Uraninite & Fourmarieite - Ruggles Mine, Grafton County, New Hampshire, USA

This is a fine thumbnail-sized specimen featuring Uraninite with Fourmarierite from the historic Ruggles Mine, Grafton, New Hampshire. The uraninite occurs as a compact, massive black mass with a dull to slightly resinous luster, typical of primary uranium oxide in pegmatitic environments. Scattered across its surface are bright reddish-orange microcrystalline coatings of fourmarierite, a secondary lead-uranium oxide mineral formed through oxidative alteration. The contrasting colors and textures between the dense uraninite and vibrant fourmarierite create an attractive and scientifically interesting miniature.

Specimens from Ruggles Mine are rarely seen today, particularly with such well-defined associations between primary and secondary uranium minerals. This piece reflects the geochemical evolution of uranium within a New England pegmatite system and is a fine representative of a lesser-known but historically significant American uranium locality. Due to its uranium content, the specimen is naturally radioactive and should be handled and stored with standard precautions. A unique addition to any serious thumbnail or radioactive mineral collection.