Uranophane — Old Collection Display | Faraday Mine (Madawaska Mine), Faraday Township, Hastings County, Ontario

The Faraday Mine — formally renamed the Madawaska Mine during its later operational life — stands as one of the defining uranium producers of the Bancroft district, and its mineralogical legacy extends well beyond its industrial history. The deposit was discovered through diamond drilling in late 1953 on property staked by Bancroft prospector Arthur H. Shore, with underground production beginning in 1957 and running until the uranium purchase contracts supporting the mine's economics expired in 1964. Over its two periods of production it yielded approximately nine million pounds of U₃O₈ concentrate at an average ore grade of 0.107% — the longest production run of the four principal Bancroft-area uranium mines. Beyond the uranium itself, Faraday became celebrated among collectors for its associated mineral suite: calcite crystals, ilmenite, the rare yttrium silicate kainosite-(Y), molybdenite, and — above all — uranophane. Uranophane is a calcium uranyl silicate hydroxide hydrate, Ca(UO₂)₂(SiO₃OH)₂·5H₂O, forming as a secondary mineral where uranium-bearing fluids interact with silicate minerals in the oxidized zones of pegmatite-hosted deposits. At Faraday it occurs as delicate acicular crystals in radiating sprays and fibrous masses within fractures and cavities of the pegmatitic host, coloured a vivid lemon-yellow to yellow-green by the uranyl group — bright enough that a well-crystallized specimen makes an immediate visual impression before a detector confirms its character. The Faraday Mine is referenced in institutional collections worldwide as a standard locality for this species, and quality uranophane from here is considered benchmark Canadian uranium mineral material. This specimen is offered as an old collection display piece. It carries the presentation character of mid-20th century collecting — labelled, stored, and appreciated across decades in the tradition of the era when Faraday Mine specimens were being actively acquired by serious collectors and institutions. Display-era pieces from Bancroft's uranium camp are progressively harder to source as old collections are dispersed, and the additional layer of provenance history is part of what this specimen offers. Comes with documentation as received. Radioactive. Canada domestic shipping only. Approx. specimen size: 100mm x 70mm x 60mm Approx. specimen weight: 282 grams (Weight includes dis display case) Approx. specimen activity on an SE International Ranger EXP: 8600 CPM