting is found along one edge.  A good reference specimen for the locality.

 

 

Linwood 05:  14 x 10 x 5 cm (5.5 x 3.9 x 2 inches) - $50.00

 

Linwood 06:  13 x 12 x 4 cm (5.1 x 4.7 x 1.6 inches)- $50.00

 

Calcite on matrix:  Fine cabinet sized specimen featuring calcite crystals heavily coating a limestone matrix base.  The calcites primarily range in size from 1 to 2 cm (0.4 to 0.8 inches) across.  Just a few crystals on the specimen have any sort of contact or rubs - for a cabinet sized piece from this location it is in great shape.

 

 

 

Calcite on matrix:  Cabinet sized specimen featuring a limestone matrix entirely covered with calcite crystals.  The calcites range in size from just a few millimeters up to one crystal that is 3 cm (1.2 inches) on edge.  An area of contact is found on the lower left portion of this specimen.  This could be carefully trimmed to improve the specimen.  Otherwise, just a few trivial small rubs or nicks on the remainder of the specimen.

 

Linwood 07:  12 x 9.5 x 2.5 cm (4.7 x 3.7 x 1 inches) $20.00

 

Linwood 08:  12 x 5 x 4 cm (4.7 x 2 x 1.6 inches) - $35.00 on hold

 

Calcite with Calcite/Marcasite inclusions:  A highly dissolved (but stable) limestone matrix base is nearly coated entirely on the top with small calcite crystals and a small pocket of larger crystals toward the back of the specimen.  The calcite crystals in the back are up to 3.2 cm (1.3 inches) across.  The largest crystal at the left has some inclusions of likely marcasite.  Some contacting is present to the upper right edge of the specimen, otherwise clean.

 

 

 

Calcite, Marcasite:  Fine small cabinet to cabinet sized specimen featuring calcite crystals from 1-2 cm, with a few up to 3 cm (0.4 to 0.8 inches, up to 1.2 inches) with minimal matrix on back.  On the left end of the specimen, marcasite crystals are seen as phantoms within the calcites.  In good shape - just typical contact along the edges and a few very trivial rubs on a few crystal edges.

 

Linwood 09:  8 x 6 x 5 cm (3.2 x 2.4 x 2 inches) - $40.00

 

Linwood 10:  4 x 3 x 1.5 cm (1.6 x 1.2 x 0.6 inches) - $10.00 on hold

 

Calcite on matrix:  A single large (for the locality) 6 cm (2.4 inch) calcite crystal with many smaller calcites is perched on a limestone matrix.  There are many options to display this specimen, however the bottom left photo may be the best given the crystal structure present and the fact that there is a ding on the upper left corner of the crystal.  Normally I do not buy anything that has a ding on it, but given the large crystal size and multiple display options, I went ahead and purchased this one.  Individual crystals of this size are not available in great numbers from the mine.

 

 

 

 

Calcite, Marcasite:  Miniature sized specimen featuring scalenohedral calcite crystals with associated marcasite, both as phantoms in the crystals and as surface growths.  Contacting to edge is seen in top photo, bottom center, so probably best displayed as shown in bottom picture.

 

 

Linwood 11:  5.2 x 5 x 2 cm (2.1 x 2 x 0.8 inches) - $12.00

 

Linwood 12:  14 x 9 x 10 cm (5.5 x 3.5 x 3.9 inches)- $60.00

 

Barite:  Cluster of intergrown light brown barite crystals.  The color of the barite as shown here is a little lighter brown in the pictures than in person.  Just minor contact damage - good example of barite from this mine.

 

 

 

 

Calcite, Pyrite, Marcasite:  Very nice cabinet sized specimen that has a good coverage of calcite crystallization nearly all around the specimen except on the back.  Somewhat cloudy or opaque calcite crystals up to 3 cm (1.2 inches) cover the limestone base along with pockets of pyrite both on the matrix and on/in some calcite crystals.  Minor marcasite in association.  Contacting along the edge and rubs to a calcite on the back are the only areas of damage.  Quality large hand sized specimen from this mine.

 

Linwood 13:  12 x 11 x 5 cm (4.7 x 4.3 x 2 inches) - $50.00

 

Linwood 14:  9.5 x 10 x 5 cm (3.7 x 3.9 x 2 inches) - $40.00

 

Calcite, Marcasite:  Neat "mound-like" specimen featuring a dense covering of small (less than a centimeter) calcites with scattered marcasite clusters that wrap around to the back side of the piece.  Specimen is somewhat unique in my experience in terms of the shape and crystal coverage, and the marcasites add a nice touch.  Contacting is present and confined to the back of the specimen.  It does need a little assistance to sit up for display.  The photos do not totally convey the piece entirely.

 

 

 

 

Calcite, Marcasite, Pyrite:  Fine small hand sized specimen featuring crystallization on all sides.  A cluster of undamaged calcite crystals is found perched at the top of the specimen, with many smaller crystals covering all sides of the rest of the specimen.  Contacting to crystals on the back is evident.  Also, iridescent marcasite and scattered pyrite is also found in clusters primarily on the side and back of the specimen.  The photos do not even come close to conveying the iridescent blue and green colors of the marcasite.  Nice small cabinet to cabinet sized specimen from this mine.

 

Linwood 15:  8.5 x 8 x 3 cm (3.35 x 3.2 x 1.2 inches) - $30.00

 

Linwood 16:  6 x 4.5 x 2 cm (2.4 x 1.8 x 0.8 inches) - $12.00

 

Calcite, Marcasite on matrix:  Small cabinet specimen featuring a limestone base entirely covered with scalenohedral calcites of varying sizes.  The larger crystals are near the edge of the specimen and are up to 2.5 cm (1 inch) in length.  Marcasite is in association with the specimen.  One calcite along the edge of the specimen is cleaved but does not really detract from the overall appearance.

 

 

Calcite, Marcasite:  Fine miniature specimen featuring calcites with marcasite inclusions and on the crystals.  There is no damage that I can see - one crystal termination was embedded in some limestone along the edge and it looks like a cleaved termination but in reality is not.  Fine miniature.

 

Linwood 17:  4.5 x 3.5 x 1.2 cm (1.8 x 1.4 x 0.5 inches) - $12.00

 

Linwood 18:  4 x 3.5 x 2 cm (1.6 x 1.4 x 0.8 inches) - $12.00

 

Calcite:  Very nice small miniature sized specimen featuring three dominant calcite crystals.  Just a little bit of matrix on the base.  Damage wise there is a teeny tiny rub on the left edge of the furthest left crystal - this could probably be remedied with mineral oil.  Extremely minor contact on the back of one calcite crystal where it joins the matrix.  All in all fine miniature.

 

 

Calcite:  Scalenohedral calcite crystals are positioned on a limestone shard.  One of the larger calcite crystals is slightly tipped but other than typical slight edge contact, no other damage.  Nice miniature from this mine.

 

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