Douglas Merson
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flameryder.bsky.social
Douglas Merson
@flameryder.bsky.social
290 followers 240 following 590 posts
Amature mineral collector for 70 years. I specialize in micro minerals and photography of them. Wife and I are also involved with llamas and we each own one. We show them at local county fairs and several ILR sanctioned shows around Washington and Oregon
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flameryder.bsky.social
Sandhill cranes in a flooded field just after sunset. Taken at Bosque del Apache, San Antonio, New Mexico. We had been at the New Mexico Mineral Symposium which had wrapped up earlier. We always stop by here prior to head in home to Port Orchard, Washington. Three days earlier there were no cranes.
Sandhill cranes in a flooded field at Bosque del Apache, San Antonio, New Mexico. Ther is grass showing above the water and in the background is a row of trees with a bit of yellow color. In the distance there is a row of hills and mountains. The photo was taken just after sunset with a Canon R7 and 70-200 mm F2.8 lens at 1/250 of a second hand held.
November 20, 2025 at 5:00 AM
flameryder.bsky.social
Manganoneptunite KNa₂LiMn²⁺₂Ti⁴⁺₂Si₈O₂₄
Poudrette quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire, La Vallée-du-Richelieu RCM, Montérégie, Québec, Canada
FOV = 3.02 mm
#4011
NFS
#minerals #earthscience #geology #mineralogy
Orange manganoneptunite at center with a darker orange crystal below to right and several black crystals above it. The pink crystals at lower left are petarasite.
October 19, 2025 at 5:00 PM
flameryder.bsky.social
Manganokhomyakovite
Na₁₂Sr₃Ca₆Mn₃Zr₃W(Si₂₅O₇₃)(O,OH,H₂O)₃(Cl,OH)₂
Poudrette quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire, La Vallée-du-Richelieu RCM, Montérégie, Québec, Canada
FOV = 2.23 mm
#4010
NFS
#minerals #earthscience #geology #mineralogy
A single crystal of reddish orange manganokhomyakovite, a member of the eudialytie group of minerals. The Poudrette Quarry is the type locality for the species.
October 18, 2025 at 9:45 PM
flameryder.bsky.social
Magnesio-arfvedsonite NaNa₂(Mg₄Fe³⁺)Si₈O₂₂(OH)₂
Poudrette quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire, La Vallée-du-Richelieu RCM, Montérégie, Québec, Canada
FOV = 3.50 mm
#4009
NFS
#minerals #earthscience #geology #mineralogy
Two groups of dark magnesio-arfvedsonite crystals on a matrix composed of pectolite. While appearing black, the crystals are a very deep blue green on thin edges in transmitted light.
October 18, 2025 at 4:14 PM
flameryder.bsky.social
Lepidocrocite) Fe³⁺O(OH)
Poudrette quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire, La Vallée-du-Richelieu RCM, Montérégie, Québec, Canada
FOV = 2.36 mm
#4008
NFS
#minerals #earthscience #geology #mineralogy # Mount Saint-Hilaire
A mass of acicular lepidocrocite at center on a matrix of gypsum that is included with lepidocrocite. Similar material from this find was x-rayed to determine the ID as it similar in appearance to goethite.
October 17, 2025 at 10:09 PM
flameryder.bsky.social
Lanthanite-(Ce) Ce₂(CO₃)₃·8H₂O
Poudrette quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire, La Vallée-du-Richelieu RCM, Montérégie, Québec, Canada
FOV = 0.96 mm
#4007
NFS
#minerals #earthscience #geology #mineralogy # Mount Saint-Hilaire
Three sprays of white lanthanite-(Ce) crystals on a dark unspecified mineral with colorless to white albite at left and right edge.
October 17, 2025 at 6:45 PM
flameryder.bsky.social
Labuntsovite-Mn Na₄K₄Mn²⁺₂Ti₈O₄(Si₄O₁₂)₄(OH)₄·10-12H₂O
Poudrette quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire, La Vallée-du-Richelieu RCM, Montérégie, Québec, Canada
FOV = 0.99 mm
#4006
NFS
#minerals #earthscience #geology #mineralogy # Mount Saint-Hilaire
Two groups of orange labuntsovite-Mn composed of multiple tabular monoclinic crystals. The tabular habit is rare at this locality.
October 17, 2025 at 5:05 PM
flameryder.bsky.social
Korobitsynite (Na,◻)₄Ti₂(Si₄O₁₂)(O,OH)₂·4H₂O
Poudrette quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire, La Vallée-du-Richelieu RCM, Montérégie, Québec, Canada
FOV = 0.57 mm
#4005
NFS
#minerals #earthscience #geology #mineralogy
The korobitsynite is the small gray aggregate of rectangular crystals on the unspecified green mineral that is at center of image. The colorless hexagonal prisms are fluorapatite. all are on a white matrix.
October 15, 2025 at 9:38 PM
flameryder.bsky.social
Kentbrooksite
(Na,REE)₁₅(Ca,REE)₆Mn₃Zr₃Nb(Si₂₅O₇₃)(O,OH,H₂O)₃(F,Cl)₂
Poudrette quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire, La Vallée-du-Richelieu RCM, Montérégie, Québec, Canada
FOV = 1.29 mm
#4004
NFS
#minerals #earthscience #geology #mineralogy
Single orange kentbrooksite crystal at center of image. It had green aegirine crystals around it and is on a white matrix. Kentbrooksite is a member of the eudialyte group of minerals.
October 15, 2025 at 6:34 PM
flameryder.bsky.social
Horváthite-(Y) NaY(CO₃)F₂
Poudrette quarry (De-Mix quarry; Demix quarry; Uni-Mix quarry; Carrière Mont Saint-Hilaire; MSH), Mont Saint-Hilaire, La Vallée-du-Richelieu RCM, Montérégie, Québec, Canada
FOV = 2.62 mm
#4003
NFS
#minerals #earthscience #geology #mineralogy
Blocky white horváthite-(Y) crystals on a matrix of pale tan rhodochrosite.
October 15, 2025 at 6:27 PM
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Horváthite-(Y) NaY(CO₃)F₂
Poudrette quarry (De-Mix quarry; Demix quarry; Uni-Mix quarry; Carrière Mont Saint-Hilaire; MSH), Mont Saint-Hilaire, La Vallée-du-Richelieu RCM, Montérégie, Québec, Canada
FOV = 2.10 mm
#4002
NFS
#minerals #earthscience #geology #mineralogy
Two clusters of very pale beige horváthite-(Y) crystals on a matrix primarily composed of feldspar.
October 14, 2025 at 9:30 PM
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Hercynite Fe²⁺Al₂O₄
Poudrette quarry (De-Mix quarry; Demix quarry; Uni-Mix quarry; Carrière Mont Saint-Hilaire; MSH), Mont Saint-Hilaire, La Vallée-du-Richelieu RCM, Montérégie, Québec, Canada
FOV = 1.04 mm
#4001
NFS
#minerals #earthscience #geology #mineralogy
Single lustrous black grain of hercynite in a white and gray matrix. It is a member of the spinel supergroup.
October 14, 2025 at 5:55 PM
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Haineaultite (Na,Ca)₅Ca(Ti,Nb)₅Si₁₂O₃₄(OH,F)₈·5H₂O
Poudrette quarry (De-Mix quarry; Demix quarry; Uni-Mix quarry; Carrière Mont Saint-Hilaire; MSH), Mont Saint-Hilaire, La Vallée-du-Richelieu RCM, Montérégie, Québec, Canada
FOV = 1.26 mm
#3999
NFS
#minerals #earthscience #geology #mineralogy
Yellow haineaultite crystal on a white matrix. The Poudrette Quarry is the type locality for haineaultite and this specimen is from the original type material lot used for species description.
August 29, 2025 at 10:09 PM
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Gmelinite-Na Na₄(Si₈Al₄)O₂₄·11H₂O
Poudrette quarry (De-Mix quarry; Demix quarry; Uni-Mix quarry; Carrière Mont Saint-Hilaire; MSH), Mont Saint-Hilaire, La Vallée-du-Richelieu RCM, Montérégie, Québec, Canada
FOV = 3.97 mm
#3998
NFS
A dark brown smokey quartz crystal bridges a cavity with clusters of pale orange, thin hexagonal crystals of gmelinite-Na at either end. The right hand gmelinite-Na cluster has a white sphere of franconite on it. The matrix is composed of white feldspar.
August 28, 2025 at 5:30 PM
flameryder.bsky.social
Gmelinite-Na Na₄(Si₈Al₄)O₂₄·11H₂O
Poudrette quarry (De-Mix quarry; Demix quarry; Uni-Mix quarry; Carrière Mont Saint-Hilaire; MSH), Mont Saint-Hilaire, La Vallée-du-Richelieu RCM, Montérégie, Québec, Canada
FOV = 1.69 mm
#3997
NFS
Multiple hexagonal gmelinite-Na crystals. They have a yellow cap over a dark core.
August 27, 2025 at 5:39 PM
flameryder.bsky.social
Gaidonnayite Na₂ZrSi₃O₉·2H₂O
Poudrette quarry (De-Mix quarry; Demix quarry; Uni-Mix quarry; Carrière Mont Saint-Hilaire; MSH), Mont Saint-Hilaire, La Vallée-du-Richelieu RCM, Montérégie, Québec, Canada
FOV = 2.83 mm
#3996
NFS
Colorless stacked orthorhombic crystals at center of image. They are on a matrix of white albite. Gaidonnayite is the orthorhombic dimorph of monoclinic catapleiite.
August 27, 2025 at 3:48 PM
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Ferrokentbrooksite
Na₁₅Ca₆Fe²⁺₃Zr₃Nb(Si₂₅O₇₃)(O,OH,H₂O)₃(F,Cl)₂
Poudrette quarry (De-Mix quarry; Demix quarry; Uni-Mix quarry; Carrière Mont Saint-Hilaire; MSH), Mont Saint-Hilaire, La Vallée-du-Richelieu RCM, Montérégie, Québec, Canada
FOV = 1.49 mm
#3995
NFS
Orange ferrokentbrooksite crystal at center of image in a white to colorless feldspar matrix. The orange mass at lower left is also ferrokentsbrookite. The Poudrette Quarry is the type locality for ferrokentbrooksite and this specimen is from the type lot used for description of the species. It is member of the eudialyte group.
August 27, 2025 at 2:49 PM
flameryder.bsky.social
Columbite-(Fe) Fe²⁺Nb₂O₆
Poudrette quarry (De-Mix quarry; Demix quarry; Uni-Mix quarry; Carrière Mont Saint-Hilaire; MSH), Mont Saint-Hilaire, La Vallée-du-Richelieu RCM, Montérégie, Québec, Canada
FOV = 0.85 mm
#3994
NFS
A black crystal of columbite-(Fe) at the center of the image. There is a fracture across the width of the crystal. The white to colorless matrix is albite.
August 27, 2025 at 2:02 PM
flameryder.bsky.social
Ferroceladonite KFe²⁺Fe³⁺Si₄O₁₀(OH)₂
Poudrette quarry (De-Mix quarry; Demix quarry; Uni-Mix quarry; Carrière Mont Saint-Hilaire; MSH), Mont Saint-Hilaire, La Vallée-du-Richelieu RCM, Montérégie, Québec, Canada
FOV = 3.96 mm
#3993
NFS
Green crust of ferroceladonite with small white elpidite crystals and dark appearing albite.
August 26, 2025 at 8:37 PM
flameryder.bsky.social
Eudidymite Na₂Be₂Si₆O₁₅·H₂O
Poudrette quarry (De-Mix quarry; Demix quarry; Uni-Mix quarry; Carrière Mont Saint-Hilaire; MSH), Mont Saint-Hilaire, La Vallée-du-Richelieu RCM, Montérégie, Québec, Canada
FOV = 2.61 mm
#3992
NFS
Colorless diamond shaped eudidymite crystals with several clusters of pyrite on them. The matrix consists of green aegirine and a mix of white to light gray feldspar and quartz. Eudidymite is the monoclinic dimorph of epididymite.
August 26, 2025 at 7:45 PM
flameryder.bsky.social
Corundum Al2O3
Poudrette quarry (De-Mix quarry; Demix quarry; Uni-Mix quarry; Carrière Mont Saint-Hilaire; MSH), Mont Saint-Hilaire, La Vallée-du-Richelieu RCM, Montérégie, Québec, Canada
FOV = 2.88 mm
#3990
NFS
A crude partial crystal of corundom in a white matrix.. The corundum is mostly blue with patches of gray with a greenish tint. There is a small blue corundum at the right edge.
August 14, 2025 at 2:46 PM
flameryder.bsky.social
Chabazite-Na (Na₃K)[Al₄Si₈O₂₄]·11H₂O
Horvathite-(Y) NaY(CO3)F2
Poudrette quarry (De-Mix quarry; Demix quarry; Uni-Mix quarry; Carrière Mont Saint-Hilaire; MSH), Mont Saint-Hilaire, La Vallée-du-Richelieu RCM, Montérégie, Québec, Canada
FOV = 3.43 mm
#3988
NFS
White spheres of chabazite-Na surround colorless stacked crystals of chabazite-Na and light tan horvathite-(Y). This is the type locality for horvathite-(Y).
August 13, 2025 at 9:11 PM
flameryder.bsky.social
Galena PbS
Cerussite Pb(CO₃)
Wulfenite PbMoO₄
Aegirine NaFe³⁺Si₂O₆
Poudrette quarry (De-Mix quarry; Demix quarry; Uni-Mix quarry; Carrière Mont Saint-Hilaire; MSH), Mont Saint-Hilaire, La Vallée-du-Richelieu RCM, Montérégie, Québec, Canada
FOV = 1.20 mm
#3987
NFS
A dark gray galena crystal with white cerussite coating a portion of the crystal. The yellow mineral on and to the left of crystal is wulfenite. The green crystals are aegirine. The white matrix is microcline. The location of the galena, deep in a cavity, made it difficult to getting light in to photograph ite.
August 13, 2025 at 5:03 PM
flameryder.bsky.social
Canacrisilite Na₇(Si₇Al₅)O₂₄(CO₃)·3H₂O
Poudrette quarry (De-Mix quarry; Demix quarry; Uni-Mix quarry; Carrière Mont Saint-Hilaire; MSH), Mont Saint-Hilaire, La Vallée-du-Richelieu RCM, Montérégie, Québec, Canada
FOV = 0.90 mm
#3986
NFS
At the center of the image is a colorless hexagonal prism of cancrisilite. I shows a hexagonal pyramidal termination. The lower portion of the prism is showing the matrix the crystal is sitting on. This was found in a sodalitolite segregation which is mostly sodalite. There is a light green aegirine at upper right.
August 12, 2025 at 7:05 PM
flameryder.bsky.social
Almandine Fe²⁺₃Al₂(SiO₄)₃
Poudrette quarry (De-Mix quarry; Demix quarry; Uni-Mix quarry; Carrière Mont Saint-Hilaire; MSH), Mont Saint-Hilaire, La Vallée-du-Richelieu RCM, Montérégie, Québec, Canada
FOV = 3.98 mm
#3984
NFS
Reddish grain of almandine in a white matrix composed mostly of feldspar. Almandine from this occurrence has analyzed as 70 to 77% almandine, 11 to 18% spessartine, and 8.9 to 9% pyrope. Another spot in the quarry produces garnet that is 50% almandine and spessartine.
August 12, 2025 at 5:17 PM