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Smålands Taberg, Jönköping, Sweden

This is a nice one to show as this type of ore is pretty rare. The Taberg orebody consists of titanomagnetite olivenite, additionally rich in vanadium. It contains about 35% titanomagnetite, with 6 % titanium based on the oxide. Vanadium content is about 0.3%. The deposit was mined from 1939 to 1960; the mine left two large craters easily visible on aerial photographs. Today the mine is part of a nature reserve, collecting is forbidden.

Polished slab of the typical ore (13 cm wide):

Unbenannt-201

The samples are pretty uniform, consisting of gray titanomagnetite with spinel lamellae. The dark gray grains are olivenite, surrounded by hornblende. Nic //, Obj. 20x, air, 100 µm bar:

image_0000401

Same with Nic +:

image_0000502

The picture above already shows the presence of a third mineral as neither titanomagnetite or spinel are anisotrophic. Parallel to the spinel lamellae ilmentite lamellae can be found under higher magnification. Nic. //, Obj. 125x, oil.

image_0001906

The same with Nic. +:

image_0002007

For further informations on the region these articles might be interesting:

Ramdohr, P.: The ore minerals and their intergrowths. Pergamon Press, 1980

Sandecki, J.: Mineralogical and genetical aspects of the Smålands Taberg Fe-Ti-V ore, Protogine Zone of southern Sweden. GFF.122.(2000).351-358.