Elaterite, also known as aeonite, elasticite, elastic bitumen, or mineral caoutchouc, is a brown, often sticky, hydrocarbon. First discovered at Castleton, Derbyshire, in England, elaterite is not considered to be a mineral species. It has sometimes been confused with coorongite, found in Australia, but it has been determined that the origins of the two substances differ.
History and etymology
Elaterite was first discovered at Castleton in Derbyshire, England.[1]
The origin of the name elaterite lies in the Greek word ελατηρ, meaning "pine", so named as it was assumed to have formed from the resin in pine trees.[1] It is or has also been known as aeonite, elasticite, elastic bitumen, or mineral caoutchouc.[1]
Description
The substance varies somewhat in consistency, being sometimes soft, elastic and sticky, like India rubber, and occasionally hard and brittle. It is usually dark brown in colour and slightly translucent.[2]
It is not considered to be a mineral species.[1]
Although coorongite is of a very similar composition to elaterite,[3] it is not the same substance nor of the same origin.[4][5]
Occurrence in nature
- Castleton, Derbyshire: Elaterite can be found beside the Windy Knoll Cave[6][7] and the lead mines of Odin in Derbyshire, England, UK.[1]
- Strawberry, Utah, US: Elaterite can be found in the Indian Canyon, Sams Canyon, Dry Fork, and Lake canyon, as well as in tributaries of the Strawberry River in Duchesne County. It occurs in vertical veins 1–22 in (25–559 mm) wide, 2–200 ft (0.61–60.96 m) high, and a maximum length of 3.25 mi (5.23 km).[8]
- Nantes, France[1]
- Two locations in Bolivia: Gallofa mine in Colquechaca Municipality and Animas-Chocaya in Atocha Municipality[1]
- Besner Mine, Henvey Township, Ontario, Canada[1]
- Lime Rock, Rhode Island, Connecticut, US[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Elaterite". Mindat.org. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
- ^ Chisholm 1911, p. 160.
- ^ Brown, H. Y. L. Catalogue of South Australian Minerals, 1893, p.14
- ^ "Coorongite". Mindat.org. 23 August 2025. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
- ^ Hutton, Adrian C; Hower, James C (August 1999). "Cannel coals: implications for classification and terminology". International Journal of Coal Geology. 41 (1–2): 157–188. Bibcode:1999IJCG...41..157H. doi:10.1016/S0166-5162(99)00015-4.
- ^ "MNA112374". National Trust Heritage Records. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
- ^ "Windy Knoll Quarry, Castleton, High Peak, Derbyshire, England, UK". Mindat.org. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
- ^ Weston, William (1907). The Hydrocarbon Field of Western Colorado and Eastern Utah on the Projected Line of the Denver, Northwestern and Pacific Railway: Report on the Above to Mr. A. C. Ridgway, General Manager. p. 26. OCLC 654236574.
- Attribution
- This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Elaterite". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 9 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 160.
Further reading
