sealed glass tube of sperrylite
Date: circa 1900
Inventory Number: 3971
Classification: Metal Sample
Subject:
Maker: Vermillion Mine (1888 - 1911)
User: Theodore William Richards ? (1868 - 1928)
Maker: Joseph Wharton (1826 - 1909)
Cultural Region:
Dimensions:
Overall - Storage: 11.2 x 2.5 x 9.8 cm (4 7/16 x 1 x 3 7/8 in.)
0.5 x 4.4 x 0.5 cm (3/16 x 1 3/4 x 3/16 in.)
Material:
Accessories: square cardboard box
Description:
Small sealed glass tube containing Sperrylite dust, silver granules, PtAs2.
A paper label on a wire is sealed into the top of the tube. This and 3971 are stored in a square cardboard box with removable lid.
A paper label on a wire is sealed into the top of the tube. This and 3971 are stored in a square cardboard box with removable lid.
Signedprinted in black on tan label tag: ONE GRAMME / SPERRYLITE. / (Pt. As. 2. ) / Collected at Vermillion Mine, / Near Sudbury, Canada, / By [hand-signed] F. L. Sperry
handwritten in black on back of tag: From Joesph Wharton
handwritten in black on back of tag: From Joesph Wharton
FunctionChemistry.
Webster's 1913 unabridged: "Sperrylite: n. [Named after F. L. Sperry, who discovered it.] (Min.) An arsenide of platinum occuring in grains and minute isometric crystals of tin-white color. It is found near Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, and is the only known compound of platinum occuring in nature."
From: mineral.galleries.com: "Sperrylite is found in abundance only at Sudbury, Ontario where it is mined for its extremely valuable metal. "
Webster's 1913 unabridged: "Sperrylite: n. [Named after F. L. Sperry, who discovered it.] (Min.) An arsenide of platinum occuring in grains and minute isometric crystals of tin-white color. It is found near Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, and is the only known compound of platinum occuring in nature."
From: mineral.galleries.com: "Sperrylite is found in abundance only at Sudbury, Ontario where it is mined for its extremely valuable metal. "
Historical AttributesNotecard in drawer where instruments reside: "All the instruments and specimens in these boxes are the property of Wm. T. Richards the gift of his father (T.W.R.) [Theodore W. Richards]. They are historically valuble. Jan 1928. W.T.R. Says for museum."