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Langban
Rocks and Minerals, May 2000
This book magnificently fulfills the longstanding need for a comprehensive reference on Langban, an iron deposit famous for its rare minerals but not well known outside of Sweden. It is an authoritative, well-written work by a team of experts actively collecting and studying Langban, its minerals, and its history. With photographs or figures on practically every page it is richly illustrated, a pleasure for the eye as well as the mind.
The forward is by Paul Moore, author of more than forty papers on Langban. The introduction is by the editors: Dan Holtstam, curator at the Swedish Museum of Natural History, and Jorgen Langhof, director of the mining museum at Langban. There are short chapters on the geology of the Bergslagen ore region by Ingmar Lundstrom, on the geology of the Langban deposit by Frej Sandstrom and Dan Holtstam, and on the origin of the deposit by Bengt Bollmark. Chapters on Langban's mining history by Langhof and Thomas Osterberg and on Langban mineralogists and collectors by Langhof follow. A brief section by Erik Jonsson describes current opportunities for collecting from the extensive dumps.
The essential chapter by Per Nysten, Dan Holtsam, and Erik Jonsson describing the nearly 270 minerals identified thus far from Langban is almost one hundred pages long. The species are conveniently arranged alphabetically. Short paragraphs describe the mineral species and their associations as well as special finds (including recent dump finds). The descriptions are perhaps too brief, but they are accompanied by excellent crystal drawings and photographs. Speaking as curator of the museum holding "the other" Gustav Flink collection of Langban minerals, I am sure many of the specimens portrayed must be real treasures of the Swedish Museum of Natural History in Stockholm, for they illustrate Langban specimens of a quality I've never imagined!
The bibliography, compiled by Urban Strand, is a comprehensive listing of 567 references. The supplemental index by mineral species is an unusual feature that will greatly facilitate its use. The volume concludes with three useful appendices: a species list, a list of synonyms, and a list of the fluorescent minerals.
This book is an important addition to the literature of typographical mineralogy. It will undoubtedly stimulate a greater interest in Langban mineralogy, a greater scrutiny of Langban specimens, and further research and a better understanding of this truly extraordinary mineral deposit.
-Carl A. Francis
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Rocks and Minerals, Jul/Aug 2000
Langban, a picturesque lake and village in Varmland, Sweden, is the site of one of the world's great mineralogical occurrences: a two-billion-year-old iron and manganese deposit that has yielded a unique hove of rare species. Mineralogists worldwide have long been fascinated by the extraordinary assemblage of nearly 270 minerals, many of them unique to the deposit, and 67 found there first. For species diversity and geochemical interest Langban is the equal of Franklin, New Jersey, and Tsumeb, Namibia; and it continues to yield new discoveries.
This new book is a welcome and longoverdue addition to the literature of the world's greatest mineral deposits. It is beautifully published on oversize pages of highquality paper, with a sewn, hardcover binding. More than 200 illustrations are included, 130 of which show mineral specimens in color. The extensive bibliography covers 567 references.
A foreword by Paul B. Moore is followed by a brief introduction, then chapters on geology, ore genesis, mining history, mineralogists and collectors who have focused on Langban, nearly 100 pages devoted to the minerals, and lastly a note about collecting at Langban. All are beautifully illustrated.
The individual mineral descriptions carefully document the physical characteristics of each species in each of its known assemblages and locations at Langban, listing the associated species in each assemblage. Discovery dates, correlations with Flink's list of unknowns, provisional names, dealer sources which in some cases provided original type material, excellent crystal drawings, historical notes, composition, and meticulous literature references are all included. The only aspect which could conceivably be called lacking is analytical tables, but the detailed referencing points the way for readers needing such data.
This is quite simply a gorgeous book, thoroughly professional in its publishing, design, illustrations and scientific content. It is difficult to imagine how it could have been better done. Considering the quality level and the invaluable compilation of diverse mineralogical data, the price is very reasonable. It merits the highest recommendation.
-Wendell E Wilson
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