2.4" Orange Niobophyllite on Aegirine and Feldspar - Malawi

Aegirine is a sodium iron silicate with the chemical formula NaFeSi2O6. It is a member of the pyroxene group and it shares the same crystal structure as augite, but a different chemical composition. It typically forms long, slender crystals that can bear reddish-black, brown, black or greenish colorations.

Astrophyllite is a rare hydrous potassium iron titanium silicate mineral with the chemical formula (K,Na)3(Fe++,Mn)7Ti2Si8O24(O,OH)7. It commonly forms as radiating, bladed aggregates of soft and brittle crystals, colored golden-yellow to brown. Due to the fragile nature of astrophyllite crystals, they're usually left in situ (within surrounding matrix) for presentation. However, this hasn't stopped jewelers from incorporating polished astrophyllite specimens into jewelry.