Gail Edward Dunning
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Favorite Mineral: Schuetteite
Favorite Locality: The Alta mine

Gail E. Dunning (b. 1937) was raised in the Morgan Hill area and attended schools there before enrolling in Hartnell College at Salinas. There he met Fen Cooper while taking a class in geology and their friendship grew. A requirement of the course was to submit a mineral collection with all minerals properly identified with localities. The geology course included several field trips where many mineral samples were collected. With his studies in chemistry, physics and mathematics, Gail acquired a keen interest in naturally occurring chemical compounds (minerals).

After completing studies at Hartnell, he transferred to the University of California (Berkeley) and majored in physical chemistry. Following these years he was employed at General Electric Company as a chemist and later as a metallurgical engineer. He concluded his profession career in 2002 after 42 years with GE. However, his interest in minerals continued and with Fen, began a field study of the Kalkar Quarry in Santa Cruz with the help of Charles W. Chesterman of the California Division of Mines. During this study, the new mineral, pabstite, was discovered and published. His mineral collecting efforts were interrupted with a two-year Army stint. Following this, both he and Fen traveled throughout California and other western states collecting minerals from remote and obscure localities.

During his near fifty years collecting and studying minerals, Gail has authored or been a co-author of over 40 papers pertaining to mineralogical subjects, eight of which were descriptions of new minerals. His main interests have been in barium silicate and mercury mineralogy. He has been actively involved in mineral classification and developed a system for their classification using an alphanumeric nomenclature. He also had an interest in ore microscopy and used techniques in metallography to study several mineral localities containing sulfides and sulfosalts, on of which was an textensive study of the mineralogy and paragenisis of the old Alta mine troilite locality in Del Norte County, California.

Currently, he is involved in the study of both the Clear Creek and McDermitt mercury mines for their mineralogy and complex mercury paragenesis.

Gail has served as President (1988-89) and Treasurer of the Bay Area Mineralogists.

Papers by Gail Dunning
Ag-Cu-Pb-Bi sulfosalts new to Darwin Mining District, Inyo Co., California - This article describes several sulfosalts new to the Darwin mines and their relationships to the mineralogy of the area. Authors: G.E. Dunning, Y. Moelo, A.C. Roberts, and J.F. Cooper, Jr.
A Photographic History of Fen Cooper in the Field-Doing What He Enjoyed the Most - This short article illustrates the life of Fen Cooper in the field collecting minerals, what he loved to do.
A second occurrence of Antarcticite from Bristol Dry Lake, California - This paper describes the first occurrence of this hygroscopic mineral from California and second in the world. Authors: G.E. Dunning & J.F. Cooper, Jr.
Aurivilliusite, a new mineral species from the Clear Creek claim, San Benito County, California, U.S.A. - This article describes another new mercury phase from the Clear Creek claim, San Benito Co., California. Authors: A.C. Roberts, J.A.R. Stirling, A.J. Criddle, G.E. Dunning and J. Spratt
Barium Silicate Mineralogy of the Western Margin, North American Continent, Part 1: Geology, Origin, Paragenesis and Mineral Distribution from Baja California Norte, Mexico, Western Canada and Alaska, USA - This three-part series covers the barium silicate mineralogy of the Western Margin, North American Continent from Baja California Norte, Mexico to Alaska, USA. Authors: G.E. Dunning, R.E. Walstrom, and W. Lechner
Barium Silicate Mineralogy of the Western Margin, North American Continent, Part 2: Photographic Documentation of Barium Silicates and Associated Minerals from Baja California Norte, Mexico, Western Canada and Alaska, USA. - Part 2 of this three-part series covers the photographic documentation of barium silicates and associated minerals from Baja California Norte, Mexico to Alaska, USA. Authors: G.E. Dunning and W. Lechner
Barium Silicate Mineralogy of the Western Margin, North American Continent, Part 3: Photographic Documentation of Barium Silicates and Associated Minerals from Baja California Norte, Mexico to Alaska, USA - This third part of a three-part series documents the photos of barium silicates and associated minerals from Baja California Norte, Mexico to Alaska, USA. Authors: G.E. Dunning and W. Lechner
Barium silicate minerals from Trumbull Peak, Mariposa Co., California - This article describes this old locality famous for the type locality of sanbornite in addition to several Ba-silicate minerals. It is the type locality for fencooperite. Authors: G.E. Dunning & J.F. Cooper, Jr.
Bigcreekite, a new mineral from eastern Fresno County, California - This article describes the new mineral, bigcreekite, from the sanbornite deposits along Big Creek, eastern Fresno County, California. Authors: L.C. Basciano, L.A. Groat, A.C. Roberts, R.A. Gault, G.E. Dunning and R.E. Walstrom
Brookite from Hale Creek, Trinity Co., California - This article describe well-terminated brookite crystals in a vein across Hale Creek near join of the Mad River. Authors: G.E. Dunning & J.F. Cooper, Jr.
Calcium arsenate minerals new to the Getchell mine, Nevada - This article describes several additional Ca-arsenate minerals to this famous old gold mine.
Carpathite and Idrialite: Organic (Hydrocarbon) Minerals Associated With Mercury Deposits in California - This article describes these two organic minerals and their individual localities and gives an explanation for why they have occurred separately. Authors: G.E. Dunning & T.A. Hadley
Cerchiaraite-(Fe) and cerchiaraite-(Al), two new barium cyclosilicate chlorides from Italy and California (USA) - This article describes two new barium silicate minerals from the sanbornite veins along Big Creek, Fresno Co., California. Authors: A.R. Kampf, A.C. Roberts, K.E. Venance, C. Carbone, D. Belmonte, G.E. Dunning, and R.E. Walstrom
Chromian alumohydrocalcite from California and knipovicite discredited - This article describes a locality for chromian alumohydrocalcite and the discredited knipovicite. Authors: G.E. Dunning, J.F. Cooper, Jr., and J. White
Chromian dawsonite and chromian alumohydrocalcite from Orestimba Creek, Stanislaus Co., California - This article describes two minerals with substantial chromium in the structures from this remote locality.
Devitoite, A new heterophyllosilicate with astrophyllite-like layers from eastern Fresno County, California - This article describes a new barium silicate mineral from the sanbornite veins along Big Creek, Fresno Co., California. Authosrs: A.R. Kampf, G.R. Rossman, I.M. Steele, J.J. Pluth, G.E. Dunning and R.E. Walstrom
Esquireite, a new layer silicate from the barium silicate deposits of California - This article describes a new barium silicate from the Esquire #1 claim above Rush Creek, Fresno Co., California. Authors: A.R. Kampf, R.M. Housley, G.E. Dunning, and R.E. Walstrom
Fencooperite, Ba6Fe3Si8O23(CO3)2Cl3 * H2O, a new mineral species from Trumbull Peak, Mariposa Co., California - This article describes the new mineral, fencooperite, from this old locality. Fen Cooper was a long-time member of BAM. Authors: A.C. Roberts, J.D. Grice, G.E. Dunning and K.E. Venance
Ferroaxinite from New Melones Lake, Calaveras Co., California, a remarkable new locality - This article describes a new locality for ferroaxinite from California with paragenesis of the specie. Authors: D. Pohl, R. Guillemette, J. Shigley and G.E. Dunning
Ferro-ericssonite the Fe analogue of ericssonite from eastern Fresno County, California - This article describes a new barium silicate mineral from the sanbornite veins along Big Creek, Fresno County, California. Authors: A.R. Kampf, A.C. Roberts, K.E. Venance, G.E. Dunning, and R.E. Walstrom
Gaildunningite, ideally Hg3[NHg2]18(Cl,I)24, a new mineral from the Clear Creek Mine, San Benito County, California, USA: Description and Crystal Structure - This article described the new mineral, gaildunningite, from the Clear Creek mine, San Benito County, California
Geology, Mining History, Mineralogy, and Paragenesis of the McDermitt Caldera Complex, Opalite Mining District, Humboldt County, Nevada, and Malheur County, Oregon - This paper is the result of four years of extensive field and laboratory study on the McDermitt mercury mine and its mineralogy. Authors: G.E. Dunning, Michael Cox, Andrew Christy, Ted Hadley and Joe Marty
Grumiplucite, HgBi2S4, From the Outlaw Mine, Nye County, Nevada - This paper describes the first occurrence for this rare sulfide of mercury from Nevada and the United States. Authors: Gail Dunning and Frank Keutsch
Gypsum Dehydration Products From Several California Locations.o - This paper describes the dehydration products of gypsum from several California localities. Authors: Gail Dunning and Fen Cooper
History and minerals of The Geysers, Sonoma Co., California - This article describes the history and sulfate mineralogy of this famous locality. Authors: G.E. Dunning & J.F. Cooper, Jr.
Inesite from the Hale Creek mine, Trinity Co., California - This article describes the mineralogy of this manganese mine and the fine inesite crystals found there including several new crystal forms. Authors: G.E. Dunning & J.F. Cooper, Jr.
Kampfite, a new barium silicate mineral from Fresno County, California - This article describes the new mineral kampfite from the sanbornite veins above Rush Creek, eastern Fresno Co., California. Authors: L.C. Basciano, L.A. Groat, A.C. Roberts, G.E. Dunning, E.E. Foord, I. Kjarsgaard and R.E. Walstrom
La dawsonite cromifera di Limoncino, Valle Benedetta, Toscany, Italy - This article described a chromian variety of dawsonite from Italy. Authors: G.E. Dunning and W.A. Henderson, Jr.
Letovicite from The Geysers, Sonoma County, California - Describes the first occurrence of Letovicite in the United States. Authors: G.E. Dunning & J.F. Cooper, Jr.
Melanophlogite from Mount Hamilton, Santa Clara County, California - This paper described the first occurrence of the rare mineral melanophlogite in the United States. Authors: J.F. Cooper, Jr. & G.E. Dunning
MINERAL CLASSIFICATION: CLASS A, THE ELEMENTS, ALLOYS, CARBIDES, NITRIDES, SILICIDES, PHOSPHIDES - The CLASS A lists the elements, alloys and carbides, nitrides, silicides and phosphides of the ALPHA Classification System
MINERAL CLASSIFICATION: CLASS B, THE SULFIDES, TELLURIDES, ARSENIDES, ANTIMONIDES, ETC - CLASS B of the MINERAL CLASSIFICATION lists the sulfide minerals, etc.
MINERAL CLASSIFICATION: CLASS C, THE SULFOSALTS - This CLASS lists the sulfosalts with structural descriptions and series.
MINERAL CLASSIFICATION: CLASS D THE OXIDES - This class lists the oxides with structure descriptions where available
MINERAL CLASSIFICATION: CLASS E HYDROXIDES AND HYDRATED OXIDES - This class list the hydroxides and hydrated oxides with their structure descriptions
MINERAL CLASSIFICATION: CLASS F VANOXIDES - This class lists the vanadium oxide minerals and their structure descriptions
MINERAL CLASSIFICATION: CLASS G HALIDES - This class lists the minerals and many of their structures of the halides.
MINERAL CLASSIFICATION: CLASS H ALUMINOFLUORIDES - This class list the minerals and their respective structures where known of the aluminofluorides
MINERAL CLASSIFICATION: CLASS I THE HETEROPOLY ACID SALTS - This class list the minerals of theheteropoly acid salts.
MINERAL CLASSIFICATION: CLASS J THE CARBONATES - This class lists the minerals of the carbonate group of minerals and their structures.
MINERAL CLASSIFICATION: CLASS K BORATES - This class lists the minerals of the borate class and their structures.
MINERAL CLASSIFICATION: CLASS L SULFATES - This class lists the minerals of the sulfate class and their structures.
MINERAL CLASSIFICATION: CLASS M, PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES - This class list the large number of arsenates, phosphates, and vanadanites and their structures, where available.
MINERAL CLASSIFICATION: CLASS N, NITRATES - This class list the minerals of the nitrates class and their structures.
MINERAL CLASSIFICATION: CLASS O, IODATES - This class lists the nitrates and their structures.
MINERAL CLASSIFICATION: CLASS P, SELENATES (ITES), TELLURATES(ITES) - This class lists the selenates, tellurates, selenites, tellurites and their structures.
MINERAL CLASSIFICATION: CLASS Q, CHROMATES - This class lists the chromates and their structures.
MINERAL CLASSIFICATION: CLASS R, ARSENITES, ANTIMONITES - This class list the arsenites and antimonites and their structures.
MINERAL CLASSIFICATION: CLASS S, MOLYBDATES, TUNGSTATES - This class lists the molybdates and tungstates and their structures.
MINERAL CLASSIFICATION: CLASS T, ORGANICS - This class lists the organics and their structures.
MINERAL CLASSIFICATION: CLASS U, OLIGOSILICATES - This class list the oligosilicates (individual silicate groups) and their structues.
MINERAL CLASSIFICATION: CLASS V, CYCLOSILICATES - This class lists the cyclosilicates (ring structures) and their structures.
MINERAL CLASSIFICATION: CLASS W, POLYSILICATES - This class lists the polysilicates (chain silicates) and their structures.
MINERAL CLASSIFICATION: CLASS X, PHYLLOSILICATES - This class lists the phyllosilicates (sheet silicates) and their structures.
MINERAL CLASSIFICATION: CLASS Y, TECTOSILICATES - This class lists the tectosilicates (three-dimensional structures) and their structures.
Mineralogy of the Kalkar Quarry, Santa Cruz, California (I) - This is the first formal paper of this famous limestone quarry with unique sulfosalt mineralogy. Authors: E. Gross, C. Chesterman, G.E. Dunning, and J.F. Cooper, Jr.
Mineralogy of the Kalkar Quarry, Santa Cruz, California (II) - The second and more complete mineralogical description of this famous quarry. Authors: G.E. Dunning & J.F. Cooper, Jr.
Mineralogy of the Killie mine, Elko Co., Nevada - This article describes the mineralogy and paragenesis of this mine. Authors: G.E. Dunning & J.F. Cooper, Jr.
Mineralogy of the Spring Creek area, Plumas Co., California - This article describes the Fe-Cu-Bi-S mineralogy of this area and includes the paragenesis of the sulfide minerals. Authors: G.E. Dunning & J.F. Cooper, Jr.
Mineralogy of the Victor Claim, Clear Creek area, New Idria district, San Benito Co., California - This article describes this small outcrop which contains benitoite, fresnoite and neptunite, in addition to several other minerals. Authors: J.F. Cooper, Jr., G.E. Dunning, and T.A. Hadley
Namibite: a summary of world occurrences. - This article lists the known world occurrences of this Cu-Bi vanadate mineral. Authors: G.E. Dunning and J.F. Cooper, Jr.
New Mineral Data For the Remaining Unidentified Mercury Minerals From the Clear Creek Mine, San Benito County, California - This article describes the known mineral data for the remaining unknowns from the Clear Creek mine
Phosphosiderite from the Champion mine, California - This article documents another mineral from this famous locality.
Pseudomorphic melanophlogites from California - This article lists a number of melanophlogite localities in California that show tranformation to quartz/chalcedony. Authors: G.E. Dunning and J.F. Cooper, Jr.
Stibnites of the Stayton District, Hollister, California - This article describes the fine stibnite crystals from this locality collected during the early 1900s with photos. Authors: G.E. Dunning & J.F. Cooper, Jr.
Struvite found at Mono Lake - Describes the first occurrence of struvite from this ancient lake (Pahoa Island). Authors: J.F. Cooper, Jr. and G.E. Dunning
Tedhadleyite, Hg2+(Hg1+-Hg1+)5O4I2(Cl,Br)2, a new mineral from the Clear Creek claim, San Benito County, California - This article describes the new mineral, tedhadleyite, from the Clear Creek claim, San Benito Co., California. It is a very rare mineral with only one sample known. Authors: A.C. Roberts, M.A. Cooper, F.C. Hawthorne, A.J. Criddle, J.A.R. Sterling and G.E. Dunning
The Baumann prospect, Chickencoop Canyon, Tulare Co., California - This article describes the barium mineralogy of this area and the apparent paragenesis of the Ba-silicates. Authors: R.E. Walstrom & G.E. Dunning
The Challenge Mercury Deposit, Redwood City, San Mateo County, California - This article describes a unique mercury deposit within the city of Redwood City. Besides, cinnabar, several unusual Hg phases were identified from the ore rocks.
The Clear Creek mine, San Benito County, California: A Unique Mercury Locality - This article describes this unique mercury locality and its mineralogy and paragenesis. Authors: G.E. Dunning, T.A. Hadley, J. Magnasco, A.G. Christy & J.F. Cooper, Jr.
The Getchell mine, Humboldt Co., Nevada - This article describes the mineralogy of this gold mine in an arsenic sulfide environment. Authors: C. Stolburg & G.E. Dunning
The Kalkar Quarry, Santa Cruz, California: A Photographic Selection from the Past - This article records a selection of old specimen photographs that were not published in the formal papers in the past.
The Outlaw mine, Nye Co., Nevada - This article describes the numerous sulfides and sulfosalts from this unusual small mine. Authors: G.E. Dunning, G. Moss and J.F. Cooper, Jr.
The Re-Classification of Mercury Compounds Containing Nitrogen, Carbon, Phosphorus and Silicon - This article updates the classification of nitrides and carbides of mercury based on structure considerations.
The Sulfur Hole, Calico District, San Bernardino Co., California - This article describes the unique sulfate mineralogy of this remarkable locality. Authors: J.F. Cooper, Jr., G.E. Dunning, T.A. Hadley, W.P. Moller, and R.E. Reynolds
The Vaughn mine, Santa Clara County, California - This article described the mercury mineralogy of this very small cinnabar claim.
Troilite from the Low Divide District, Del Norte County, California - This article describes the sulfide mineralogy and paragenesis of the first terrestrial occurrence of troilite and associated minerals. Authors: G.E. Dunning & J.F. Cooper, Jr.
Vasilyevite, a new mineral species from the Clear Creek claim, San Benito County, California - This article describes a rare mercury mineral from the small mercury claim above Clear Creek, San Benito Co., California. Authors: A.C. Roberts, M.A. Cooper, F.C. Hawthorne, J.A.R. Stirling, W.H. Paar, C.J. Stanley, G.E. Dunning and P.C. Burns
Vivianite Concretions From Lake Britton, Shasta County, California - This paper describes an interesting locality for vivianite in the form of deep blue concretions from the shores of Lake Britton. Authors: Gail Dunning and Fen Cooper.